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Over the weekend, we spent a whole day at the Dallas Museum of Art. They were having a "BooksmART" event, where authors and illustrators came to talk about their craft, sign some books and lead workshops. One of your Mommy's favorite illustrators/authors (her illustratin' idol, in fact), David Wiesner, was one of the stars of the day. So we stalked him at the museum.
First we heard a lecture from him. He had a Powerpoint showing drawings from some of his great books. And you got really excited and vocal when the giant frogs (from "Tuesday") and lizards (from "Art & Max") were shown on the screen. You made it through about half the lecture before I decided to duck out with you. You weren't getting fussy, but you were maybe getting too excited and screeching and pointing, so you and I had some Daddy & Aidan fun time around the museum while Mommy finished listening to the lecture.
You had a blast looking at all the cool art and a few of the children's attractions they had there.
It was also a very flattering day for me because of the transitive property of compliments.
A lot of people stopped me to tell me how adorable you are. One woman even stopped me to say that you were a beautiful boy with gorgeous eyes.
Then a few minutes later, a Museum person observing you riding on my shoulders stopped us and said that you looked just like me.
Therefore, ipso facto, I, too, must be adorable!
But, enough about me!
After we met up with your Mommy after the lecture, we went and grabbed our picnic lunch while Mommy waited in line to get Mr. Wiesner's autograph in all 5 of his books that we own. It was hot as blue blazes, so I fed you a banana in the shade for the most part while your Mom waited.
But then we got to the front of the line and blammo! You, me and your Mom met David Wiesner!
First we heard a lecture from him. He had a Powerpoint showing drawings from some of his great books. And you got really excited and vocal when the giant frogs (from "Tuesday") and lizards (from "Art & Max") were shown on the screen. You made it through about half the lecture before I decided to duck out with you. You weren't getting fussy, but you were maybe getting too excited and screeching and pointing, so you and I had some Daddy & Aidan fun time around the museum while Mommy finished listening to the lecture.
You had a blast looking at all the cool art and a few of the children's attractions they had there.
It was also a very flattering day for me because of the transitive property of compliments.
A lot of people stopped me to tell me how adorable you are. One woman even stopped me to say that you were a beautiful boy with gorgeous eyes.
Then a few minutes later, a Museum person observing you riding on my shoulders stopped us and said that you looked just like me.
Therefore, ipso facto, I, too, must be adorable!
But, enough about me!
After we met up with your Mommy after the lecture, we went and grabbed our picnic lunch while Mommy waited in line to get Mr. Wiesner's autograph in all 5 of his books that we own. It was hot as blue blazes, so I fed you a banana in the shade for the most part while your Mom waited.
But then we got to the front of the line and blammo! You, me and your Mom met David Wiesner!
Then we fed you your delicious lunch in the shade of the museum trees and the Dallas skyline!
But, being the s-m-r-t parents that we are, we knew that you needed to nap (it was already nearing 1:30 and you hadn't had your 11 o'clock nap yet!). So we decided to take a stroll around the museum in the hopes that you'd fall asleep.
In one empty gallery, we thought we had lulled you to sleep. But then you discovered how to make an echo and then filled the gallery with some underwater echolocation noises.
So we had to take you somewhere less entertaining. And we found it: a one-room exhibit of architecture line drawings did the trick! Good night, Aidan!
But, then we hit a problem. The area for the next event, a workshop, was a no-stroller zone! But you needed to nap...so we decided that you'd spend your nap in my arms. But, problem two: my arms would fall off if I had to hold you for over an hour. So, solution: home-made sling! Your mom tied my shirt (which had previously served as a picnic blanket) ((good thing I wore two shirts)) around you and me and made a civil-war style sling. I worked perfectly! I could hold you but spread some of the weight to my shoulders. And, not-so-secretly, I relished every moment of cradling you in my arms and having you sleep on my shoulder. You don't do that too often any more!
So, we parked the stroller and stood in line for Wiesner's workshop. You slept for an entire hour in my arms, but when you woke up, you woke up excitedly. You found yourself in an art room and started excitedly vocalizing at all the drawings and cool crafts around. Once you were done cuddling and pointing, you were ready to join in the fun. So we got you a pencil and a piece of paper, and you went to work doing your own full-body, super-excited illustration!
While your picture will certainly be hung up on the side of our fridge, it's really the whole adventure that I'd like to put in a frame and hang up on our wall-- that way, we'll never forget it. But, I guess this blog entry will do.
And, at any rate, the Museum's just around the corner. I suspect that we'll be spending many a fun day in the museum, and maybe one day, we'll be there to see yours and your Mommy's artwork hanging up on the wall!
