Next Stop...Spokane Washington

From Seattle to Spokane, I have to say this was the longest drive so far...for me anyway.  I don't know if it really was, but it sure felt like it.  We did stop for an hour or so for lunch and to let the boys run around, but it was LONG. After setting up camp we thought we go check out downtown Spokane.  My Mom had told me about a merry go round that was really old and we saw a cool waterfall on our way to camp. 

Right outside the parking garage there was a trail of metal runner art so I struck a running pose to warm up for my half marathon in two days! 

We headed to the merry go round.  It was another bargain night, $1 rides on Friday nights.  Way cool.  This carousel was build in 1909 with very ornate horses.  This ride was much faster than the one in Seattle, but Gannon still loved it and did great.  Even rode a second time. 

The waterfall in from the river in downtown is amazing.  Dave and I could have stared at it for a long time, but it was a quick glimpse with the monkey's.  Beautiful view.

We walked through the Riverfront Park and found a HUGE radio flyer wagon that had a ladder in the back and the handle was the slide.  It was so much fun and the boys were sad to leave, but for dinner they were ready.

We had dinner at a local pasta place for me to start my carbing for the half and the food was awesome! We kinda wished we would have had another night and day in Spokane to explore, but we needed to get to Montana for my run.

Museum of Flight

My Uncle Mike works for Boeing in Seattle so I asked him if they did tours and he told me to check out the Museum of Flight.  When I was checking out their website I saw that on the first Thursday of each month the admission was free from 5-9.  Yeah, we would be in town and available on the first Thursday of July. 

We went to visit my Uncle Mike and Aunt Linda prior to going to the museum and learned that Boeing has 9 or 10 plants throughout the Seattle area including their own field.  My Uncle works on all the finishing touches of planes for their various customers.  What a cool job!

Off to the museum we went.  Dave was excited to check something off his "bucket list".  Being able to go in Air Force One!  The one in Seattle was Nixon's, Kennedy's, and Johnson's.  I can't believe how cool it was and can only imagine what today's Air Force One looks like. 

After going in two planes we went through the indoor part of the museum, which we were then very thankful we didn't have to pay...with our kids we ran through quickly looking at all the way cool exhibits and planes.

The museum does have a really neat kids section with various planes they can get in a move parts on and a helicopter.  Gannon was in pure heaven the entire time we were in the kids area, he could have sat in the helicopter and planes for hours on end.  They each picked out a small plane to bring home and loved watching real big planes land right by the parking lot. 

Woodland Park Zoo

When Dave and I visited Seattle 6 years ago we went to the Woodland Park Zoo and talked about how fun it would be to bring kids to the zoo. Well now the kids are at the zoo.  We rented a wagon for the boys to ride in since we did a lot of walking the day before and Gannon wanted to pull more than he wanted to ride.  The weather was perfect for Seattle again and we were thankful for that. The animals exhibits were just as we remembered them, the bears being our favorite.  The bears were resting by their water and we watched them for a long time. 

We also found the merry go round and I rode it with Garrett and Gannon.  I didn't stand by Gannon, but rode on the horse next to him and boy do I wish I had my camera during the ride, his smile was priceless! 

In the gift shop we found a cute little butterfly to bring home.

Seattle City Center

After the baseball game we headed back towards the City Center, which was were we parked.  It was a gorgeous day so we thought we'd sit and watch the fountain for a bit.  I didn't pack swimsuits for the boys and if I had I know they would have been playing in the water.  We told them they could go in their shorts, but both were a little scared by the amount of water that pours out of this fountain.  Every 20 minutes or so it takes about a 90 second break.  On the second one I encouraged Garrett to go touch it before it came back on on and he did!  Turning into a brave little guy. 

The view is awesome and Dave of course captures great pictures!

Seattle Mariners Game

There is no better way to spend 4th of July than at a baseball game, or any other day according to Garrett!  We walked from the Space Needle to the stadium which is quite a walk and Garrett never complained once.  He would have walked 10 more if a baseball game was on the other side.  Garrett's passion for baseball has grown tremendously over these past few months and he was so excited to watch the Mariners play.  We ordered him a hat prior to the trip and by the end of the game he was in a Seattle t-shirt too.  Garrett and Gannon enjoyed their hot dogs, kettle corn, and watching the game.  Garret was glued to his seat and wouldn't take his eyes off the game the entire time, he didn't even want to visit the playground.  He kept track in his program.  Until the 6th inning of a slow game he was focused, but because not much was happening he asked for my phone to check scores of other games. 

It was so cool to see Garrett stand for God Bless America and I didn't even have to tell him to remove his hat, he knew and stood for the entire song, placed his hat back on his head when it was over and sat right back down.  So cute!  Love this baseball fanatic!

Pikes and a Visit with Julia

Another must in Seattle and on the way to the baseball game walk from the Space Needle is Pike's Market.  Dave's cousin Julia moved to Seattle to attend college and we haven't see her since Garrett was one.  We didn't have as much time as we wanted, but thankfully she was willing to meet up with us and simply walk thru the market chatting with us.  She was able to meet little Gannon and we met her long time boyfriend.  Since we were missing the Gossman 4th in L.A. might as well see a cousin who would normally be there too!  Because it was a holiday all the fish throwing places were closed so the boys didn't get to see that, but we enjoyed the little walk. 

Space Needle

There is no way Dave and I could visit Seattle with the boys and not take them to the top of the Space Needle!  The weather for the day started out amazing, blue skies with a few clouds, cool enough for a light sweater, but not cold.  Garrett and Gannon have become quite the little tourists and were pretty excited too. Once we got to the top Gannon just wanted to be held up to every "binoculars" for a view of the city.  I have no idea if he could really see anything, but dang he was acting like it.  Garrett of course loved that he could see the baseball stadium from the top.