We got an OMSI pass after Christmas, mainly so we have a fun place to go when it's nasty outside (like it has been recently--the basketball hoop was blown over at least 3 times...just yesterday!). Here are some of the things the boys like to do and see:

Sorry this picture is so dark, but this is another of Isaac's favorite things to see at OMSI--Samson, one of the world's most complete T-Rex skeletons. It's on display until September.

Here is some sort of water or irrigation exhibit that goes along with soil samples from Johnson Creek. The kids like it because they can dig in the sand and play with the animals in the water.

Bless OMSI for having a fun thing right next to their exit.

Here is a little update on Isaac, since he turned 3 on June 21st:

Isaac is definitely his daddy’s boy. He excels at gross motor skills, loves to run and be chased by people, and often scares other people by the high-heights he succeeds at jumping from. He loves anything with wheels, bugs, and animals. I rarely know where his bruises come from, and am amazed at how well he knows the Disney Cars characters (he can and does name them all on the street). He likes to play with his brother, I love it when he remembers to say "thank you", and everything is right in the world when he says "I wuv woo, momma" at night. If anyone ever tries to hurt or make fun of this boy...well, I understand the term momma-bear.

Isaac has been blessed with a strong will–and I do consider it a blessing. It can make things hard right now, but I am so thankful for it and am willing to work on honing that personality trait, because as he gets older, he will probably not struggle with peer-pressure and insecurities like some of his peers will.

Isaac, my greatest desire for you is not that you are successful, or make a lot of money, have lots of friends, fun, whatever...Isaac, I hope that as you grow up, you will come to know Jesus Christ as your personal savior. I pray that you will grow up and learn to fear and love Him as your Lord, and that you would seek to do His will...even if it’s not yours. I pray for your wife now (if there is one), that she would do the same. I pray that when you do encounter evil, that you will look to the Lord for guidance and strength.
Lord, thank you for blessing us with this boy and letting us raise him! Please help us do a good job!

Today was Isaac's first day at soccer camp, and, boy, was it memorable! We started off the camp with Isaac refusing to play, which is fine--annoying, because it was hard to get him to stop pulling on my legs, but fine. At least the camp was free, and he got free shin guards and a water bottle! It's got to be hard to coach 3-5 year olds, but our coaches actually did a good job!

What really made it memorable, though, was that while we were watching his friends play, we heard a gunshot.

Yes, gunshot.

When we looked across the field, we saw a few guys run and tackle someone down. Immediately, since it happened near our end of the field, a couple of our friends sprinted towards them (yeah, I know, really smart) and pulled some people apart and broke a fight up. Again, I realize I am surrounded by geniuses. There had been a robbery right next to the soccer field--when our friends sprinted over, people were running away from it, and there were dollar bills all over the place. At this point, I don't know if someone was actually shot (I never saw an ambulance), although I know they did retrieve the gun, but I'm positive it will be on the news tonight.

Isaac did get to see a bunch of police cars, though, since most of Gresham police and some of Portland police were immediately there. He even got to say thank you to one of the officers! I see a future Cops show addict...

I do have to give kudos to the volunteers at Portland Lutheran: they didn't sign up for this, but acted quickly to keep everyone calm and safe. I will probably be back tomorrow to try again. Thank you!

I am looking around my house, and here are the things I am currently doing RIGHT NOW all at the same time (Adam's playing b-ball):

*Searching for Caleb's binky and Isaac's milk
*Giving Isaac dinner
*Cleaning dishes
*Packing up diaper bag to get ready for work tomorrow
*Laundry (which has been sitting in the dryer since...Friday?)
*Trying to take garbage out
*Typing up this blog

And on top of all the things to-do, I am worried about having a job next year and anxious about a troubled student.

Jeez, talk about multi-tasking...I feel too scatterbrained and I know it won't all get done...so instead I blog. How do full-time career moms do it? I work 2.5 days a week, and that is sometimes overwhelming.

Easter, like every other holiday, was busy with lots of family....but slightly less busy since my family was out of town. Sunday was church, then home, then Grandpa Meyer's, then Grandma Becka's.
Here is Adam with his grandpa Arden. Love this picture--anything showing the different generations are so special to me, especially since Adam was the first grandson, and Isaac is the first great-grandson. Saturday we spent with friends and went to Blue Lake park to do an Easter egg hunt, meet the Easter bunny (I am not into that tradition, but it was kind of cute), and play at the park.

Okay, the title sounds kind of silly, but just read on...

I am so frustrated with the fire marshall right now. We spent hours, days, money, tons of time, decorating our classroom, making it a bright, cheery environment conducive to learning, and now the fire marshall came and visited our school and we have to take it all down! I am so sad and frustrated that there are no words. It breaks my heart that this person is forcing us to spend our time making our room less inviting.

Here are just SOME of the things we have to change in our room (because if there is a fire, having no paper on the walls will really save the kids):

*Every wall can only be covered 40% by anything (bulletin boards, chalkboards, charts, etc.), so we have to take down:
-Bulletin boards (no, not quite all of them, but still...)
-Birthday charts
-The Alphabet
-A-Z lists
*Also, things hanging from the ceiling must be at least 24" down (everything in our room is!!!!), but... it can't be made out of paper. And, if it is hanging down, it has to be sprayed with a stinky, dangerous, expensive non-combustible spray. So...
-ALL of the students work and art hanging from the ceiling must come down.
-The curtains in our writing center must come off
-More Alphabet charts have to come down

We also have to get rid of the letters students have written to us, get rid of our personal bulletin board...I am just exhausted thinking about it and want to cry. Obviously the fire marshall does not have children or they just plain do not support education, because SERIOUSLY...like making any of these changes is going to protect our kids any more. We wouldn't want them to take pride in their work at school--let them join one of the gangs that hangs out in the neighborhood. Maybe there they will gain some sort of identity.