A Day at the Museum

To most folks, a day spent at the museum most likely means a trip to the art museum, nature museum or perhaps Discovery Place, but to the Arning Bros., the best museum of all is the NASCAR Hall of Fame. What other museum gives you the chance to sit inside a race car, wave a checkered flag, change a tire or walk through a transporter? Those other "museums" pale in comparison... at least to Charlie and Chase.

On Thursday - Christmas Eve, Eve, Eve - Mike and I took the boys to the NASCAR Hall of Fame. They both had a blast! Charlie loved checking out all of the race cars and looking at the die casts. (He didn't understand why they were all encased in glass, though. He wanted to play with them!) Chase LOVED using the air gun to change a tire and pushing any knob or button he could get his hands on.

While we had a good time, I am looking forward to when the boys are a little older and understand more about racing. Then they will really appreciate the NASCAR Hall of Fame. At this point, we spend most of our time keeping Chase from climbing under ropes and onto the displays and explaining to Charlie why he can't just wonder off aimlessly.

Ah, the joys of toddlerhood.

Chase gets his first "ride" in a race car - and so does Llama Llama.

Tandem driving... BRILLIANT!

I took this picture because I love how Chase carried Llama Llama everywhere he went.

No. 14 car? Yeah, whatever. We've seen that before.

Charlie and Dada racing each other.

Isn't he sweet?

Anyone out there need a tire changer for their race team? 

Holding the air gun upside down decreases friction, thereby allowing the bolts to come off quicker.
GENIUS!

Doesn't it look like he's reading the instructions?

He's very focused, quite driven.

Charlie, getting some help with his pants. (Hey, at least his hands weren't down them!)
I finally bought the boy a belt, by the way.

"Hello? Charlie's Race Shop. How may I help you?"

"No. We are not accepting applications for a tire changer at this time."

Now it's Charlie's turn to try his hand at pit crew work.
First, the jack man...

Next, tire changer.

Charlie thinks he's reading about The King... as in CARS. Not Richard Petty.
(Sorry, Mr. Petty.)

Oh, what fun we had at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Until next time!