Firestation and the Grandparents!

Last week, our Joyschool group went to a fire station in NE Portland for a field trip! Apparently they forgot we were coming and we had to wait about a half hour for someone to show up, but once they did the kids loved learning about fire safety, and riding down the fire pole a million times. We watched a video about the ABC's of fire safety and how to keep safe during a fire. I think the kids learned a few things. It made for a fun field trip.

Last week my parents came into town for a short 3 day visit! They miss all their grandchildren that have moved away, and try at least once a year to visit all of them. It was so nice to have them here, even though it was a short time, and even though it was cold and rainy for a lot of the time. But such is the weather in Oregon in March. On Friday we drove to Cannon Beach and got blown all over the beach with the wind. But we survived by gathering seashells. Unfortunately my Dad dropped his nice work phone into the ocean just as the tide was coming in while he was hurling rocks into the sea!...I guess it paid him back. how sad. We continued driving down the coast to Tillamook and had to make a stop at the Tillamook Cheese Factory. The smell when you step out of the car was so bad of manure and cows, my dad said, "Well those cows must be playing a roaring game of 'pull my hoof'!" It was pretty stinky. But luckily, inside smelled nice. Although with a factory dedicated to making cheese, and people eating tons of free samples, you just never knew at what moment the aroma could change.
That night we went and saw the movie "The Lorax" which Sammy liked a lot, and enjoyed watching with Grandma and Grandpa. On Saturday we rode the train from Dave's office down close to Saturday's Market and made my parents walk through the rain for at least an hour or so seeing the sights of downtown Portland. Had to give them the true Oregon experience! Didn't think about the fact that my mother was "recovering" from pneumonia and relapsed not soon after that. Sorry mom. Besides making my mother even more sick, it was still a fun trip and the girls thoroughly enjoyed their time spent with Grandma and Grandpa Brewster.