Cousins rule!

My sister, S and her husband, J and their kids came to visit us for a couple of days this past week. It was so much fun! They got here on Christmas night. M was so excited for them to come that she took a book and went and sat on the driveway and waited for them to get here. We only got two days with them. We tried to show them things that you can only do here. We had a total blast!

Of course we had to take them swimming. I know that there are other places in the country that are warm too this time of year, but they aren't from one of those places. So M and K thought that they would really like swimming outside in December. We never get tired of these people! From left to right there's: K, X, T, J, M and K.

We took them alligator hunting. We had to ride in two separate cars because our shoe box of a car doesn't hold very much more than dirt on the floor really. Anyway, as we drove down to this magic road that always has alligators on it, we missed a bunch. S says that on the main road as we were driving, they saw a ton of them just laying on the side. J had come in our car and she and I were talking about all kinds of things and not watching for alligators. So, I guess we could have turned around before we got to this magic road that's an hour away from our house, but then we would have missed Skunk Ape. And, who wants that? Anyway, I know that I'll for sure get parent of the year award for this picture, but it was so awesome that I couldn't pass it up. Both M and K were more than a little worried about standing with their backs to an alligator, but I had them do it any way. M kept looking over her shoulder. I told her not to panic. If the alligator started coming towards them, I wouldn't make them take the picture. Their uncle J told them not to worry, if it came to attack he would jump on it's back and wrestle it. I think he was kind of hoping that he would get the chance, but thankfully the alligator didn't even move.

Here we are at Skunk Ape. This is a place that I am truly going to miss when it's time for us to move on. It's a petting zoo of sorts. I can't say that this wonderful gem is legal or not, and the food for the animals might be provided by drug money, but it makes for a great place to go visit! Where else can you hold a baby alligator, baby turtles, snakes, an assortment of birds and ride on the back of a tortoise? I would venture to say not many places offer that kind of experience! It truly is awesome and we love it! T said that Skunk Ape was his favorite thing to do while they were here, and he doesn't even like snakes! Especially the one that is 19 feet long and weighs 250 pounds. You can't hold that one, but you can touch it!

Since we only had two days we went and went and went. We stayed up late to play games and let the kiddos watch movies. Of course there was no sleeping in to compensate for the late nights. But if you ask me, it was totally worth it. The only thing that wasn't great was when we went to the beach, I locked the keys in the trunk. Yes that is the fifth or sixth time that I've done that since we moved here. You would think that we would hide a key some where. But after each time I think I won't do that again. Darn is all I have to say about that. We loved having them here and I cried when they left. I tried so hard to be brave, but as they pulled out of the driveway, I couldn't help it. I cried and my heart broke a little. We hope that they had as much fun as we did! We love you guys and hope we can live closer to you soon!

Three day weekend!

 So, the wonderful, amazing, overly generous program that B is in allows each student to request off two three day weekends over the year and a half that they are in the clinical part. I know, their generosity is overwhelming! Anyway, B was able to have this last weekend off! We didn't tell the offspring that he didn't have to work. We wanted to surprise them. We wanted to use our SeaWorld passes one more time before they expire at the end of the month. So, on Thursday after he got done at the hospital and had studied a little for the upcoming test, we left. I had had all day to pack all our stuff and load it into the car. Now, you might be wondering how I packed bags, snacks and the car with a four year old at home. Thankfully he is more than a little clueless. He never asked what I was doing. When we went to the store to get snacks for the car ride, he didn't ask what they were for or if he could have any. As I carried out his pillow and bear to the car he didn't ask why. So it was no problem packing with him around. Anyway, B had told me that he didn't want to tell them where we were going in case it didn't work out for some reason. I thought he meant that he would tell them after he got home on Thursday and had studied enough. I was wrong. He just told them to go get in the car. M was trying to guess where we were going. Once we get home from getting her from school, we are usually home for the rest of the day. So to leave again made her very curious. She kept asking if we were going to a restaurant. B basically ignored her. We were almost half way through our three hour car ride before he finally told the small ones where we were going. When he told them that we were going to SeaWorld they both freaked out. K did start to panic when he realized we were staying in a hotel. He leaned as far forward as his seat belt would let him and said,"But, what about my swim suit?! I don't have my swim suit!" Remember how I said he's pretty clueless? When I told him that I had packed his stuff he said,"You did? Did you put it in a bag?" I said yes and he asked,"My Spider man suitcase?" I said yes and then he asked where it was at. I told him it was in the trunk. "Did you put clothes in my Spider man suitcase too?" I assured him I had put in everything he would need to which he said,"Oh! I didn't even know that you packed my Spider man suitcase!" I didn't even hide when I packed it, bless his sweet little heart! One of the requirement's for us to stay at a hotel is that it has to have a heated swimming pool. The hotel we stayed at kept their pool open until 11. As soon as we got there, both kids wanted to go swimming. I freeze swimming during normal daylight hours. So swimming at night in an outdoor pool is not something I participate in. But, B is a rock star and took them swimming. The water was warm enough that there was steam coming off of it. They loved it until they had to get out and walk back to our room. Then they thought it was too cold. As we left to go back to our room, we saw a tiny kiddie pool next to the gate. K walked by it and said,"Mommy, that pool is for kitty's. If you want your kitty to go swimming, that's the pool it uses." He makes me laugh a lot!

We spent all day on Friday and half day Saturday at SeaWorld.We had a total blast! We didn't know that there was an underground viewing area to see the whales. We were really excited to find it. It was awesome!

We learned that this whale's name is Kayla. For awhile they just stood by the glass and looked at her and the two other whales that were in the pool. Then the SeaWorld guy said that the whales will sometimes interact with you. He said that if a whale comes to the glass, wave, jump, spin in a circle or whatever you want. He said that the whale might wave back. He said if nothing else, the whale will be entertained as it watches you wave, jump or spin.

Kayla was swimming towards them. M started to wave and jump. When she got to where they were standing, she stopped swimming. K yelled,"She's looking at me! I can see her eyes!" M loved that she could see her eyes too. She also loved that as she jumped up and down, Kayla just watched her. I think these pictures are awesome!

We also found the underwater viewing area for the dolphins. We've gone to SeaWorld six times this year and never knew these viewing area's were here. I'm so glad that we finally paid attention and were able to look at the whales and the dolphins closer. One time a dolphin swam up to M. M started to nod her head up and down and the dolphin did it back! M loved it! We have all loved having the SeaWorld passes. Having them has made it so nice to go to the temple. B and I are able to switch off taking them to SeaWorld while the other one is in the temple. The passes truly have been so great to have!