Johnson Creek Greenbelt
The second piano we were in search for is located on the Johnson Creek Greenbelt (or so they say). We walked the ever winding trails that cross under Mopac finding really cool bridges, tunnels, and bamboo forests. We even asked the few joggers we encountered and they have not seen a piano either.
We didn't give up easily but it was past lunch and our tummies were growling. Even though we never found the piano, we found a great place to explore and can't wait to show the boys!
We didn't give up easily but it was past lunch and our tummies were growling. Even though we never found the piano, we found a great place to explore and can't wait to show the boys!
More Pianos!
After finding a second map of the pianos included in Play Me Austin, 2 more locations were listed. With less than 5 days left of the exhibit, we made it downtown in search of the remaining 2 as soon as we could.
We found the one in the middle of Republic Street Park easily. Wired up by the Engineering School at the University of Texas, it is solar powered and is supposed to play on its own and light up! I am not sure if it is broken or the overcast weather made it non-functioning.
Fran and I were just as happy tapping away familiar tunes.
We found the one in the middle of Republic Street Park easily. Wired up by the Engineering School at the University of Texas, it is solar powered and is supposed to play on its own and light up! I am not sure if it is broken or the overcast weather made it non-functioning.
Fran and I were just as happy tapping away familiar tunes.
Easter ~ 2011
We had a great Easter weekend! 4 stops at each of our grandma's houses (even though 2 of them were out of town), swimming, egg decorating, countless jelly beans and other candies, and a EARLY morning hunt of course.
Earth Day ~ 2011
Since we will be busy Friday, we decided to celebrate Mother Earth today with a hike through a few of Lakeway's Greenbelts. The Smith Greenbelt and Hamilton Greenbelt are just around the corner from us. They both have great trails but the kids like Smith best...rugged terrain, thicker forest, and right along the water. Lucky for us, they are connected by an under-road path so you don't have to cross the street.
Fresh air, exercise, collecting rocks, critter seeking, it was a great afternoon!
Fresh air, exercise, collecting rocks, critter seeking, it was a great afternoon!
Bunny Cake
Since we will not be home for Easter dinner, we decided to make our annual Bunny Cake early. This year the kids were given the iced cake and a plate of candy. I was quite impressed on the outcome!
I did ask what the "things" were beneath the smile and the answer I received was "his mustache." I said mustaches are above the mouth so the kids decided they were then freckles :)
Next year I think I will let them frost it too!
I did ask what the "things" were beneath the smile and the answer I received was "his mustache." I said mustaches are above the mouth so the kids decided they were then freckles :)
Next year I think I will let them frost it too!
Short and Spunky Dancer!
The minute Daddy gave me the "okay" to cut Fran's hair...I was out the door! It is too cute and perfect for the summer, even though he thinks otherwise but does not dare to mention it.
Library Display
The boys signed up last fall to display a collection in their school's library. This week it is finally our turn. They decided to show off their Star Wars Lego collection and a few Lego police vehicles!
Little Reader
A proud first grader who read 1200 minutes in the school's "Boot Scoot'n" program. (Nice dark circles under the eyes from the crazy piano hunt!)
Play Me Austin!
We created a family version of Amazing Race this evening as we explored the streets of downtown in search of the 14 pianos in the Play Me, I'm Yours: Austin 2011 art exhibit. These so-called Street Pianos have been touring internationally since 2008 thanks to the UK artist Luke Jerram.
We found all 14, even though we stayed out well past our bedtime on a school night. The piano that should have been outside the Frost Bank Tower was vandalized last week, but the kind security guard took us inside for a photo with the new piano (still in plastic) that will be placed outside on Tuesday.
The exhibit is only around for the month of April! Here are all the locations:
1st Street Pedestrian Bridge
Butler Park
City Hall Plaza
Duncan Park
Fannie Davis Gazebo
Frost Bank Tower
Lou Neff Point
Pfluger Bridge
Pfluger Bridge Garden
Shoal Creek Peninsula
The Long Center
Travis County Jail
W Hotel Austin
Wooldridge Square Gazebo
We found all 14, even though we stayed out well past our bedtime on a school night. The piano that should have been outside the Frost Bank Tower was vandalized last week, but the kind security guard took us inside for a photo with the new piano (still in plastic) that will be placed outside on Tuesday.
The exhibit is only around for the month of April! Here are all the locations:
1st Street Pedestrian Bridge
Butler Park
City Hall Plaza
Duncan Park
Fannie Davis Gazebo
Frost Bank Tower
Lou Neff Point
Pfluger Bridge
Pfluger Bridge Garden
Shoal Creek Peninsula
The Long Center
Travis County Jail
W Hotel Austin
Wooldridge Square Gazebo
Easter Eggs
Killing time and making those boring plastic eggs (we have about a million!) into cute chicks, rabbits, and carrots. I always have wondered why they have holes in the top...it is for the pipe cleaners to form ears and such out of!
Tis the Season
As I happily spread 5 cubic yards of top soil throughout our yard...I stumbled upon a "not-so-welcome" friend. By the time I screamed like a girl, ran around in circles, made sure the kids were out of the way, and grabbed my camera the beast was gone...or hiding! Nothing like being afraid of your own back yard :(
Once again...
It is that time of year...springtime in Texas! And if you are not watching very closely, it is over in a blink of an eye. I have been waiting and watching, and watching and waiting for the perfect bluebonnet patch to drag the kids out for our annual photos. Well, what usually occurs around the second week of April is long gone. The little amount of bluebonnets we were blessed with this year are already wilting!
Realizing I better jump on the wagon, I took the kids out after school for our "do what I say, don't get dirty, smile nice, and I have tons of treats in the car I will share with you" photo shoot. The shadows were horrible, the patches of flowers were few and far between, and the kids were TIRED. Here are some of the bloopers I can share. The few good ones have to wait until Mother's Day so we don't spoil the Grandmas' presents!
Realizing I better jump on the wagon, I took the kids out after school for our "do what I say, don't get dirty, smile nice, and I have tons of treats in the car I will share with you" photo shoot. The shadows were horrible, the patches of flowers were few and far between, and the kids were TIRED. Here are some of the bloopers I can share. The few good ones have to wait until Mother's Day so we don't spoil the Grandmas' presents!
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