A Day at SeaWorld

My parents and brother gave us a day at SeaWorld for Christmas, and we were finally able to go last week.

Harrison has lately been into sea creatures and diving. Especially diving. He watches Blue World on YouTube which really keeps his interest. He's still fairly scared at swim lessons, so we'll see if the diving interest goes anywhere, but he was the one who especially loved SeaWorld.

I tried to get us in on a day when kids would be in school and there wouldn't be a crowd. We did get good, close parking, but I just don't think you can escape the school field-trip crowds. There were many, many buses when we pulled up. And yet, when I looked at how much parking was available and what kind of space they provided for long lines at rides, I knew this was a light crowd day. So, yay! We did have to wait about 45 minutes in line for one ride, but that was the only wait. Oh, besides the lunch line. That one was also unnecessarily long. 

The animal shows were a big hit, especially for Harrison and I. We got to see shows with sea lions, beluga whales and dolphins, and orcas. I think the pretty beluga whales were my fave. Divers would swim with them and ride on their backs and be pushed around by the whales' heads. The way the orcas would leap out of the water together, the way the dolphins could "stand up" in the water .... it's amazing that we can train animals that way. I really enjoyed it.

Penguins!

Puffins!

Sea Turtles! 

We rode a few rides (we are not a "scary ride" family, so we did tame rides). We got lunch and snacks. Harrison played in the splash area and got soaking wet. We saw animal shows. We bought mementos. We stayed all day (except for Dad and Liz who stayed for a good portion but then headed home after Dad got soaked form the Rio Loco ride). It was just a neat day. Thanks, Mom and Dad and Cory!

In Between the Rain

Liz found this place when it was under re-construction. It is Hot Wells Hotel on the River Walk. It was several things over the years - sulfur springs touting health benefits, a hotel and spa for the famed (with a movie studio built across the river; a movie studio in San Antonio!),  a dormitory and school.

We went there while they were working on it and she looked around a bit. It's now a park and we can officially visit it without sneaking around (of course, we still can't go inside the buildings). 

A Red Admirable in the field behind the Catholic Church. 

So many beautiful wild flowers and butterflies and birds back there! The grass is a little tall to walk in the field right now (Texas doesn't like to cut down the wild flowers until they're ready to die). But we go back there to fly kites and shoot off rockets and walk, when the field is tame. I like it both ways.

Harrison and neighborhood buddy climbing a tree near the library. I love our library. It's near woods and trails and a park. The back area has a large porch with rocking chairs. There's a sort of creek with huge rocks that Harrison likes to climb around on. This tree was close by the creek and perfect for climbing. Climbing trees, jumping rocks, running down trails  ~ that's the stuff life is built on. Some of of the stuff anyway.