Sparkly Rocks–the MS Gem and Mineral Show 2013

Which is Which? Who is this itty-bitty Chamberlin?

(Answer at end of post)

 

 

 

 

The last weekend in February is one we look forward to every year. This year the kids all had their money saved up to spend on some pretty rocks and baubles, and I was at least prepared by previous experience for the way the house would fill with sharp, but pretty, foot-hazards. If you’ve never stepped barefooted on a random piece of broken geode, yay for you, but I assure you they rival legos for sheer pain.

I didn’t get many pictures, probably because I forgot my camera, but I managed a few with my ipod. I also mostly got pictures of Rachel and Caroline because the others all split up and took off (with permission) just inside the door. Daniel got to go by himself, and Katherine, Elizabeth, and her friend Kate went off together, and Chris and I kept Rachel and Caroline with us. At least, for the first hour. After that, they found so many things they wanted to show us, or one of us, that we got pulled all over the place, shuffling kids and amazingly heavy little bags of things (because yes, they’re rocks!). At least I remembered to bring my giant purse that can hold a ton, even if my shoulder didn’t much appreciate it. Here Rachel and Caroline are buying geodes and getting them cracked open. ------->

So many, many rocks to pick from!

 

The children’s area is always a favorite. They get to make a “gem tree” from wire and little gems.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below Rachel is picking out her prize for the beanbag-toss game:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And Caroline is trying for her prize (those guys were so nice – they let the girls try several times until they won the prize they wanted!):

 

 

 

 

 

Katherine’s hair was worthy of an exhibit in and of itself! She put it up in a topknot and picked a little bouquet of wildflowers to adorn it. It’s gotten so thick and long that it’s almost too heavy for her to put up like this! Yeah, I know - poor girl, right?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answer: Katherine (I think that was a hard one.)