UPDATE HERE!!!
Wed., Nov. 28 ~ Sea World!
A year or so after Tom and were married we went to Sea World in Ohio. Tom had originally wanted to be a marine biologist but decided at some point that he also wanted to make a lot of money so that career option was out. Anyway, he has a real passion for aquatic life, sharks especially, so we went to Sea World. I fell in love with Shamu! I wanted to get in there and swim with that whale! Then we took Abby to see Shamu when she was 3 and she loved it too! And ever since we took all the kids to Shedds Aquarium in Chicago we have all shared a love for ocean creatures.
Naturally, talk of a trip to Orlando led to us spending a day at Sea World.
Since we had been out late at the party the night before we had no plans to set the alarm for Wednesday morning! The kids managed to sleep in even though Tom and I didnt.
We got to Sea World at 10:30. We parked and had to walk into the park. The kids were asking where the tram was?!?
Here are some shots right inside the park.
The holiday decorations here were in shades of blue, green and purple, keeping with the water theme. I dont think you can see it in the pictures but they used shells and starfish for decorations. It was pretty! Here is their Christmas tree:
We grabbed a times guide and saw that the whale and dolphin show was just about to begin. We went straight there. We sat way up in the stands so these pictures are not as close as Id like but Ill show them so you can get the idea.
This is one of the whales in the show.
And some dolphins.
This show has all kinds of cool things in it that I did not expect! There were people diving off of high dives, acrobats, and a lot of birds! It was really beautiful! It all went along to a story and I was very impressed.
This is one of the acrobats dressed as a bird.
This one is of some other people in the cast diving.
I have to admit
this show made me teary eyed! I got all choked up it was so beautiful!
When that was over we headed to the stingray exhibit. We went to visit Gramma for spring break last year and went to a little aquarium in Tarpon Springs and you could touch these little sting rays and feed them and my kids loved that! So we wanted to check them out here too. Turns out Sea World isnt messing around and they have big ones! But the kids knew just what to do and they werent afraid at all. Here is Owen petting one of them.
The one thing I didnt like too much about this exhibit was that they sell you little fish to feed the stingrays and since it is outside that attracts birds. Lots of birds. And they are all flying around your heads and stuff. Its not that I dont like birds! See I even took a picture of this guy.
Its just that ~ well I saw "The Birds" when I was little and maybe it scarred me just a little!
From the stingrays we went to the dolphin cove. We got in a long line to buy disgusting little fish to feed them and not a moment too soon either! They closed the line shortly after we got there.
So this is how it works. They give you a little white tray with nasty dead fish in it. You are instructed to keep the white tray hidden from the dolphins. They say it is because they dont want the dolphins to learn that is where the fish come from. Trust me, the dolphins already know! They tell you that so that you dont put your tray up there and make a dolphin leave another family and come to yours ~ especially if you dont have fish left! That just wouldnt be fair! Unfortunately there were several people not following the rules even though there were staff members all over the place telling them over and over not to do it! It made me kinda mad because it limited the amount of time the dolphins spent in front of us ~ since we followed the rules. But all 3 of the kids did get to touch them and feed them several fish. So no worries I suppose. Here are some pictures we snapped there.
After that we went around to the opposite side of the pool where you can watch the dolphins from below. I got really annoyed here because I was trying to take a picture of the kids looking into the tank and people would walk up and stand right in front of me! Hello! Holding a camera in the air here!!! Geezz
. We werent in Disney anymore! (J/K I know it happens there too!) Here is a shot I did manage to get.
We took a short break after that
here are the kids kicking back. Look like you love each other!
After a quick recheck of the map, we headed to the aquarium. See how busy it was at this park!
Here is a very oceany looking topiary!
The aquarium is actually underneath the water ride there
I cant remember what its called ~ just think Splash Mtn. Oh wait, I think it is Journey to Atlantis! Anyway... we didn't ride it. "I don't care for wet underwear" was becoming a mantra on this vacation!
So, the aquarium! It was cool! Inside there is a place that is kind of like a gazebo and the floor is glass and there is an aquarium underneath with fishies! Here is Evan checking them out!
Then when you looked up
Yep, there's fishies up there too! Very cool!
After we checked out the gift shop for a few we went to check out the penguins! We love penguins! Who doesnt? First up are the Emperor Penguins. This guy was standing at attention just for me to take his picture, I am sure of it!
Then we saw the little ones
what are they called? Puffins? Cant remember
but they are cute!
Next up is the Shark Encounter! On the walk over there I was getting more and more uncomfortable. My ankle was really killing me. I noticed it more than I had at all so far on the trip! I think it was the lack of magic!
So
do you think I made it any farther? Did they have to carry me back to the car? Did we leave and not see Shamu?!?! Stay tuned!
when you told us to slur the words and we'd truly understand how you are talking. Silly! 
. Feel better soon. We miss you.
Feelin' good today! I'm playing catch up on all of your TR's and hope to have an update here very soon! Thanks for hanging in there while I recover ya'll!
but it gave me a chance to get caught up on your TR! If you feel like reading more, there are quite a few updates on mine and later today comes the exciting one!
opcorn:: 
