Super Duper Exciting SeaWorld!

After going to SeaWorld three days in a row after Christmas, we went back again this weekend for more fun!  Yesterday (Sunday) was by far the most exciting!  The pictures at the end show our most exciting experience after asking the trainer lots of questions, having adorable girls who are so into sea creatures, and meeting one VERY sweet and generous trainer!  Here's the story:

We admired the giant Christmas tree (1/5):

 Did a little modeling:

 Running:

Dancing:

 More running:

 Turtle game playing (1/6):

 Looking for dolphins after the show (our 5th dolphin show!):

 Excited with our results:

Happy shivers:

 Checking out the sea lions:

Petting the rays:

 Measuring ourself to the rays:

And, drumroll please.......

Petting the dolphins with a trainer at Dolphin Point!

Gabrielle LOVED petting them, Nicolette LOVED being so close (Daddy is holding her in the purple sweater):

Up close with Gracie, the Pacific bottlenose dolphin:

Mommy told the trainer that she had no idea how much this meant to our two girls!  (I think the trainer was very taken with hearing that Gabrielle wants to be a veterinarian for sea creatures when she grows up!)

Here is a video of our fun.  Mommy was trying to take video and pictures at the same time, so please be patient with the video!

Through Thanksgiving

For their friend Catherine's birthday party, the girls went bowling for the first time.  They LOVED it!  Nicolette kept saying "silly balls!"  Just this weekend, at a hotel, she saw someone bowling on TV and said it again. (11/17)

For Christmas, the girls filled plastic shoeboxes with all sorts of treasures that they would have liked to receive (most things were pink, princess, Minnie....) and donated them to Operation Christmas Child.  They are delivered to children in foreign countries along with a 12-week Bible school program.  Gabrielle and Nicolette were very excited about this and we hope to get an email from the program telling us what country our boxes ended up in. (11/19)

The girls' friend Amelia had a butterfly birthday party and we got to bring home a chrysalis that turned into a butterfly, which Gabrielle named Anna: (11/21)

 For Thanksgiving, we went to Big Bear with Grandma and Grandpa M. and had a great time (despite the flu running its way through everyone).  The girls LOVED feeding the coots, mallards, and seagulls from the backyard and dock of the house we rented. (11/22)

 You'll notice Gabrielle was more cautious, as she was bit by a duck at Amelia's party.  Nicolette ended up getting bit by one of these ducks, but soon forgave them and wanted to feed them again when she woke from a nap.

 Happy shivers:

 Warming up by the fire:

 Legos were a big hit on this trip: (11/23)

 Gabrielle helping make turkey cinnamon rolls: (11/24)

 The finished product:

 A serious game of Disney dominoes (from Mommy's childhood!):

 Only our girls love looking at fish heads!

 Finding pieces of ice:

 Gabrielle took this picture of us:

Our Little Pretender

On Sunday, Nicolette was pretending to be lots of different things.  For each one, she'd put her hands up to her eyes/forehead and nod her head.  Here is a cute video of her doing it at the restaurant:  (11/11)

Star of the Week

This week, Gabrielle is Star of the Week at school!  She made the fanciest poster I'm sure her school (or any school for that matter) has ever seen.  She got to be the leader in class and share her poster at circle time after they sang her the Star of the Week song.  

Here is her fancy, glittery, all decked out poster: (11/6)

It reads:

My name is GABRIELLE

My favorite color is PINK PURPLE

My favorite toy is MAGIC PEN

I have 0 brothers

1 sister NICOLETTE

My favorite food is CRAB SHRIMP

My best friend is EMME REESE BRAELYN

When I grow, I want to be VETERINARIAN FOR SEA CREATURES

I was born on MAY 3 2008

I am 4 1/2 years old

The class schedule for the week with Gabrielle listed as Star of the Week under Special Activities:

Sharing her poster at circle time with Teacher Danielle:

Sleeping in a Big Girl Bed (Sissy's)

Tonight, Nicolette fell asleep in Gabrielle's Sharkie bed when Daddy snuggled with her.  She looked so tiny in it!  (She was later moved to her crib so Gabrielle could sleep in her own bed.)

(11/6)

Presidential Voting

The girls were very into the election this year and helped Mommy vote.  Gabrielle has asked a lot of really good questions this year about politics and the job of the president.  Gabrielle was very troubled this evening when going to bed and Mommy told her Obama won.  She wanted to know why Mitt Romney didn't win and said that maybe we will know better in the morning.  As usual, she is wise beyond her years.  

(11/6)