And then I turned around to see this. Who knows how long Miles has been "wearing" the Mr. Potato Head glasses? And he wasn't even whining. Just chomping on his fingers. 
Sorry, Miles. There's YEARS more of this abuse to come.Wednesday, January 27, 2010
We apologize, Miles.
So everyone's up from their naps and since it's cloudy and cold outside, a few members of the household are currently tearing the place apart while I catch up on emails. At least that's all the mischief I thought they were getting into.
And then I turned around to see this. Who knows how long Miles has been "wearing" the Mr. Potato Head glasses? And he wasn't even whining. Just chomping on his fingers.
Sorry, Miles. There's YEARS more of this abuse to come.
And then I turned around to see this. Who knows how long Miles has been "wearing" the Mr. Potato Head glasses? And he wasn't even whining. Just chomping on his fingers. Sorry, Miles. There's YEARS more of this abuse to come.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Our January so far
Ethan's back at school so Isaac has to entertain himself in the mornings. One day he found a tiny soccer ball and decided his dinosaurs would like to play soccer. He literally carried the 2 little dinos and the ball around to every room I was in and let them kick the ball back and forth.
We love having dad home on Saturdays. He joined us at the children's museum last Saturday and loved the building and playing as much as the boys did.
Miles has become a beautiful smiling baby. He rewards you with these jumbo smiles whenever you talk to him, get him out of his crib, talk to him, change his diaper, or just smile at him. He's truly a happy baby and we love it.
He's also discovered that his hands taste good- finger lickin good.
Isaac discovered ice cream- in cones and in a bowl simultaneously. How can you beat that?
Miles has started grabbing his toys. I love when he plays with these because he thinks the little yellow star with the smiley face is actually smiling at him and so he smiles and talk back to the little star. So funny.
And his favorite things are these 2 little fingers of his. Instant entertainment that never goes away- okay except when he's swaddled.
He's such a chill baby that tummy time doesn't last long. With the other two I'd put them on their tummies to strengthen their necks and arms and they'd wail the whole time. Miles keeps his head up for a few minutes to see whatever is interesting around him, and then he just lays his head down. I'm seriously spoiled here- and he slept through the night the last 2 nights with no prompting or training on my part. Knock on wood.
We love having dad home on Saturdays. He joined us at the children's museum last Saturday and loved the building and playing as much as the boys did. 
Miles has become a beautiful smiling baby. He rewards you with these jumbo smiles whenever you talk to him, get him out of his crib, talk to him, change his diaper, or just smile at him. He's truly a happy baby and we love it.
He's also discovered that his hands taste good- finger lickin good.
Isaac discovered ice cream- in cones and in a bowl simultaneously. How can you beat that?
Miles has started grabbing his toys. I love when he plays with these because he thinks the little yellow star with the smiley face is actually smiling at him and so he smiles and talk back to the little star. So funny.
And his favorite things are these 2 little fingers of his. Instant entertainment that never goes away- okay except when he's swaddled.
He's such a chill baby that tummy time doesn't last long. With the other two I'd put them on their tummies to strengthen their necks and arms and they'd wail the whole time. Miles keeps his head up for a few minutes to see whatever is interesting around him, and then he just lays his head down. I'm seriously spoiled here- and he slept through the night the last 2 nights with no prompting or training on my part. Knock on wood.
Wrapping up the Trip
We were pretty boring for the rest of the trip. Taylor's cousins came up from LA for New Years and we hung around the house and played card games. Clint and Esther tromped everyone in Hearts which is sad for a family who prides itself on being intense hearts players. Looks like they're both keepers (other boyfriends and girlfriends have been dumped after not being able to keep up in Hearts- seriously). There was some outlet mall shopping and some golf and of course lots of football.
We even dressed Miles up in a West Virginia University jersey for the day they had their Bowl Game and their basketball game was televised. Miles was a good sport and sat on Barbara's lap for the whole game. Tragically they lost both games but the pictures are cute.
And we had to capture one shot of all 3 boys in the Utah gear. Ethan has gotten to go to several BYU and Utah games this fall and for whatever reason he's latched on to BYU as his favorite. I promise I haven't even been trying to persuade him. So anytime people ask him who his favorite team is, he says the BYU blue. He's even been persuaded by Taylor's mom that since his favorite color is red he should like the "red team" so to that he replies "yes, I like the BYU reds". And his ultimate answer when asked why BYU over and over again, is "because I have a BYU hat." Apparently a hat trumps all loyalty. So Taylor's mom got them all cute jerseys. We'll see if he changes his mind in the future.
Lots of chilling to finish off the trip. It's funny how Miles is already copying his dad's lounging habits.
And a little snow to welcome us all home to Salt Lake. Oh well, at least I finally got around to getting boots so they can play in it.
We even dressed Miles up in a West Virginia University jersey for the day they had their Bowl Game and their basketball game was televised. Miles was a good sport and sat on Barbara's lap for the whole game. Tragically they lost both games but the pictures are cute.
And we had to capture one shot of all 3 boys in the Utah gear. Ethan has gotten to go to several BYU and Utah games this fall and for whatever reason he's latched on to BYU as his favorite. I promise I haven't even been trying to persuade him. So anytime people ask him who his favorite team is, he says the BYU blue. He's even been persuaded by Taylor's mom that since his favorite color is red he should like the "red team" so to that he replies "yes, I like the BYU reds". And his ultimate answer when asked why BYU over and over again, is "because I have a BYU hat." Apparently a hat trumps all loyalty. So Taylor's mom got them all cute jerseys. We'll see if he changes his mind in the future. 
Lots of chilling to finish off the trip. It's funny how Miles is already copying his dad's lounging habits.
And a little snow to welcome us all home to Salt Lake. Oh well, at least I finally got around to getting boots so they can play in it.
Tram to the top of Palm Springs
Apparently Palm Springs was originally called Indian Wells and was settled by Native Americans. They used to live down in the valley during the winter and it was always a nice warm temperature and then during the summer when it was always above 100, they'd move up into the tops of the mountains and live there. That must have been quite a trek. The mountains seem to grow straight up from the valley floor. It's beautiful at the top with trees and rivers and fields so it must have been nice to be up there for the summer, but the climb would have been crazy. Luckily now, someone has built these tram cars and hooked up the cables so the journey up the mountain takes like 10 minutes. Those rocky cliffs in the background are no joke. It's really like that.
And since we were there in the winter, there was snow at the top. It was a lovely 65 at the bottom and a balmy 28 degrees at the top. People were even bringing sleds up to the top. Here's the whole family before the scary ride up. Taylor's mom was really brave. She's afraid of heights and every time the cable car went over a tower (which was several times) the car would swing violently back and forth.
L to R: me, Barb, Clint, mom with Miles, Dad with Isaac, Ethan, Taylor, Esther, and Arty.
This was the best shot I was able to get from the top. It was beautiful but freaking cold with the wind and the low temperatures.
So the love birds spent time looking at the lights but I stayed inside the lodge at the top with Miles.
The big news of the trip was Arty and Esther's engagement. Yeah! We're so excited! She's great. Anyone who notices that I need help bathing, dressing, feeding, and entertaining 3 boys while all the guys are golfing one morning and knocks on my door to ask what she can do to help and then plays for hours with crazy boys and cuddles my baby is a keeper in my book. And she's perfect for Arty. She's a truly international person. Her dad was born in French New Caledonia and then lived in Paris where he met her mom who was originally born in Madagascar. Esther was born in Austrailia herself and then raised in France, Spain, and Dubai where her family currently lives. And she's currently in London studying architecture. She's perfect for Arty who also speaks French, Spanish and English fluently and loves everything international. She has 2 older brothers she's been living with in London and 3 younger brothers at home.
That's not the actual ring, just a funny fake we found at the top of the mountain lodge. The temple wedding is set for London on April 2nd followed by another wedding ceremony on the 5th in Dubai. Sounds like another Woodbury adventure- although I think Ethan and Isaac are getting left behind on this one.
And since we were there in the winter, there was snow at the top. It was a lovely 65 at the bottom and a balmy 28 degrees at the top. People were even bringing sleds up to the top. Here's the whole family before the scary ride up. Taylor's mom was really brave. She's afraid of heights and every time the cable car went over a tower (which was several times) the car would swing violently back and forth. L to R: me, Barb, Clint, mom with Miles, Dad with Isaac, Ethan, Taylor, Esther, and Arty.
This was the best shot I was able to get from the top. It was beautiful but freaking cold with the wind and the low temperatures.
So the love birds spent time looking at the lights but I stayed inside the lodge at the top with Miles. 
The big news of the trip was Arty and Esther's engagement. Yeah! We're so excited! She's great. Anyone who notices that I need help bathing, dressing, feeding, and entertaining 3 boys while all the guys are golfing one morning and knocks on my door to ask what she can do to help and then plays for hours with crazy boys and cuddles my baby is a keeper in my book. And she's perfect for Arty. She's a truly international person. Her dad was born in French New Caledonia and then lived in Paris where he met her mom who was originally born in Madagascar. Esther was born in Austrailia herself and then raised in France, Spain, and Dubai where her family currently lives. And she's currently in London studying architecture. She's perfect for Arty who also speaks French, Spanish and English fluently and loves everything international. She has 2 older brothers she's been living with in London and 3 younger brothers at home.
That's not the actual ring, just a funny fake we found at the top of the mountain lodge. The temple wedding is set for London on April 2nd followed by another wedding ceremony on the 5th in Dubai. Sounds like another Woodbury adventure- although I think Ethan and Isaac are getting left behind on this one.Disneyland
We just couldn't pass up Disneyland since we were just 1 1/2 hours away so we headed down there the week of New Years and spent two days. Mack had to fly home so Monday morning Taylor's dad dropped him at LAX and picked up Arty's girlfriend that flew in that morning. Poor thing came straight from Dubai on a 16 hour flight and had never been to the US before and where do we take her to introduce her to true American culture? Disneyland!
L to R: Esther, Arty, me and Miles, Pluto, Ethan, Taylor, Isaac, Sonia, and Jeff. Barb and her boyfriend Clint missed the picture but they were there too.
Without realizing it we picked 2 of the busiest days of the year. The park "sold out" both days and it was crazy trying to push a stroller through the crowd and the lines were really long. Isaac actually woke us all up Sunday night at 2am throwing up so he and Taylor missed most of the first day. Taylor caved, and carried him to 1 ride late Monday night after he kept pointing at Mickey in the hotel and saying "Meekee".
The sickness and the busyness of the park were blessings in a way though because they made us slow down and not worry about getting to every ride. We also spent more time in line talking with each other and playing with our kids. And really, in the end, everyone rode the rides they wanted most and we had a great time.
Miles was a little freaked out by the Jungle Cruise.
This was what Isaac chose as his favorite ride. I can tell you that definitively because every time we passed it in the park he'd scream "dat" and point. He was trying so hard to get our attention one time that he stood up in his stroller and launched himself out and right onto his forehead. So we made sure to ride the rockets and he giggled the whole time.
Because it was Christmastime they had all sorts of fun lights and decorations up. The Haunted Mansion was decorated with ghosts and pumpkins and Christmas festivities. A completely different ride almost. On it's a small world they threw up an amazing amount of Christmas decor and even changed the song so it went back and forth from "it's a small world" to "Deck the Halls" and "Jingle Bells". It actually blends seemlessly and is really neat. Even Cinderella's castle was decked out with snow.
Ethan and Isaac are finally not afraid of mascots anymore so they loved meeting all the Disney characters. Right now Isaac is sitting on my chair with me and pointing at the screen saying "Goopy". They loved them. So here's Ethan doing the twist at breakfast with Goofy.
L to R: Esther, Arty, me and Miles, Pluto, Ethan, Taylor, Isaac, Sonia, and Jeff. Barb and her boyfriend Clint missed the picture but they were there too.
Without realizing it we picked 2 of the busiest days of the year. The park "sold out" both days and it was crazy trying to push a stroller through the crowd and the lines were really long. Isaac actually woke us all up Sunday night at 2am throwing up so he and Taylor missed most of the first day. Taylor caved, and carried him to 1 ride late Monday night after he kept pointing at Mickey in the hotel and saying "Meekee". The sickness and the busyness of the park were blessings in a way though because they made us slow down and not worry about getting to every ride. We also spent more time in line talking with each other and playing with our kids. And really, in the end, everyone rode the rides they wanted most and we had a great time.
Miles was a little freaked out by the Jungle Cruise.
This was what Isaac chose as his favorite ride. I can tell you that definitively because every time we passed it in the park he'd scream "dat" and point. He was trying so hard to get our attention one time that he stood up in his stroller and launched himself out and right onto his forehead. So we made sure to ride the rockets and he giggled the whole time.
Because it was Christmastime they had all sorts of fun lights and decorations up. The Haunted Mansion was decorated with ghosts and pumpkins and Christmas festivities. A completely different ride almost. On it's a small world they threw up an amazing amount of Christmas decor and even changed the song so it went back and forth from "it's a small world" to "Deck the Halls" and "Jingle Bells". It actually blends seemlessly and is really neat. Even Cinderella's castle was decked out with snow.
Ethan and Isaac are finally not afraid of mascots anymore so they loved meeting all the Disney characters. Right now Isaac is sitting on my chair with me and pointing at the screen saying "Goopy". They loved them. So here's Ethan doing the twist at breakfast with Goofy. The Gingerbread House Tradition
Last Christmas Mack and his girlfriend Sam gave Ethan and Isaac a gingerbread house kit for Christmas. Isaac was just one and didn't appreciate the building, although he didn't mind the eating. Ethan loved it and it was a fun activity they all did together. So this year even though Sam couldn't come, they gave the boys another kit and Mack managed to build a house with icing and wrangle two boys at the same time.
Ethan was a big helper as always and has actually decided that he does like some candy- at least some kinds. (You see that tank in the background? Barb brought her pet lizard Monty all the way from West Virginia. The boys loved him, especially when we found live crickets in the house and fed them to him. Quite entertaining!)
Again Isaac was more interested in eating than decorating but he did help with a few gingerbread men and his side of the roof. How cute is that? Multi-tasking: candy in the mouth and simultaneously putting candy on the roof.
And Mack was kind enough to let him use the knife which he loved because he never gets to at home.
Thanks Mack and Sam. The boys loved it and we can't wait for next year!
Ethan was a big helper as always and has actually decided that he does like some candy- at least some kinds. (You see that tank in the background? Barb brought her pet lizard Monty all the way from West Virginia. The boys loved him, especially when we found live crickets in the house and fed them to him. Quite entertaining!) Again Isaac was more interested in eating than decorating but he did help with a few gingerbread men and his side of the roof. How cute is that? Multi-tasking: candy in the mouth and simultaneously putting candy on the roof.
And Mack was kind enough to let him use the knife which he loved because he never gets to at home.
Thanks Mack and Sam. The boys loved it and we can't wait for next year!Christmas in Palm Springs
We made it back late from San Diego so we didn't have much of a Christmas Eve. We did open a few birthday presents with Isaac (puzzles and cars- nice to finally have kid toys in a house not very child-proofed). And we made sure to leave out cookies for Santa and some carrots and water for the reindeer. Sadly I forgot to take a picture and you'll see as the trip went along that I got pretty lazy about catching the good moments. Oh well, they're good memories now. I did manage to get the 3 boys in front of the tree before all the chaos started. Incidentally this is the first time in 6 years that we've opened presents around a real Christmas tree. In Portugal it was a vine we hung ornaments and a star on, in DC it was around my hospital bed with 1 day old Isaac, and the others I don't remember except one hotel room Taylor's mom taped a star onto a lamp shade and we stuck the presents underneath. Creative, but nice to have a real (fake) tree this year- especially since I didn't bother to set one up in Salt Lake. And the miracle of it all was Isaac only broke one of the ornament "balls". Shiny and shaped like a ball? That's quite a miracle for him.
And the present opening begins. Barb, Mom, Mack, and Ethan with a ball.
I didn't actually capture any of the present opening. This is the aftermath. Taylor setting up the race track Ethan got from Grams and Isaac showing you the cars that go to it.
I like the way the Woodburys do Christmas. Everyone brings presents for everyone else but nothing big. Socks and pajama pants are perfect examples. The boys get lots of books and toys. Taylor's dad says his Christmas present to everyone is always the family trip because memories and experiences are more important than things. I love that. And no Christmas afternoon would be complete without a puzzle and the family gathered around it. They did finish it except for one piece that magically disappeared or got eaten by some child.
We finished the day with a nice late lunch together and then a family game of putt-putt and then lots of football watching.
And the present opening begins. Barb, Mom, Mack, and Ethan with a ball.
I didn't actually capture any of the present opening. This is the aftermath. Taylor setting up the race track Ethan got from Grams and Isaac showing you the cars that go to it.
I like the way the Woodburys do Christmas. Everyone brings presents for everyone else but nothing big. Socks and pajama pants are perfect examples. The boys get lots of books and toys. Taylor's dad says his Christmas present to everyone is always the family trip because memories and experiences are more important than things. I love that. And no Christmas afternoon would be complete without a puzzle and the family gathered around it. They did finish it except for one piece that magically disappeared or got eaten by some child.
We finished the day with a nice late lunch together and then a family game of putt-putt and then lots of football watching.Monday, January 18, 2010
December 24th- Legoland
There are some positives and negatives to always being on vacation on your birthday. On the positive side, Isaac will always be surrounded by family, the negative, he won't ever have his friends with him and the day won't be ALL about him but really whose birthday is? At least I can promise I'll always try to make the day fun and something he'd like to do. So this year, we were still in San Diego after the bowl game so I requested we all go to Legoland for Isaac's birthday. Taylor's dad was kind enough to take us and everyone went along for the adventure. Here's the group shot at the entrance. I LOVE that even Miles is in the shot- even if you can only see one eye. It was pretty chilly.
I'd heard of Legoland before but never really researched it. I didn't realize what a perfect choice it was for Isaac's birthday. It isn't like Disneyland and others where the rides are all for older and taller children, it's really a toddler theme park. He could seriously ride on all but 4 or 5 of the rides. Here's his first real roller coaster. You can't really see him but he's right next to Taylor in the red shirt.
Legoland was great too because all throughout the park there were toddler distraction areas: playgrounds, lego building centers, and even an interactive water jumping area here. We let Grandpa hold Ethan so he wouldn't soak himself and then freeze all day.
I can't tell you how nice it was to have Taylor's siblings along for the ride. The rides were pretty boring if you're more than 48 inches tall but they played with Ethan and Isaac and carried them around the whole day. And those 2 boys love them for it. Can you see Mack inside the Lion?
Isaac was enthralled with this water/music/lego thing and as always wanted to launch himself into the "bath".
So the best part of Legoland (at least from a biased parent's point of view) was the kid waiting areas complete with legos to play with. At the beginning of every ride, just as you were starting to wait in line, there was a little area all fenced off where the kids could go and play instead of waiting in 30-45 minute lines. Fabulous! My kids were so enthralled with builiding that they often didn't want to join the rest of our group when they reached the front of the line.
Sadly Isaac was not old enough to test drive his first car, but Ethan loved it.
And they both loved the lego boats.
All over the park there were these amazing lego "sculptures". Of course the boys didn't appreciate them but the adults were pretty impressed. And when I found one of a little lego man with a birthday cake and presents, well let's just say I wasn't letting Isaac out of taking a picture on his birthday even if he wasn't thrilled by the sculpture. Yep, that's a pretty enthusiastic "cheese" he's giving the camera.
In the middle of the park there were sculptures of buildings from almost every major city in the US. Truly amazing.
And we couldn't pass up one last family picture in front of the Smithsonian Castle and the Washington Monument. Can you tell Isaac has had enough? Yep- take me back to the lego building area please.
Overall and great day and I think a great pick for his birthday. We spent the evening driving back to our house and then opened a few birthday presents. No cake though so I'll make sure to do one at his birthday party that's coming up.
I'd heard of Legoland before but never really researched it. I didn't realize what a perfect choice it was for Isaac's birthday. It isn't like Disneyland and others where the rides are all for older and taller children, it's really a toddler theme park. He could seriously ride on all but 4 or 5 of the rides. Here's his first real roller coaster. You can't really see him but he's right next to Taylor in the red shirt.
Legoland was great too because all throughout the park there were toddler distraction areas: playgrounds, lego building centers, and even an interactive water jumping area here. We let Grandpa hold Ethan so he wouldn't soak himself and then freeze all day.
I can't tell you how nice it was to have Taylor's siblings along for the ride. The rides were pretty boring if you're more than 48 inches tall but they played with Ethan and Isaac and carried them around the whole day. And those 2 boys love them for it. Can you see Mack inside the Lion?
Isaac was enthralled with this water/music/lego thing and as always wanted to launch himself into the "bath".
So the best part of Legoland (at least from a biased parent's point of view) was the kid waiting areas complete with legos to play with. At the beginning of every ride, just as you were starting to wait in line, there was a little area all fenced off where the kids could go and play instead of waiting in 30-45 minute lines. Fabulous! My kids were so enthralled with builiding that they often didn't want to join the rest of our group when they reached the front of the line.
Sadly Isaac was not old enough to test drive his first car, but Ethan loved it.
And they both loved the lego boats.
All over the park there were these amazing lego "sculptures". Of course the boys didn't appreciate them but the adults were pretty impressed. And when I found one of a little lego man with a birthday cake and presents, well let's just say I wasn't letting Isaac out of taking a picture on his birthday even if he wasn't thrilled by the sculpture. Yep, that's a pretty enthusiastic "cheese" he's giving the camera.
In the middle of the park there were sculptures of buildings from almost every major city in the US. Truly amazing. 
And we couldn't pass up one last family picture in front of the Smithsonian Castle and the Washington Monument. Can you tell Isaac has had enough? Yep- take me back to the lego building area please.
Overall and great day and I think a great pick for his birthday. We spent the evening driving back to our house and then opened a few birthday presents. No cake though so I'll make sure to do one at his birthday party that's coming up. Thursday, January 14, 2010
San Diego
While I was on my mission, my family had a reunion in California. So besides missing sleeping on Pizmo Beach and watching 3 different members of my immediate family puke over the side of their kayaks while sea kayaking, I also missed a trip to Sea World. It worked out perfectly then that the University of Utah bowl game just happened to be in San Diego a few days into our trip. So we had to stop at Sea World.
We assumed it opened at 9am (wrong!) which happened to be a small miracle. So we were already halfway into the park when they finally opened the roped-off areas and we were among the first at the dolphin tank (again by accident). It was amazing. The dolphins were all literally lined up at the windows waiting for everyone to come play with them.
This is the only shot I could get of Ethan because he refused to turn around and stop watching the dolphins. Even the dolphin looks annoyed that I'm interrupting their play session.
Taylor found a spot where you could lean on the rockwall and the dolphins loved being petted. 
Tragically, when Isaac tried to pet him I think the dolphin thought he was getting food and he snapped at him a little. Even a little scares an almost-two-year-old.
Ethan was successful though.
And then we moved on to the sting ray tank. Isaac loved sticking his hands in the water although I'm not sure he ever really petted one. It was so nice to have Grams, Mack, and Barb all there to help run after the kids. 3 is certainly a handful.
You'll notice all 3 boys are in Utah red, this was more for the game that night and because Grams bought them all matching jerseys, but it turned out to be an amazing blessing. You could spot them in any crowd and I knew exactly what they were wearing in case they got lost. I've decided to always dress them alike and in a bright color the next time we go somewhere like a busy theme park- only next time maybe a nice BYU blue!
Ethan enjoying a little water in line waiting for the 3D movie experience.
Shamu never fails to amaze. The park was fairly empty which was wonderful. We were able to hit every animal show we wanted and get to the next one when there were still seats. We were happy to be this far up and out of the "splash zone".
The highlight for Isaac was the "penguinos" so I've dedicated 2 pictures to that. He is STILL talking about them.
Tragically the exhibit includes a moving walkway so you can't stop and watch them. Isaac would have stayed all day. Sea World was amazing and I'd definitely go back and as it turns out, we might. If you bought a ticket in 2009, you automatically got a year's pass free for all of 2010. Weird. So maybe we'll go back, they're opening up a new dolphin show and Isaac would love to see the penguinos again.
That night I took Miles and Isaac back to the hotel to go to bed. Isaac was exhausted without a nap and very excited to eat pizza and play on the bunkbeds (random to find bunkbeds in a hotel but you should have seen how excited both the boys were to play and sleep on them). Ethan went with everyone else to the U of U Bowl Game including Taylor's dad who spent the day driving up to LA to pick up Arty from the airport.
Taylor was so proud of himself to bring home the camera and give me the photos I'd requested. They had a great time at the game and loved winning of course!
We assumed it opened at 9am (wrong!) which happened to be a small miracle. So we were already halfway into the park when they finally opened the roped-off areas and we were among the first at the dolphin tank (again by accident). It was amazing. The dolphins were all literally lined up at the windows waiting for everyone to come play with them.
This is the only shot I could get of Ethan because he refused to turn around and stop watching the dolphins. Even the dolphin looks annoyed that I'm interrupting their play session. 
Taylor found a spot where you could lean on the rockwall and the dolphins loved being petted. 
Tragically, when Isaac tried to pet him I think the dolphin thought he was getting food and he snapped at him a little. Even a little scares an almost-two-year-old. 
Ethan was successful though.
And then we moved on to the sting ray tank. Isaac loved sticking his hands in the water although I'm not sure he ever really petted one. It was so nice to have Grams, Mack, and Barb all there to help run after the kids. 3 is certainly a handful.
You'll notice all 3 boys are in Utah red, this was more for the game that night and because Grams bought them all matching jerseys, but it turned out to be an amazing blessing. You could spot them in any crowd and I knew exactly what they were wearing in case they got lost. I've decided to always dress them alike and in a bright color the next time we go somewhere like a busy theme park- only next time maybe a nice BYU blue!
Ethan enjoying a little water in line waiting for the 3D movie experience.
Shamu never fails to amaze. The park was fairly empty which was wonderful. We were able to hit every animal show we wanted and get to the next one when there were still seats. We were happy to be this far up and out of the "splash zone".
The highlight for Isaac was the "penguinos" so I've dedicated 2 pictures to that. He is STILL talking about them. 
Tragically the exhibit includes a moving walkway so you can't stop and watch them. Isaac would have stayed all day. Sea World was amazing and I'd definitely go back and as it turns out, we might. If you bought a ticket in 2009, you automatically got a year's pass free for all of 2010. Weird. So maybe we'll go back, they're opening up a new dolphin show and Isaac would love to see the penguinos again. 
That night I took Miles and Isaac back to the hotel to go to bed. Isaac was exhausted without a nap and very excited to eat pizza and play on the bunkbeds (random to find bunkbeds in a hotel but you should have seen how excited both the boys were to play and sleep on them). Ethan went with everyone else to the U of U Bowl Game including Taylor's dad who spent the day driving up to LA to pick up Arty from the airport.
Taylor was so proud of himself to bring home the camera and give me the photos I'd requested. They had a great time at the game and loved winning of course!
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