We've made some calendar updates and added a few more Easter Egg Hunts, so check out our blog post and our calendar for Egg hunts on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday! Besides the Easter fun, here are some other highlights for this busy week. All events are Free!

Monday, 3/29:
7 P.M. The Tiger and the Dried Persimmon-Thistle Theatre Puppets at the Mercer Island Library for ages 3+

Tuesday, 3/30:
10 A.M.: University Village Playdate tomorrow will be hosted at Mrs. Cooks. The kids can decorate eggs in celebration of Easter and get messy!

10:30 and 11:30 A.M.: Puppets Please Marionettes Puppet Show at the Issaquah Library

Thursday, 4/1:
All day: The First Thursday of the month means free Museum entry. Take the kids to the SAM (Seattle Art Museum) or to the Burke Museum for some close-up interactions with dinosaurs.

Saturday, 4/3:
10 A.M.: Kids nature craft event at Whole Foods in Redmond.

Happy Easter week!

It's time to start planning for the Spring and Summer and find classes and camps that your little ones will enjoy. The parks and community centers on the Eastside offer great classes for kids (and adults) at really great prices. They offer classes in art, theater, music, cooking, sports, dance, foreign language, swimming, farming, preschool, as well as fun one-time classes for special holidays and events. From the  www.myparksandrecreation.com website, you can search for and sign up for classes by age, interest, or location (Bellevue, Issaquah, Kirkland, Bothell, Snoqualmie, Woodinville, Mercer Island, Kenmore, and Sammamish).

This winter, we signed up for the Pee Wee Picasso and the Tiny Tot Muscial Theatre classes at the Northwest Arts Center; I will be signing up again and highly recommend both classes. 

With Easter just around the corner, it's time to start planning for some egg hunting. Here is a list of what's happening on the Eastside. We attended the PCC Issaquah and the Gilman Village egg hunts last year; both were awesome. 

PCC Natural Market Egg Scramble (Issaquah, Redmond), Free
March 27, 2010 at 9AM
Ages: 0-8, divided into age groups
Get there early as this event gets quite busy; but it's worth the wait. There are 1000's of eggs filled with delicious candy or special prizes. Bring the camera to snap some shots with the Easter Bunny.
website: http://www.pccnaturalmarkets.com/events/rd.html

Issaquah's Underwater Egg Hunt & Carnival, $6/child and $4/adult
April 2, 2010 at 6:30-9PM 
The Issaquah Community Center is hosting its 4th annual underwater egg hunt. The event is held indoors and is in the shallow part of the pool; children under 6 must be accompanied by an adult in the water. Bring your swimsuits, goggles, towels, and plastic baskets to collect eggs underwater and get prizes for the eggs gathered. Make sure to register online because space is limited. 
website: http://www.ci.issaquah.wa.us/

Vasa Park (Bellevue), Free
April 3, 2010 at 10AM
Ages: 1-12, divided into age groups
1000's of candy filled eggs, and hundreds of great prizes. Easter Bunny available for photos. Non-perishable foods and canned goods donations are accepted for the Northwest Harvest
website: http://www.vasaparkresort.com/

Fox Hollow Farm (Issaquah), $8/child and $5/adult 
April 3, 2010 at 11AM or at 2PM
Ages: 0-10+, divided into age groups
Besides the 10,000 eggs filled with candy and prizes, there will be many activities to keep your kids entertained: pony rides, farm animals, and large inflatables for bouncing and sliding. The Easter Bunny will be giving out treats and posing for pictures. Registration is required so make sure to sign up soon.
website: http://foxhollowequestrian.com/events_11.html

Woodland Park Zoo (Seattle), Free with zoo admission
April 3, 2010 at 9:30AM until 2PM
Ages: 1-8, divided into age groups
Not really on the Eastside, but if you're looking for an all day outing to celebrate Easter, the Woodland Park Zoo hosts an annual Bunny Bounce event, which includes egg hunts, crafts, bunny encounters, and zoo programs throughout the day.
website: http://www.zoo.org/Page.aspx?pid=209&cgid=1&ceid=58&cerid=0&cdt=4%2f3%2f2010

Gilman Village Egg Hunt (Issaquah), Free
April 3, 2010 at 10AM until 12PM 
Ages: 1-12
10,000 toy and candy filled Easter eggs left at the shops by the Easter Bunny, who will also be available for pictures, so bring a camera. 
website: http://www.gilmanvillage.com/eventssub.php3?id=74

Mercer Island Egg Hunt at Mercerdale Park, Free
April 3, 2010 at 3PM (ages 1-6) and 8:30PM (ages 7-10)
Ages: 1-10
Lots of eggs and lots of candy. Special prized-filled eggs will be hidden in the park. A Flashlight egg hunt in the evening for older kids, ages 7 to 10.
website: http://www.mercergov.org/Page.asp?NavID=406

Easter Egg Hunt at Peter Kirk Park in Kirkland, Free
April 4, 2010 at 1:30PM
Join in the fun at Kirkland’s annual Easter egg hunt. This free and family-friendly event features three age categories and lots of chocolate.
website: www.kirklandandparks.net

If you haven't yet planned your day tomorrow (Friday 2/19/10), consider an outing at the Country Village in Bothell. You can hop on a train together (only open Fri, Sat, and Sun in Feb), give the kids some play time at the Village Bean while you enjoy a cup of coffee, get a kids haircut at Bella and Max, Browse the toys at the Toys That Teach, and spend some time outside catching some Vitamin D. 

More info at their website: http://www.countryvillagebothell.com/forkids/

Check out these camps and activities happening next week (2/15-2/19) to keep your kids busy and having fun while school's out.

dizzybus (Bellevue)
Mid-winter break drop-off camp for kids ages 2-8 (not required to be potty trained. Camp is offered all week, either from 9:30-1:30 or 9:30-3. Discount is offered for multiple days and for siblings. 

Orange Blossom Society (Redmond)
Offering half day drop-off camps for kids 3-10 on fun topics (pretend play, yoga, art, gardening) on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. They also offer stay and play options for kids 0-6. Discount is offered for siblings.

PCC Natural Market Cooking Camp (Issaquah, Redmond, Seattle)
Kids cook a different meal each day (monday-wednesday) during this half day camp, offered to children ages 8 to 11, in multiple locations.

Studio East - Mid-Winter Drama Camp (Kirkland)
Offering a fun selection of theater classes, including musical theater, mask, dance, clowning, acting techniques and more. Two sessions are offered, one from 9-3 for 1st-3rd graders; another from 9-5 for 3rd-6th graders.

(Free) Puppet show Wednesday 2/17, 7PM (Newport Way Library)
Auntie Lena's African Stories (From Thistle Theatre) will be presenting a free puppet show for ages 3+ at the Newport Library. She will tell three African stories of friendship and sharing, presented in Bunraku-style puppetry.

(Free) Tacoma Art Museum 2/18, All Day Free Admission (Tacoma)
Every third Thursday is free admission to the Tacoma Art Museum. It's a long drive but worth checking out. They have a large art and crafts room that the kids will enjoy as well as a nice selection of Art.

Valentine's Day is fun for kids too. They can celebrate by making cards and decorating cookies. Here are some free (or very cheap) workshops just for kids, happening this week and next.

Saturday 2/6/10 and Sunday 2/7/10, 10-2PM
Pottery Barn Kids (Bellevue Square)
Free event for Kids to craft their own Valentine's day cards. 

Saturday 2/6/10, 11-3PM
Lakeshore Learning Store (Bellevue)
Free crafts for kids ages 3+. Kids will make a My Valentine magnetic note holder to hold all the Valentine's day cards they will receive.

Saturday 2/13/10, 1-3PM 
Whole Foods Market, Redmond location
Kid's Valentine Cookie Decorating event. Costs $1 per cookie

Saturday 2/13/10, 3-5PM
PCC Natural Market, Issaquah
Kid's free card making workshop. Drop-in anytime between 3 and 5. 

Saturday 2/13/10, 10-1PM
Michaels (Crossroads, Kirkland, Issaquah)
Kids can purchase a heart-shaped frame for $1 then decorate it inthis workshop (Micheals will provide free supplies). 

We're signed up for the Little Ditties Story Time series at the Lake Hills Library with Ms. Jenny and highly recommend it. Each series of classes is based on a theme (food, winter, animals, etc...) and we sing songs, dance, read books, and play instruments. It's actually a lot more fun than other paid music classes that we tried. The ages in class are between 1.5 and 6; my kids are 1.5 and 3.5 and both love it.

She also teaches the same class at the Bellevue Regional Library and you don't have to register for a series, or even sign up in advance. But you have to get there early because it fills up fast.

More info and registration info at www.kcls.org (search for storytimes)

Although this is in Seattle, it's worth mentioning that the Nocturnal House (Night Exhibit), which is home to 60 nocturnal animals including sloths, fruit bats, and anteaters, will be closing for good in March due to budget constraints. It's definitely worth a visit before it closes for good, as it's a unique exhibit and fun for the kids.

We went to the Orange Blossom Society in Redmond this morning, my son who's 3 participated in the Nutrition and Fitness drop-off camp ($20 for 2.5 hours), while my daughter (who's 20 months) and I stayed and played for $5. There are 5 rooms full of toys on the main level and in the basement. The upstairs was reserved for the camp. The house has a very nice atmosphere, is clean, and the kids immediately felt at home there. 

There are lots of great toys: play kitchen, dolls, cars, puzzles, blocks, tents, dress-up clothes, little tables and chairs, books, etc...For the parents, there's free Wi-Fi, and a serve-yourself/pay later kitchen stocked with fresh brewed coffee, tea, juice, and snacks. All in all, it was a fun morning and neither of my kids wanted to leave when it was time to go. We'll be checking out other classes and camps that they offer and going back to play often.

Website: http://www.orangeblossomsociety.com/

Here are some ideas to celebrate Dr. MLK Jr. Day with your kids next week.

(FREE) Washington State History Museum (Tacoma)
Admission to the museum is free in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. There will be screening of a documentary, a civil rights speaker, and music. 
Hours: 10-4; website: www.wshs.org

(Free) Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Celebration at the Seattle Center (Seattle)
The Center House at the Seattle Center will have a an afternoon full of music, dance, and celebrations. Mayor Mike McGinn will also be present to present an award to youth.
Hours: 12-5; website: www.seattlecenter.com

Don't forget, most museums and libraries are closed on Monday to celebrate the holiday, but most kid museums will be open. So, if your kids are bored, check out these museums:
Kids Quest Museum (Bellevue)
Imagine Children's Museum (Everett)
The Children's Museum (Seattle)
Children's Museum of Tacoma (Tacoma) - special activity in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.