Digging for Diamonds

Earlier this year, we decided that we would take the kids to a diamond mine in Arkansas and go dig for diamonds.  Now, let me be the first one to say, this did not excite me.  Think about it.....driving 7 hours with the kids to go dig in the dirt in the hot sun.  Not my dream vacation.  Well, I have to admit.  It wasn't too bad and it was an experience I think the kids will always remember.  Did we find anything you ask?  Well, it depends what you think is a treasure I guess.  I found a lot of fools gold, Megan found some cool rocks that she took home, and Jeremy found a shady spot to sit down in. 

Emilee of course was her happy excited self, Megan found the mud.  She always finds the mud.  Hunter thought he would find the diamond that would fund his dream playground set.  I guess he will have to keep dream'in.

We got to this mine about 8:30 in the morning, thinking that it would be cool enough and then as the afternoon began we would be done and off to swimming we go.  Well, it got hot a lot faster then we thought and it was humid.  I was dreaming of a white sand beach down in Florida.  There are three ways to dig for diamonds.  One way is a surface walk.  Just walking through the mine and spotting what may be on top.  Another way is digging in the dirt and dry sifting it through a screen.  Both of these consist of being out in the hot sun.   By the way, the brighter the sun the better, cause then you can see the sparkling little gems.  The third way is to shovel dirt into a bucket a sift it through a screen in the water using an area under a shaded area.  Well, once I figured out the third part.  It wasn't so bad.  The girls and I had a blast getting all wet and dirty searching for diamonds.  We talked to tons of people from all over the country.  I think I actually had a good time.  Shh, don't tell anyone though.  

Here we are, all dirty and ready to go swimming.  They had a great pool next to the mine that you could go to.  Had water slides and everything.  When we hosed off before we got in the pool, it was like a huge mud slide going down the drain.  Let me tell you though....that pool felt so good.  

The next day, we spent the day in Hot Springs.  We shopped through the downtown shops, went miniature golfing indoors ('cause it was to hot outside), went to the mid-America Science Center, and closed the day with a magic show with a master Illusionist.

This was a cool show in the Science museum.  It was a demonstration of a Telsa Coil.  Now, most of us have seen this in some sort of glass ball, but this was huge and it was very loud.  We learned that tons of things we use today came through this technology such as fluorescent and neon lights, cell phones, cars, televisions, and tons of other modern conveniences we might use today.  Afterward the kids got to go up there and touch part of the demonstration using there bodies and other objects to produce negative and positive energy.  They said it tickled their bodies.

That evening, we went to a magic show.  Because we sat on the front row, Megan and Emilee got picked to help out.  Now, they were totally excited, but when Emilee got up there she freaked out.  He rewarded her with a drink of her choice and about 3 bags of candy and a bag of popcorn.  Megan was doing great.  She had some dance moves that I didn't know she had.  She laughed tons and was having a great time until he brought out the guillotine.  Her face changed expressions very quickly.  It was very funny.  I think it was a pretty good show and the kids enjoyed it tons.

That was our trip.  Not much else to say about it, but we did have a good time.  Now it is time to get ready for school, which I have to say is very exciting.  As much as I love my children, I love it when they are learning in school as well.  By the time summer is over, I am all worn out and so ready to get things back to normal.