My mom has always been a lover of sea animals. Dolphins, Fish, but most particularly Whales. Whales are her most favorite thing ever. My biggest desire is to be able to take her to see wild whales while she can remember. I made the mistake of saying this to her once and she holds it over my head... this she can remember.
These two were so excited to see each other after 5 days apart!
While we were planning our trip down to Houston, Drew and I talked about cutting over and visiting San Antonio to take Mom to Sea World. We decided it was a trip that would be well worth the extra time away and money spent. So Mom, Everett, and I picked Drew up at the Houston Airport and drove the 4 hours over to San Antonio. We were excited to get to see and stay with Aunt Cindy and Uncle Matt. When Patrick heard about our trip he decided to join us and he drove down early Saturday morning with this girlfriend Taren.
I was truly excited to go to Sea World. I hadn't been in 10-15 years and was looking forward to seeing the animals as well as the look on Mom's face when she saw the shows. Our first stop in the park was the dolphin exhibit where you can "pet" the animals. What they don't tell you while you are waiting is that these dolphins are way smart and know that you don't have anything to offer but your hand and they stay away from you. Never the less Mom was excited to see them swim so close to her. It took some coaxing for her to lay flat on her belly on the cement barrier like they instructed but once she did she had a smile that would challenge any child's there.
Sleeping through all the adventures of the day.
Two soaked Sisters after experiencing front row in the splash zone.
Aunt Cindy was our guide and mastermind in the Sea World navigation, she had been there just two months before so she fearlessly scheduled our day and made sure we hit all the shows at the right time. We made it over to the Baluga Whale and Dolphin Show which was very Cirque De Soleil. It was really fun to get to see the trainers actually swimming with the animals since they can no longer do that with the Killer Whales. Mom sobbed her way through the whole thing. I am not even sure she could see through the tears in her eyes. They had a bird portion of the show with parrots of all sizes fly around the stadium, these caught Everett's eye and his little head followed those birds as they went round and round and round.
Yea we took a couple selfie. I was just so happy to have my partner back!
Everett finally woke up to watch the birds fly and when it was time to eat.
We made our way over to the Shamu stadium a little too close to show time because the place was packed. Aunt Cindy nabbed seats on the front row of the "splash zone." I walked Mom down there with Everett strapped to me in a carrier thinking "How wet does it really get down here?" When I saw the ground soaked and a Mom several rows up looking at me like I was a completely negligent Mother I decided Everett and I would watch from the back of the arena. I hated not being able to sit with Mom but she was in good company and Everett slept through the whole show. Needless to say our crew on the front row got soaked but once again Mom's smile was unmatchable. She loved every moment of it!
A ride, some food, a penguin exhibit, a meltdown, and a ski show later we found ourselves back at Shamu Stadium for their night show. We managed to get good seats this time but once again Everett slept through it all. Mom screamed out to me, I was right next to her, when the whales first swam out... "Megan there they are!! Megan Look!! Megan do you see them?!!!!" Her Joy was well worth the exhausting day of heat and toting an infant around.
This will be a picture to cherish forever. Everett got the stuffed shamu, Mom already had one!
Mom, Everett, Aunt Cindy, Patrick, Taren, Me and Drew all of us tired sweaty and hungry!
