Spring Break 2018, Day 7, Part Three: Geodes and Grandparents

We were going to head home after the butterflies, but we had received a coupon for gelato at one of the upper restaurants.  So we went upstairs and shared a couple scoops.  As we left there, we passed this wagon full of rocks outside a shop.  Aaron stopped dead in his tracks and shouted with a grin 'Look!  Let's get some geodes!'

So we did just that!  The kids got to choose a bag and a rock, then break the geode and keep the pieces.  I joined in because swinging a hammer looked like so much fun!

After we'd broken our geodes, we chatted with a sales lady there.  Cole was really sweet to her, complimenting her necklace, telling her she was pretty, and giving her a big hug.  She thought he was absolutely adorable and got us to stay in the store by telling the kids they could go in a mine.

(These are a few of the beautiful geodes they had on display.)

My four little minors, off to be miners.

When we'd been through the mine and identified several kinds of rocks, we had the chance to choose a raw amethyst.  Evie was most excited because amethyst is her birthstone.  She's hoping to tumble it and refine it and make it pretty.

We managed to squeeze in a final visit with Great Grandma and Grandpa Boschi.  The kids watched a movie or played with these fun tracks and cars.

We adults got in a fun round of Hand and Foot.  I think this might have been the first time Grandpa's ever lost; I, on the other hand, felt very honored to be on his team!  

I love how he looked like a bookie with his hat and his card-shuffler!

As amazing as this trip was, I can't think of any moment when we could have crammed in one more fun thing.  On the other hand, we fulfilled all our favorite traditions - swimming, Hand and Foot, Organ Stop, and climbing Wind Cave - as well as making some new ones, like FHE with family there, visiting an aquarium in the desert, and having a Grand Canyon day trip.  Not to mention all the things that I researched but we were unable to do, like going to a dude ranch and an orchard.  It was incredible every moment of the trip, and we absolutely are looking forward to the next time we can get down there!

Gingerbread (Doll) Houses

Someday, I swear, I'm actually going to do real gingerbread, made from scratch, and do the giant ones like I remember decorating as a child.  For now, though these bitty sets come in handy for our family.

Everyone got their own 'house', except for Cole and me.  We shared.  With just a little extra frosting and candy, we were ready to really deck those houses!

This was the only time Cole even looked like he was trying.  The funny thing was, he was trying to take the candy OFF already.  And continued to do so for the remainder of the evening.

I love how similar my guys look, putting candy on their own home bases.  Such concentration!

The girls also put much heart into their creations.

Cole continued to grab and gulp.

"This needs to go here, not there!"

Sometimes, you have to get creative to get the right piece in the right place.

Even though I managed to get some candy to stay on, Cole endeavored to remove as much of it as possible.

Finished creations!

Gratitude and First Snowfall!

The Monday before Thanksgiving, our Family Home Evening lesson was on gratitude.  We made a thankful tree.  The kids were so proud that they each thought of at least one thing.  Evelyn and Lizzie really got into it.  We've hung it in our dining room to remind all of us to add more gratitude to even our meal prayers.  I love that this was a lesson that the kids seemed to really take something from!

That night, and all the next day, it snowed.  Lots and lots of pretty white fluffy stuff coming down.  So on Tuesday, after the girls got home from school, we all bundled up and went out to play.  It was a little rough because it was already so dark, but the kids didn't seem to mind!

Cole was excited about the snow!

The girls cracked out the sled and started making tracks right 

away.  Everyone loved the snow!

I couldn't resist taking this picture.  Cole was decidedly NOT pleased when playtime in the snow was finished!  I felt doubly bad because he really was freezing out there, but he wanted to badly to stay; my choice to bring him in wasn't well met.