Rocks rock!

The highlight of our spring break last week got us dirty, dusty, muddy, sweaty, and tired.

I've been wanting to go here since I read about it in a homeschooling magazine last year...and finally it was opening weekend at Morefield Gem Mines.

We went with friends, and the kids were bouncing out of their car seats in excitement...and really so were we because we had no idea what to expect. But the GPS put us at a church grave yard. Juan Pablo made a joke about what you'd find digging there, but after driving in circles for a few minutes, we finally stopped and asked a man weedwhacking on the side of the rode. He told us it was just up ahead...but he added, "I think it's closed!"

Nope. I was undeterred. I knew that it was opening weekend so we headed on up the street.

We turned where the man had pointed...onto a gravelly, windy road with stumps of trees, long ago cut down, as far as the eye could see. It was not looking promising, and I was a little nervous about heading through this barren wasteland.

But we finally neared the tree line, and I saw signs of life...lots of parked cars and the excitement was back in an instant.

This was the first thing we saw when we pulled up: old mine cars.

And having just watched some Indiana Jones movies, we were all imagining barreling through the mines in the rickety cars with no brakes.

We started with a picnic at some nice shady tables. You definitely want to bring a picnic if you go...and don't forget the table cloth...it makes picnicking so much better!

Bathroom lines are long so be forewarned...but the display shop shows all the amazing types of gems and rocks you may find, so it's fun to look at while you're waiting.

We finally got our wristbands and headed down to an open field filled with giant holes and people sitting and digging all around.

Isabela went straight for this one, as I imagine every child does when they first arrive.


The mine area is marked. There are real miners there that bring up fresh loads of dirt and rocks twice a day. It's best to go there just after it's dumped to get the best pickin's...but really anything you find will be amazing. And you WILL find lots of things. Bring a bucket.


How about this mica? Mica has long been my favorite rock...and there's so much of it, you'll actually walk by pieces as big as your fist and not pick them up. Diego had fun scrunching it and watching it blow away in sparkly little pieces.


Isabela and Sami were on a mission to collect the biggest rocks they could find. The only rule was 'you carry what you find back to the car'. (Later, they had a 'fancy rock sale' in Sami's neighborhood. Beautiful bagged gems for only $5. Some of the bigger rocks were $100, and 'cool' rocks were $22. I can't believe they had no sales.)


It's a great place for exploring. Lots of old machines and neat signs to look at.


I think Juan Pablo thoroughly enjoyed himself. He was asking the old timers lots of questions and finally found the 'getting place' for gems. He came home with more than 20 garnets, which just happens to be my birthstone. Isn't he sweet.


But the most fun to be had is definitely at the sluice. They have mesh strainers where you can dump your rocks and let the cool water flow over them, turning them into sparkling, shiny treasures.


Really, you could just head straight there without all the digging. People dump the stuff they don't want on the other side and it's full of beautiful rocks.


Diego had a great time...this place is for any age. He did start wandering and whacking the air with that stick in his hand after awhile, which was my cue to get him a snack. A cold drink and some chex mix did the trick.


Did you guys find anything good?


Don't miss this fun treasure hunting opportunity! The mine is open Saturdays until May 26.

tuckahoe plantation

Last weekend, we visited Tuckahoe Plantation for a picnic with the Farm Table. Known as "Thomas Jefferson's boyhood home", I thought a little education might be slipped in, as well.
Not much learning happened, but we did breathe deeply, taking in presidential air.

TJ's view growing up. Very pretty.


Can't you picture Thomas Jefferson doing this same thing when he was little?


This precious girl just keeps growing up.



A friendly little cat..she let all the children pet her. Diego still loves the kitties.


Me and my new favorite boots. I bet you'll be seeing those a lot, come colder weather. I can't wait much more.


Oh, the story behind this picture. While Juan Pablo and I debated about whether or not someone lived in this home, Joaquin headed up the steps to go in. We tried to stop him. But yes, it was the gardener yelling across the yard, "That's someone's home!" that actually sunk in and made him turn around. (I was wrong by the way. I mean, why would someone actually live in Thomas Jefferson's boyhood home? Shouldn't it be a museum or something?)


I hesitated to post this picture of me. Have you ever looked at a picture of yourself and not even recognized you? This is not what I look like, but somehow it is still me.


An action shot. Juan Pablo took most of the pictures in this post. He was quite proud of this one. I thought it was blurry, but he said, "That's the whole point!" He's got an eye for these things, you know. :)


A friendly scavenger hunt for the kids....but....those intense looks tell me they are only 'in it to win it'. I guess Juan Pablo and I are somewhat competitive, and I fear it has rubbed off.


And here's Isabela with the prize! So happy!


Me and the kids...glazed over...I guess it's time to hit the road.


It seems fitting to end with some quotes by Jefferson. Enjoy!


A coward is much more exposed to quarrels than a man of spirit.
Thomas Jefferson

Do you want to know who you are? Don't ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.
Thomas Jefferson

Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
Thomas Jefferson

If God is just, I tremble for my country.
Thomas Jefferson

In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.
Thomas Jefferson

There is not a sprig of grass that shoots uninteresting to me.
Thomas Jefferson

ashland berry farm

If it weren't for this hay maze, I don't think my kids would have gone to the pumpkin patch this year. They just weren't interested.


But,....there's nothing like a rope swing to put smiles on their faces.


Not quite as easy as it looks.


If I could find a good branch, I'd definitely put one of these in our yard.


Those were some GIANT pumpkins.


Really, there's only three of them. Why is it so hard to get a shot with all of them?


So we headed out on the hayride. Isabela said, "This is definitely not safe." She's used to the covered wagon with metal sides keeping you from falling out. I know. Spoiled.

Some little people found their pumpkins and fell in love right away. Which also means they're ready to go sooner.


Others combed the fields with a fine toothed comb searching for just the right one.




At one point, I think I stopped Diego from turning the water on in the fields. Ohh, that would have been bad. Although now that I think about it, I'm sure a water tank is hooked up first. But the possibility is still funny.


The trick at this patch was 'all you could carry and take 3 steps with' for $20...the problem was... it was just me and the kids. We did a couple of practice runs in the field. We lost a few in the process, and I had to be rescued once by a nice woman passing by.


It was WAY harder figuring out how to get the nine pumpkins and three kids from the field to the hayride stop, than it actually was carrying them for the special.


Now, I'm not sure how long these pumpkins will last, but rolling them worked.

airborn!

A surprise trip to the airport...no we're not going anywhere....just visiting the aviation museum.

It looks like these guys were doing some damage to this plane. I told them not to touch it!


This is a motley crew of pilots...luckily there's not room for passengers.


And I'm pretty sure this is NOT the face you want your pilot making over the open ocean.


This place is amazing....definitely worth the visit. Beautiful, brightly colored airplanes were everywhere!! And although I didn't get to read much about them (chasing kids around), they each have a story. There was one that even flew to Antarctica in the 1930s.


There was an old army helicopter, too. The kids were IN AWE of the propellers and how GIANT they were!


Lots of model planes to look at, as well. Diego was in heaven here.


But this miniature flight simulator was definitely the highlight. The kids were really able to make it fly.


And this picture definitely sums up our experience...kids running in every direction and Diego trying to touch propellers he shouldn't be touching.


For members of the Science Museum of VA, admission here is free. (But not if you stop by the gift shop.)

any given weekend

On any given weekend, there are so many options for family activities here, that you really don't know which way to turn.

Our criteria is usually based on:

1. time...Diego still takes a nap from noon to about 3pm. So we try to hit activities before or after this.

2. cost...free is always preferred.

3. location...we have to factor in driving distance with naps...sometimes he can take one in the car, sometimes it doesn't work out which means the event will have to be cut short when he gets wild; and sometimes, I need a nap and don't want to drive too far.

4. crowds...I'll often try to pick the one I think the least people will go to. It's no fun waiting in line. Sometimes that backfires and everyone shows up at an event I thought no one would go to...and then we just deal with it. I'm thinking Kite Day 2011.

And sometimes we just stay home and do nothing. Those weekends are fun and relaxing, too.

But this past weekend, we went to an amazing event, the Crestwood Elementary plant sale and nature fair, just by chance. What enticed us in the description was definitely the petting zoo and hands-on nature crafts, not to mention there would be a wallaby, lemur, and hedgehog to pet.

I've learned not to get my hopes up too much anymore. A lot of events are so crowded, you can't get near the animals, or the one thing you wanted to see was hidden away somewhere and you never saw it. But this one definitely exceeded our expectations.

Look at this amazing face that greeted us.



And have you ever touched a hedgehog? It feels more like a bristle brush than a soft stuffed animal. (FYI, those are not my well-manicured hands.)


Diego's car nap was too short, maybe 10 minutes, and when he caught a glimpse of the animals through his groggy eyelids, he wanted out of that stroller. Here he's petting the wallaby.


All smiles in the petting zoo under the shade of a large tree. I didn't see anyone around saying "Don't touch...or "Be careful"...or "It'll bite you"...(okay, maybe I said it once) but it was very refreshing and all the little kids were enjoying the animals so much!


And it was educational! The goal was to collect 18 stickers at different stations where there were activities or crafts to learn more about the environment. We were there from 1-4pm (that was the whole time for the event) and didn't even get all the stickers.

Diego saw the ball on this recycled animal that I'm sure the elementary students helped make.


This activity was so fun. The kids learned about different bird beaks, some are long, some are short, and some are easier to pick up certain things than others. They had one minute to pick up as many candy worms, fish, and fruits as they could. Look at that concentration!


We were all fascinated by the sea creatures.


This is a frog fish. Apparently, they can bite and it hurts. A little boy stuck his hand near his mouth and the demonstrator got a little freaked out that he could have gotten hurt. (No, although quite possible, it was not a boy of mine!)


Some pretty pinching crabs.


And somebody stop me...we're all in love with these goats and are thinking of getting some! How couldn't we with that joyful smile on Isabela's face?