A Pretty Nice Saturday

I know that everyone probably tires of hearing of our SeaWorld excursions, but hey, with four kids, when you find something that works, you stick with it. It was a beautiful day, everyone was happy and cheerful, and everyone had a good time. Emma is just hilarious. She knew exactly where we were going, and even half way knows her way around the park by now. She loves going to the underwater viewing areas for the big fish: the bottlenose dolphins, the orcas, and the manatees. And today, at the Believe Show when the trainers started swimming across the pool to begin the chant, she beat them to it, shouting "Shamu! Shamu!" as soon as they hit the water.

Shelby really loves two things in particular. The first thing she always wants to do is to pet the manta rays. It was a little cool this morning and they were playful, so she got splashed a lot and loved every minute of it. The second thing she always wants to do is go to the Wild Arctic exhibit and ride the helicopter ride. She really gets into that. (I love the Wild Arctic because the Beluga Whales are just pretty cool.)

Benjamin also loves two things about going. He loves to criticize his sisters, and he likes, of course, the sharks. He grumbled and complained about having to go, actually tried to get out of going with us last night, but he had a good time. He always does, he just doesn't want to admit it. Come on, Benjamin! No one you know saw you there with your sisters!

No matter how much fun the rest of us have, Kaitlyn dominates. Despite the fact that once again her efforts to pet a bottlenose dolphin were in vain, she got to see several up close. Then when we went to the underwater viewing area for the killer whales, she glanced in the tank and identified the one that was in there by name. No, not Shamu, which is the stage name for all SeaWorld killer whales, but Tilikum. Benjamin (and me) quickly told her there was no way she could know which killer whale it was, but she went and asked, and guess what! She was right! After the Believe show, she and I ran down to catch a trainer. She went up to the lady and started asking her questions about what she needed to study and stuff to become a trainer herself. (Would you believe psychology? Not kidding. Identifying and responding to behavioral patterns. I know, I know. This house is more in need of psychiatry.) Anyway, I took Kaitlyn's picture with the trainer. The trainer told her to hang on to that picture and bring it back to her when Kaitlyn got ready. (As we were leaving I asked the trainer what her name was, just because I knew Kaitlyn would want to know. When we got home, Kaitlyn pulled the pic up on the computer. Emma happened to walk in about that time, pointed to the picture and said, "Chrissy." I was pretty impressed. I thought Emma was asleep on my shoulder at that point.)

On the way home, we made a quick detour to Winn-Dixie in Lake Park and ran into Wendy! Emma got to see Brady for a minute. They're still buds. We love you guys, miss you lots, and wish you the best of luck in Montgomery!

So Grandma Lolo got to go to SeaWorld today. (She claims to have been to the one in San Diego, but that would have been before there was a Stacy, much less a Stacy-Keith-Benjamin-Kaitlyn-Shelby-Emma.) She enjoyed it and we enjoyed being with her. And I want to say thanks to her for taking care of me while I was sick (no tropical storm yet), washing lots and lots of clothes, and cooking Benjamin's squash for him. She came all the way down here to cook and clean! What a gal!