Happy Easter 2007!

This morning we went to the Barnsdall Art Park, for Astrid's very own, 1st Easter egg hunt in the park. (Earlier this week Astrid's gymnastics class had an indoor Easter egg hunt.) The park is located on the top of Olive Hill in Hollywood, overlooking the city of Los Angeles. It has an amazing view and was so tranquil and removed from the city. When Uwe and Astrid were here last, there were people doing Tai Chi in the park. Uwe and Astrid (holding her purple Easter bunny) going up the steps.

This morning it was overcast and chilly, so no Easter dress for Astrid. Instead she wore her Easter shawl over her warm purple outfit. The park and surrounding areas are beautiful, but today being Easter I was focused just on taking photos of Astrid. However I did find some nice photos of Barnsdall Art Park and the Hollyhock House (designed by Frank Lloyd Wright) which is located on the property on Flickr. See below.
At the top of Olive Hill in Barnsdall Art Park with a view of Los Angeles. This photo is called "Pine Art" and was taken by deadeyebart... A view of the Hollywood sign and Griffith Park Observatory. (Photo taken by Clinton.) Barnsdall Art Park has several art installations such as this one. (Photo taken by TravelingMan.)
Hollyhock house (designed by Frank Lloyd Wright). (Photo taken by nicola.)

BARNSDALL ART PARK
4800 Hollywood Blvd
Hollywood, CA 90027-5390

HISTORY:

Located at the crest of Olive Hill overlooking the city of Los Angeles, Barnsdall Art Park had its beginning in the early 1900's when Aline Barnsdall came West with plans to develop a theatre company. When Aline Barnsdall donated the Park and its Frank Lloyd Wright designed structures to the City of Los Angeles to the City of Los Angeles in 1927, she wished to provide an accessible arts center, incorporating and preserving the famous Hollyhock House as a vital component. The spirit of Barnsdall's intention was to maintain an active arts center for the community was assured longevity.

Programs and exhibits became a part of the mission of the Park, programs that are used by thousands of Los Angeles community members as well as visitors from throughout the world. The Community Arts Division of the Cultural Affairs Department manages the Park. For more information regarding the Cultural Affairs Department see their website at www.culturela.org.

Programs include the adult and youth art classes at the Barnsdall Art Center and the Junior Arts Center, the Barnsdall Art Center and the Hollyhock House; museum education and tours programs at the Municipal Art Gallery, the Junior Arts Center Gallery and the Hollyhock House; theatre programs at the Gallery Theatre; and , numerous festivals during the year that celebrate the cultural diversity of the community.

Last night Uwe prepared for Astrid's Easter egg hunt by stuffing stickers into each of the plastic Easter eggs.

When we got to the park Uwe hid the eggs while I distracted Astrid. It wasn't easy - believe me. Astrid knew what Papa was doing, and she kept trying to run back to Uwe.

In the photo above, Uwe is done hiding all the eggs, and Astrid has her basket in hand ready to start hunting for eggs. Uwe is pointing in the direction that Astrid should start looking.Astrid was so cute to watch. She was so excited and shouting "eggs! eggs! eggs!" while running in the grass, picking up eggs and putting them in her basket. She acted like an old pro at it and Uwe reminded me that she got the hang of it from last Halloween when we took her trick or treating. (Then she had a pumpkin basket filled with candy, and now she has an Easter basket with eggs - same principle.)Uwe helping Astrid get an egg that was a little too high up in the bushes for her to reach.

Below are some more photos from Astrid's Easter egg hunt.

Here's Uwe hiding eggs for round 2. He did a great job hiding them in spots that weren't too easy, but not too hard to find, like behind this tree.

Uwe is running to finish hiding the few remaining eggs. Astrid running towards Uwe.It took awhile to get Astrid interested in hunting for eggs again. When she finally was interested again, I had to hold her basket while she found eggs with less enthusiasm. Lesson learned - once is enough. Opening the egg to find the stickers inside.

We're going to use the remaining stickers from the packet that Uwe purchased (with 700 stickers) as positive reinforcement for Astrid's potty training.

Mama and Astrid. With a toddler, I don't see how it's possible to have fat arms. My biceps get a workout from carrying around a 30 lbs baby. Astrid would love it if I carried her around all day, but then my arms would look like Popeye, and I would have major back problems.

Three heart shaped chairs next to the art center.The 3 of us sitting in those chairs.

This was the first time we used the timer on the camera. In the first photo attempt, Uwe sat Astrid on the chair next to me, and rushed to sit in his own seat, but rambunctious Astrid scooted off her seat and went flying face first. Luckily she's old enough now to put her hands out to protect her face, and the Easter basket broke her fall. The photo shows Astrid in mid air, while Uwe and I are reaching for her, and Uwe has a expression on his face that is part terror, as he's shouting "NO!" She gave us quite a scare, but as you can see from the photo above, she was fine and unscathed.Uwe and Astrid in front of the mural in front of the Junior Art Center.

Astrid wouldn't sit in the chair in front of the mural, and instead wanted to crawl up onto another chair. So since she wasn't cooperating, Uwe moved her chair while she was in it, over to the mural. You can see in the photo above, the first chair is pushed off to the side. Astrid looks so serious, but cute as a button just the same. And Uwe looks especially handsome too! I'm a lucky girl.

Standing at the top of the steps, for one last photo before we go home.

Happy Easter everyone!