Rocks

The world famous Tucson Gem and Mineral Show is in town right now. Annie looks forward to it every year since she is quite the rock hound and has a decent rock collection. When she heard it was in town she begged for her allowance and for me to take her. Rachel wasn't interested, so we went while she was still in school.
They had cool stuff there. Lots of fossils, some were enormous. And some other random stuff, like a knight's armor.

 These trees the kids are standing in front of were so cool. The foliage is all made of gems. They were beautiful in person.

 And amethyst cut in heart shapes.

 A HUGE rock.

 Since the kids are so darn cute, they had people giving them free stuff right and left. They got a couple cool polished rocks, 2 shark teeth each, and a clear prism. And Annie and Ryan found a few more treasures to spend their money on.

Saturday we went to look at some other rocks. We headed about an hour and a half away to the Dragoon Mountains, aka Cochise Stronghold, where the Apaches fought and defended. The best part of that area is the awesome HUGE boulders. But the fact that it was a beautiful day, and water was flowing down the "river" (my kids are such Arizona kids to call the trickle of water a river), was a bonus.

 We had lots of fun exploring and climbing all over (and under) the boulders, then went on a nature hike before having a picnic and heading home.

 Apparently stacking all your smarties in a tower is more fun than actually eating them.

 It was super fun and we're all wanting to go back and play some more. If only our kids were better car travelers. An hour in the car and they are SO done, and make it known. So while it was fun, we won't be going back next weekend. Maybe in the fall when the memory of the drive has dimmed, and the weather is cool enough to play outside again. :)