Sea World

Well, we finally made good on our promises to take the kids to Sea World. On the way down, we asked Emma if she wanted to see some "bish." Emma loves bish. When we were in Stuart and Terry took us fishing, we saw some dolphins playing in the river. I suppose that was what set the stage for an interesting day.

Ya gotta love Sea World. We arrived last Saturday just in time for the first "Believe" show of the day. While we were waiting for the show to begin, you could see the shadow of Shamu swimming around the tank. Emma began pointing and saying "doll-pin." I know you would have thought we would have learned by now, but it always amazes me at just how much Emma knows. We didn't have to point things out to her: she was pointing them out to us. It has been my experience, though, that what impresses adults does not necessarily impress 2-year olds. Emma was as impressed as we were.

Oh, we sat up high this time because I was not excited about having 52 degree salt water splashed on me and having to wear that home.

Kaitlyn was just giddy during the show. She has always been an animal lover. Her new favorite animal is the manatee. Benjamin spent the day arguing with her: "Why are you so interested in an animal that just floats around and eats all day?" Hmmm. That kind of describes him, too.

Shelby, though, was the big surprise. When the show was over, she was just bawling. I mean bawling. I kept asking her what was wrong and she kept saying, "Nothing!" She was just that overwhelmed by it.

We went through the Arctic exhibit and saw some polar bears and some mighty impresses walruses; went to the circus show, which was a circ-du-so-lay type thing (I know it's not spelled right, but everyone of you knows what I mean); the shark encounter with the underwater tunnel; waited in line for an hour to get some food; rode a little roller coaster with Shelby and Benjamin, because Shelby wanted to do something; then got in the van just as the first drops of rain began to fall. We did not make it to the manatee exhibit, which crushed poor Kaitlyn, but we promised her that would be our very first stop on the next trip.

I don't think we bought a single souvenir Saturday, but what we brought home was priceless. You can't put a price tag on seeing Emma rolling across the floor, then standing up and saying, "Jump! Doll-pin!" (By the way, as you may have figured, all fish larger than a bass are now dolphins to her. And, bless her heart, she can't actually jump.)