Look at these cute Easter Bunny Cupcakes that Rachel made!
She made each pair of bunny ears by cutting a large marshmallow in half diagonally and then sprinkling pink sugar crystals on the cut sides which were just moist enough to hold the sugar in place.
The bunny face was a basic cupcake recipe with fluffy white icing, chocolate chip eyes and a jelly bean nose.
Through October, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden will "Celebrate the Children" through an
art exhibition of beautiful, hand-crafted bronze sculptures of children, which are displayed
throughout the garden. The exhibit features more than 25 different,
hand-produced, bronze sculptures, many of which are of his own children. The
11-foot sculpture, "Celebration!" features joyous children
celebrating life and soaring around the globe. The exhibition encourages guests
to revisit childhood memories such as singing Ring-Around-The-Rosie in
"Circle of Peace" with five children or playing in the grass near one
of the four "Cartwheel" statues. The pieces range from 2 to 7.5 feet
tall with one sculpture weighing more than 1,300 lbs.
We enjoyed having the opportunity to hear the artist, Gary Lee Price, speak about how art has been therapeutic for him and how he became inspired to create these beautiful statues. You can hear a little about his story in this video below:
We had fun exploring the garden looking for all of his statues. Here are just a few of them we found.
Rachel saw this sweet statue of a mom holding her little girl up in the air. She laughed and asked me to pick her up like that. Sorry, baby girl but you are on your own. I do miss those days when my kids were little enough to hold up in the air like that. Savor the days, Mama!
Anytime we go to the Arboretum, I always make sure that we spend some time in the Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden. It is so much fun for kids but there is so much to learn here too!
Speaking of learning, there is a homeschool class coming up next week called Wetlands Biologist: How healthy is our habitat? In this program, students explore our Texas Native Wetlands on our outdoor island classroom. They will collect scientific data by examining live macroinvertebrates using cutting edge scientific tools. Students will then make connections between the living and nonliving parts of the ecosystem to determine the health of our waterway. The homeschool class is for grades K-6th (ages 5-12). It takes place on April 22 from 10:00 - 11:00 or 11:15 - 12:15. As we walked through the garden, Nicholas found this ladybug pupa. It is kind of like a teen ladybug in that it is not quite fully developed. I wouldn't have known what it was without its spots!
We spent some time in the lab. There is currently a great exhibit about the scientist and naturalist Alexander von Humboldt.
He obviously understood the thoughts of homeschool moms around the world when he said this....
Besides the amazing nature items on display, there are also several digital stations with different activities like this Case of the Mysterious Egg in which a strange egg appeared in the nest of an Eastern Phoebe.
She had to review the evidence which included learning about the Eastern Phoebe as well as other types of birds and their egg size in order to determine the species of the mysterious egg.
We wandered about the Children's Garden for quite a while. We found the petrogylphs.
And we spend time learning about amazing numbers in nature and the Fibonacci spiral.
My kids always enjoy the Pendulum Art station. They pour sand into the pendulum bucket and then learn about the designs that it creates as it naturally swings back and forth.
Do you know what this cool looking contraption is?
It's a giant kaleidoscope! You can turn the different discs to change your view in thousands of ways.
I said it earlier but savor the days, mama. As they get to be teens, it might not be so easy to get them to pose for pictures with you!
This little sweetheart still loves to pose for me though!
The Dallas Arboretum is the perfect place to get some nice posed pictures of your children and family. Walk around and explore for just a few minutes and you are bound to find a great backdrop of nature for your pictures.
Rachel was actually just sitting here quietly enjoying the waterfall on her own when I snapped this candid picture. It's amazing how nature helps to calm children and get them more focused.
We had a wonderful time at our visit to the Dallas Arboretum. Take a look below at all of the wonderful events coming up over Easter weekend and throughout the spring.
Easter Weekend Activities in Main Garden:
New! Break the World Record for Largest Bunny Hop
Saturday, April 20 |Noon| Jonsson Color Garden
Join WFAA Good Morning Texas reporter and producer, Paige McCoy-Smith, and the Easter Bunny in the garden, and help them attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest bunny hop. All ages are welcome to participate, and the event is free with paid garden admission.
Easter Portraits
Saturday and Sunday, April 20-21 |10 a.m. - 4 p.m.| Jonsson Color Garden
Chris Ivey Photography will be in the garden to take family portraits with a live bunny. Portraits are available to purchase from the photographer.
Easter Brunch
Sunday, April 21| 10:30 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. | Restaurant DeGolyer and Rosine Hall
Get together with family and friends for a picturesque brunch. Enjoy an elaborate menu featuring multiple carving stations and extensive chef antipasto displays. Seating for brunch is at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Reservations are required. To book your reservation, please call 214-515-6511
Artscape Fine Art and Craft Show
Saturday & Sunday, April 27-28, 9 a.m. -5 p.m., Pecan Grove
Artscape, a juried fine art and fine craft show and sale, is where 100 outstanding artists from around the country showcase their art. Artscape features a variety of mediums including painting, sculpture, 2-D and 3-D mixed media, photography, jewelry, glass, digital art, ceramics and more. The layout for the art fair is architect-designed for maximum visibility of artists and audience flow. Visit https://www.dallasarboretum.org/events-activities/artscape for more information.
Spring Cool Thursdays Concert Series
Every Thursday through June 27
7:30-9 p.m., Martin Rutchik Concert Stage and Lawn
The premier concert series "Cool Thursdays," sponsored by Wells Fargo, single tickets are available for purchase now at the Dallas Arboretum and feature four new exciting tribute bands. As Dallas' only concert series overlooking the picturesque White Rock Lake on the award-winning Martin Rutchik Concert Stage and Lawn, concert subscriptions and single tickets have a history of selling out quickly. To see concert lineup and purchase tickets, visit https://www.dallasarboretum.org/events-activities/cool-thursdays-concert-series/
Garden Tea
Daily, April 8-September 21
11 a.m. & 2 p.m.
Enjoy Garden Tea which includes a three-course meal with three different tea options. Teas are available Monday through Friday with seatings at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. for $49 per person, or an additional $10 to add champagne. Reservations are required. Contact 214-515-6511 or email teas@dallasarboretum.org to book a reservation.
Try three free different samples featuring a weekly vegetable, fruit or herb from the garden. Visit www.dallasarboretum.org/recipes for past, current and future recipes.
DEMONSTRATION COOKING: El Centro College Cooks
Every Monday, 11 a.m.-Noon
Donald and Charlotte Test Pavilion
Participate in this popular demonstration cooking class, taught by Chef Alison Matis from the college's nationally recognized culinary school.
April-Honey Roasted Radishes and Creamy Dilled Green Bean Salad
DEMONSTRATION COOKING:
Presented by: Chef Carol Pock
Saturday, April 20, 11 a.m.-Noon
Donald and Charlotte Test Pavilion
Free with paid garden admission
Join Chef Carol Pock, a Certified Integrated Health Coach, Healthy Living cooking instructor, and Wellness Consultant, demonstrate how to make three different types of deviled egg recipe
Flower Power
A Meditative Walk in the Garden
April 26 * Level 1 * 10:30am-Noon
May 17 * Level 2 * 10:30am-Noon
$45
In the last 30 years, the immediacy of the technology coupled with the "I must have this" causes havoc on the body, brain and spirit. Bodies can go into in crisis mode with digestive disorders, anxiety and panic attacks. In this two-part series, Patricia Dedman Nail, owner of 6-D Design and clinical psychotherapist, teaches a processes that can be used to combat stress. Class is held in A Tasteful Place, followed by a healing meditative walk in the garden. For more information, please visit https://www.dallasarboretum.org/event/flower-power-spring-april-2019-2/ or call 214-515-6615.
INTERACTIVE COOKING:
Lorie Fangio- 4-Course Spring Market Menu
April 27, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Donald and Charlotte Test Pavilion
$70
Join Lorie Fangio, teaching chef, and owner of A Taste of Paris™, for a spring French market class. Lorie teaches a four-course meal as she shares stories of the French table. This four-course meal starts with decadent Baked Goat Cheese with Tomato Confit. Our second course will be a beautiful Pear and Endive Salad with a French vinaigrette, and learn to make the perfect risotto; French style. To register, visit https://www.dallasarboretum.org/event/lorie-fangio-french-pastries-2-17-19/
Get excited for two weekends full of egg-citing, egg-themed programs. Stop by the Plant Lab for special egg-squisite egg dying using plant-based dyes. This year, an eggs-tra egg-citing weekend is included, and the plant lab offers egg-speriments every hour on the hour. Be sure to reserve a lab seat online. Appropriate for ages 5 and older.
Creativity Corner: Easter Edition Sponsored by Neiman Marcus
Friday-Sunday, April 19-21
10 a.m.-2 p.m., Entry Plaza
Kick off the day by creating a homemade Easter craft to take home.
I want to be more intentional about including fine arts in our homeschool. It's easy to let those things slide when the schedule gets busy. But I've been working on integrating more famous composers, paintings and sculptures, and of course, poetry into our school week.
Poetry is so beautiful. It speaks to the soul and can touch us in a way that regular prose and literature just can not do.
We have started having Poetry Tea Time and so far the kids are loving it. The idea is to have a special time each week to enjoy "the finer things". We play some soft classical music in the background and have a nice snack with some hot herbal tea (or maybe lemonade). We take turns reading poetry aloud or reciting poetry that we've memorized. If there is a painting or art piece that corresponds with our poetry selection then we will talk about that as well. Today we had an Easter and Daffodils themed tea setting.
Rachel loves tea parties and snacks so she was giddy to get started!
Part of the reason for having a formal tea party setting is that it is also a good way to sneak in some lessons on manners and etiquette to my children. I was proud to see Nicholas pouring Rachel's tea for her. He's growing up to be a fine young gentleman.
This tea was delicious! It's called Honeybush tea from Mountain Rose Herbs. It's organic and it contains berries, roses, and honey. Yum! We had our tea party close to lunch time so I made it a little heartier than usual. Deviled eggs...because you must have eggs if you want an Easter-themed snack. I also had some tortillas rolled up with ham or roast beef. The deli section at the grocery made this quick and easy for me but sometimes the kids like to take the time to bake cookies or get creative with their own snacks.
Of course, hot cross buns are perfect for an Easter-themed tea party.
We enjoyed a few chocolate eggs for our dessert.
I usually don't add anything to my hot tea but I showed the kids how to add cream and sugar to theirs.
To make it a little more fancy than usual I put cute little sugar cubes in the sugar bowl. I took this random picture of the kids and then realized that Nicholas was sneaking a plain sugar cube! Oh my!
I watched Nicholas drink his tea. He picked it up just a little bit and then leaned his body over to drink it. THIS is part of the etiquette training that my kids need!
I showed him how to drink tea while sitting up straight and bringing the cup to his mouth! You can tell from his eyes that he appreciated this training....
Easter is just a few days away and one of the poems I wanted to read to the children was about daffodils so I found some beautiful daffodils for the table. They bright color and soft petals just make me happy!
I read my poem aloud and I had them take turns narrating back to me what it was about. We talked about some vocabulary words as well as rhyme, rhythm, and personification.
Then I talked about the author, William Wordsworth, and read a few more of his poems.
Then the kids picked out some poems to read aloud. One of the poems Nicholas read was Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll.
We ended our Poetry Tea Time with some recitation. Nicholas learned Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost many years ago after his grandmother read it to him. I asked him if I could make this video so she could see that he still knows the poem even after all these years.
We don't usually have such a formal tea time and we don't usually have a particular theme but this one was a little more formal because of Easter. I think we all enjoyed the fancier setting so we just might continue to do it this way. It's just a small way to make appreciating poetry a little more fun.
If you have talked to me much about homeschool and language arts, you know that I enjoy learning from Andrew Pudewa so I thought I'd share his most recent podcast which just happens to be all about poetry -
The Easter Bunny always hides a filled basket for each child downstairs. But they can't go looking for the baskets until Mommy and Daddy are up. Here they are running down the stairs to start their hunt this morning. So exciting!
Nicholas climbed over all the furniture still piled in the playroom from the flood. He was sure that his basket would be hiding behind the curtain in the playroom. Apparently the Easter Bunny has hidden it there more than once. But alas, it wasn't there.
Our whole downstairs is still a mess from the flood so it was harder for them to tell if something looked a little different. But Nicholas found his basket under a blanket by the fireplace.
Rachel had a harder time finding hers and even Nicholas tried to help her. She finally found it on the shelf under the kitchen island. She was so happy!
The Easter Bunny didn't seem to have as much in the kids' baskets as usual but sometimes even the Easter Bunny can get tired and distracted.
Both Nicholas and Rachel found little plush bunnies in their baskets. We seem to have a lot of contact with baby bunnies these days so it was perfect timing.
Rachel keeps putting her bunny on her shoulder. Does she think it's a parrot?
After munching on some candy, we settled down for some Eggs Benedict. This used to be my children's favorite breakfast but now Nicholas said it has dropped to second place. Now his favorite is breakfast burritos (which we made yesterday).
We had fun at the Flower Mound Easter Egg Scramble. They don't hide the eggs and candy. They just throw it out on a field and let the kids race for it so it is called a Scramble instead of a hunt!
The kids were divided up by age groups. I took Rachel to the field for ages 5-6 while Stuart took Nicholas to the field for ages 7-9.
The kids were all packed in at the gate waiting to be let loose on the field.
While we waited for all the eggs to be placed, I tried to get a picture of Rachel. She just whined and said, "Come on Mom! There will be plenty of time for pictures after I get the candy!"
The kids were let loose! There was loose candy scattered all over along with some plastic eggs that contained either candy or a ticket to claim a special prize!
Rachel got tons of candy and a few eggs...
...but most importantly she had lots of fun!
After the egg scramble, we headed to the bounce houses to wait to meet up with the boys.
Stuart caught some pics of Nicholas at his scramble. Here he is ready to go.
He got tons of eggs and candy too.
A short while after the kids finished their egg scrambles, there was actually another scramble that was just for the adults. Stuart and I both participated. It was actually fun and it was humorous watching adults trip and fall as they scrambled for eggs like silly kids. I actually got a prize ticket in one of my eggs.
I went to the booth to claim my prize. I knew some of the prizes were gift certificates to local businesses so I said a little prayer to get a massage gift certificate. That didn't happen. Instead I was handed a brand spanking new...basketball. Yep, I won a basketball. So I handed it over the Nicholas and tried to roll my lip back up to my face.
There was a cute little petting farm where Rachel got to hold lots of different rabbits.
They were all so cute and furry!
So were the baby chicks!
I've heard the kids mention that they want a pet rabbit. I just ignore them and change the subject :)
Rachel had to snuggle each and every bunny. I just couldn't get her to leave the petting farm!
She was just so happy spending time with the cute little critters!
Nicholas and Stuart played with the basketball. It was neat watching them throw the ball to each other. It makes me glad to have one it and I hope they get to spend some time playing basketball together at the court at the school down the street.
As I watched Nicholas play with the ball, I was overtaken at how grown up he looks. He will turn 10 years old next week. I just can't believe how quickly the time has flown by. It makes me want to savor these days with my kids even more than ever.
