I've been wanting to go to the BYU Art Museum for months because I knew they were having a Christ art exhibit. For some reason I woke up feeling like today was the day. I announced my big plans to the kids (who looked like deer in the headlights) and prepared myself for moans and complaints. Fortunately Landon did NOT complain, pause unhappily or ask me when we would get back (he usually does these 3 things when he's not keen on my plans), instead Whitney took over and shifted into full-on pill mode. She asked what we would be seeing there and then told me she only wanted to go to museums with animals or to the aquarium. I informed her we would do those things one day, but not this day.
She didn't exactly throw a fit, but she spent some time in the fetal position on her bedroom floor, gave me grief about what she was wearing, and asked several more times why we weren't going to the museum with the animals. $#@% I was getting pissed. We hadn't even left the house and I was already threatening to cancel game night (she would have been devastated) if she didn't stop acting like this.
Fortunately she recovered and we left the house. We then began lunch negotiations. I don't know when she decided to have an opinion about everything, but she is certainly working the system and exploring her options. We stopped at Pizza Factory but there was a 20 minute wait so we just went to the food court at BYU (which doesn't look anything like what it did when I went to school there).
The kids were delighted with their pizzas and thought it was pretty cool that there were so many choices of things to eat. It was sort of surreal for me to be eating there with my kids. It looks so different that it didn't feel like the same place that I ate so many times. The students all look like babies, everyone was on their cell phones or listening to their iPods so it felt nothing like it did when I went there. I'm not happy or sad about that, it was just weird.
We walked over to the museum (lovely walk) and went to the Christ exhibit first. It was beautiful. I love how peaceful it was in there. The lighting was fairly dim, the walls painted beautifully and all the paintings were gorgeous. There were pieces from Albrecht Durer, Rembrant, Ghirlandaio, and many other artists. Landon ended up being pretty into it so it was fun to stand and talk with him about these artists he has studied with his home school program. It was also pretty cool because he knows these stories about Jesus so he could identify what was going on in the paintings. There were also several illuminated manuscripts (which he'd also learned about this year) so it was very cool to see those in real life.
Whitney was be-bopping around in there and was only interested in the wood carvings depicting scenes for Jesus' life. It was anxiety-producing for me because she kept wanting to touch things. She's 6.5 for Pete's Sake so she's not a tiny kid, but she sure was acting like a 4 year old today.
There was an Impressionist Exhibit downstairs that I really wanted to see so we went down there as well, but the kids were both done by that point so we were only in there for like 10 minutes. I saw a Monet, several Childe Hassan's (I loved those), and some Camille Pisarro paintings (I wasn't allowed to take pictures in there). It would have been nice to stay longer, I'll have to go back before the exhibit ends on July 8th.
We stopped by the gift shop to see if there were any postcards so Whitney could send one to Luci (Natasha's daughter) but they didn't have any. She wasn't very interested in that anyway, she wanted to touch everything she wasn't supposed to touch. She almost gave me a heart attack when she knocked a metal rocking decoration thing off its stand. I think it scared the crap out of her too so at least she has some sense. I was so flustered with her after that that I thought I was going to wig out.
We walked over to the library to visit Collette at her office. There was a lot going on in there so I felt like a fish out of water in there, but it was fun to visit Collette. I brought her this photo of me, her and Jenn on the train to Giverny (I don't have any good group shots from Paris).
We then went to the BYU Barbershop where Landon lost about 5 pounds from his head! Of course, now he's practically bald and the growing out period will be unsightly but he looks so much better. What's up with $10 for a kid's haircut, plus tip? Ouch.
Our final stop was for ice cream. I was debating whether to even get Whitney one, but I didn't want the memory to be completely wrecked for her. So here she is with her huge ice cream cone standing by a cougar, her dream come true! She's killing me!**How can I recover?
Is it worth it to continue these field trips?**
Is it worth it to continue these field trips?**
26 comments:
Oh my! First to comment! I am so excited I forgot what I was going to say.
Oh yes, I think you should continue your outing. I bet like most things it will get easier the more you attempt it. Good luck! I know the feeling of almost wigging out on your kids. That was me today in Target. I can home with the worst headache. I even made Jim stop and get pizza, my head hurt so bad. :)
Hope you are feeling better. Have a great weekend.
I'm said you went to the Christ exhibit without us. I will have to take the kids before it closes. They thought it was very cool to see the stuff downstairs that they recognized from school too.
Sorry about Whitney, I hate when they don't see my vision for the day. It sounds like you packed a lot of BYU in though, that's impressive. How nice of you to go see Collette too.
I am a big fan a field trips (unless they are with regular school)so I say keep going.
Oh, It's so worth the effort. Not to sound like my own mother (that would be horrible) but one day you'll be glad you did it. Funny about Whitney in the gift shop - Griffin STOLE some postcards the 1st time I took him to the museum of art. I was mortified when he showed them off to me in the bethrom but had to laugh. Oh, I also have a photo of Luci eating in the museum, right near the sign that says "no eating in museum." You know, it was my bribe, food in exchange for good museum behavior. Sometimes I go online before we arrive and give Luci a list of paintings to look for upon arrival. Griff, well, I'm just happy if he makes it 15 minutes without stealing or breaking. But that's how they learn what fine art is all about, introducing them young. Way to venture out!
Oops, meant "bathroom."
yes yes continue.
i loved hearing about being in the cougar eat - I never ate there because i never felt cool enough to do so - funny that i only thought the cool kids ate there, silly to even type it.
i loved you taking a photo of the tray and good thing i was there because i would have probably tried to slip it under my shirt for momento sake.
try buying those big oversized magnifying glasses for the kids to take to the museum. you can buy them at staples. kind of pricey at $10. each but oh so worth it. i will see if i can find a cheaper resource online.
but i have to say it is almost more fun to read about your day then to go myself. please venture on it was fun to read and now makes me glad i have done so much documenting of our own adventures.
and if my caroline can learn to enjoy museums than seriously any child can - she loves them now - she still screams and goes crazy and almost gets kicked out everytime but she likes them.
i can't wait for your next adventure!
ok so i just found myself 3 large ones on ebay for $11.96 with shipping. your post motivated me to find some and finally get them.
we are headed to the Hirshorn sometime this summer and they will be great. so see your post motivated even me to get out and do more!
Yeah, I was totally considering taking my kids there. I thought if Michelle can do it, so can I! I may still give it a try. Kaitlin really likes pictures of Christ (but strangely not the Greg Olsen board book we have). We'll see how it goes. I really want to go to the Utah Museum of Fine Art at the U.
It is weird being on campus, isn't it? The cougar eat looked like that for most of my tenure at BYU, but it still seems so different. There is a lot more technology walking around that place, and the students do seem so young! Still, I find it invigorating to be there. I wish I was still there, sometimes.
oh yea, one more thing.
i love the group spt shot.
Sorry you had a tough day, Jill! So disappointing when you have a lovely vision of doing something special with your kids and the real life version gets thrown out of whack.
I think it is great that you took them to a museum. I haven't taken mine to anything so 'do not touch.' You make me feel inspired and brave. Maybe we'll try something like that soon.
Yes, keep going. If we waited until our kids were old enough to sit still and be quite the whole time, no one would go to church for 10 years!
So, do you home school your kids? Ho does that work?
Childe Hassam is my all time favorite artist. I love his 'Avenue In the Rain' piece.
I went through that exhibit the last time my mom was out here. The manuscripts were my favorite as well, along with The Circle of Rembrandt and those modern color themed painting by some male artist, I forgot his name.
It always weirds me out going back to campus, even though it hasn't been long since I graduated. Yes, the girls are getting more Barbie-ish and everyone is all tech-savvy. I also think that by the time I die I won't recognize any of the buildings on campus.
Oh, and I used to work in the office by the fake cougar set-up! There's actually a small door in the office that opens into the display and I climbed in through it once to pose with the cougar. Fun times!
wow- i am so happy to read about someone else who has a kid that throws a fit places! :) i think you should definitely continue- for one, it inspires me to go out and adventure a little more and for two, i'm so grateful for all the times my mom (and dad) packed my brother and i into our '78 toyota corolla and put up with our screaming, whining, tooth-punch-outing behavior. we saw a ton of things that i still remember and honestly, even the bad times seem kind of good now!
good for you! and while i didn't go to byu, i can understand going back to that kind of environment. i'm amongst the college kids daily and they all look like babies to me, too...so weird!
(btw- i think it's so awesome that you actually know about art! i look at something and think "wow, that's pretty" or "wow- what were they thinking?")
So glad those Percocets are coming in handy- I think I would have taken one after your day too.
I say the outings are totally worth it in the long run. You get those good mom feelings, your kids get to experience life outside of their normal summer schedule, they learn how to act (and not act) in public. Your day sounded so jam packed too- I would have been so done after the constant desire of touching things. Total fun mom point to you today.
Thank you for the reality. Life is not a serene impressionist painting. Seriously. I always have grand ideas and come home feeling whipped. Kids are difficult. Yet, being homebound with them is equally difficult, so you may as well eek out some culture or outside existence.
I feel your pain! My kindergartener is going through the same thing.
I enjoyed your pictures and descriptions. My perception of BYU has changed since I started blogging and met all you BYU grads.
the good news is that whitney will not remember the acting up phase(s?) of this trip but she will remember the fun mom field trip so good job and yes, continue on friend!! documenting the trip is great to read for us and will be fun to look on back for you.
how yummy does that ice cream look?
Yes, yes, yes!!! This whole scenario is so very familiar to me. I am always completely whipped when we come home from an outing. There is always food bribery involved of some kind, and Eva usually ends up crying for a decent portion of the trip. But like someone else said, it's no picnic staying home with them all the time either! And with hindsight, you do start to remember the good parts -- mostly. I think they will remember your outings with fondness! Way to be a fun mom! (Dang Collette is photogenic!)
Even with all the fuss, it's worth it! Think of all the memories. Your day looked like a lot of fun. The girls are off school now and I've got to think of something to keep those little tigers busy for the summer.
Yes, continue! Think about the outing from your son's perspective - I love that he had enough background to appreciate the outing - such a good teacher you are! And a good idea to end the field trip on a high note, though you preferred to wring her neck instead - she will remember the fun parts, for sure. And so will you, someday!
It meant so much to me that you came for a visit. I love to have visitors since I don't have them very often. Travis is on campus with me, but RARELY stops by. Ususally, it isn't that crazy. Free ice cream + students = crazy!!
Thanks friend for including me on your Mom Field Trip! I will keep the photo on my desk and when I have a stressful day, it will take me back to Giverny with my girls!
Oh, by the way - After you left, my friend and co-worker Debra said, "was that Jill?" I thought you must have met but then realized she has read your blog off of mine. Too funny!
I definitly think you need to continue! I have a hard time going on big outings because the kids NEVER seem to really appreciate it and it is usually a lot of work and a long day!
Hope you can stay home and recover today!
Love the food court pictures, and your kids, as always, are so cute. My friend works at the Google NYC headquarters, and I don't know if you have read about Google's offices, but we rehearsed there last night and it was RIDICULOUS. Talk about food courts! There were two college-sized food courts and all the food and drinks in the building are free. Ridiculous. They had a game room, people were riding scooters down the hall... I loved it
Yes Ditto!
I mourn the loss of the old Cougareat. I have fond memories of going there on our road trips to Utah with my family. It was under construction for most of the time when I was at the Y. I hate the whole food court feel. Oh well.
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