Dirt, Rocks and Tractors

What more can a little boy ask for?

     I am not much of a day trip mom.  For entertainment, we generally go to the local park, the library, and sometimes, if the children are really good, we go to Wal Mart!  We visit cousins, play in the yard, and have late night movies with friends.  But day trips are rare for us. 

      This week, one of my sisters called to tell me that there was free admission to the Kenecott Copper mines.  FYI, the normal cost is only $5 per car, or in our case huge van.  That amount certainly would not break the bank, but it was just the spark that we needed to pile in the van and head north. 

     I was not sure I would enjoy the mine.  I was, after all, the one who walked 6 blocks out of the way in the sweltering heat of D.C. to see the air and space museum only to get there and think "this is it?"  I figured it was worth the risk as 4 out of my 6 boys are obsessed with dirt, rocks and tractors. 

Apparently, this is what happens if you start with a mountain and dig for 100 years.  Keep in mind, we are not talking beach shovel digging.  We are talking about BIG diggers.

This was a picture they had in the museum to show us the size of the dump trucks being used.  From where we stood looking down into the mine, they looked like matchbox cars!

Matthew must have thought he had died and gone to heaven.  He has now decided that instead of being a farmer, he will work in the mine and "dwive a big twacto"

Once I explained that this implement of destruction was a drill bit, the boys wasted no time testing it's real time applications.  There was a lot of giggling and yelling for help as they pretended to have their arms gound to bits.

After our visit to the mine, we visited the tiny town of Copperton.  I never did see a grocery store or a gas staion, but I will give them kudos for having the most original park ever!

      This day, visiting the mines turned out so well, I am already wondering where I should take them next!