Day 151: Discovery Science Center

I wish I could say I learned a lot about photography today by shooting in the worst conditions I’ve ever tried, but I can’t.  I barely got any photos worth saving.  We went to the Discovery Science Center today and here is what I learned:

• If you have two mobile kids, you need two able bodied adults.  I am glad I never tried this alone, and next time I’ll wait until I’m out of my air cast/walking boot.
• This center is geared for children older than 5.  That should be well advertised.
• Leave the camera at home.  It’s impossible to get good shots with running toddlers, little to no lighting, and colored walls.  I shot wide open at f/1.8, ISO 1600, and shutter speed 1/100, and I still was horribly underexposed.  (I guess I could have used my flash, but honestly I don’t even know how to turn the onboard flash on I hate it that much.)
• I now know the panic feeling of losing your child in a crowd, thanks to Cooper.  That kid disappears in an instant.  I finally see why people use those kid leashes (although I still refuse to use them).
• I also know the panic of hockey pucks flying at my 2 yr old who isn’t wearing any padding and how I think nothing of the danger to myself in order to prevent my son from getting hurt.  I think they should just have some helmets to try on for the younger kids…it would prevent this safety hazard.  (There was a ‘goalie exhibit’ where you got to put on pads and a helmet and ‘save’ pucks that fly out of the wall.  Cooper was obsessed with trying to get a helmet.)
• The gift store was the most exciting part about our visit, according to the kids.
• Lollipops in the car = one stressed out mama!

Charlotte looking up through this tunnel thing.  I love the expression on her face.  This photo was nearly unsalvageable.  You can see Ashley’s attempt at an edit here, which I like better than my own edit.

Cooper learning about what comes out of his ‘no’ (nose).

Throwing balls.  Charlotte gravitated to all the ball exhibits, while Cooper just ran all over and disappeared over and over.