Portland Art Museum.

You know what? When I lived in Queens and was about 20 minutes away from NYC, I think I sort of took it for granted. Gasp. I had all the best food, museums, Broadway shows, people watching, parks, famous actors, etc., right at my fingertips. Don't get me wrong - Colin and I would take a train ride here and there into the city for a day of exploring. But if you put me there now, I would go nuts with excitement. I think it's when you live far from it, that it becomes a cherished concept. That's how I felt at the Portland Art Museum today. We are so blessed to have Monet and other amazing and famous painters right downtown in Portland, yet I only go about 2 times per year. Seriously. Today I deemed a "field trip" day as I am trying to be better about using library passes that allow us to do cultural things for free. So, my  mom and I packed up four kids and headed in. You know what? It was really fun. We didn't stay super long, but long enough to get some culture into these kids. They all loved the samurai exhibit, but could have done without the paintings. I guess that takes time, right?

Above: in front of Monet.
Below: all of us ready to go in - Sissy is standing with her cousin, Ella.

Below: my mom loved the paintings as well. She snapped some pics with her phone.

Below: the kids getting a pre-museum lecture from Grandma about appropriate behavior in this setting. My  mom is a master at lectures. For realsies. She would agree.

Below: jaw dropping.

Below: we decided the horses weren't real, but only after a stranger advised us that the "fur" was actually fabric. Could have fooled me.

These two are so sweet together - they were positively giddy with each other's company!

So the only cost we had to get into this museum was the parking. The cultural pass I snagged got adults in free. I would highly recommend.