Nuclear Family Warhead

We took a day trip to the Natural Science Center over the weekend.  The Nukekids loved it.  We’ve been there before, but each time we go back they have new things to see.  I got to show off my big brain in the “puzzle room” when Nukeboy1 asked me how to balance 14 nails on top of one nail.  OK, so I cheated, a little.  I knew the concept, it was the execution that I was struggling with.  A quick peek in the solution manual helped me out.  OK, I TOTALLY cheated, but Nukeboy1 didn’t know until I told him; he thought I’d done it all on my own.  I DID, however; get the ring off of the 2 horseshoes.  No lie.  It took me a little while to get it back on, but I did it. 

Nukeboy2 had me time his excellence at going through the maze, and even though he navigated it flawlessly on his test run, when he ran for time he came in at just under 2 minutes.  He wasn’t pleased.  Their favorite part of the Science Center is going to see Axl, the 4 year old male Tiger.  Axl was pacing the fence line while his smarter sister Kisa was lounging in the shade atop the rocks under the canopy.  The attendant at the exhibit showed us a metal water bucket that Axl had gotten ahold of a few days before.  The result was similar to what would happen if you got a 2 oz Dixie cup and bit down on it.  She said they get 20lbs of horse meat a night.  I’m thinkin’ I’m glad I’m not a horse.  If I was a horse, that would be all the inspiration I would need to win the race.  Or at least place or show. 

The heat wasn’t so bad, but the humidity was way up there.  As a result, none of the animals were overly active; except for Axl, who was clearly looking for a break in the fence so that he could go dive into the crocodile’s pool.  Can’t say that I blame them.  The monkeys were asleep.  The lemurs were asleep.  The maned wolves were just bored and hot, so they stayed in the shade.  Even the Wallaby was laying in the shade.  The brutal Outback had nothing on us weather wise.  The Meerkats were having a blast.  They ranged from full grown to what looked to be 20 minutes old.  One was so small I thought it was a dirt clod until it moved.  They were wrestling up a storm.  The little ones were no match for the adults, but they would dive in anyway.  We decided to go back inside where it was much cooler. 

They had a game show parody called “Meal or No Meal” and Nukeboy1 and Nukeboy2 got called on as contestants.  Nukegirl was a bit put out, but she got to pet the Hedgehog afterwards with her brothers, so it all worked out.  The dinosaur exhibit was a hit, as was the snake room.  Nukegirl got to hold “Forrest Grump”, a Ball Python who was none to happy to be taken out of his aquarium again.  In hindsight, I don’t believe letting my 4 year old hold a snake with the name “Grump” was a wise decision.  She was twice as big as him though, and I’d put ten bucks on Nukegirl in that match up any day.  You should see her take on her brothers when they get too close to her Rice Krispies.

I promised them a trip back next month.  Apparently there is a new arrival coming.  A Giant Anteater.  I’ll have to get them caught up on the Pink Panther cartoons on Boomerang so that when it starts to speak they’ll be able to understand the Jackie Mason accent. 

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