If you have LEGO loving children, you probably never miss an opportunity to allow them to partake in a LEGO experience. That is where I found myself last week when we visited the Memphis Zoo to see the Nature Connects: Art with LEGO Bricks exhibit. It is just like me to wait until the last minute. Because of that, the weather was hot, but we were able to go on Tennessee Tuesday, so the admission was free.
The Monarch Butterfly display has 39,708 LEGO pieces and took 425 hours to put together.
The exhibit is on the west side of the zoo. As many times as we have gone, I still have no idea where the north or south, let alone the east or west sides of the zoo are located. We just know we go left when we start our tour of the zoo. This map may help you if you are geographically challenged when visiting the zoo. You may also find the LEGO exhibit if you walk past the water play area near the front entrance and bear to the left. Look for the Monarch Butterfly.
The Giant Pansy Bloom display has 29,314 LEGO pieces and took 240 hours to put together.
I will admit when I saw the first creation, I was not as impressed as I probably should have been. My children create beautiful and creative pieces, using LEGOs, all of the time. When I gave more attention to the display pieces, I realized that one could be impressed, and probably should.
The Peacock display has 68,827 LEGO pieces and took 625 hours to put together.
There are 68,827 LEGO pieces that make this peacock. Wow! Talk about a LEGO high for your children. For moms, can you imagine that many LEGO pieces scattered across the floors in your home (or in your car)? That is a lot of tiny LEGOs put together to create this peacock. A lot of skill, patience and ingenuity went into piecing those LEGOs together. It took someone (many people) 625 hours to put it together. I cannot imagine how many hours went into the plans for the design.
I like how the LEGO displays were are interweaved into the natural settings.
This gardening scene made me want to go home and start gardening. It also reminded me of a nice summer day.
The Corn Spider display has 16,492 LEGO pieces and took 135 hours to put together.
Although I am not a fan of spiders, I think this one may be my favorite. I love the attention to detail.
The Galapagos Tortoise and Darwin Finch display has 23,317 LEGO pieces and took 290 hours to put together.
I do wish there had been more displays as part of the exhibit. I guess with about half a million LEGO pieces already on display, I may be asking too much. What we did see was neat and pairing it with a visit to the zoo to see all of the animals made it even better.
The Roseate Skimmer Dragonfly display has 27,788 LEGO pieces and took 515 hours to put together.
The Nature Connects: Art with LEGO Bricks will be at the Memphis Zoo through Sunday, July 9. If you plan to take your entire family before the exhibit closes and are not members, consider becoming one. Depending on the size of your family, it may be more affordable to purchase an annual membership than to pay for one day entrance. That will allow your family to go to the zoo again as many times as you want any time within the year. You will be able to go any day of the week and at any time while the zoo is open. There are also additional membership perks.
Nature Connects: Art with LEGO Bricks
Memphis Zoo, 2000 Prentiss Place, Memphis, 38112
(901) 333-6500
The Buck, Doe and Fawn display has 84,442 LEGO pieces and took 540 hours to put together.
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multiple ages, you could also use the book set together. Read a chapter in the storybook with your children and then find the full story in the Holy Bible to give more insight into the story. Both books make for great read-alouds during the day or as part of your story time before bed.
About the Book:
music playing in the background. The perfect CD that will help you set the tone this Christmas season is Amy Grant’s Tennessee Christmas.
We all need a little bit more love in our lives and there is nothing better than receiving a love letter written just to you. It is even more special when it is a love letter from God. In Christmas Love Letters from God Bible Stories, readers learn about the coming and birth of Jesus. The story is brought to life in this colorfully illustrated, creative page turning and flap-lifting (literally) book. The book is geared towards children, ages four to eight-years-old, but may also be enjoyed by children a few years older.
It is Christmas time. Okay, well there are 40 more days until Christmas. The season and the holiday are two occasions I always look forward to each year. Along with the special food we eat, there are also movies and books that keep us entertained. Although I already have some favorite books, it is exciting when I am introduced to new Christmas books that eventually get added to our list. 
Building relationships does not occur overnight, but instead happens over the course of time. One of the most important relationships your child will ever have is the one they create with God. That relationship will start with reading the Bible and continue through quiet times of prayer and devotion with Him. 
