Yep....another fair!

The boys love to ride the rides and Dave loves to check out the exhibits so off to another fair we go!  The Stanislaus Fair is much nicer than the Merced Fair and we picked a good night to go, nice weather and not too crowded.  We had bought the boys wristbands in advance, but I had to buy 1 ride worth of tickets to ride the BIG roller coaster with them.  I see myself in them, fearless and loving rides, so it's fun as they are getting older.  I'm not sure they knew how big this roller coaster would feel.  After the big climb, right before the drop, Garrett says "my tummy hurts" I was a little worried, but he was just a little scared.  They both loved it and I'm pretty sure Gannon would have gone again, not sure about Garrett!

 

They stuck to the smaller rides the rest of the evening and Gannon was screaming mad when it was time to go.  Exactly how I would have reacted as a kid!!!

 

 

Swim Lessons

We didn't do swim lessons last year with our big camping trip so this year we really wanted to make sure we were signed up.  We actually signed the boys us for two sessions which would last the 4 weeks, all of July.  The first day Garrett did great, but Gannon would not get in.  This is very unlike Gannon, but he's done great since that day.  I am fortunate to work with the director of the swim program at my high school so we were lucky and he assigned two teachers to our class allowing for more swim time per child.  Garrett and Gannon have come such a long way this summer with swimming at the gym pool and at Grandma's work pool that hopefully we can keep the learning alive all summer and possibly be swimming on our own.  I will remain hopeful! 

 

Santa Monica 15K

Thank goodness my family is supportive of my running habit.  5:45 wake ups when on a mini vacation take effort on their part!  When we planned our weekend in LA I started looking up races that were taking place in the area while we were there.  I have decided that I don't like to pay money for 5k's or 10k's unless they are in Merced and not quite being ready for a half marathon I found a 15K.  Works for me.  I had about 2 weeks to build up to 9.3 miles, better get running.  I am pretty solid up to 6 or 7 miles now as my base so I did a 5 and a 6.5 prior to running this 9.3.  My 6.5 was 4 days before this run at 6:30 in the morning in Merced = 90 degrees outside = not my favorite run:( I guess the burger from the Shack and the bloody Mary from the Harbor Room were a great pre-run meal because it was such an easy 9 that I'm pretty sure I could have done the half.  Next time.  Dave says I'm never even stressed or breathing heavy when I'm done so I don't like to call them races, they're all just runs to me.  I am consistent on my pace and this run was right there 1:28:30 for a finish.  Not bad for very little training.  Weather was perfect and how can you beat running along the ocean!  I had been bummed that this event didn't give our t-shirts, but to my surprise we all got finishing medals, which I'd prefer any day over another t-shirt!

 

Thanks to my support crew for the high fives as I ran by.  Dave's Dad even came out for the early morning run. 

 

 

 

Beach Time

One of my main goals of our trip to LA was to swim with the boys in the ocean.  When we are in Pismo/Shell Beach it's never warm enough to swim.  Dave took us to his old stompin' grounds from when his Dad lived in Playa Del Rey.  We found a good spot on the beach and set up our spot.  Gannon wasn't quite sure of playing by or in the water and just wanted to play in the sand.  It didn't take him long watching Garrett and I run from the waves and he was right there with us.  For at least an hour we ran from the water as it came in and walked back down to do it all over again.  Gannon was very brave after a bit and wanted to walk out far, not realizing that the water comes in very fast.  I had to keep a very close eye on this little crazy and even scoop him up a few times.  Both boys took a fall into the water and got all the way wet scaring them for a minute, but both recovered quickly and were back at it again.  It was tons of fun to play in the water and watch them get so excited and have the biggest smiles! 

 

We met up with Papa Dave and took the boys to the Shack, another one of Dave's favorites as a kid, and I went with Lisa around the corner to the Harbor Room for a bloody Mary.  The Harbor Room is the smallest bar in LA and full of locals that are all great pals.  Lisa said they call it God's Waiting Room!  It was tons of run to sit and have a drink with this crowd and listen to them all tease each other to no end. 

 

Museums of Los Angeles

We love exploring and checking out museums and on the tops of Dave's list recently has been to visit the California Science Center in LA, now home to the space shuttle Endeavor.  He has memories of launches of this space shuttle as a kid wanted to check it out after is was brought to LA last year.  Los Angeles has great places to visit and how can you pass up a visit to a free museum!  We did buy ticket ahead of time to see the space shuttle and it was very cool.  Garrett and Gannon loves the science museums because they are so kid friendly and hands on exploration for them. 

 

Right next door was the Natural History museum.  After visiting the free museum I had a hard time paying $34 for this one so we were leaving.  Just as we were walking out I saw a sign, teachers always free, SCORE! I will totally pay $10 for kids to get in with us for free.  We walked around and it was a cool museum, but I'm not a big history buff and they boys were a little freaked out by all the boys and creatures so we didn't stay long. 

 

 

Angels Game

Maybe we have started a new tradition, this was our second year at a baseball game for 4th of July.  I kind of like it, included is a great firework show!

 

Dave was more than excited to watch a game with his team on home turf and Garrett just loves baseball!!!  The game has grown on me with my favorite part being the National Anthem and Gannon is very good at being patient for the LONG game.  Both boys have master singing "Take me out to the ball game" and it's so cute to hear them sing it. Any game is more fun when it's a good close game.  The Angels were losing until the 9th inning and came back and won! The energy in the stadium was amazing and all the fans were standing and clapping for almost the entire 9th inning, making it so much more fun.  After the great game they turned out all the lights and had a long firework show for all the guests.  Gannon wasn't too sure of all the loud booms, but loved the show. 

 

4th of July

To keep the Gossman Family 4th of July picnic alive after Aunt Dolly passing last year we went down to Mar Vista Park to celebrate! 

 

We stayed the night prior with Dave's Uncle Stan and Aunt Nancy.  The boys got used to playing with Libby, their 10 month old lab, even enjoyed a walk with her.  Stan made great tacos for dinner and we enjoyed our evening drinking wine and chatting. 

 

The picnic was fun, but not as big as it has been in years past.  There used to be a softball tournament and lots of games.  Next time we go down we'll have to add a few more games to the mix because Garrett and Gannon loved the games.  Thanks to Uncle Billy we had a water balloon toss that the boys completely enjoyed.  I'm pretty sure they could have played with the water balloons all day.  After each having a balloon broke on them we had one left so my solution was to put them back to back so they both got splashed.  Uncle Stan brought the eggs for the egg toss and Dave picked a back partner because I broke the egg on the second round.   It's always fun to sit and visit with cousin Erin and see everyone else that we only see at this event.  That may change this year!