Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

We finally visited Crystal Bridges Museum this afternoon.  It has been open for more than 2 months and I am ashamed to admit that it took us until now to visit this incredible place.  If you live in NorthWest Arkansas you have to see it!  If you don't live in NWA, this is a great excuse to visit (and a great excuse to visit us)!  Check it out by clicking on the link here.

One half of Crystal Bridges from the overlook off the Compton Garden's trail.

I am including some highlights (in pictures, of course) below.  Enjoy the show.

Entrance to Crystal Bridges with Roxy Paine's Yield sculpture

Beard's It Is Very Queer, Isn't It?

Luci made the docents in the museum very nervous here...she was so good though, resisted temptation, and just looked!!!

Gilbert Stuart's George Washington

Curtis's Geronimo photograph

VERY UNIQUE!  Sperber's After the Last Supper created inversely using spools of thread.  I was amazed!

Sound Suit; Luci was mesmerized!

Norman Rockwell's Rosie the Riveter

A much needed break outside...freedom...

...and a little bit of room to run equals...

PURE JOY!!!!

Hide and Seek...Dombek's Tour de Tree; it isn't real but this sculpture sure blends in nicely with the surroundings!

Finally headed back to the car with a major case of the sillies!  Snoopy on a stick!

 However, when you visit know ahead of time that you will not be able to get away with ANYTHING!!!  Luci couldn't ride on Jason's shoulders (insurance reasons), we had to stay further than 18 inches away from the painting (I think some docents may have had a ruler stashed on their body), and we got caught chewing gum (my mistake...I should have thought of that!).  Still a great trip and we had lots to laugh about later!

First Trip to the Theater

We went to the theater yesterday afternoon to experience some of Eric Carle's classic stories live on stage!  Mermaid Theater of Nova Scotia brought blacklight puppet versions of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Brown Bear Brown Bear, and Papa Please Get the Moon For Me to the Walton Arts Center.  The first two stories are some of Luci's favorite books...we read them ALL THE TIME!  In fact Luci was narrating the show to me before the puppets would act it out.  She had a blast.

I apologize for the quality of the pictures ahead of time.  We were in a dark theater balcony and all I had was my phone but I couldn't not document Luci's first live show!!!  So bear with me and here we go...!

Before the show...she was so excited!

Puppeteers showing the audience how the caterpillar eats the fruit.

Luci is transfixed!

The Brown Bear puppet

Luci at home after the show...she passed out on the way home!  Too much fun!!!

Harvest Time

Today was Luci's Harvest Feast at school!  This is always such a fun time!

This year her class was responsible for making the pumpkin pie.  They made several at school Monday but didn't quite get enough made for every class in the school so Luci and I made one at home Monday evening for her to take to school this morning.

She was very excited that I would be joining her for lunch.  When I arrived each child was dressed as either a pilgrim or a Native American...Luci, appropriately, was dressed as a (WILD) Native American!

So excited to have Momma join her at school!

Everything tasted so good!

Happy Harvest Time to one and all!

My wild child appropriately dressed!

Showing her serious side...kind-of...if she can keep from laughing!  

Happy Halloween!

"I be a bullafly!"  Luci has been talking about dressing up as a butterfly for weeks and the night finally arrived!  She was so excited and couldn't wait to visit everyone in her costume!

We only visited family to trick or treat this year, but she didn't know the difference and she truly enjoyed being the center of attention...as always!

Enjoy the pictures!

Thinking since she has wings, she can fly...

I landed it!

"Trick or Treat...Smell my feet...Give me something good to eat!"

Trick or Treat, Pops!

Pretty proud of her loot!

 

 

 

 

Taking a break to swing.

Trick or Treat, Grandpa and Grandma!

Notice her mad sorting skills!!! (And yes, she has developed an aversion to pants.)

Pumpkin Patch Outing

This past weekend we visited a Corn Maze/Pumpkin Patch/Petting Zoo Extravaganza!  The weather was beautiful...blue sky, sunshine, gentle breeze, etc...

We started out at the petting zoo.  Luci got braver as the time went on but at first she would take my hand and make me pet the goats and sheep or make me take her hand to feed the goats hay.  She eventually got to where she would do it herself as long as I was right there with her.  Where did this timid girl come from???

Momma, you do it!

Now I'll do it, but you hold my hand!

Then we went to the corn maze.  Luci had fun telling us which path to take.  We completely disregarded the map, but who needs a map anyway?  She lost interest pretty quick since a field of corn is just that...a field of corn.

Then we headed for the "cow train".  Cow train translates to "torture ride for adults".  The train was made up of several plastic drums with people size holes cut in them; wooden cow heads and wheels attached; hooked together and pulled by a small tractor.  Luci liked it and I was happy when the bumpy ride was over!

 

Waving to no one in particular...watching the tractor that is pulling us!

We ended the outing with a visit to the pumpkin patch where Luci picked out a Luci-sized pumpkin.  It's not really fall until you head to the pumpkin patch!  Check...done!

Got my pumpkin!

Trip to Woolum and The Narrows

We visited a very special place on the Buffalo River this past weekend, Woolum and the Narrows.  It was a first visit for all of us except Jason and he had only accessed this point by boat, never by vehicle.  We did have to access this point by truck because the water levels are too low to float there.  We drove to Woolum, which is a mid-point on the Buffalo, and then did a bit of light rock climbing to reach the location known as the Narrows. 

Isn't that a gorgeous view???!!!

 The Narrows is a rock bluff that overlooks the River on one side and the fields next to Richland Creek on the other.  It is beautiful and VERY narrow...as the name implies.  We were safe, no matter what the pictures look like.  However, Jason commented as we left the area that Luci is probably one of a very few 3 year olds to have set in that spot.

Luci and Jason enjoying the view

My curious girl wants to look over the edge...Notice that Grandma has a tight hold on Luci!