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Addie's Birthday at Noah's Ark

On Addie's actual birthday, we took her to see Noah's Ark at the Skirball Cultural Center. We thought seeing two of everything was appropriate for her second birthday after all!
Well, a little more about the Skirball center: this is a Jewish center that's about 30 minutes south of us. We'd heard a little about the ark and thought it would be fun, but nothing prepared us for what we saw there. The ark was AMAZING! We had such a great time! The exhibit is aimed at kids, and well designed for all ages and interests.

Here's Greg and Addie in front of the ark, between two camels.


On the floor where they were standing, it says:

Here's a closer shot


And Addie and I in front of a wall of rain

Everything was so great, but we had one little (OK, big) dislike. In talking about the ark and the animals, there wasn't any credit given to God for this amazing thing He did! When the guides talk about the lion and lamb dwelling together peacefully, they credited it to them "learning from each other's differences" and finding peace with each other. I don't think so! How silly is that!
Clearly, the ark was a miracle in so many ways- that God helped one family build this huge amazing vessel, that the animals came to board the ark, that God caused them to dwell peacefully with one another while on board, and best of all- that God had mercy on a sinful world and provided a way of escape for mankind!
We can't help but think at Christmas time about God's other gift that saved mankind- His Son, sent to die for our sins and provide the way for us to have fellowship with God. What a merciful God we serve!

So if you're local, and want to go see the ark, we would highly recommend it. But just a little warning that you'll need to talk to your children beforehand about the junk the museum people are going to tell them. :)

Read on and be amazed at the ark!

The Animals

The animals on this ark weren't your everyday animals! They were amazing!
The animals were made using re-purposed objects, as you'll see. They used everything from purses, to flyswatters, to the bow from a bow and arrow (and that was just for the flamingo!)
Most of the time, the artist used objects that somehow connected to the animal.

For instance, a polar bear was made from a bathtub filled with "ice."


A crocodile was made from a violin case. Notice that the end of a violin was used as the croc's tongue.


A zebra, whose body was those fans that go up in an attic (sorry, I don't know the right term for them).
The kids could spin them around and around. Addie loved it!


An owl, whose wings were fans

Noah Part 3

Everything was so fantastically interactive for kids of all ages (that includes Greg and I, we were mesmerized).
Here you could take the little animal figures, fit them into the slots, turn the wheel, and send them up the ramp and into the ark.
Addie loved it!


Sittin' in a big 'ol walrus chair


Here Addie turned the wheel to make the sound of rain.
There were other stations too, where you could make lightening in a tube, the sound of thunder, all kinds of stuff!


Greg plays with the giraffe.
When he'd move the handles, the whole giraffe's neck would move back and forth to follow his movements.

Noah's Puppets

A whole section of the first part of the ark was shelves and shelves of beautiful animal puppets you could play with to your heart's content. Two of every kind of course! Niki could have played all day!

Here Addie meets a pig that one of the museum guides was using.


And an elephant...


I think two monkeys was somehow too many! Doesn't she look freaked out?

And a kiss for Mr. Duck. Or maybe it was Mrs. Duck, I'm not sure!

Noah Part 5

In the big center section of the ark, seen here, there was an upper level all around the perimeter enclosed by nets. It was big enough for an adult to go up too, so Greg and Addie went up. It was so cool! There were lots of activities to do up there.


You can look down at Mommy...


You can pull the handle and make the big elephant's trunk move up and down...
(there's Greg and Addie doing just that)


You can walk on the rope bridge and look down on those below!

There was no end to the fun of this place!!!

Noah Part 6

Here's Addie peeking out the back window of the ark along with her friend Mr. Zebra


Just a cute shot


Mr. Turtle

He makes a good place for a rest!
Mr. Turtle's shell was made in part from basketballs. See the orange parts?

A Big Job

Whew! Taking care of all those animals is a big job!
Addie showed her caretaking skills by scooping up the animal dookie
(there were little plastic pellets and mounds scattered around with brooms and dustpans for the caretakers)


and disposing of it in the poop basket


Then she made a meal for the animals. She chose broccoli because it's her favorite vegetable
(by favorite I mean the ONLY one she will eat)

I also had to include this picture because spiders have become so popular around our house. Not the real ones, but the spider song. You know, the itsy bitsy spider? Well, Addie has finally got it down and wants to sing it ALL the time. It's really cute. So when she saw this big one, out came the song again!

Jammin' in the Ark

Just before we left, we got to participate in a jam session in the center of the ark!
Addie got to beat a drum...



And use a little instrument that was carved like a frog



Then she and Greg got to be volunteers for a stomping game in the middle of the circle! What fun!

Last but not least, upon exiting the ark, there was the rainbow!
Another reminder that God keeps His promises!

I Turned 2 Three Times!

Don't you wish you could celebrate your birthday over and over again? Well, if you're Addie, you can!
Here are some pictures from the first of THREE birthday celebrations. This one was with Mommy's family
Nothing says Happy Birthday like Spumoni ice cream at the Old Spaghetti Factory!


How old are you?
Blowing is a group effort.

Birthday Gifts

Addie- what's in the bag? Who is that?

It's Elmo!
Oh boy! What could be better than Boz videos? Nothing!
If you aren't familiar with Boz, he's kinda the Christian version of Barney. Only animated, not some big wierdo in a suit. And not obnoxious. We actually are big fans of Boz, because Addie likes the videos, and we like the values they teach and the way the characters interact (imagine! A brother and sister who are nice to one another!)

Getting Caught Up

While up in Seattle, I got to spend a few hours catching up with my friend from highschool, Leah.

We still have a lot in common! For instance...
Here's my Addie,
and her Addie.

No kidding- we both have Addies and we didn't even know it!
So mine is Adelyn and hers is Adelaide, but still, I thought it was funny!

Our Addie's are alot alike too- they both had these Disney phones, and loved loved loved them. My Addie got hers from Auntie Kim, and Leah's Addie came to the door with her own phone just like it.
I think they're texting each other.
They pick up technology so young these days- isn't it amazing?!


I didn't want to leave out Leah's older daughter Lily, who was a little sweetie.