Saturday, last day of "vacation"

Matt recently found that there was an Oregon History Museum (by the Oregon Historical Society) in Portland and wanted to go. I took Rachel to dance Saturday morning since Matt was exhausted from driving home the night before. After dance we stopped at the Farmers Market to listen to the band we had heard as we raced to dance trying not to be late. Sadly they played for only a few moments before going on break. Then we went to the library to see if they had any cultural passes since we would be in Portland anyway. The only one left was the Chinese Gardens. I took it thinking if we didn't use it it was free. Coming out of the library there was a sign for a RUMMAGE SALE!! Only a few blocks down and an all kids one! Well I txted Matt and told him he would just have to pick us up there rather then waiting for us to get home. There wasn't a lot of stuff but Rachel had a blast dressing up in dress up clothes with another little girl and checking out all the toys. I got her an almost new pair of tennis shoes, and a pair of sandals for $2 each and a couple dry erase boards for a quarter each, and barbie roller blades that had little training wheels on them for $3. It was fun to look around.

The Museum was LAME! And you can know that if we say it, its true. First, Matt found it because it has the "Portland Coin" in it. The coin flipped to see what the name of Portland would be. He wanted a pic of it but when he snapped a pic of the first car made in Oregon sitting in the lobby the Nazi desk guy got all over him about it. "NO PICTURES". What??? I mean, I understand no flash, but no pictures??? THEN the main display was from the Pendleton roundup which we had seen last summer in Pendleton (and not that exciting to begin with). The kids were actually asking to go home!!! While they had a few interesting displays their tiny kid area consisting of a bunk and a cook pot and tin cup was LAME-O and their info on items was sketchy at best. Sad to say, it ranks near the bottom of our museum list. It was DEFINITELY not worth the $11 each they charged us for admission!!!!

Good thing the Chinese Gardens was so much better! We had sunshine Saturday, and it was actually almost hot! The gardens were beautiful and peaceful and the walk-through was just about as much as the kids could handle (not a place to run and play like they needed after that museum). We browsed a few of the Chinese shops in the area before heading home.
Matthew and Rachel tried out the skates when we got home and then an early bedtime as we were all worn from our week of fun.