A Day in Space

We spent the day at the Chabot Space & Science Center! It was very inter-active and the kids loved it because you can touch just about everything!

This is called the WAVE! It is suspended by cables to demonstrate the wave or ripple effect... for example when you drop a pebble in a pond, it creates wave after wave. It was very cool!

We gave this a new name... the Giant Ech-O-Sketch!

Barely in the door and we already have a souvenir! A penny stamped with the Chabot logo!

Everywhere you turn, there is something to see and touch! The kids had a blast learning about the planets, stars, galaxies, black holes, etc.

 

This was a ride that gives you the experience of resistance. Imagine trying to turn a wheel or lever in space and instead of the wheel turning, You are spinning!

Next on the tour was Space Food! Now here's a diet we could ALL lose weight on! First course... Pork with Vegetables! Notice the handy tube dispenser! (Icko!)

Side dish is Potatoes Au Gratin! (even Ickier!)

And finally... dessert! Butter cookies! Now we're talking! Tea and cookies in space!

Have you ever wondered how the astronauts go to the bathroom in space? Yep, I wondered too! Well this is the toilet! Funny looking I know! It comes complete with it's own filtration system too.

Fun photo opportunies too!

Next was the exercise area for the astronauts. If they don't exercise in space, they wouldn't be able to stand/walk when they returned to earth. Bummer, you can't even get a break from exercise in space! ha ha This was the resistence machine and it was tough!

This was a replica space capsule complete with lots of buttons to push! Loved it!

I wear a size 10 shoe so this is what the space boot footprint looks like!

This machine let's you simulate landing a space capsule. This was a lot of fun! Luckily for us when we crashed it (several times), it re-set itself! ha ha

Space air hockey!

This machine simulates gas clouds on planets and how you can create a wind storm.

And just when you need a break from all the walking, they provide a sweet spot for the parents to site down and take a break while the kids dress up and free play!

We were pleasantly surprised to have a unplanned private tour of all three telescopes located at the center! Our guide was very knowledgeable and made it fun for the kids and explained it all at a level we novices could understand! I was so fascinated by all the amazing things to see that I forgot to take pictures but take my word for it, it was amazing! We all agreed to come back again a different day and enjoy the evening tour to see the stars!

This was fun! They showed the original US space landing on the moon and you could stand in front of a green screen and be part of the fun! Hollywood here we come!






Water Rockets! Yes, that's right! The kids got to fill space rocket water bottles and launched them over 100 feet in the air!

A beautiful outdoor garden area!

Well what an amazing day! We spent over 4 hours here enjoying all the inter-active displays in a very non-rushed atmosphere. I recommend going during the week like we did because there were no crowds at all.

Before you leave though, you've got to make a memory and... jump in space!

~*~

Life's a Beach!

Before I forget, I've got to begin this with telling you that if you've ever been to Carmel Beach, there is hardly any parking. So trying to find a spot is like finding a buried treasure! Before we got to the beach I told the kids we needed to pray for a Parking Angel because we had a lot to carry down to the shore and we would need a prime spot. So we prayed and prayed! There were lots of cars before us and it wasn't looking to good. We prayed some more! Then as we turned the corner... I gasped outloud... SWEET JESUS because a open parking spot appeared OUT OF NO WHERE, right in FRONT OF THE BEACH!!!! Don't you love it when God answers prayers for your kids like that!

*~*

Aaaaah... we've arrived at Carmel Beach! I've got my Cha Cha Hat...

Selected the BEST spot on the sand...

Secured gorgeous views of the Sea...

...and let the children go!

Aaaaaagh! My boy turns back from the cold water!

The kids look for treasures! (Sea creatures that is...)

There were a lot of Foreigners among us, mostly French I think. So it really did feel like we were at the Sea instead of the Ocean. Let me explain... I refer to our Pacific Ocean as the Sea because I like to watch a lot of European movies and of course they refer to it as the Sea (the 7 Seas that surround the area) and my girl said she liked the sound of that better. I couldn't agree more!

Mom, let's build a Castle!

Up for a game of beach ball? 

 

This year we didn't see Dolphins. HOWEVER, my girl and I were frozen in our tracks when a SEA LION appeared in the sandy surf less than 50 feet in front of us wanting to play. It was one of those HOLY SMOKIN' ROCKETS (translation... *&^%$#!) moments! Like a momma bear snatchin' her cub, I swooped up my girl and did like any girlie-girl would do.... Yell SEA LION at the top of my lungs! Within moments we were surrounded by other beachers who took pictures of the friendly Sea Lion. He got bored with us though because we wouldn't play with him (yea, ya think!) and drifted down the beach until he was out of sight. Now, remember our French neighbors on the sand... well they asked me if it was an Otter or a Sea Lion and shockingly out of my mouth rolled as smooth as butter in a French accent reply.. "Sea Lion", as if I had spoken French all my life! What! Where did that come from?! ha ha ha

 

Having my own Pedicure!

Oh don't you wish you had the energy of chidren sometimes?!

At the end of our day, we decided we'd stop at Bubba Gumps for a shrimp dinner. Bubba Gumps is a restaurant chain devoted to the movie "Forrest Gump" and is filled with movie memorabilia.

Even the kids meals come in fun boat shaped containers, appropriately named "Jenny".

And the trip to Bubba's wouldn't be complete if you didn't stop to sit at the bus stop bench and put your feet in Forrest's shoes!

Now this picture says it all, in that the shrimp quickly give me and my boy an upset stomach before we even left the restaurant. Probably because we ate waaaaaaay to fast and the butter and spices didn't agree with us. We weren't even out of Monterey when we had to stop AGAIN for a bathroom. But never fear, Mommy was prepared!

By now it was nearly 8:30pm and I've got OVER a 2 hour drive to get home, so I stop at the drive through for a double shot!

During the last half hour of the drive I was starting to feel tired but then suddenly, the moon appeared in front of me and lighted our way home. Ya know, God is better than he has to be!

Au Revoir!
*~*

Thank You Muse-Swings

Cynthia at Muse-Swings received the following Friendship Award and has passed it along to a few fellow bloggers, including me! Yahoo! I love how all the pictures are of coffee and tea - my favorites! Thank you very, very much for considering me among your newest of friends! ** If you haven't seen her blog, stop by and enjoy yourself! She's so sweet, she'd give you a cavity!

*~*