{Brooklyn} Sea World Fan

Sea World is honoring teachers in 2011 with a free year's pass. How awesome is that? And since Brookie is still under 3, she gets in for free too. So we made the 90 mile trek on Saturday to visit my version of the happiest place on earth (we have still yet to visit Disneyland with B).

I've never been much of an animal lover but have always been in love with marine life for as long as I can remember. I distinctly remember in elementary school looking at picture books of marine life in the library. I was especially obsessed with dolphins, seals, & whales. I had quite a collection of prints and knick knacks by the time I was in high school. Even now as an adult I have three tatoos, two of which are marine life...a dolphin and a fish. I even thought about being a marine biologist for a time but the science classes scared me out of that aspiration. A few of my life highlights have been swimming with dolphins in Mexico and sharks and sting rays in Tahiti. There is just something so beautiful and magical about these animals.

I'm thinking Brookie is following in my foot steps. Finding Nemo was her first and favorite movie. She absolutely loves visiting the aquarium, so when I told her that we would be visiting a HUGE aquarium to see whales and dolphins...she was ecstatic. I maybe should not have told her because it made for a very LONG drive. The entire drive down she wanted to know if we were at Sea World yet. I can't believe it's started already..."are we there yet?"

Anyways, I met up with the Volkoffs who were already there. (My poor husband who works weekends always misses out on our fun :() It's just so fun to see these little girls together and know they are such good buddies.

"Just keep swimming...just keep swimming..."

I'll never tire of this show, it's hilarious!

I love little Lu's serious face...

Brooklyn is most recently obsessed with picking her chapped lips (ever since she got Hand, Foot, Mouth disease). She will pick them to the point of blood. It's been a hard habit to break!

Every time a dolphin would glide close to the window, B would back up...it was just a little too close for her.

Lu didn't seem to mind.

Such beautiful creatures. It does make me sad that they are in captivity.

We could barely tear Brooklyn away from the whale tanks. She loved them and was completely fascinated. I love to think about the person she'll become and the interests she'll have in her future, near and far. She has some very distinct characteristics that are all her own and I am reminded that although she is my little girl, she is not me.

YaYa (Lu's grandma) got the girls bubble guns. Which has been a total hit for days now.

The show was totally different since we saw it last in 2009, I imagine due to the death of a trainer. I couldn't stop thinking about that story during the show and not knowing who to feel worse for...the trainer or the whales. I know it's just not natural for these incredibly large mammals to be kept in such a small space. But I can't help but loving the show!