Thanks for the great suggestion of the local science museum...my little guy loved the cute stuff and we have always had some form or another of insta snow or goo or smelly stuff around the house from some of these kids kits and he really liked the Fizzy Foamy Science kits - he just brought up the other day that he wants to really learn about how to mix "real" chemicals and saw an ad we found online for a huge kit that cost like $150.00 but contained some really cool stuff...I just have no idea where to start...it's like looking for a good microscope - there are lots out there, some are junk and are some good and some are excellent...thanks for the idea