The Aquarium...

This morning we went to the Texas State Aquarium. The kids loved it (well most of it...Zach & Savannah were totally freaked out by the jellyfish room). We took a million pictures (of course), but these are some of my favorite moments. You will notice Zach is in most of them...he was by far the most photogenic today. Every time I said "smile" he was ready and willing. We also went to the aircraft carrier museum after lunch, but that will have to be a separate post...maybe tomorrow.They have a pool where you can pet the stingrays. Connor loved it and tried to go swimming too. Luckily Dallin was hanging on tight. Jacob touched one but the others were too scared.

Here is Savannah trying to "feed" the sea turtle a stick...

The dolphins were by far the favorite part of the day. We watched them underwater for a while before going to the little show that they put on with their trainers. This is the kids "waving" to the dolphin...

I love Zach. He can make life so entertaining sometimes (see latest Kid Moment on the sidebar of our blog).

Waiting for the dolphin presentation to start...

All 3 dolphins doing their tricks

Jacob getting really excited about the shark...

Savannah actually smiled for me here because these fish were pink...

Zach was terrified of the hermit crabs that you could pick up, but was really excited when the volunteer handed him some empty seashells to hold.

We also went to another animal presentation with birds and other neat things, but didn't last through the whole show (Dallin was walking Connor up and down the stairs, "I'm hungry!", "I need to go potty!")...so we left early for lunch.

Swimming and sand castles...

This morning I went to the grocery store early and then Dallin went for a jog on the beach. The kids were excited that they could see him from the balcony.Right when we got out to the beach Dallin took Jacob out on the boogie board. After 2 times out Dallin had to go in and change his clothes because something was itching him really bad. Apparently the water here is so warm that there is lots of "sea lice." Dallin researched and found out that they are the larvae of little jellyfish. Lovely. So we won't be going too far out...just about thigh deep. But it was a fun morning anyway...

Connor loves the water more than any little kid I've ever seen. The second we let go of his hand he would just take off running to the water. He loved the waves even. He's still not feeling great but loved getting out and doing things today.

Savannah was afraid of the waves and didn't spend much time in the water. But she was loving the sand and building (or trying to build) sandcastles.

I had to force Connor to sit in the sand for a while when I got tired of chasing him...

Jacob, Savannah and I in the water...

Dallin trying to keep Connor occupied for a few minutes out of the water...

Zach was totally freaked out of going in the water because of the seaweed touching his legs. But he spent most of the time filling buckets with the water and making various creations. This was his "seaweed soup."

Jacob loved the water and was sad when we wouldn't go out really far anymore.

In the afternoon we went in to Port Aransas to do a little shopping and have dinner. This beach shop had a HUGE shark that you could walk all the way through, which the boys that was great. We ate dinner at a TexMex restaurant called San Juan's I think. It was fun!

Savannah and Dallin came in through the back. Savannah thought it was really neat until she saw it from the front...and did NOT want to go back in.

Zach found this at another souvenir shop. He didn't know what the front looked like...only that he got to put his head in a hole.

Today is also my birthday so we had cake to celebrate when we got back from dinner. What a great birthday! It's one I'll never forget!

The Beach!

We made it to the beach! We arrived in Port Aransas, TX this afternoon about 4:00. It only took about 4 hours to get here, which was nice. Our condo is on the 3rd floor and right on the beach! This is the view from our back porch balcony...There are seagulls and pelicans everywhere...Zach thinks they're eagles.

This is the family room of the condo we're staying in. The kids are lovin' it! Connor got sick (all over his crib sheets and blankets) right after we got here. So I figured out where the laundry room was 2 hours after we were here. I hope it will pass quickly.

In the evening we went out for a little feel of the beach. Our kids have never been on a beach or even seen the ocean. They're so excited to be able to swim tomorrow and build sand castles.

Connor was loving the water and I had to work hard to keep him from getting soaked. He's gonna have great time tomorrow!

Jacob's Last Day of 1st Grade!

The kids and I went to Jacob's classroom this afternoon for a Writer's Celebration. All of the stories they've written this year were put together in one book for everyone to look at. He's done a great job with his writing (mostly superhero stories of course). Afterward was his class party. Jacob with his friends Dillon, Garrett, and Sean (and someone in the back I don't know)

Zach and Savannah love any chance to go inside Jacob's classroom...it's always lots of fun!

Jacob with Kaitlin H. & Avary F...they're both also in our ward for church.

Jacob asked to hold Connor...but had a hard time keeping him up! Connor's growing so fast!

Jacob's Award Ceremony

On Tuesday Jacob had his year-end Award Ceremony. Everyone gets an award for achieving their goals for the year. Jacob was really excited to have his whole family there along with Grandma & Grandpa Strong.

Afterwards with his award...

Jacob with his teacher Mrs. Platte

Strongs' visit - Monday...

Today we went on a picnic to Round Rock Memorial Park. While the kids and I were waiting for Dallin and his parents to come with the food we watched a Memorial Service done by the navy I think for submarines that have been lost. I think they were dedicating this new monument. It was neat to watch and be a part of for Memorial Day.

Jacob thought the torpedo was "so cool."

We also took a little walk to go see the "Round Rock" in the river.

Grandpa & Savannah...

Grandpa & Dallin teaching the kids how to skip rocks in the creek.

I just can't resist that cute face...

Strongs' visit - Sunday...

Jacob woke up Sunday morning with his eye still swollen shut (see post below). Grandma volunteered to stay home with him. Zach had a little fever so we left him home too. We also left Connor so that we could actually hear some of the talks and lessons for a change. So it was Dallin and I with Savannah and Grandpa at church. After church I took Jacob to Urgent Care to get him on antibiotic for a major pink-eye infection. So far (as of Monday afternoon) he's the only one who has it, thank heavens.

Zach has loved playing the "20 Questions" game with Grandpa...

...and cuddling up with Grandma too.

Last night Grandpa took Savannah out into the backyard. Savannah insisted that Grandma needed to come out and do jumprope...

Strongs' visit - Saturday...

Grandma & Grandpa Strong came late Friday night for a visit! The kids were so excited to see them when they woke up Saturday morning. Grandpa brought some cool plastic bubbles and they all had a great time. After lunch Dallin and the 3 older kids took Grandma & Grandpa on a nice, humid nature walk near our house.Savannah got the hang of it before the boys!

Jacob in a costume...like always.

Reading books...

Saturday evening we went to watch the bats in downtown Austin. A group of bats comes up from Mexico every year to have their babies in Austin under the Congress bridge. They're supposed to come out just after sunset (which was supposed to be 8:24pm).

We got there about 7:40pm or so and found a nice place to sit and wait. Remember...this is my kids' bedtime, so this was to be a late night for us.

Zach was really excited and could hardly wait...

Grandpa & Savannah taking a rest while waiting as it got darker and darker...

Jacob was rubbing his eye really bad and complaining about the wait. So finally a little before 9:00pm the bats FINALLY started flying out. Well it was so dark that the kids couldn't even see them. After about 4 minutes we left, a little disappointed. It was not quite all it was talked up to be. In this picture you can't even tell where they are, but the bridge and downtown is in the background.

On the way back to the car Jacob got a bloody nose and we also realized that his eye was almost swollen shut. I thought it was allergies because he'd been rubbing them right after having his hands in the grass. The kids were exhausted and feel asleep just before we got home. We had quick baths (because church was bright and early the next morning) and put them to bed about 10:00pm.