ound 8:30 (which is 9:30 our time)! We were able to take the kids to the Veterans Park in Cerritos which is very cool. We drove over there somewhere around 11:30 or so and spent a little time at this park that I can't describe in just words. This park had a pond and in the center is a special bridge that takes you to a part that's got lots of fun things for the kids to play 
on (with a sort-of patriotic theme). Unfortunately, when we got there, Tuesday mornings happen to be the only time its closed - so we couldn't cross the bridge that takes you to all the fun stuff in the middle. That was a bit of a bummer, but it was still beautiful. They had some play cannons the kids could shoot at a ship, and when you push the button the water shoots out of the pond. They seeme
d to really like that. Then we let the kids go play on the playset and Jared made it across the monkey bars with ease. I didn't realize how much he learned in Kindergarten (haha)! The boys tossed balls around with Grandpa and Grandma and Michael. Scott and I admired. Somehow Michael managed to toss this fun ball that has a flag connec
ted to it, into the densest tree at the park and couldn't get it out, so he had to hunt down a maintenance guy for help and got to brush up on his Spanish speaking skills a bit.We came back to the house to rest and then after Scott got a bit of a nap in, we were off to the Long Beach Aquarium. That was lots of fun. There's so much for the kids to do and touch. Really this visit to the aquarium could be its own entry. Outside they also have a Lorikeet reserve area where you can feed them nec
tar. My boys are kinda whimpy around animals, so they were apprehensive. But after they saw their Dad having a great time with it, they started to let down their guard; Gavin got into it, and Jared gave it a try. There was also a shark tank, which was pretty cool. They have several hands on displays too. The kids can readch in to a tank and pet sting rays. That really took some fast talking to get them to try it. Once again, Gavin was ended up getting pretty excited about it, and Jared squealed as he pretended to reach in and t
ouch them, to appease everyone. I think he might've actually made contact once or twice! They got to touch muscles and anemones and starfish (Gavin actually picked one up and dropped it - oops). We had to have a lengthy discussion about how they are alive even though they look like little toys.
I think he eventually understood. I think the boys particularly seemed to enjoy the sea lion exhibit (yes - all 4 of them - Dad included). The funniest thing happened at the end. We were in a room with wall to wall glass that lets you see into the sea lion area, and Michael thought he'd try some random hand signals to communicate with them (we watch animal planet occasionally!!!)....and it worked! No one's really sure what exactly Michael was telling them, but they followed him! He'd wave his hands in the air and then run across the room (Michael, that is), and the sea lions would chase him! Its like they were talking to him - it was hilarious! The kids got their exercise in too when they decided to run with Dad back and forth! Funny! The party was over though, when Gavin wasn't watching where he was going on one of the runs, and he ran right into one of the signs! Sad! 
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