Maritime Museum

While James and Daniel were away, I decided to take Eliza and Alexander to the Maritime Museum, thanks to the Howie's giving us a voucher. We headed to the station and hopped on the train to start our adventure.

We also picked up shortbread men for the train ride which the kids were very keen to eat!

We changed at Central to go on the light rail to the Museum and on our way the kids were excited to have a visitor meet us.

Auntie Jenny!!

She caught the light rail with us and then walked us to the Museum. I honestly think this was the highlight of the day. Thanks Auntie Jenny for fitting us in.

First stop was to go on the Navy ship - HMAS Vampire. The kids weren't so keen to go up and down the stairs. They were complaining that they were hungry (and my kids do) but they did it anyway.

What's for dinner?

Are these our beds?

Mind your step

Good night

Guns loaded?

While we were looking at the guns one of the men who worked there doing tours asked us if we would like to look in the captain's room (also called the Bat Cave). Sure! The kids liked sitting in the captain's chair and seeing all the lights for all the different actions but didn't really grasp where they were. There is so much in that little room. I would hate to be the captain. You can just feel how much pressure there would be as the captain.

Captain Eliza

Captain Alexander (Notice the light going on and off for the location of other ships)

We then headed up to the bridge where the kids again sat in the Captain's chair. Quite a nice view up there.

Next up was the submarine. I headed down the ladder first and then helped the kids down. We looked at where the missiles were inserted then headed on down the cramped space of the submarine. The layout is pretty amazing. I wasn't expecting the door ways to be so little, being circles. You wouldn't want to be getting from one end of the submarine to the other quickly. The kids liked looking at the different features of the submarine but weren't too keen to hear more information about them.

Alexander in the sleeping quarters

Driving the submarine

We had a look through the periscope and I was excited to spot Centrepoint Tower through it. However, it was tricky for the kids to see it, particularly for Alexander who can't wink yet... so struggled to look through the periscope using just one eye. But they still liked having a go.

I know I mentioned it before, but the small space that makes up a submarine is amazing. The layout is so compact, yet detailed. The doorways are so little and round. Not the easiest to walk through. So cool to see inside one.

The kids finished their time on the submarine with a nap.

We then headed back into the museum, got our bag and sat down for morning tea by the ship.

We then walked around the harbour to the tall ship - James Craig - for a look.

The kids were surprised by how small the kitchen was on it.

They also enjoyed the bunk beds on the ship too. Eliza told me to leave them there and go and look at everything else and then come back to them. Unfortunately there wasn't heaps to look at but that was ok.

We walked along the ship and found another sleeping quarters which the kids liked looking out the porthole. I liked that you could see Centrepoint Tower through it.

I spy with my little eye...

The kids liked sitting at the Captain's Quarters, especially around the dining room table feasting on the pretend food. They agreed that the captain's room is much more comfortable than the ship mates.

We then headed back up deck and the kids had a go at steering the ship. Sure, I'd feel comfortable with Alexander steering the ship.

So tall!

We then headed into the kids' play space where the kids did a bit of art - stamping and then collage pictures of under the sea.

Next up was lunch which was interrupted by Alexander repeatedly needing to go to the toilet. Eliza was so patient with us needing to stop eating, pack up our lunch and head to the toilet to then have Alexander do nothing. After lunch we had a quick look at a photography exhibition and then headed back to the light rail where the kids enjoyed waving to the drivers.

By now Alexander was quite tired, you could tell.

We hopped onto a train that went over the Harbour Bridge which the kids were quite excited about!

Until we got to Milson's Point where Alexander said 'My bottom's hurting' which meant that he needed to go to the toilet. We hopped off the train, ran down the stairs, tapped out and then went to the toilet. Nothing. He tried the monkey but nothing came out. We headed back up the stairs and saw that another train was coming in a couple of minutes. Alexander then started to get upset again saying 'My bottom is hurting.' So we headed back downstairs again and had another try. Nothing. This happened 3 more times. The poor monkey was in tears and in a lot of pain. He kept saying 'I will do it this time' and I could see he was trying but nothing was happening. My patience was gone. It was hot downstairs, even hotter by running up and down the stairs. It was frustrating that he needed to go to the toilet but wouldn't let it out. I just wanted to get home. We were at Milson's Point station for around 35-40mins by the time we got on our next train (we would have been home if we hadn't gotten off the train). When we got on the train Alexander said 'My bottom hurts' but I was not going to get off the train again. I said that we had tried multiple times and nothing had happened so we were going to head home. He was upset and just wanted cuddles. My poor chook. He was so tired he ended up falling asleep on my lap. Quietly I loved these cuddles, but I was nervous that he was going to go to the toilet on me. Fortunately he didn't.

This gorgeous girl showed me what real patience, understanding and love is.

When we had lunch and had to keep stopping, Eliza didn't complain once. Instead I did saying things like 'It isn't fair to Eliza and I that we have to keep stopped when you don't need to go.' I know it was the wrong thing to say and wasn't helping him at all, but in the moment, it was what I was thinking. When at Milson's Point, Eliza went up and down the stairs multiple times with no complaint. Only towards the last few times did she start to echo me in saying 'Alexander, this isn't fair to me or Mummy.' Whoops. This amplified that I need to be careful what I say. Thank you baby girl for showing me these qualities and for understanding Alexander's situation and how hard it was for him. 

Fortunately the sleep helped Alexander to have a more peaceful train trip. He woke around 3 stops away from our station and started to say 'My bottom is hurting' and was in tears. We pushed through and made it back to Hornsby and headed straight to the toilet for him. Alexander was a legend and pushed out the largest poo ever! Poor monkey. No wonder his tummy and bottom were sore. I'm so glad that he got it out then though so we could head home fine after that. 

Talk about a stressful and full on train trip! Made me nervous about doing train trips while he is toilet training and nervous about how he will go with toilet training but we will continue to hang in there and do fun adventures.