I want my boys to have some fine culture. I feel like I provide plenty of Country Living culture and expose them to plenty of other great aspects of life in NW Arkansas, but I’ve never given them any exposure to anything… classy.

Conveniently, Crystal Bridges is a world class museum just 20 minutes from my house with priceless pieces of art, beautiful trails and grounds and is free of admission which is amazing.

I’ve been meaning for the last year to take my sweet angels to this fantastic place and while up there for a doctor’s appointment I decided to make a grand ole trip of it.

We arrived. I got a lot of stares at my boys. and not the, “oh your little boys are cute!” kind of way. More in the “they might potentially cause millions of dollars in damage in under 1 minute” kind of way. I didn’t blame them but was confident that I was going to win them over. Because I’m awesome.

A kind man gave me a museum map and pointed out very slowly to me where the kid’s area was. He nodded at me straight faced and I nodded back like I understood his subtle meaning.

After explaining in great detail (partly in show to the museum workers listening and watching approvingly near by….) how they are to NOT run and NOT touch anything, I had both of them look me in the eye and tell me they understood. They did. The little cherubs had such a desire to obey and learn! I applauded myself on my amazing parenting skills. I was the type of parent this type of museum looked forward to having. I was calm and in control. The picture of a perfect parent with adorable, well behaved little children who just wanted to learn about art. Smugly, I positioned them for the (blurry) picture below.

I stood up to look at the picture closer and Bear started sprinting towards a nude bust of a woman. He promptly touched her bare, marble breast in a curious type of way.

I wanted to melt into the floor.

We quickly walked past heart pounding art, skin prickling beautiful works that made me swoon and breathe a sign… all while paranoidly holding tight to both my wiggly little boy’s hands.  Every turn, every corner and kind museum worker would tell us where the children’s area was where “they could touch things.” and I breathed out that I knew exactly where that area was.  I had 6 people in less than 15 minutes tell me where it was.

We fit in great there. The boys had a blast!

But the inside couldn’t contain them…

Even on this warm February day the gusty, cold wind blew us back inside and we explored the food gallery and then the new hallway that is under construction. The art was behind glass in the hallway and I felt so much more comfortable immediately HAH.

Sawyer Bug looked like darth vador walking down the hall…

Me: “What was your favorite part of the museum?”

Bug: “Running. Yeahhhhhh, running around.”

Bear: “I like twirling and jumping in puddles!”

I could have done that at home. Love living live with 2 [crazy] boys. #lifewithboys