….They were interviewed by Colorado Public Radio about the Children’s Museum of Denver’s $16.1 million expansion (see their story here). We were privileged to attend the preview night and had a grand time. As I was hanging up our coats, the kids goofed off in front of a new camera at the entrance.

I thought it was harmless until we looked up and saw their precious chokehold displayed all over the ceiling.

Later as they were splish-splashing (and practically taking a bath) in the new Water exhibit, the CPR reporter started photographing Hadley, undoubtedly thinking, “I need to connect with the kids who make the biggest mess at the museum.”

Related: They proceeded to flood the water exhibit.

That was not included in the interview.

Also related: last summer when they attended the museum’s Joy Park grand opening, they dug a huge volcano in the “sand dunes,” filled it with water and ended up looking like swamp creatures, prompting a passerby to observe, “I didn’t even know that was possible.”

With my kids, anything is possible.

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The Colorado Public Radio interview:

A Look Inside The Expanded Children’s Museum of Denver

Corey Jones

Following a $16.1 million expansion, the Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus reopens on Friday with six new exhibits including the Teaching Kitchen, the Art Studio and more.

What’s 9-year-old Arvada resident Bode Johnson’s favorite?

Altitude, a climbing structure that takes visitors three and a half stories up. The feature aims to capture the spirit of climbing a 14er. And don’t forget your helmet.

“One of the best parts is where you have to go across this bridge and each piece of rock moves,” Bode says. “It’s a little bit of a challenge.”

Amber Johnson — Bode’s mother – says her kids were aging out of the old exhibits at the Children’s Museum before the expansion.

“I’m really happy that there’s something geared to them,” she says. “The older kids can appreciate the science behind it.”

Children’s Museum president and CEO Mike Yankovich says his staff visited places like zoos, botanic gardens and children’s museums around the country seeking inspiration for new exhibits. “The final part was really trying to create exhibits and experiences that have never been done before,” Yankovich says.

The museum emphasized Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines by adding areas that explore issues like water and energy.

Yankovich says the new features were designed with an open-ended approach to education in mind.

“Don’t try to control people’s experience. Create platforms that allow them to really show off some level of individuality,” he says. “It really is about children becoming architects of their own learning.”

Last year, the museum served more than 327,000 children and adults, which resulted in over-crowding, Yankovich says. The recent renovation doubled the amount of space.

The Children’s Museum expansion also includes more parking and Joy Park: An Outdoor Adventure, which the museum unveiled this summer. The park includes sand dunes, rivers, forts and a zip line.

We recently had parent-teacher interviews and I’m really blessed with two great kids who have always been well-behaved and well-liked at school. Here’s how they are doing (though this post is mostly about Hadley in her transitional year).

Bode. Fourth Grade. Non-issue. Beloved by his teacher and classmates. Student council. Cross-country. Soccer pro. Terrible artist. Math whiz and his nickname is “the human calculator.” Obsessed with the Rubik’s cube. He comes home from school, does his homework without being asked and is obedient and thoughtful. I can’t take credit for him at all because he’s completely self-motivated and, let’s face it, the kid is not normal. But I’ll take these kind of abnormalities.

Hadley. Sixth Grade. Has risen to the challenge this year changing from a non-structured Waldorf learning environment back to public school and I feel so validated in switching her back. I’ve limited her activities to cross country, piano and VBC (our school’s broadcast program) so as not to overwhelm her because she needs A LOT of downtime.

She started so so so so far behind (no) thanks to her incompetent teacher last year and has made huge strides thanks to the loving guidance of her new teacher. In just a few months, she skipped ahead not one but two reading groups (rarely/never happens) and is a wonderfully creative and imaginative writer. She still struggles in math and spelling but is making huge improvements. I wish I could help with the lack of motivation but here’s something we learned about Hadley during our 5+-year-long ordeal with potty training: she is the most stubborn kid on the planet and if she doesn’t want to do something, she won’t do it (or will be kicking and screaming as she does). The good news is when she is passionate about something, she gives her all and does a beautiful job. For our pumpkin party, I asked her to draw an arrow to direct people to our backyard. She created a masterpiece of an arrow that would have brought ‎Leonardo da Vinci to tears. I would have drawn this: =>.

It sure would be nice if she could channel some of that to her academics but we all have our talents and she will be numbered among the artists, dreamers and innovators of this world.

Her newest obsession? Reading.  Last summer, I bought the Fablehaven audiobooks for our looooong drive to Canada. We raced through all five books (more than 80 hours worth) and then she begged me to buy the books. She blew through them  in a matter of weeks, creating a new dilemma: I literally could not get her to read before. And now I literally cannot get her to stop reading, which is fine until I want to go outside and PLAY.

I’m not sure what alternative universe I’m in but I guess I’ll take it.

Fall sports season is a wrap!

Soccer

Bode has been with his soccer team for a couple of years and they’re finally gelling really well together. So well, in fact, that they went undefeated, which was particularly awesome because he’s had a rollercoaster few years playing. He started out as a superstar preschooler and was a top scorer. Then, as the other kids got stronger, he lost his confidence and held back. He has finally found his niche on defense and though he’s not a flashy player, he is a smart one who always makes solid passes and is a team player.
I asked Bode if they had a team name this season. He shrugged his shoulders and said, “I don’t know. Call us “The Undefeaters.”

Talk about a premonition.

Volleyball

This is the fourth season I’ve coached volleyball for the 2nd Ward Young Women at church and it was a blast! Hadley is only 11 (Young Women are 12-17) but I recruited her and a couple of her younger friends to play so we’d had enough girls. She continues to be a source of frustration because she fights me at every turn. The girl is good and could be great. She oozes natural talent and really thrives out there…and then when she steps off the court, she claims she’s only lukewarm about volleyball. Really? Apparently she doesn’t see what I see.

Last year, we beat our arch rivals 1st Ward in the tournament but then they beat us in the finals. This year, we were in it for the win and, despite our strong competitors (most of whom play volleyball in club or school), we were the Little Engine That Could. We came from behind to beat them during the tournament, had a showdown in the finals and were declared Stake Champions!

Great job to all! After a busy fall, I’m looking forward to our winter hibernation.