SOMSI

We use our OMSI membership very often.  For our last fun activity for Spring Break we went back to OMSI, exactly one week after our first visit at the beginning of Spring Break.  This time Bailey and Garrett came and played too.  Jason stayed home with Bennett so we could get them in on our membership.

Harrison in the Chem Lab.  My favorite part of going to OMSI is that Harrison calls it SOMSI. 

Learning about Hydro-power.

In the Physics Lab

Learning about Electric Current.

In the Chemistry Lab

In the Space Shuttle

Model of Apollo 13

On the Camel

Egypt Exhibition

Bailey and Garrett - such cute newlyweds!

Inside the giant Ear

My kids love to climb in this ear.  It is possible to climb all through the ear canal to the ear drum.  I must have 100's of pictures of them all in this ear!  They always want pictures taken here.  I wouldn't have even posted these, but I thought this sequence was funny.

Harrison Happy

Harrison Annoyed that Max got in his shot!

Max happy, Harrison still annoyed but playing OK in the ear canal.

In the Paleontology Lab

The sand table is very therapeutic.

At the end the kids wanted to go play in the Science playground.  We said good-bye to Bailey and Garrett so they could go back and actually read and see the exhibits without chasing the kids with me.  I figured it was safe for me to be alone with 4 kids  I mean, this is my every day life.  Right?

It was 3 days before the end of Spring Break and it was SUPER crowded there.  We left the playground and went to the bathrooms before heading home.  Harrison took off after going, as I was washing my hands and yelling for him to come back.  I figured he would just wait outside with the older boys who should be out by then.  I still ran out as fast as I could.  Glenn was standing there and said he never saw Harrison come out.  We looked EVERY WHERE!  He was gone for a total of 15 minutes, and it terrified the staff.  He had gone off downstairs to ride the flight simulator, but they wouldn't let him without a parent.  He came back upstairs, and Lily was waiting by the bathrooms in case he came back there, and he did! 

 I will say that this was the first time that I've lost a kid in a crowded busy place, that I didn't get super upset.  I usually am crying and freaking out.  Not this time.  What does that mean?  I think it means that I am well seasoned.  I stayed calm this time, and I was much better off for it in the long run.  I have lost kids before at the zoo, the Gilbert House, at the park etc.  It is always a super scary experience.  I am proud of myself for maybe not getting better at mothering, I mean - I am still losing kids on occasion, but better at handling things.  My life is crazy, coping skills are necessary.

Spring Break Day 1

Day One - March 18th
As long as I have lived in Portland we have had an annual OMSI membership.  It is a great deal for us.  Not only do we spend a lot of time at OMSI, but also at other children's museums where the museum is reciprocal. (Mostly the Gilbert House in Salem.)

We went to OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) because our school district was the only one in Portland who had Friday off, therefore I knew it wouldn't be as crowded.  And I was right!  We had a great time, and even more so because Jason had the day off and could come with us!

OMSI is always changing, and usually has at least one special visiting exhibit.  Right now they have an Egyptian exhibition.  They have a REAL mummy on display along with CT scans of other mummy's, and many other very special things about Egypt.  There was no photography allowed throughout the exhibit, except for in one place.  And that one place was this camel statue thingamajig.  My kids had a blast climbing all over it.

My most favorite place in OMSI is the Science Playground!  I will fully admit to going there while the older kids are in school, and bringing a book and letting Harrison run wild!  I did that at least once a week while pregnant with Bennett.  There is a water table, (though after the staph infection and near amputation of Harrison's toe December 2009 we no long play at the water table.) a sand box, a craft room, a pretend forest with chipmunk costumes etc. etc. etc. 

Jason and Glenn were having way too much fun reading every printed word throughout the Egyptian Exhibit.  (That is also something I would love to do, which is why Jason and I sometimes go on date nights, all by ourselves to OMSI, just so I can really 'SEE' the exhibits!)  So, Lily and I brought the three little boys to the Science playground.  I was bummed I had no book to read.

Bennett had a blast in the special baby area.  There is plush carpet, no shoes allowed and no kids over 2 years old.  AWESOME!

 His two favorite things in the baby play area were the balls and the real live fish swimming around.

Harrison and Max played the whole time in the sandbox.

Lily is always in the craft room.

Christmas time was here!

Please don't judge me for this, but I am just now putting together a couple of Christmas Posts. 

I think this is OK because my baby sister just got married 6 days ago and so between Christmas and now I have been very consumed with that.  Another thing that makes this OK is that my Amazing Sister in Law, who should be mother of the year, just posted Christmas on her blog yesterday!

So, here we go!  I have to say that this last Christmas was maybe the best one ever.  (I say that every year... I think)  I was sad that my sister and her family were in Australia, but Isaac and his family came.  Isaac is just 15 months younger than myself.  We hardly ever get to see each other, so him coming home made Christmas extra special!

One day Jason and I met Isaac and Kristen with all the kids and played at OMSI.  It was a blast!     Here is Harrison playing at the water table.  Thankfully NO staph infection caught there this year, unlike last year!

This is Harrison at Ikea wanting that blue star Light for his room.

One day I took the kids and met, Isaac, Kris, Jake, Jimmer, Jackson and Bailey for lunch at Ikea.  Then we did some Christmas shopping.

My baby brother Jackson, helping Glenn hold Bennett up.  And Bailey, who just had to sneeze right then and there!  Don't you know you're supposed to sneeze into the inside of your elbow?

Isaac and Max checking out this cool kitchen and Jimmer about to run over.

Jimmer got a kitchen from Santa this year.  He loves kitchens!

The second before I took this picture, they were cuddled up so sweetly.  Then, suddenly James decided he wanted up and out!  Poor Bailey got in the way!

So there is the first bit of Christmas posting from me!  Hope you liked it!