Phoenix Children's Museum

We went to the newly opened Children's Museum of Phoenix on Saturday the 13th of September. I drive by it almost 5 times a week and couldn't wait for it to open. So when I was trying to think up a fun way to celebrate Liam and Anja's birthday's, I decided that this would be a great place for the whole family!
___BEWARE___ There are a ton of pictures to follow

The Building is beautiful all by itself. It was originally the Monroe School. An elementary school built in 1913 and used until 1972 when the declining downtown population forced it to close. They renovated it and it is awesome! Although they are still not finished it was pretty neat. I hope my pictures do it justice... You really just have to see it in person!
You walk in and the first room has a three story ceiling. Eventually they plan on making this a climbing room but for now it has these colorful tunnels. Anja was being nice and bringing a ball over to Liam.
For some reason Liam wasn't overly thrilled with the museum. He was bit overwhelmed I think.
Here's my mom and my awesome friend Lisa. The wall has all these CD's hanging from it. It was pretty.
They had these contraptions around. The kids had fun walking on the tires to make them go.
Here are the race tracks. They had several that you could race these wooden cars down. Anja is pulling the wrench lever to see them go.
And off they go...
You could walk up this ramp that took you up to the ceiling for another track.
Anja's head almost scrapes the ceiling as she races her car...
And there it goes...pretty cool huh... I bet you know a few boys who would like to play with this!
That's one hot biker Mama!
And an even hotter husband!
Just banging on stuff
Lisa's gorgeous little girl Kassidy cooking for us ...spaghetti I think
Pretending that she is reading with Mom...when really she was forced to fake a picture op!
They had a cute reading corner...
This is on the third story...reading area looking at the open area from the first level... remember those CD's I mentioned hanging on the wall? Well this is where they start!Here the kids scoop us up some pretend ice cream... rubber balls and craft foam rolled up in a cone... so cute!
Looks good enough to eat!
Here is Triston's Peter Pan moment... in a place like this it is easy to understand the desire to never grow up! Don't worry the bean bags made a nice soft landing spot!
NOW WE ENTER THE GRAND BALLROOM... not for dancing.. oh no.... FOR BALLS!!!
There were tubes everywhere and the balls would go past keys hanging or bells and so this room was not only full of balls it was full of noise too...
You could climb up to the tree house looking thing and let the balls go! This was Liam's favorite room!

Anja made Daddy a pizza!Nika shops in the grocery store...
"Look Mom they have the same cereal as us!"
Can I get in... nope sorry just a painting on the wall... looks real though huh!
Anja helps Liam shop. Again it all looks incredibly real!
What is that you might wonder....
Oh just some of the cool decor!
They had a craft room with different tables doing different things... all included in your admission... I love that they both have their tongue's sticking out in determination.
Busy little Liam...
Nika painting the never finished house of paint...
More painting on top of the other million layers of paint
Moving on to the Trike run.... Here is cute Kassidy again
Anja trying the helmet on for size
Triston giving the girls a ride...
We were able to bring our own food in for lunch. They have an inside and outside eating area. I think it is nice that they don't force you to purchase their stuff... I made these baseball cupcakes for the boys...
And Butterfly's for the girl's
On the way out we had to pass through the tunnel room again... Liam was better this time... He really liked this cone!
The perfect arm size hole too!
Until it wouldn't let go of his arm....
But he escaped and even conquered the scary colored tunnels...

So it was a happy ending and I didn't even mind the fruit loop food fight in the van on the way home... Anja even mentioned a desire to live there...
If you haven't been I totally give this place two thumbs up!