spring break

It was spring break around here this week, although it didn't really feel like it since our week wasn't much different than normal. We still had piano lessons and swimming on Monday (although both girls each had a private lesson for swimming since so many kids were gone for break). We still had gymnastics on Wednesday (except only 3 of 6 kids were there and we didn't have lunch/play with H&M afterwards because they are off on a sun-filled vacation).

The girls didn't, however, have preschool on Tuesday or Thursday so we did do a few different things on those days. After hitting the gym Tuesday morning, we grabbed a quick lunch and headed to the MOA. This was the only poor choice on my part as everyone else in Minnesota decided to go there as well. I thought I was being smart by combining a trip to IKEA for returns with discounted rides at MOA for Toddler Tuesday, but we ended up leaving before using all of our ride points because the crowds were out of control. Note to self: never go to MOA in March.

Thursday was a much more successful day. We visited the Minneapolis Institute of Arts with Katie and had a blast. 

The girls have been dying to see a real Monet painting ever since Nana and Papa brought them a book about Monet from their trip to Paris last fall. Katie loves art and knows a lot so she was pointing out some great stuff to the girls and they were very engrossed.

We were both impressed with Little Pie, because she pointed out a painting that she thought was Monet. While it wasn't, it was so similar, Katie and I were at first mistaken too. She really has the eye!

Of course, the girls were a tad disappointed that the Monet painting we did find, was not the famous Water Lilies, but they were impressed nonetheless.

Claude Monet: Grainstack, Sun in the Mist

Admiration. Little Pie didn't put her map of the museum down.

Claude Monet: The Seashore at Sainte-Adresse

The girls also have a book about Edgar Degas. They aren't as into him since the story is about him being kind of a grumpy old man. But they were still interested in finding a painting of his. We didn't find a dancer painting like they had hoped, but we did find a portrait.

OK, so they actually set off the alarm when they got too close to the Degas, but the guard nearby was super nice about it. Little Bird on the other hand was mortified and wanted to leave and go home immediately. It took a while, but she finally got over it.

We had a super yummy fun lunch with Katie at French Meadow Bakery afterwards (because we were all about the French). And what do you suppose the girls wanted to do when they got home?

Paint of course...

Katie's favorite Van Gogh which we had seen at the museum.

We were all super excited because Rob had Friday off. We started off going to a really great family Good Friday service at church. It was interactive so the girls were quite engaged. There was also a reading of The Giving Tree (which is one of the girls' favorite books) and Pastor Peter "played" the tree. The girls were quite excited to see the reenactment.

After church we (along with many other people apparently) got some pancakes at the Original Pancake House. We had originally planned to go the Bell Museum for the afternoon but Rob was not feeling that great and the girls were yawning like crazy. Instead we went home to relax.

We are all super anxious for the snow to melt and for the weather to be warm. While it was fairly nice today, it's going to be cold for Easter and the beginning of next week. Why won't this winter ever end?