We have a science book on our classroom with a picture of a gray haired scientist on it. My students are all convinced that he is God.

Kindergartener: "If you say you'll marry me I'll be on your baseball team."

I got my hair cut! 

While in Olympia we took some time out to visit our favorite place, the walmart supercenter. Just kidding, here is Paul at starbucks in downtown Olympia. 

Our quest for an alternative grocery store stops here, a mere fourty minutes away from our house. The Bayview Thriftway is like walking into a Trader Joes and Wild Oats rolled into one perfect grocery store. We had been able to find some natural foods at an odd store called Shop N Kart, but the experience was marred by the twenty foot "yard bird" gracing thier entrance. Otherwise, we are doomed to the Walmart Supercenter with it's long lines, screaming children and appalling lack of soy ice cream. 

Our place: From this side it looks more like a house than a barn. 

Mt. St. Helens: We have not been able to see it for a few days. Just as we were coming home today we caught a glimpse of a SNOW covered Mt. St. Helens, something we have not seen all summer until now. 

You had probably guessed that Paul's fascination with mountains has not suffered since we moved north. Last week he drove to Mt. St. Helens in the hopes of being caught in the path of death and destruction. Sadly, he missed the mountains latest hiccup by an hour. You can see the last of the steam plume hanging in the crater and the news media in the foreground. 

Paul took his grandpa to see the salmon at Bonneville Dam. 

Paul's Grandpa, Paul Smith, has been visiting the Northwest from New Jersey. Here is a picture of Paul and Paul in Paul's parents backyard. Interesting fact: both Paul's grandfather's names are Paul.  

I just posted some pictures of our new house. We have spent the last few days moving in with the help of our families. I am really excited about the fact that we will actually be able to get DSL there. I'm actually really excited about not being homeless. Also, next weekend we are going to Portland to visit our family, friends and our "old" church (although since we haven't found a new one yet we still refer to it as our church). Last weekend we tried a church and ended up going to the old folks service (you know the traditional one). It wasn't really that uplifting. Tomorrow we will try a new one which is supposed to be more contemporary. Paul, Anna and Wes are sick and I am trying to avoid thier germs. It's really hard not to kiss a baby though.

This is the other half of the barn looking out from our back door. 

This is our view. The house belongs to the people we rent from. 

Ozzie 

Our house! This half is ours, the other half belongs to the horses and dog. 

My Mom, Grandma and I setting up the kitchen. 

Our class turtle "Tornado". This is his mean face. 

The other day I prayed for an apartment. I told God the specifics of what I wanted, which is not something I normally do, even though I know He can do anything. Last weekend, after looking at two dumps, we looked at a barn apartment that we loved and put a deposit down on it. That's right, we share a building with two horses and dog named Ozzie. As we were moving a few boxes in yesterday we were greeted with a gentle neigh every time we walked through the barn doors with our boxes. It's a beautiful apartment with a view and a yard and it's exactly what we wanted. The people we are renting from are Christians and on the day we looked at the apartment we talked to them for about an hour and a half over tea. We could not be more happy and thankful. Pictures soon!! (I promise)

Our turtle can eat goldfish. Real goldfish. We haven't tried it yet but today a student brought me a little bag of goldfish crackers for the turtle.

We have these play barn and zoo animals in our classroom. The other day I over heard some kids playing with the ducks and saying, "Aflac! Aflac!"