Places to Go (Vacation) - Geocaching at the Lake (Snowshoe, WV)

We spent 4th of July weekend in Snowshoe, WV with Dan's parents at the resort's annual bluegrass festival, which has become something of a family tradition over the past few years (click here for all my Snowshoe posts). As always, we took the ski lift down to Shaver Lake (odd that my children have become proficient in riding a ski lift, yet have never skied). But this year the girls, my mother-in-law, and I decided to try something different and check out Snowshoe's geocaches. I've wanted to take the kids geocaching for awhile now, but I have an awful sense of direction and, thus, am nervous we'll fail to find the caches. But Not-So-SAHM's recent posts have inspired me to get out and try (check out her AWESOME review of the DC mural cache here). I figured Snowshoe would be a good place to start, as the resort places all the caches and Snowshoe promises that most of the caches are easy to find. Plus, I've wanted to hike around the lake for a few years now, but I needed some sort of motivational tool to inspire the kids.

On the upside, the girls LOVED finding the first five or so caches (there are 10 total, hidden along a 1.2 mile path), but eventually they became somewhat bored with it, especially since the caches only contain generic red plastic coins. And I found Snowshoe's GPS somewhat tricky to use, so it took us awhile to get the hang of things. But the hike itself was gorgeous - leading us from dark, almost black, forests - like somewhere out of a fairy tale - to beautiful green meadows housing millions of wild flowers.

So maybe we'll start trying to find some local caches. At least that's the goal.

HAPPY MONDAY EVERYONE!!

Things to Make - Firework Painting

The 4th of July seemed to sneak up on us this year. Last week we were still celebrating days without school, when I suddenly realized our nation's birthday was right around the corner. So, in order to generate some holiday spirit, we painted fireworks (idea via my pinterest summer files).

Here's the scoop: (materials - pipe cleaners, paint, dark colored construction paper, glitter (optional), and oil pastels or crayons)

1. Ask the kids to draw a night skyline onto a piece of dark construction paper (we used oil pastels, but crayons would also work).

2. Take four pipe cleaners, fold them in half, twist the bottom portion to create a handle, and then fan the ends to make a star shape (click this awesome blog for more detailed instructions).

3. Add paint (and/or glitter).

4. Create.

(Note - If you don't have any pipe cleaners, you can also use cut toilet paper rolls for a similar effect).

T absolutely LOVED this project, he painted and painted and painted. The girls created a few fireworks and then decided they'd rather avoid the mess and just draw their explosions, which was fine too. I just wanted some seasonal art to decorate the kitchen.

Places to Go (Vacation) - Snowshoe, WV for the 4th of July

As I mentioned on Monday, we spent Independence Day in Snowshoe, WV at the resort's annual bluegrass festival. The girls think it's silly that America has a birthday. They find it even sillier that, just like them, America has "favorite colors." ("Why does America like blue and white, mom? Why not pink and purple? WHY?"). We tried to talk to them about presidents and constitutions and the history of our nation but as soon as Mt. Vernon came up they said "so if we get a really big house with lots of antiques then we get to pick America's colors?" Umm, history is confusing.



During the festival free live music played throughout the day, accompanied by free bounce houses and eurobungee (not free). Last weekend marked my first viewing of eurobungee (sort of like "bungee light") which looked so fun I really wanted to try it (but I felt awkward standing in line with a bunch of 3-10 year olds). The girls, however, loved it and kept asking to do it again and again.



The Del McCoury Band headlined the weekend and, unlike the rest of the performers, the resort required tickets to see them. Luckily, my in-laws' condo faced the stage, so we sat by the windows and listened to the music - watching a diaper-clad T bounce and dance to old-school bluegrass. We also had binoculars and small telescope for viewing (T kept holding the telescope to his nose and clapping, evidently confused as to its purpose), Del sounded great but looked OLD. After the band, the resort hosted a WONDERFUL fireworks display. And now all T keeps saying is "see firework? see mo' firework? them 'o boom boom!" Over and over again.

Places to Go - Sunset Celebration at Mt. Vernon (Alexandria, VA)

Happy almost 4th of July! In honor of the holiday, I decided to end the week with a presidential post. Hence, Mt. Vernon. We've visited Mt. Vernon before (click here to read about it), but a few weekends ago we took the kids to a Sunset Celebration on the property and it felt so nice to watch dusk fall over the grounds while drinking wine and eating cheesecake (as the kids rolled down the big hill). Seriously gorgeous. Unfortunately, Mt. Vernon is rarely open in the evening hours. But on the 4th they host a daytime fireworks display which I've heard good things about - free cake and a band accompany the pyrotechnics (click here for the info). Further, in late September the estate hosts its Fall Wine Festival & Sunset Tour, which provides a great opportunity to see the grounds at night.

For more 4th of July suggestions Go Out and Play! has a great roundup of Arlington area events and KidFriendly DC has info on additional events. Whatever you decide to do, I hope your 4th if full of random, beautiful moments. See you next week!!



I love big old trees, there's something magical about them. The couple in period costume doesn't work for the estate, they just dress like that for fun, which made me like them. Sometimes I wonder what random hobbies Dan and I will adopt when the kids grow up and move away. Probably not costumes, but you never know.


The glowing lanterns everywhere really made the night.