Sea World!

Rachel, her husband, their kids, Josh, Rebekah, and I went to Sea World on Monday. It was a lovely day, a bit cool for Texas (50), but a great day all the same. We borrowed a big car that could seat us all and drove the 2 hours to San Antonio. All 3 kids sat in the 3rd seat and did really well for the most part. Lots of "Are we there yet?"s, but pretty good. :) Quale saw Sea World on Rachel's phone's GPS and thus deduced our destination, which of course meant nothing to my 3 year old until we explained what it was.

Rachel and Pat treated us to our tickets and with their military id's got themselves and all 3 kids in for free! It's very expensive, so their gift is how we were able to even go. Thanks, guys. :)

In the parking lot, anticipating a great day!

Josh and Sarah- definitely 2 fun-lovers- outside of the entrance

Rachel kind if pretended to be Rebekah's mom in order to get her in free (if you think I feel at all bad about that, you don't know me very well. Charging $50 for a CHILD is ridonculous.)- they actually look a lot alike, so it wasn't too much a stretch.

In the line for Rebekah's FIRST roller coaster!!!!!! Do you think she's excited? :) She was shocked she was going to get to ride a "big kid coaster"...

Pat, Emilia, Rebes, and me in the line

Getting ready to go...

I do not have pics from during the ride, of course, but she had a ball! She was very tight-lipped and held on tight, but the second it was over, she said, "Can we do that again?!" That was what she said after almost everything, by the way.

This was before Polar Express 4-D, which she also loved.

Roller coaster ride #2

Daddy is sooo fun! Josh carried her like this a few times so she could see, and it always made me smile.

Aunt Sarah and Rebekah in front of the Clydesdale horses- gorgeous animals.

At the dolphin pool.

At the shark tank- Rebekah was curious how all the sharks got in the tank? She is so much like her daddy- a budding engineer, I think.

Josh with the girls.

The penguins

We all (minus the 2 small girls) rode this big boy.

Shampoo (formerly known as Shamu)

The girls kept trying to lift each other.

Rebekah's favorite thing was the roller coaster, tho she loved everything. She kept wanting to touch all the animals and shot questions at us during every show. Love her.

Rain Dance and Christmas #2

You would think rain and chilly, dreary weather would not still fascinate our children- we do live in Scotland. However, we let the kids play in the rain until they got too cold and then put them in a warm bath. It was really fun to see them play and have such a great time. Josh was sweet enough to take all the pictures for me while I helped with dinner (he knows my heart in wanting to document everything photographically.)

Everything Rebekah does is dramatic. Most of what Luke does is emotionally dramatic and definitely very funny.

Look at that honey. This picture makes me smile every time I look at it.

Yea! The Sarraccos arrived last night! Josh's older sister, Rachel, and her husband and his kids, Quale and Emilia (they're Italian- so Quale is short for Pasquale and is like cual in Spanish with an -y sound at the end)! Our kids are LOVING having all this new family to play with. I think it is mutual. :) Quale is almost 10, and Emilia is close to 6. Quale is very sweet with both my little ones, and Emilia and Rebekah have become the best of cousins. ;) They played together all morning and here they are as cats. In fact, they used glue sticks and creatively glued these props on their faces.

This evening, we celebrated Christmas again! I liked this pic of us. I will admit I am quite partial to the dress I am wearing- I got it at Old Navy yesterday for $15 and it is one of those designed to go with leggings. It is empire waist which is more flattering for my body- I highly recommend it if you are shaped like me. :)

Sarah and Rachel

All 3 sibs...

Quale got a lot of books (he is an avid reader) and lego stuff.

Emilia got a lot of the same stuff as Rebekah, which fascinated Rebekah to no end. :)

Luke got a really cool rug that he can drive his cars on. He also liked it (read that as tolerated) when I ut bows on his sweet little head.

Just thought this was kinda like a flashforward to his older years.

Rebekah got books, too, a fairy outfit (wearing it), and a pull-along backpack (from us). JUST like me as a little girl she likes to put it all on immediately, as you will se in the following pics.

Papa got some gift cards and a movie.

Look at my boy.

The rolling backpack. When R saw the wheels and the handle, she exclaimed, "Is it just like yours for the airport???" Yes, my dear, exactly. She wheeled it around everywhere...so did Luke.

This is the face that makes us call him "turtle" sometimes. I know it;s blurry, but he sucks in his lips a lot, which amuses me. :) Dad also calls him "chunk bug," "meat frog," and my new fave, "screech owl."

He was really excited to get this oddly-wrapped gift.

Oh, these girls! They were Fancy Nancy together...

...and they got matching princess nightgowns from us that they excitedly insisted on wearing to watch Snow White.

They are dying to have a slumber party, which we will do soon. However, tomorrow is a big day- we are taking the 3 older kids to Sea World in San Antonio! It is a big surprise and we are super-excited! Rachel and Pat's gift to us was paying for our tickets, which is a very generous gift. :) I can't wait! I think R and E will chat the whole time!