OMSI Field Trip

The day of Sarah's birthday party, her whole third grade went on a field trip to OMSI.

I knew it would be a little crazy going on a field trip all day right before her big party, but really wanted to go with her. She had been struggling with her nausea and I wanted to be able to help her if it hit on the field trip and she needed a snack before lunch. We had a great time in the Chemistry lab - that was my favorite part. The IMAX bug movie we watched was pretty incredible too. I was able to have Sarah sneak some trail mix mid-morning to avoid her "funny feeling" and she had a great day.

I have to say, though, the rest of the field trip - besides those two things I mentioned above - was pretty stressful. It is really hard to keep track of 5 kids at OMSI! Especially when two of them like to wander off because they get distracted by all the interesting things to see. (o: There are so many exhibits all over, it is an easy place to lose someone. I spent most of the time running around, calling names and counting. Many of the other parents were doing the same thing and we just had to laugh. It was not relaxing!

And the bus ride . . . oh man. The ride to OMSI was miserable. I didn't get to sit by Sarah - I sat in the back by about 7 of the loudest boys on the planet who were trying to shoot the evil transformers driving behind us. (o: I should have been grateful, I'm sure it would have been a bummer to get blown up by a bad transformer guy. Instead I kept shushing their efforts to rid the world of evil mechanical villians.

It was stuffy and stinky and so incredibly loud. It was raining, so we couldn't open the windows and I was right by the heater and felt like I couldn't breathe. And all those boys in the stuffy bus emit some pretty smelly smells. The things I do for my child. I texted Bob* an S.O.S. signal, but he couldn't save me. (o: He was in a boring meeting with some annoying bigger boys, but I would have done anything to switch places with him in that moment. That is a rare occurrence. If the bus ride had been any longer I think I would have melted into a blubbering puddle of goo.

Eva, Monica's mom, is a good friend and I always enjoy getting to hang out with her when I can. We didn't get much time to hang out as we were chasing kids, but since the chemistry room had four walls to contain our kids, we got to relax for a moment. Don't we look awesome?