Seaworld

We've lived 10 minutes from SeaWorld for almost 4 years now, but we've not been once. This year the stars aligned. The kids were old enough that I feel comfortable taking them alone. And, most exciting of all, the price is right! SeaWorld is celebrating their 50th year, so they are offering free preschool passes to children 3-5 (2 and under are always free). So I snagged one for both older kids. Then this week, SeaWorld quietly announced something awesome.... B1G1 free passes this week only! So glad a friend shared that news. We think this is SeaWorld's attempt at getting people to talk AND be excited about the park after the movie and all the bad publicity (that I'm blissfully ignorant about). Whatever the reason, we got season passes for our WHOLE family for $65! That's extraordinary (normally we would have paid $230!)! This week was the week to cash in that B1G1 deal, so we ventured off to the park for the first time yesterday.

First stop... Shamu. We headed to the theater to watch the killer whales perform. There kids were a big mesmerized.

 

Look closer at the photo above. The Mommy Whale is in the air, her baby is under her. They named the baby Shamu. What's up with that name? Guess they just try to carry it on as long as possible, huh?

 

After the whales, we had some lunch and stopped to see the flamingos and other birds. Then it was off to watch the dolphins & beluga whales perform.

 

 

Nathan was out tour guide. I'm not convinced he knew where we were going. But he certainly had the "look" down ;)

 

See the swimmer riding on the nose of the beluga?

 

And the Ruthie, dancing and clapping while standing on her momma's lap?

 

Nathan, in awe of the show. There were dolphins, beluga whales, tropical birds, a clown and some amazing acrobatic dancers.

 

After the show, we headed over to the preschool play area. The kids had been itching to ride the "roller coaster". But the first stop was the carousel (cause the line was short!)

 

 

Ruth never wants to ride a carousel, but yesterday she was having a grand time! Too bad the same couldn't have been said about her big sister... Faith was upset in the picture, because she wanted a purple horse... but it was taken but the little girl behind her. Faith was upset a lot throughout the day.... she didn't want to watch the first show because she just complained about being hungry. And during the second show, she was pretty upset that SHE wasn't one of those aquatic dancers... Hopefully she eventually had SOME fun at the park that day ;)

 

Faith didn't complain once while in line for the kiddie roller coaster! I was worried she could scream and cry. But she loved it! Ruth is the one that screamed when we left her big brother and sister on the ride without her... ha

 

Our last stop was the dolphin cove, where the dolphins swim right in front of you. You're even allowed to touch them, if they get close enough. However, the railing was too high for all the kids to see over, so I had to take turns holding kids, watching the stroller and making sure the waiting kids didn't run away... so we didn't even attempt to touch a dolphin on this visit.

 

Both girls look similar enough, but that's Ruth above and Faith below.

 

The last stop, before leaving, was the shark & sting ray area. That was pretty neat, it was a big aquarium. We all enjoyed that, but by then my cell phone was totally dead, so I didn't get any photos (I didn't haul a real camera out to the park yesterday).

 

The good news is, we have season passes now! So we will be back a few more times this year. Not too many... being hot in the Texas heat, at a crowded park, with three preschoolers, while 6-9 months pregnant. Doesn't sound like something I'll be willing to do that often ;)  But we're so grateful we DO get to go this year!