Rock Quarry Field Trip, this and that

On Friday, I had the pleasure of taking Tucker and Charlie on a field trip.  This is one of the first ones we have ever gone on without the older children.  We had a great time.  We saw a rock quarry-

We went to two excellent classes on dinosaurs and rocks and their uses.  I was so fascinated- I had no idea how many things we use have various rocks and minerals in them. 

He let them put their own rocks into a rock grinder/sorter-

Then we drove down, down, down into the bottom of the quarry- the boys loved this part-

There are beautiful waterfalls where groundwater comes through-

 

 

 At the end they were given "pet rocks".  Tucker has already gotten his decorated.  :) 

Speaking of Tucker's art projects- he made the most beautiful mobile for Julia's birthday.  She loves wolves and has a little handmade book on wolves that she made.  He took the various wolf drawings she had made and copied them on this mobile.  What a sweet brother. 

On the backside were the descriptions-

And when Marky was coming back from Ireland, Tucker, OF COURSE, made him a welcome home banner-

And here are a few Annie Rosie pictures from the week-

 

We took her to the park to swing for the first time!  She LOVED it! 

Overheard, et al

I was reading William Butler Yeats' poem "Lake Isle of Innisfree" to Tucker. 

Tucker:  I think I will call him William Butter Yeast.  :)

As we went on I was asking why he thought Yeats could hear the lake lapping in his "heart's core" even when he's on pavement or in the town? 

Tucker:  I have no idea.

Mommy:  Well, sometimes you just love something so much that it is a part of you.  Even when you are away from it you can hear the sounds, smell the smells, feel the emotion of it.  Your love for it keeps it close to you always. 

Tucker:  Oh, I understand now!  That is exactly what happened to me at Space Camp with Annie.  I love her so much she is a part of me everywhere I go.  When I was gone I could still smell her little face, hear her babble, and picture her with me.  It felt like she was with me. 

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Walking in a parking lot. 

Tucker:  We have an old fashioned bouncy antenna on our car.  All these new cars have one like a short dorsal fin.  :)

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He is big into Geography and Flags again.  He has been making "flag continents" from memory-

North America-

South America-

Asia-

Antarctica-

Here is the sweetest, happiest baby girl.  She is SUCH A GOOD BABY.  Julia just put her down for her morning nap wide awake.  I am watching on the monitor.  She just sat there for a bit, played with her bunnies, and then laid down and went to sleep.   Sweet angel girl!

(Now we do rock her and sing to her to wind her down.  I am BIG on rocking babies and signing lullabies.  She just smiles at me over her pacifier with those sweet eyes.)

They didn't have these little packets when Charlie was little (or at least I didn't use them).  I am amazed at Annie being able to feed herself baby food!

I call this a "Study in Lavender"- :)

We have learned Charlie LOVES silver dollar pancakes.  I mean LOVES- he had 12 for breakfast!  You would not believe this boy's appetite.