This is a report from a survey taken from teachers in the 50 largest urban area's in the united states. I am just showing you the top few here. I was always trying to figure out why it seemed so hard to survive and pay the mortgage in this area. My monthly gross pay is slightly higher than what it says for Seattle probably because I have 45 credits more than a masters degree. My mortgage is the same however. Also, I have about a thousand dollars in reduction for medical and retirement and taxes, etc. When I look at the bottom of the table and see numerous areas where the median mortgages are less than 20% of their gross income, I must admit I think of moving. This area is too expensive. I want to be able to buy an acre or two that the kids can run around and play on. Well, I don't have to be able to have acreage, but it would be nice to be able to go on a vacation in the summer instead of teaching summer school. Now, I'm just complaining. We'll see.

Here is the website that has the information I've pilfered.

Cannabis raises psychosis risk

I thought this was an interesting article. I've never smoked one of these or a regular cigarette for that matter. I guess I'll have a better chance of not going psycho. I wonder what effect teaching high school has on how likely you are to go psycho?

Viva Las Vegas

Uncle Mike is moving to Las Vegas for good and he stopped by for a visit. We were glad to see him, the kids were thrilled and he brought a dangerous book for boys book that Josh was drooling over. We hope he enjoys life in Vegas, and I guess we'll have to go visit him somehow. I've never been to Las Vegas. I'm not really drawn to the gambling, but I'm sure there are other cool things to do there. Mike said that their are great places to go hiking in some National parks.

Blueberry Patch

This week was a busy one. I started teaching another class for summer school and the kids had Vacation Bible School (VBS). Josh also had his first week of soccer practice and I'm the coach so we both had to be there on Monday and Wednesday. We also have swim lessons still going on Tuesday and Thursday. I really noticed some improvement in the swimming today at lessons. Mackenzie is starting to really get the side breathing down much better and Josh is going faster in all the strokes. On Tuesday or Wednesday or something we went to the Blueberry U-Pick farm. It wasn't the same one we usually go to because our favorite place isn't open yet. We've been very busy this summer. Aggh. I still have to finish a little bit of painting in the high area above the stairs. It's all been done except the corners and a couple places that need a second coat. Check out Mackenzie's shirt for VBS. It was down to her knees so I did a little creative artwork. I almost made it too short. If you can't see it too well, I cut slits up the side and tied adjacent ones together. Then I put beads on the ends of the strips.

Soccer Camp Week

This week the kids went to the Challenger British Soccer camp in our area. They had a great time and Mackenzie especially bloomed by working really hard. They are still in swim lessons on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so the week was busy. We also had a pleasant surprise for the kids when grammy and grandpa came over with Kameron. They were able to watch swim lessons and we had a BBQ dinner afterward. They came bearing gifts and tales from NY city and Washington DC. My cousin Bradley was married last week which gave them a great reason for the trip to the other coast. Josh, Levi and I now have matching NY City shirts that look like the Mt. Dew logo. We all wore them the other day.... What a sight. We didn't manage to get a picture of the spectacle, maybe next time.

The Professor

I got a 5x5x5 rubiks cube a couple of weeks ago from the guys in my bible study as a thanks. I was going to put a picture on once I was able to solve it, but I forgot. So, anyway I remembered today, mixed it up and solved it. It took me 20 minutes, but I did get a short phone call in the middle. This cube's nickname is the "Professor." The 4x4x4 cube is called the "Revenge."

4th of July

Here is a 4th of July photo of the kids. They wanted our last little kitty to be in the picture. They named him Tucker, but we're still giving him away, I think.

Camping Trip

We went camping at Thousand Trails in Monroe this last weekend. We go somewhere during or right before the 4th every summer. Well, we have for the past ten years or so. We're very thankful that Quinton, Joanna's dad, is a member and we can get in free. It's so nice to just pack up and go for only the cost of gas and food. Everyone we talk to pays $20 and up to camp. The places we get to go also have pools, putt putt and lots of other fun activities. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the pictures. Let's start of with Kenzie and me getting a little crazy.

I'm really happy about how this picture of Levi turned out. He was playing at the playground. He loved the slide.

Mackenzie donning her red, white and blue and a brand new haircut glides through the air with the greatest of ease.

The Elenbaas family goes camping with us every year and the kids have a blast playing together. They call each other cousins. I think it's great to have complementary cousins. I think most people have that. You can't have too many cousins. Anyway, here are the girls and all the kids having a splashing time in the pool.

Levi loved swimming, especially in the kiddie pool where he could be independent. As you can see he also enjoyed borrowing his sister's goggles.