Finding Fossils

Meghan is currently studying dinosaurs in her preschool, so last weekend we went in search of some local fossil sights. Michael found one about 1.5 hours away that fit the bill perfectly. The kids were in heaven in a massive sandbox, and we even luckily found a fossil. Luckily I say because I just looked down and there one was. I told Michael I honestly had no idea how to look for a fossil or find one, so Meghan was thrilled to have one to take for show and tell this past week. We now have a book on fossil hunting so as to read up on the procedure. At any rate, the kids were thrilled and really enjoyed the family time

Some Good Old Fashioned Fun at South Mountain Creamery

We spent this past weekend at the South Mountain Creamery enjoying their annual Harvest Festival. It's a free event and full of fun for the kids... including hayrides, visiting the baby calves, a drainage pipe slide, homemade ice cream, shake your own butter tubes, and a gigantic barn full of ride-ons for every age, an 1800's musician, and a grind your own cornmeal machine. It truly is every kid's dream, and the food is pretty good, too. In short, we love to go there every year and have a lot of fun. Meghan entertained herself at the cornmeal station for about 45 minutes. It was entertaining watching the children figure out the machine to remove the corn from the cob and then grind it up. Nathan enjoyed his first go round on a ride-on... first backwards, and then forwards. We all enjoyed the fruits of Meghan's shaking (Nathan helped a bit, too) as she made some tasty butter, and the ice cream was pretty good, too

We also enjoyed the musical entertainment. This man acts out the part of an expert musician in the 1800s Gold Rush. He has numerous instruments and plays them all amazingly well, including the spoons and various drums, etc. It's a great opportunity for the kids to listen to a different type of music while shaking their butter tubes or riding around the barn.

And yes, we do get our milk from the creamery. We have milk delivered every week and it's so yummy, as is the apple cider, egg nog, cheese, cream cheese and everything else we've had them deliver. Check it out of you are in the D.C. area:
http://www.southmountaincreamery.com/home.php

When it's hot, you eat Ice Cream

It was so darn hot this weekend we did nothing but hang out at the pool and then eat ice cream. I keep telling myself I need to get ramped up for some hiking in this humidity (Costa Rica will be at least this hot if not more.) But, alas this has not happened beyond trekking around the air conditioned mall. What I really wanted to try out was my new Ergo Carrier. The darn airlines charge so much now for luggage that I had to buy a new carrier for Nathan so I wouldn't bring my big baby backpack. I'll have more pics of that another day. Anyway, so we went to get ice cream tonight and both Meghan and Nathan thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Yes I know we let Nathan eat SORBET (non-dairy) at 7 months. He particularly enjoys the mango flavor.

Last Weekend we went Blueberry picking at the local Butler's Orchard. It's pick your own and you pay for them by weight. Luckily they don't weigh your kids. the field and has been enjoying them all week in pureed and self-feed form the rest of the week. I just love fresh blueberries.
I even found time to make a fresh blueberry pie this week that was super yummy!

Fun Times at Dutch Wonderland

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

National Arboretum Azaleas bloom

We toured the lovely azaleas when Grandma and Grandpa visited in May

Make a Smilebox scrapbook