Sea World!!

We had been telling the girls for awhile that we were going on a trip but we wouldn't tell them where. Finally we told them we were going to a hotel. That was good enough for them - they were excited!! We went President's Day weekend, left Friday after Chris got off work. We got to our hotel pretty late. We tried to get them in without waking them up but it didn't work! They were wide awake so we went ahead and told them we were in Orlando. Helen and Aubree started screaming they were so excited and of course Allisyn didn't have a clue!

Since Saturday was supposed to be the warmest and had the least chance of rain of the days we were going to be there, we decided to go to Sea World first.

Arriving at Sea World

This is where they got to pet the sting rays. I totally thought I got more pictures of this, but apparently I didn't :( Anyways, this was Helen's absolute favorite thing to do! We stayed there awhile. By the time we were done, they were soaking wet! We came back later and she was still not happy when we left. Needless to say, her souvinier from the whole trip was a stuffed stingray! Aubree MIGHT have touched one and every time Allisyn touched one, she squealed! It was too cute!

This is where you can watch the dolphins underwater. We spent quite a bit of time down here too.After one of the shows. We sat in the splash zone at every show because Helen wanted to get wet. We didn't get wet at this one. We brought our food in so we wouldn't have to spend a fortune on food. It worked out really good. To get a decent seat at a show, you need to get there about 30 minutes early, so that is when we ate lunch and snacks!

In the very right bottom corner of this pic, this girl had one of those little fish that you wind up and it moves it's tail and makes a really annoying sound. The dolphins could not get enough of it!! They would swim by, it would catch their eye and they would turn around and just stare at it! I reaped the benefits and got some pretty awesome pictures with Allisyn and the dolphins! This is my favorite.On I think the only ride they rode all day! Allisyn was asleep in the stroller so I stayed with her.

The Shamu Rocks show. This is the only thing I remember from the past times I have been to Sea World and I really wanted them to see it. Otherwise, we wouldn't have stayed. They were ready to go.Now, remember I told you Helen wanted to get wet at a show all day? We sat in the splash zone at every show (we went to 4 or 5) except for one and we never got wet. Well, it was getting late and there would be no sun to help them dry off and they were already getting cranky so Chris decided to sit at the top. Helen wasn't hearing it. She still wanted to get wet! So we went down front and center, 4th row. Then she got scared. Someone told her she would definetly get soaking wet and it would be cold. The more she thought about it, the more she changed her mind. But, the place was already filling up and, being the evil parents we are, we decided to stay where we were. The show went on and they kind of enjoyed it - Helen and Aubree were still not wanting to get wet so they were anticipating it. We thought had escaped it - the 2 shamus were showing off on the raised part of the pool for the end and I heard Chris say "Watch out!!" I turned my head to the right and saw two tails stickig out of the water and then we all felt ice cold HARD pelts of water. Of course, immediately all three girls started screaming just in time to get a mouthful of water . They got us again!! As mean as we are, Chris and I were laughing, the girls were screaming and we wanted a picture :) I know, we're mean, right? Haha! Here you go!I had thought ahead while we were waiting for the show to start and took the towel we bought and all their sweaters (except for Helen's, she insisted on wearing hers) and hid them to keep them as dry as possible. Aubree stayed the driest because she was sitting on the bench between Chris and I. Helen was on my lap, Allisyn was on Chris's. After the show (and after the picture), we stripped Helen and Allisyn down to their skimpies. Helen wore my sweater and got in the stroller, Alllisyn wore Aubree's sweater and we wrapped the towel around Aubree and that is how we got to the car. They were not happy campers!

I know, this sounds mean, but we did it for the memories. ALL. DAY. Helen had wanted to get wet and each time we didn't she was disappointed. Besides, how can you go to Sea World and not get splashed by a whale?!!?

And, for the record, when we talk about Sea World now, that is the first thing Aubree mentions. And they love it! It was a fun night for Chris and I - not so much for them, but they like it now. It's a story to tell!