Trucks n' Dinos n' Dentists OH MY!

So our adventures in the past few months have taken us to some cool events.   Somehow, since starting this blog, I've gotten off track but I'm trying to catch up!

Big Truck Day was pretty awesome.  Would have been more awesome if we had arrived during the "horn and siren free" portion of the event.  Ouch.  Also, Ethan got to see a helicopter take off (I was pretty thrilled too . . . )

But mostly he climbed on every big truck he could find and pushed/pulled/tweaked any and all levers as well. 

The school bus was . . . . interesting.  Somehow he made his way to the driver's seat and shut the doors, "trapping" a mother and at least 5 random children inside.  I should note that the mom panicked and started banging on the door and yelling . . . don't worry, I revoked her COMMON SENSE card.  Geez.  Then he pushed one of the 100 buttons and an alarm went off . . . and wouldn't stop.  It was delightful.  By the time we got to the police cruiser I actively warned the officer that he had already broken the school bus.  Thankfully Ethan didn't destroy the lap top or push too many buttons and we avoided jail *WHEW*

For me, the funniest moment of the day was when Ethan was in the cockpit of the helicopter just mauling the instrument panel.  After a few minutes of this the pilot comes over and gently reminds me not to let him touch ANYTHING.  Now, let's take a step back.  You are at an event for CHILDREN.  You park your helicopter and let said children play in it and you don't want them to touch anything?  Excuse me sir, while my 3 year old dismantles your entire helicopter, just give him 2 more minutes . . . I mean, really?
 

Look at his face!  I love this one . . .

Tiny boy on steamroller!

Workin' that combine.

"The School bus of Doom" that he broke.

The police cruiser he did not break.

The helicopter he *almost* broke.

Pushing/pulling/turning every dial possible.

Yea . . . no one touch anything!

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Then we ventured to ECHO for the DINOSAUR EXHIBIT!!!  Honestly, it was an epic let-down but Ethan enjoyed it.

I seriously had high hopes for this exhibit - but it was one room - largely undecorated with piped in music from Jurassic Park (no lie.)  The dinosaurs were poorly made (the velociraptor just looked awful) and Ethan was done after 15 minutes.  But he loved the rest of ECHO, like he usually does and they have a rockin' water table and play area that allowed Toby to be released from his chains of strollerdom for a few minutes!

The "gigantosaurus" *cue eye roll*

A few more dinos

I forget what this one was supposed to be . . .

The skulls were pretty cool . . . the posters behind them . . . eh.

Showing brudder the ropes.

Clearly tired of me asking him to smile for the camera.

Selecting the perfect green bell pepper is an art.

*********************************************************************************** Last but not least we have *DRUM ROLL* Ethan's first visit to the dentist!

Now let's just stop for a moment and remind ourselves that my child is in no way calm or collected.  He can "calm his body" for about .06 seconds before he remembers that he is a wild monkey. 

There are times this attitude is a tad inconvenient.  So, walking into the dentist's office I was nervous.  We had read a few books about going to the dentist in preparation and Ethan has been with me to several recent doctor's appointments.  He knew they were going to look at his teeth and knew he wouldn't be getting any pokes (needles!)

But . . .

HE DID AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No cavities and he got a new toothbrush, toothpaste, some floss (the same kind we use on him!) and of course the "new toy" (a snake.) As a side note, these guys clearly have a way with kids.  I was highly pleased!

Reading for instructions!

This is how you brush your teef!

Doing awesome for the Doc!

That is, until we walked outside and he was staring at his "new toy" and not where he was walking and trundled right off the edge of concrete stairs.  OUCH.  Don't worry, he was just fine, this kid is made of rubber. 

First skinned chin :(