This past weekend we got to fly down to Florida for Andrew's brother's wedding! While being super excited for them, we were also eager for any opportunity to leave Michigan in November! (No snow though yet....knock on wood....)
We flew down on Thursday evening, 11/3, picked up our rental car and headed for the hotel and some sleep! Unfortunately, Eve had an "I'm away from home in a strange room and a strange bed and I'm going to sleep HORRIBLY" night. We didn't get in bed ready to sleep until around 1am and she woke up about 8 times between 1 and 4:43am (yes, I remember the exact time). Then she got up for the day around 6:15. We were so tired! Not the best way to start a vacation, but we had an eventful day planned so had to put it behind us!
Andrew's family also got in on Thursday night (even later than we did!) so we all met up after some hotel breakfast for....a day at SeaWorld!!!! I wanted so much to go to SeaWorld while we were living in San Antonio, but we just never had a free weekend to go. I've been to the one in California before, but that was several years ago and I was ready to go again!
Shamu greated us on our entrance to the park:
Eve got her own special SeaWorld stroller, which she didn't spend much time in. Who needs a stroller when you have a willing grandma, two aunts, and an uncle close at hand?
Aunt Lisa hit it off with Eve right from the start! Of course, they've met before, but Eve has a short memory....
People too!....Or so I hear....not that I would know from experience...
Our first stop: Shamu Stadium and the killer whale show!
Eve spent most of the show with Grandma, so Andrew and I could focus on the whales. Maybe that's why this was my favorite? ;)
A few shots from the show:
So cool! Next up - a kangaroo? At SeaWorld? Hmmm....ok!
The whole weekend in Florida we had two - TWO - pictures of the three of us. Here's one - too bright for Eve!
The weather was perfect! Sunny and cool. Too cool to brave the Journey to Atlantis water ride, but that's ok :)
We visited the sharks and went down the cool tunnel with the sharks swimming all around us.
Even Eve was impressed!
Then we saw some sea lions (not the ones in the show - that comes later). They were barking up a storm and getting a little fiesty because a woman next to us had purchased some sea lion food and they wanted it! One of them in particular totally flipped out until she threw some to him. Another one raised his flipper, hopping she would call on him!
Our next stop was the dolphin show - Andrew's favorite! This one was cool since the trainers could actually get in and swim with them and do tricks.
Then they had crazy acrobatic type performers doing dives and jumps off the super high platforms. Brave!
By this time, Eve was beyond ready for a nap, so Aunt Laura stepped up :)
I think Eve might have missed the penguins while she slept. They had some crazy molting going on!
And finally the sea lion show - I think this one might have been Andrew's mom's favorite!
We were entertained by a mime while waiting for the show to start. He'd make fun of the people as they walked in. Glad we got there early!
The two sea lions were part of the pirate show and did a great job! This show was more comical and had us all laughing!
Our group split at this point - Lisa, Laura, and Danny (Laura's finance) headed off to the roller coasters and the rest of us opted for the quieter activities. Like pictures by a waterfall with Uncle Lance!
Or pictures by the creepy dolphin bushes with Grandma!
The alligators were a dit disappointing - they were so tiny! I thought they'd at least be big enough to bite someone's head off! Not that I'd want them to - just saying...
One of the coolest parts for Eve (probably second only to the upcoming aquaruim) was the underwater dolphin viewing. Anything that she could press up against the glass to see was popular with her!
The stingrays were pretty neat too! I wasn't brave enough to touch them (or to let Eve!) but Andrew's sisters did. Yuck!
Be good, Eve, or I'll feed you to the rays! :)
And of course, turtles! Also kind of a let down, but when have turtles ever been very exciting?
Our final stop was one last aquarium while the rest of the group finished with their rides. This was perhaps the coolest part of the day and no one saw it but the three of us!
Eve got to go inside a fish tank! With Daddy's help....
It had tons of other fish, sea horses, and very crazy looking water dwelling animals. I don't even know what to call them! No pictures, but really fun to have been there!
Laura and Lisa went for one last roller coaster ride - not for me! I get sick even looking at a roller coaster!
Then we were done with our day at SeaWorld! We went back to the hotel and met up with Andrew's dad (who'd stayed back because he was feeling sick) and cousin Jennie and headed for some dinner at Denny's. It would have been more enjoyable if the waiter hadn't said, "Welcome, little senor!" to Eve. She was even dressed in pink! I really don't think she looks like a boy anymore, but apparently some people still think she does. She also got a "hey buddy" from our pilot on the way home and a "what a handsome little guy" from the flight attendant - while wearing a dress! Come on people!
Anyway, we hit the hay early on Friday night in preparation for our big day on Saturday!
senior? senor?
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