Minneapolis Institute of Arts

Cool, cool time today.  I walked through an art museum, two kids in tow, one enormous stroller and a quiet 5-year-old who kept his hands to his sides.  Sorta made me feel like wonder woman.

Have you been the the MIA?  It's fabulous and FREE!  I chose today to go because I thought it was "family day."  A day called "Paper Caper," celebrating paper as an art medium and having kids crafts such as origami and print making.  The information desk informed me upon arrival that "Paper Caper" is tomorrow, but they have a terrific scavenger hunt for kids of all ages.

Hooooo, it can be unnerving when you arrive for a planned activity and you're a day early.  I decided to just go for it and take her up on the scavenger hunt, knowing how difficult a silent museum can be – particularly with my 1-year-old.

Axel, my museum buff, took to the hunt like a race-horse to roses.  We were full-on hunting for "something sad, a great place to hide, a gentle animal" . . . to name a few.  We also stumbled upon a paper arts staple at the MIA, a collage station.  Again, Axel was bang-on with the scissors and glue.

Because I wasn't familiar with their photography policy I didn't get many snaps, but while exiting I did ask for future reference and I'm happy to report it is this: Photography allowed, without a tripod, for personal use only.

Click HERE for a link to the MIA.  It's gorgeous, feels very NYC, and like I said, it's FREE.  We may be returning tomorrow for the Paper Caper.  We'll see how the Farmers Market morning goes.

I guess underwear-man really shows up in my collage.  Just trying to fit in with the artistic crowd – when in Rome...

Axel is below, showing off a copy of his collage that he left on the display wall.  I love knowing that he was proud to display it for all to see.