Spring break happenings {and the William S. Paley Collection}

Spring break has been really pleasant so far. We made cookies, went to the library and I got my hair done on Monday. On Tuesday, we invited over B Boy's friend and his little sister. All four kids had a blast and I got to chat with their momma/my friend! I had meant to take a picture of them, but I totally forgot!
Wednesday was chore day. I had to renew tags for the van, get an oil change, and get B some cleats for baseball. But, we also went to TCBY, played battleship, and Tim and I watched a movie while the kiddos watched their own. I also stayed up incredibly too late working on a photo book for 2012. I am trying to get caught up to current on having photos documented.

Today we visited Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, watched the Wizard of Oz (the kids LOVED it!), and we are watching the NCAA sweet sixteen games now.

Here is more about our trip to the museum--

Degas, Cezanne, Matisse, Renoir, Gauguin, Picasso. 

These are some of the most well known names in modern art. We stood in the presence of artwork from these masters today. The William S. Paley collection that usually resides at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City is currently at Crystal Bridges. 

What an amazing opportunity this is to view these amazing works of art!

If you can, go check it out!

The museum also has kid activities going on this week, and we had a lot of fun doing an art scavenger hunt through the museum.

Bentonville, Arkansas - Let me show you around my town

Northwest Arkansas is a really cool part of our state.

There are so many neat places and things to do and see.

 It's just a cool place to live. 

I live in Bentonville and there are some really great things here.

This weekend, we got out and enjoyed some of the things that make Bentonville unique.

Friday night after dinner, we headed downtown and stopped at this little food truck that I have wanted to try for a loooong time!

This is Crepes Paulette.

From their Facebook page- Authentic, delicious French Crepes, sweet and savory, in an open-air setting.

If you want to know more about crepes, go here.

I ordered a simple lemon crepe with butter and sugar. It was divine!

The kids and Tim shared a crepe filled with Nutella. They were in heaven!

They also serve a variety of other sweet and savory crepes.  I can't wait to try a savory crepe!

Afterwards, we walked over to the square to listen to some music.

They call this Pickin' on the Square.

Lots of people had brought their lawn chairs and others were standing or sitting on benches.  

The weather was perfect and we all had a great time.

Saturday morning, we visited the Bentonville Farmer's Market for the first time this season.

We purchased some great asparagus and broccoli and a jar of red plum jelly.

There are beautiful flowers, plants, jewelry, woodwork, hair accessories, bird houses, pet things, soaps, lots of produce and even baked goods.

A few food trucks are also there every week!

We also stopped by the unveiling of Artist Alley.

Bentonville Middle School and Junior High Art Student art work is featured.

This is located on Main St. just past the new French patisserie, Meridienne.

I cannot wait to try pastries from there!

This artwork captures some of the unique, awesome things that we are lucky to get to enjoy here in Bentonville.

a showcase, an anniversary, and a play

The end of the school year is coming to a close.

It does make me sad in the fact that my babies are getting older.

BUT.

Hot dog, I'm looking forward to summer!!!

To have days without stuff on the calendar makes me ridiculously happy.

So, this is another long post.  #sorry #notsorry

I've probably mentioned it before, but our district started a 21st century classroom program last year.  It is a grant that teachers could apply for and if they were chosen, they would receive a classroom set of technology.

Last year, C's teacher applied and was a recipient!

We already had planned for B Boy to be in her class, so it was neat that he would get to be a  part of this great new thing!

Grades K-2 receive iPads and all grades above receive laptops. 

The recipients for this year's grant are actually being awarded this morning!

With last year's and this year's recipients, our district will have 47 21st century classrooms next year!

This past Tuesday evening, our district had a Technology Showcase to let these classes show off what they have used the technology for this year.

B Boy participated in his class's station.

Using his iPad that he used all year

Presenting his weather book that he wrote and illustrated online to our assistant principal

The class project was based on learning about weather.  They blogged, had a meteorologist visit, wrote books online and lots more!

Yesterday was our 10 year anniversary, so we actually got to spend the day together kid free!

We finally got the opportunity to visit the Norman Rockwell exhibit that is at Crystal Bridges Museum until May 27th.

I didn't know what to expect, but I loved every minute of it!

 It took us almost two hours to look through the entire exhibit.  I could have easily stayed longer.

First of all, his paintings are wonderful.  

Secondly, to me, it is almost insane to be able to stand right in front of the actual paintings that he painted.

Thirdly, I was shocked at how many covers of the Saturday Evening Post that he had painted for.  They had every single issue that he had done in the exhibit.  It was 362 of them or something.

Fourth, his broad range of styles is very impressive. 

The paintings that he is most known for are the iconic Norman Rockwell style from the covers of the Saturday Evening Post.

But, he also did portraits of presidents, portraits of actors/actresses for movies, true historical paintings, and paintings for propaganda poster or advertisements.

His paintings are so detailed and some are so life like.

I love how a lot of the paintings depict a small moment during regular life.

He used models for his paintings, did lots of research, and did sketches and drawings before he even started a painting!

So, there is your history lesson for the day!

This was one of my favorites-

A Christmas Homecoming -Norman Rockwell, 1948

Last night, B Boy had his end of the year kindergarten Bugz play. 

C Girl had the same one last year.

and now I've watched the videos from last year and am boo hooing!

Sweet little army ant

Such a cute play yet again!

Can I please bottle him up and keep him at this age?!!!

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

We visited Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art a few weeks ago. 

 It opened in our community on 11-11-11. 

The museum was founded by Alice Walton and designed by Moshe Safdie. Admission is free through donations from the Walton Family Foundation.

I feel so blessed to have a museum of this caliber in our back yard.  

We had a fantastic time as a family viewing the art.  We will have to go back again because it was too much to see as we were only there a little under 2 hours.

It is definitely a "must see" venue when traveling to Bentonville!

The museum's permanent collection features American art from the Colonial era to contemporary work. Notable works include a Charles Willson Peale portrait of George Washington as well as paintings by George Bellows, Jasper Cropsey, Asher Durand, Thomas Eakins, Marsden Hartley, Winslow Homer, Eastman Johnson, Charles Bird King, John LaFarge, Stuart Davis, Romare Bearden,Norman Rockwell, Mary McCleary and Walton Ford. Also included are works by Chuck Close, Jasper Johns, Norman Lewis, Alfred Maurer, Jackson Pollock and Tom Wesselman. [source]

{THE ART}

*this is only a small sampling of the wonderful works of art, we didn't even get to see everything!*

The Lord's Supper (Medium- spools of thread)

{THE ARCHITECTURE}

View from an overlook of a gallery wing

{CHILDREN'S AREA}

be creative...
an area for kids to make their own art