The DAM Tour

First stop for Day 2 - Shasta Dam for the DAM tour!  I have to say, it was a pretty cool tour and it was free.  We had to go through security, wear a tour badge, and we were loaded into a big elevator.  We went down one side of the dam around 400 feet.  If you look at the pictures below, the small triangle piece of grass is where we went down to and the small concrete sticking out the left side of teh dam is the elevator shaft (not small at all).  We were then in a long tunnel that made a huge echo and that too was cool.  On the grass area you could look up at the dam, the tunnels (not technical term) were to let more water out if needed.  This side is not the main release of water, overflow only.  The main tunnels (again, not technical term) are on the other side.  The main water release sends water past these HUGE wheels under water and when the spin they and the generate power that is then sold to the goverment and finally sold to companies such as PG&E.  Realy cool to see the huge generators spinning from the water pressure.  The Shasta Dam is the second larged dam in terms of concrete materials in the US. 

Dave enjoyed the DAM tour!

Day1 of Our Summer Vacation

We have had this BIG, LONG vacation planned since January and it's finally here.  Lots of people and places to see!  We are excited and although Gannon doesn't look too excited in this picture, he was just mad because I made him hold the board.  Maybe by the end of the trip they'll be used to it.

We headed out of Merced first thing in the morning to our first stop, Redding.  We picked Redding as our first stop because it was far enough yet not too far and Dave found a nice RV park to stop at during the "scouting phase".  The plan for most of the trip is drive a 150-300 miles and stop for a couple of days. The boys did great on this first 300 miles, watching movies and playing Auto Bingo that I found for a dollar.  Garrett especially loved the bingo games.  Watching for all the signs is a fun challenge for him. I of course read lots of 50 Shades!

After setting up camp, Dave checked the GPS for attractions around our campsite.  He found the Shasta Dam.  Anyone that knows Dave knows how much he loves some DAM jokes and DAM slides (in his classes) so of course we had to check out the DAM.  I have to say Shasta Lake is huge and the dam looks pretty cool.  Of course we were too late for the DAM tour so we decided we would make that the start of day 2. 

Fair Projects

Garrett and Gannon love to create "projects" of any kind.  Every year we enter a potted plant, wheel barrow/wagon, and some type of art.  To make their potted plants have a little personality I always have a quick "project" for them to paint them however they would like.  It's typically a quick little painting session and this year was not different. 

After the pots dry we head go pick out plants to put in the pots and they both plant their own, this year they both picked ferns.  In addition to the potted plants, this year we did a couple of succulents also.  It was a chore to take these two little guys to Michaels to pick our their container.  Gannon settled on the glass and Garrett picked the copper pail. 

Both boys ended up with wheel barrows this year and we organized and planted these at the fair for easier transport.  Both boys LOVE this process and get really into their "gardens".  Gannon hopefully be back to the wagon next year because sure enough as soon as we had his all done he lifted the wheel barrow handles to take it over to show Daddy and it tipped over and all fell out.  I guess it was so much fun he really wanted to do it twice! 

Garrett and Gannon were also very excited to help Daddy and the girls plant the FFA plot.  Thankfully they were mostly there to help clean up containters.  Gannon can do some damage to these poor plants. 

Our Very Own Allstar

Garrett has thoroughly enjoyed every moment of Tball this season.  He has not only improved on the field, he has become a dedicated Giants fan!  Garrett and two others from his team were selected to play in the Allstar game to finish off the season. 

As we know, Garrett doesn't take to change easily so he was a little unsure to play with a coach he didn't know and kids he has never met.  Once he saw a few familiar faces from his team he was okay.  I wasn't sure what was going on a first, he throws the ball harder at our windows than he was on the field!  (The ball at the window is soft of coure!) The Allstar game was play more like that of a traditional games, 5 pitches = out, out mean you're really out and off the bases, and three outs and the teams switch spots.  This was fun because it kept true track of the game.  During the regular year, every player gets to hit and run around the bases regardless of being out.  Garrett's team won the game 12-8, which of course put him on cloud 9!

We can't wait for next year's season!

Big Boy Dentist Visit

This was Gannon's first trip to the dentist since turing 3 and that when they first try to take x-rays.  He did AWESOME! He sat in the chair to take the x-rays, held all the film things in his mouth, and did get taking instructions from the assistant.  He was then off to the BIG boy exam chair for his first polish cleaning and again did a great job being brave and listening.  The dentist then saw him and Gannon's only complaint for the visit was that after the fluoride was put on he was not allowed to drink any water for 20 minutes.  That was the longest 20 minutes for the poor little dude.  Other than that and us needing to break the thumb sucking, he did great!

Daddy & Garrett Rafting Trip

The Atwater FFA does a Point Award Trip every year in June and this year Garrett joined them.  The age requirement for the rafting this year was 5 years old so Gannon was not able to join so we stayed home.  I'm nervous around water with the boys so it's probably better that I didn't go.  Garrett had a great time rafting with Dave and a group of students.  Dave was happy that Garrett was a shield for the cold water that would have been thrown on him without Garrett!  I can't wait until we can all go and until they can swim!

Storm the Castle and Open Cockpit

I have been running now for 7 months at various organized race events and have never entered with any type of placing in mind.  It has all been about completing the race.  Of course I enter will a goal time in mind, but never to place or finish in the top.  After completing the half marathon knowing there were two local races coming up I decided it was time to give a short distance my all.  I entered a 5K and then this Storm the Castle 10K the following weekend.  These distances were intimidating 7 months ago, but now they can be completed in less than a full workout at the gym.  I placed 3rd overall female at the 5K and second at this one and 1st in my age division with a PR of 51:14. I still feel like I could have pushed harder, but I found another Mom from the boys school and we were running together until the end when she dropped back a little.  Next time, I'll push a little harder!

With the entry of this race your bib got you free entry into the Open Cockpit event at Castle.  The race ran through the museum area early that morning which was pretty cool.  The boys love this event even though we have been several times.  There are so many airplanes that we haven't been inside them all even yet.  Garrett and Gannon made their first model airplanes and of course enjoyed the kettle corn and bounce house. 

Garrett is not a fan of climbing stairs and getting inside the compartments of the airplanes.  I do think he has a little fear of heights (outside the bounce house slide) and small spaces.  Overall, fun day!