So now that
A.J. and I have decided we are going to have a multi-purpose mini barn built,
we dedicated Saturday to driving out to one of the barn/shed sales places. The closest one that was open on Saturday was
an hour and half away. Since we had
already made this our main plan for the day, I wasn’t worried too much about
time or anything until about 11:30 when we were still not out the door and A.J.
told me that the place closed at 2:00P.M. on Saturdays. When I had looked at the website I just
quickly gleaned the hours 8-5, but that was Monday thru Friday. As is typical in my life, I am never fully
prepared and the Gray Goose was pretty much on empty. Add to that, our hungry kids who we had
promised drive-through goodness on the way.
To kill two birds with one stone, A.J. grabbed an assortment of chips
and drinks when we stopped to get gas.
While we were at the gas station, I called the barn guy who informed me
that even if the shop was closed, all of their barns and sheds were open so that we could at least walk through them.
It was go
time and A.J. and I debated the best route of the 3 suggested routes on my
iPhone because everyone who lives in Northern Virginia knows that certain roads
like 66 tend to be hell on Saturdays. We
went with option 3 of the routes. Over
the course of our life together, A.J. and I have always had a habit of taking
random Saturday drives. We did this a
lot more when we were house hunting when Josie was the only kiddo around. And we don’t take them too often anymore
because really there is nothing too relaxing about driving around aimlessly
with four kids who are strapped into their seats fighting to get free. Spring is definitely a great time to take
drives out towards the mountains in Virginia.
The weather, at least in the earlier part of the day yesterday, was
beautiful. We drove through a couple
very quaint little towns and just as I commented to A.J. what a pretty state
Virginia is, we both caught sight of a dilapidated trailor with a crumbled down
house next to it. Oh well…Somehow we
overshot one of the roads- navigation systems are great if you know how to use
them and if you don’t get sidetracked. I
personally blame it on Dinosaur Land which caused quite a stir in our car when
the kids spied it in all its kitschy glory when we were stopped at a red light.
By some
miracle, despite one bathroom stop and our detour a bit further west than
necessary, we made it to the barn/shed shop with five minutes to spare before
the owner was heading out. This place
was like heaven for my three older kids who had been cooped up in the car for
over two hours at this point- picture a parking lot with a tiny shed(the main
office) in the center surrounded in a crescent formation by about twenty or so
other sheds and mini barns that were all unlocked and open for you to roam into
and out of. The gentleman who ran the
place was so kind and stayed for almost an extra hour to humor this crazy
couple and our four kids. The kids’
excitement was contagious and as we looked around and explored these sheds and
barns, I got even more and more excited that hopefully one of these big bad
barns will be ours soon. Climbing the
stairs in the largest model(the one we are hoping to get), brought me back to
many childhood memories in my grandpa’s barn in Connecticut. His barn was much older than this obviously,
but I remember climbing up to its second floor to explore with my dad and
sisters and brother. Not even sure my
grandpa knew we were up there. Anyways,
the kooky artist in me really believes this barn has good karma and I can’t
wait to get ours built! It is funny
because A.J. and I have been researching all different types of shed/sunroom
options and while there are definitely more stylish ones out there, we keep
coming back to a barn.
While I had
this poor salesman cornered to answer all of my million and one questions, A.J.
escaped to the port-o-let leaving me and kind salesman with my four
goonies. Oldest three decided to play
with the large chunks of gravel. Not a
problem until Josie, my girl with a major league pitcher’s arm and a blind man’s
aim, decided to beam a piece of gravel directly at the salesman who had one of
the quickest reaction times I have ever seen and ducked as the gravel bounced
hard off the shed directly behind us. He
later told me he used to be a state trooper in Maryland. We made it through the remainder of the barn
shopping experience without causing or sustaining any injuries.
After
stuffing down some fast food a town over, we made our way to the afternoon’s
reward for good behavior: Dinosaur Land.
This place looks straight out of the fifties or sixties and was
essentially a very large gift shop with an entrance to a large yard with about
thirty or so enormous dinosaur replicas placed throughout. Sadly, as soon as we got there, it started
pouring rain. We appeased the kids with
toys from the gift shop and old-fashioned candy. The older couple who ran the place were so
friendly and patient with my munchkins.
I look forward to venturing back there for a full on dino exploration
with the kids.
I will end
this post on a cheesy note because cheese is good and everyone can use
some. I will forever cherish the
memories of this day with my husband and kids.
It had so many unexpected moments of fun and humor like passing a place
called Gooney Creek Campground- we must go back. Days like this one can’t be planned and they
also can’t ever be forgotten. They are
the best kind of days. Random drives
together as a family.
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