Exploring The Crayola Experience In Pennsylvania!

I still can't get used to calling the former Crayola Factory, "The Crayola Experience" because when we first came here the kids were so little, and I've always known it to be The Crayola Factory. It has such a nice ring to it, but the fact that these kids experience so much while exploring this place makes sense as to why it's now called the crayola experience! I remember Noah having even more fun the second time we came here because he was older, and could actually hold a crayon, and draw a picture on his own!

the most colorful day ever.

I had a little bit of deja vu driving with just two kids yesterday. It reminded me of all the numerous trips we took when Sierra & Lexie were Chelsea & Noah's age. Although it's nice (and cheaper) to take out just two out of our four kids today it felt a bit weird without my two silly teens. They are away at girls camp for our church until Saturday, and that gives us a lot of opportunity to take these two out to "kiddie places". 

Although the Crayola Factory Experience is geared more towards the smaller children I think Sierra and Lexie would have enjoyed this day. They all like to paint, and draw with pretty colors, and after seeing some of these photos they might be wishing they would have went again. Not only did they change their name, but they also did some extensive remodeling.

The Crayola Experience has sure changed immensely. It looks so different compared to our first visit. Noah was just 18 months old. Prices may have gone up a few bucks, but I personally think it's all worth it. There is more variety, and the cafe is bigger. The toddler station looks more sanitary, and there is now a huge play area for the bigger kids. 

 Seriously...I thought this toy was for two year olds. 

My kids were more interested in drawing, coloring, melting & molding crayons into all kinds of shapes and sizes.

Dinosaur.

I spy a yellow worm, a heart, a dinosaur, a ring, a car, and a red Crayola guy. 

We also spent some time in the water works station where you take a crayola boat & ride it through the canal. Noah loved this! 

Here he is studying another pamphlet again.

The Crayola Store is a lot bigger, and is now inside the same building as the factory. I love anything with color, and everything inside the store is so bright and colorful. Made me happy! So many cute souvenirs to choose from too.

In our house crayons always go missing. They break, get lost, or mysteriously just disappear. We decided that the kids can choose what they want but within reason, and they wanted crayons and markers. We bought a vintage tin, and filled it up with every color there was.

Noah & Chelsea's personal colors...Noah's blue & Pinkie pink. 

We only grabbed a few markers because inside the factory there are stations in which you put a token in the machine, and it allows you to get mulitple colored markers. These tokens are given to you at no cost when you first pay to go inside.

This day was the most colorful day ever, and pretty awesome too. I'll especially remember this trip because the Crayola Experience is now going to become a historical landmark in our family. I had to give Noah a high five for peeing like a big boy in their bathroom...

and that is an experience we'll never forget!

Challenges

I asked Jon the other day(since he was born and raised in Salt Lake City), why so many youth in the church in Utah rebel, and don't truly follow the standards and teachings of the LDS church. The reason I asked him this specific question is because he was one of the majority in Utah who experienced rebellion, and at one point in his life... didn't attend church too much as a teenager. He said that he wasn't given enough challenges, and because everyone was practically a Mormon it seemed that it was just part of being who you are.

He also said he had a choice.

Don't get me wrong, I know there are good LDS families in Utah who have raised great children, but I have witnessed some of the youth between the ages of 14 -18 (even those in their early 20's) who have the most wonderful parents, not follow the teachings of the church, and it saddens me. Having lived in many different states, I see it everywhere. It's not just out west. As much as I love the mountains, miss my husband's family, friends, and being so close to the temples....I am grateful to be raising my kids outside of mormon territory because they seem to become stronger when they are faced with challenges. They also appreciate the gospel more.

I have seen the youth in various states we've lived in go through more challenges. Some are strong in facing them, and some are not. The majority of the youth are strong. Fortunately for us, moving from state to state in the past 17 years has been a blessing. We have all faced challenges, and yet overcome them with faith and fervent prayer. Our kids face challenges every day. Especially when school resumes. It's not easy when you attend a high school where there are 1300 plus students, and only five kids are LDS. I believe the youth that live outside of mormon populated states have to work twice as hard to live righteously. We have seen our oldest daughter go through trials and when we talk about them, and I mean really get into a discussion about the situation, she becomes more strong and confident. As parents, we strive so hard to keep our children on the right path without becoming weary, and to keep that open communication active.

I know all about agency and how children have to govern themselves and learn on their own. But don't you think that as a parent, we should be there for our kids and constantly be a reminder to them that although they have a choice...they have a chance to make the right one from the start?

I've made a lot of poor choices in my life as a teen without growing up in the LDS religion, but by the grace of God he saved me from becoming a mental case. I was an inactive catholic who at the age of 16 began searching for a higher divinity. It's ironic how I was searching for that light of happiness at that age, and my daughter who is 16 already has it, believes it, and recognizes the light of Christ. I believe that I am who I am today because of what I have been through in my life. I've faced many, many challenges, and grew from them. I still face challenges today at my age, and although it can be so easy to just give up, to hate, not forgive, be depressed, and feel sorry for myself...I make the choice to be strong and fill my life with pure bliss.

It's been a little over a month since Sierra returned from EFY and she continues to be the best example to us all. I have heard the old cliche, "the youth come back from girls camp, youth conference, pioneer trek, EFY or any other church affiliated activity and their spiritual high only lasts for a short time." Not true. At least not my kid. I don't mean to boast but she truly has a talent for being obedient and at her age that can be rough. She is the key to having her siblings follow in her footsteps, we are the key for our children to follow our example, and Christ is the key for all of us to follow His.

I give thanks to my Father in heaven who guides and helps my children to deal and overcome adversity. I see in them a strength, an enthusiasm, that I didn't see in myself as I was growing up. They all go forward with faith and no matter how hard things in life become...I always remind them that they are children of God, that He is always there to hear their prayers, and that we as parents are always here to listen to them.

"One of the greatest challenges for all of us is to learn how to live in the world without participating in all that it offers. Worldly standards will always be in a state of flux. The only true and unchanging standards are those set by the Savior and His teachings of the restored gospel."

~Donald L. Staheli, Ensign Feb. 2009

The Crayola Factory

"All children are artists, the problem is how to remain an artist once you've grown up."

~Pablo Picasso

As soon as my husband's in-service meeting for seminary was over, we all decided to go to the Crayola Factory. If you ever want to feel like a kid again, this is the place to go. Sierra is going to be 16 in May and she still enjoys going. Heck, I'm going to be 40 this year and I LOVE it! Noah was a baby when we came last year and slept the whole time. It was so cute to see him holding a crayon in his hand, (but not so cute in the mouth), and coloring with dad's help.

There are so many fun stations to go to. One of their favorites is the Creative Studio; where you can draw on both sides of the glass wall. 

Another favorite is the meltdown station; which is a unique way for kids to color with melted crayons. 

 They have a huge teacup filled with a myriad of different styles of crayons.

Noah had fun grabbing a handful of them!

They have a chalkwalk station where Lexie & Chelsea were drawing on the 'sidewalk'.

There's even a room that projects the kids' image on the screen where they can create their own music video.

 Sierra & Lexie depicting a 'heart' with their legs & hands!

They have an Eiffel Tower display constructed out of white crayons

and have a play area strictly for Noah's age group.

ONLY ONE YEAR OLDS ALLOWED!!

 The worlds largest crayon is displayed at the Crayola store which is located right next door to the factory. 

This blue crayon is 15 ft. long and weighs 1500 lbs.!!

As much as I would love to post more pictures (I took too many), I don't want this to be a lengthy picture post. Although the weather was beautiful & warm outside...we enjoyed spending it indoors where we can all feel like a little kid again. 

*Have you ever been to the Crayola Factory?

*What are your favorite colors?