Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Magic School Bus at the Mayborn

The Magic School Bus Special Exhibit has been at the Mayborn for a few months now, and is only around for a few weeks more (til April 12).   It's all about weather!


There's the bus!  (One of them).


What you see up there are clouds that you could shoot with air
cannons to make them move.


There was a lot of great things to learn from, but unfortunately, a lot of what's there to learn requires reading the little signs next to the exhibits to really get it.  And would my child stay long enough for me to read ANY of them to him?  Nope.  Oh well.


The snowflakes needed no description though.  They used mirrors to
turn one section into a beautiful snowflake.  You could change up the
way the pieces looked.  (I enjoyed this one too!)



My cool weather man, dressed for sun AND snow.

It was a fun exhibit..  If your kids like Magic School Bus they will probably enjoy this.



Saturday, March 21, 2015

5 Alternative Easter Egg Ideas

Here are some egg shaped items to fill an Easter basket, or add some spice to an Easter Egg Hunt.


Hatch an Egg



I saw some of these (or similar) egg hatching kits at the Mayborn Museum Giftshop recently. You can also find lots of types of these on Amazon which will "hatch" into all sorts of animals.  If you have several baskets to fill with these, you can try some of the egg sets I found on Amazon below....


Dinosaur Fossil Eggs


We've done dinosaur bone excavation kits before and they are great!  I've been amazed to see my child who doesn't like to play alone for 5 minutes spend HOURS working to unearth a dinosaur bone from a kit similar to this one.  I've seen the kit above in local stores (either HEB or Walmart...can't remember), and they were much cheaper than you can get them on Amazon.  But if you're buying eggs for a bunch, these I found a 6 pack set of dinosaur eggs for under $10 which might be a better deal.




 Egg Shaped Chalk




Walmart has these locally, and though I can't remember the price, it's a lot cheaper than the ones on Amazon (pictured above) which were ridiculously expensive (they're under $5 at Walmart...maybe as low as $2, can't remember).


Egg Shaped Soap


The colorful soap eggs above is made by an Etsy crafter right here in Waco!  (She doesn't allow pick-ups, but at least you know that it will ship quick since it doesn't have far to travel). 


Egg Shaped Bath Fizzies

Good Eggs by Roxy Grace- All natural bath fizzies Easter Egg Shaped Bath Bombs with Foam Sponges Inside4 Mini Bunny, Duck and Egg Bath Bomb Sets - Essential Oils Options
Two Speckled Easter Egg Bath Bomb (Jasmine Scent)Alien Egg Bath Bomb - Alien Hatches as Bath Bomb MeltsEaster Egg Bath Bombs (Variety of colors and scents available)


I haven't seen egg shaped bath fizzies locally this year, but there are some cute ones on Etsy.   My kids love watching them bubble and fizz.








Friday, March 13, 2015

Springtime in the Villiage - Next Week!

Behind the Mayborn Children's Museum, though a little door right after the Indian and Pioneer room, and before the hallway with the butterflies painted on the wall, is the Gov. Bill & Vara Daniel Historic Village.  It's open all the time, but next week, from 1:00 - 3:00 pm, you can experience in a way you can't most of the year.  It will come alive with historical costumed actors who'll give kids a hands on experience of what it was like in Texas in the 1890's.

Here's some of what our kids got to experience last year during this event (and we only got to visit one day).

Cattle Branding 
(Doesn't look like they're doing this again this year)


Sadly, I didn't see this on the schedule of events for this year.


Live Farm Animals



(They're doing this again, though!)

Historic Buildings


Yep, we actually got to go INSIDE the school house and country store,
buildings which are usually closed.  I'm assuming they'll do this again.


They will have different activities each day ...which you can check out below.



Monday, March 16, 2015 - (1-3pm)
Making Cards & Clay Pots

Tuesday, March 17, 2015- (1-3pm):
Sowing and Playing

Wednesday, March 18, 2015 - (1-3pm)
Pressed Flowers & Games

Thursday, March 19, 2015 - (1-3pm)
Natural Sweetners & Hymns

Friday, March 20, 2015 - (1-3pm)
Music by Dick Gimble & Friends and More



YEP, ALL RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SCHOOL DAY

This was planned for someone's spring break, obviously, but not for Wacoans.  Hrmp!   I feel mixed about this with two boys in school and one homeschooled.  It will be great for my homeschooled son, but I hate for my other children to miss out.    Though, there's also the Round Up March 14th down the street at the Texas Rangers Museum I could take them to in stead.  Looks like a lot of good western fun too.

 Well, at least they did Magic Treehouse stuff during our Spring Break.  Just wish they would have had some of these activities Thursday night, when they're open late.  You can learn more on their website here (scroll to the bottom because they're not advertising this very well...there's a link).

Anyways, all this is included with the regular Mayborn Museum admission prices. It's definately worth going to...maybe even for taking kids out of school early to go to.  I'm still debating that.