AE | The Weekend Lens

It's been a sick couple of days around here. Actually, Simon was out of school two days last week for some kind of stomach bug. I came down with it on Sunday and then Anna followed Sunday evening.

But, we did have a healthy Saturday.

Earlier in the week I'd gotten a note that the Jordan Schnitzer Art Museum at the University of Oregon was having a free family day with activities for the kids. In my effort to get out of the house and do at least one fun activity as a family on the weekend this was perfect.

Our first stop as we entered the museum was to check out the forest of REPAIR-ations (seen in the image above) which was created by Virginia-based artist and arts choreographer Jennifer Van Winkle. It's a collaboration between Jennifer, local school students, and students from the UO.

Basically it's a super amazing forest built from cardboard and other recycled paper materials. The highlight for the kids were the awesome cardboard animals.

After checking out the forest we went into the art room to create some leaves that will become part of the exhibit.

On the tables they had recycled junk mail, old brochures, glue sticks, scissors, pens, etc. and templates to create leaves. I helped Anna make her leaf while the boys worked on theirs.

Following the leaf-making we got to see a puppet show.

I think she liked it.

And so did Simon. Big time.

After the puppet show we did a quick trip around the museum, including a stop for a cookie in the lobby.

The art museum has a really beautiful courtyard.

We took a stroll through there on our way out. Anna really wanted to go swimming in the water feature.

And of course a game of chase on the UO campus to round out the adventure on our way to have pizza for lunch.

I'll definitely be looking for more family days at the art museum in the coming months. Great way to spend a couple hours on a Saturday.

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28 thoughts

  1. Margaret says…
    03/14/2011

    lovely and sweet.

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Taraleigh Gray says…
    03/14/2011

    Those stomach bugs are the worst. One went through our family in November and nocked all of us out, including our little 2 month old at the time (him getting the bug was scary!!) It was no fun. Hopefully you all are on the mend now.

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Bec Kilgore says…
    03/14/2011

    I love seeing the activities of your family. Triggers some great memories from when I was a young mother.

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Brooke says…
    03/14/2011

    Sounds perfect. We are also trying to do one fun family thing over the weekend. It's amazing how refreshed and alive you feel after a little adventure.

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. nicole says…
    03/14/2011

    that courtyard is one of my FAVORITE places on campus! its been two years since we've been to Eugene, but are moving back in 1 week - CAN NOT WAIT!

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. betsy says…
    03/14/2011

    The art museum does a wonderful lunch in their cafe during the week. It is a modified menu on the weekend and a bit limited, but a great place to meet up during the week and you can eat outside. So fun to see the museum being used by the next generation, I have so many fond memories of Saturdays hanging out there.

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. P.J. says…
    03/14/2011

    I so love your photos with Anna gazing up to Simon and following his lead. It is so easy to tell that he is her hero and that she loves him. And that Simon is good to little sister. Great photos.

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Karen says…
    03/14/2011

    What a fun exhibit for the whole family to participate in! I love a museum that is inclusive for all ages. Took my little Princess to the Charles Schultz Snoopy museum last spring, where she loved the drawing room and the outdoor statues. I'm looking forward to taking my boy next. I think he'll get quite the kick out of reading the comics! :>

    Hope everybody feels better soon!

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Heather M. says…
    03/14/2011

    I love how their knees are touching while watching the puppet show, so cute!

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. madeline St onge says…
    03/14/2011

    I hope you all feel better soon Ali. I love your kids, they are such happy children

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Teresa says…
    03/14/2011

    I had to pick Brianna up at school early Friday with a stomach bug she had all weekend. I even had to take chicken broth and toast to school for her at lunch time today because she didn't think she could handle the cheeseburgers they were having. Looks like you had a good Saturday though. Thanks for sharing.

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  12. Kristen says…
    03/14/2011

    My son was out two days last week with the stomach bug too and this his little sister got it but her twin brother managed to avoid it (so did my husband and me). It is definitely going around! Get some rest!

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Sally says…
    03/14/2011

    Sounds like a great day Ali. All the pictures are great, but I especially love the one of Anna & Chris - it's so sweet. Hope you're all feeling better soon! ~Sally

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Melissa says…
    03/14/2011

    I really, really miss having young children so we can do stuff like this. It's hard to get teenagers excited about stuff that I can take pictures of .... sigh! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Suzan says…
    03/14/2011

    You got an amazing family Ali! Those photos are adorable, specially Anna laughing at the puppet show :) Thanks for giving us a peek into your life :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Alison says…
    03/14/2011

    Glad you were able to get out and spend time together. We are still dealing with the stomach virus in our house. Can't seem to chase it down in spite of all the cleaning!!! Three of us have had it and I'm still saying my prayers that our two year old won't get it. I know it could be worse, so I guess that makes me grateful it's the stomach virus.
    Enjoy your blog so much, thanks for sharing.
    Be well.

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Lisa Walters says…
    03/14/2011

    How fun...I really miss those fun things to do when your kids are young. Mine are all grown up...the next museum we we would be going to is with the future grandkids:) That Anna is a ham...darling...just darling. And Simon...my goodness he is a clone (not sure how to spell..lol) of his Daddy. Just amazing he looks SO much like him. And sweet Anna looks like her Momma. How sweet. Love the pictures you share, and so nice to go down memory lane and think of my three children when they were little. Time flys by really truly does!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Tamara says…
    03/15/2011

    university of oregon is my daughter's DREAM college choice...it was fun to look at your pictures thinking i might be there visiting my daughter in a few years.

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. dawn says…
    03/15/2011

    Sorry to hear your family has been sick. Hope it's all gone now and everyone feeling better. What a fun place for the kids and adults. Great pictures of the fun. We have a place like that too and it has crafts, outdoor adventure bags to go hiking/ bird watching with, wild animals, fishing, etc. it is totally free too. We always enjoy ourselves there and it's good place to have fun and learn new things at the same time. Thanks for sharing with us.

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  20. Eniko says…
    03/15/2011

    The recycled paper forest is brilliant! Thanks for sharing!

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  21. teresa says…
    03/15/2011

    Thanks for sharing!
    You are a very sweet family, and I enjoy your blog a lot.

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. rhonda says…
    03/15/2011

    Hope you and your family are feeling better! Lovely pictures and it looks like an awesome museum. Our local museum is hosting the Cleopatra exhibit so I am excited to see it!

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Emily says…
    03/15/2011

    Oh, how I miss Eugene and the University of Oregon! Thank you, thank you for the pictures of the campus. I'm going back to do a presentation at my sorority house in May & am SO excited to be back on campus in the spring. Loved this post!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. King says…
      02/18/2014

      Action requires knoeledgw, and now I can act!

  24. Kimberly says…
    03/15/2011

    Hope you are all feeling great now! With the weather warming up, it is a tough time to be ill (it has been going around my family too). These are beautiful photos and memories.

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Courtney Walsh says…
    03/15/2011

    Looks like an absolute blast. I really hope you guys are on the mend!!

    Reply 0 Replies

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