"Celebrate the Children", Gary Lee Price Bronze Sculpture Exhibit at the Dallas Arboretum

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.

A Tasteful Place: To learn more, register for cooking classes and special events, visit www.dallasarboretum.org/cookingclasses

Seasonal Tastings

Every day, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Ruthie Pack's Tasting Plaza

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/ 

Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden Activities:

EGG-stravaganza

Natural Egg Dying, Easter Weekend, April 19-21 

Exploration Center-Plant Lab, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

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.

Cherishing Christmas Memories with Family

We made our annual trip to Baton Rouge for Christmas to spend time with both families.  It is a blessing that Stuart and I have families in the same town so we only have to travel to one place and not trade off which year we go to which family.  It makes it easier for the kids to see both sets of grandparents a couple of times a year.  It's a long drive though that takes a full day on the road.  We are always delighted to cross the Mississippi River bridge though because that is the landmark that lets us know that we have finally arrived.  I'm pretty sure I take a picture from the bridge every time we go to Baton Rouge.

It was nice to spend a lot of one-on-one time with mom.  

And of course Uncle Steve!

Before we left Texas, we bought a tiny little Christmas tree and a few ornaments so we could have a tree set up in the hotel room for Christmas morning.  Even though we are away from home, we still like to have Christmas morning just for our family.  Stuart and I usually have a gift to exchange with each other and we give the children their gifts from us.  And Santa always leaves a few unwrapped gifts under the tree as well.  Yes, he even finds us in the hotel.

Then we head over to my brother's house for Christmas lunch and a gift exchange.  Steve and Nicholas played guitar together while we waited for my parents to arrive.  I love watching these two on guitar!

You can just see Stuart shaking his head as Rachel opened a slime making kit!  

But she did get some new figure skates as well.  She still loves hockey and figure skating.  I hope that she will soon choose a favorite to pursue 100% because buying gear for both sports gets expensive!

Nicholas was excited about several upgrades he got for his drone.  I was most excited for the laptop he got because he will use that a lot for school.

I don't get pictures of my family nearly enough so I'm excited to have this picture of us all together on Christmas day.

After lunch we eventually waddle our full bellies out the door and head over the Stuart's family where the kids get to spend time with their cousin Jessica.  Jessica pulled out her ukulele for Rachel and taught her a few tips.

Then there were more presents to open!  Lots of excitement!

After dinner, we all gathered in the living room to play the Saran Wrap Ball party game.  It's easy to prepare and surprisingly fun.  I bought trinket toys, playing cards, candy, lottery scratch off tickets, etc plus a roll of Saran Wrap.  I started wrapping each thing up in the Saran Wrap, one at a time.  You start with just one thing then wrap Saran Wrap all around it.  Then you add one more item to the ball and wrap it all up while making sure it is all stuck together in the Saran Wrap.   Just keep going and watch the ball grow!

To play the game:  The youngest player goes first and starts unwrapping the ball.  They get to keep anything that falls out.  In the mean time, the person to the left of them starts rolling a pair of dice as quickly as they can.  As soon as they roll doubles, the ball gets passed to them and they can start unwrapping.  To make an easy version, wrap everything without ever tearing the Saran Wrap so it is one long strip.  This makes it easier for the players to just shake it and unroll it all.  To make it more challenging and make the game take longer (which I did), tear the Saran Wrap every now and then and start a new strip.  Players now have to spend a little extra time finding the beginning of the Saran Wrap.  It seems like a silly idea but you watch the video below and see how much fun we had.  

The kids had fun on their day trip to New Orleans to go to the Insectarium!  They found a giant earthworm!

This is a picture of Rachel sticking her hand into a blind box to see what she feels inside.  I love how Nicholas looks like he is going to jump up and protect her if she gets scared but look at the excitement on her face!

A tour of the Insectarium can leave a kid hungry so they stopped by for a bite at the Bug Buffet!  Salsa with mealworms, anyone?

How about a Chocolate Chirp cookie made with crickets?  Yes, both of my kids ate bugs!

And they posed as beetles as they learned about their hard exoskeletons.

The Insectarium has a wonderful room where the butterflies will just fly over and land on you.  There are beautiful exhibits of moths and butterflies but also plenty of creepy crawly exhibits that aren't so beautiful.  There are also some non-insect exhibits like this tarantula!

The kids also spent some time together at the roller rink.  It is one of the usual activities we do when we come to town.

Look at this picture.  I love these three!

More good food and fun times with family....

This cute couple is tying the knot in a matter of months.  I'm so excited that I'm going to have a sister!

Of course, the trip wouldn't be complete without a few games of One Night Ultimate Werewolf.  It is a bit hard to explain but essentially you have to try to guess who at the table has the werewolf card and lying is encouraged.  It is a sneaky fun game and some people have figured out how to hide their "tells" by simply covering their entire face!

We had a wonderful visit in Baton Rouge and made some sweet memories with our families whom we love and miss so much.

Go Fish!

Now that summer is here, kids are ready to have some fun.  Keep them off those electronic devices and get them outdoors.  We had a great time this morning meeting friends at a local freshwater pond to go fishing.  The pond is located at Heritage Park in Flower Mound.  In addition to the pond, there are restrooms, a playground, and splash pad at the park.  But we were all about fishing today.

The pond has a large fountain so the water is well aerated for the fish living there. 

I enjoyed sitting by the waterfall because the sound of the rushing water was just so relaxing.

The older boys were great at helping the younger kids change bait and hooks and take the fish off the line once they were reeled in.

But really, all of the kids worked together to help each other.  It was a wonderful display of teamwork.

The kids caught about 18 fish this morning.  Most were sunfish.

But one of the boys caught this baby bass.  Wow!

The kids released everything they caught.  But they had a great time finding and catching them.

And nothing is better than enjoying a beautiful morning outdoors while catching fish too!

What was the most successful bait?  Hot pink Crappie Nibbles were a big hit.  The water is really clear and several kids were able to take off their bobbers and just fish by sight.

Nicholas has been fishing for years and has accumulated quite a nicely stocked tackle box over that time.  

However, if you have a pole, have your kids dig up some worms for bait and your fishing outing can be entirely free!  Kids under 17 years of age don't even need a Texas fishing license.

Fish aren't the only living things to enjoy at the pond though.  I did a mini-nature study on my own while the kids were fishing.  I found some wispy fountain grass growing around the edge of the water.

There were several bees out searching for their morning nectar.

This beautiful widow skimmer dragonfly hovered around and landed on some grass in the pond.

And one side of the pond has a beautiful patch of cattails.

So before the summer heat gets too extreme, find a pond and take your kids fishing.  Savor these days with your little ones and make some great summer memories.  The dishes and laundry and yard work can wait another day.