• Travel & Vacation: Dolphin Show at SeaWorld (Orlando, FL)

    So beautiful and graceful

    One of the other highlights at SeaWorld was the Dolphin Show.  It was really neat watching the dolphins gliding through the water, jumping, and interacting with the people.  Amazing creatures and fascinating to watch!

    Another show at SeaWorld

    This show is with Dolphins!

    Part of the Dolphin Show, pretty neat!

    The Dolphin came up for his treat

    Standing up on two dolphins, that’s neat!

    These dolphins are well trained

    This Dolphin looks like it is having fun

    Awesome!

    Beautiful animals

  • Travel & Vacation: SeaWorld (Orlando, FL – Part 2)

    Yes, those are sharks swimming above our heads!

    We had a blast at SeaWorld!  🙂  There were so many amazing things to see and explore.  The kids had a grand time and are still talking about all the neat stuff they got to do at SeaWorld.  Thankful for friends and an opportunity to hang out with them for a few days.

    WWatching Stingrays swimming above our heads

    Giant starfish

    There are four strange fish in that fish tank!

    Ice cream break!

    Sweet girl

    A cold and delicious treat!

    Going for another ride

    Everyone had fun on that one!

  • Travel & Vacation: Seals at SeaWorld (Orlando, FL)

    A seal sitting up on the tank.  The seals were very entertaining!

    The seals were loud and amusing to watch.  We watched people feeding the seals.  The birds kept trying to steal the fish treats before the seals to could it or would quickly grab a treat if it was dropped.  They were very entertaining to watch!

    This bird was hanging out near the seals area and would try to grab a snack whenever people tried to feed the seals

    Looking for a treat

    Catching some sun

    Hanging out on the edge to catch a few sun rays (and maybe a snack or two)

    A couple seals barking and begging for some treats!

    Both the bird and seal are waiting for a snack

    The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family and ways we relax.  Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away.  Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories.  It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine.  Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn.  You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!

  • Travel & Vacation: Shamu Killer Whale Show at SeaWorld (Orlando, FL)

    Kids on the move at Sea World

    The kids were super excited to go to the Shamu Killer Whale Show at SeaWorld.  Of course, they all wanted to sit in the “splash zone” so that they could get sprayed by the whales.  I think the adults got the most spray, but we all have a blast. It was amazing watching them glide through the water.  They are so big and beautiful!

    Beautiful creatures!

    Amazing killer whale show at Sea World!

    The girls were absolutely fascinated by the Shamu show

    Shamu orca killer whale show at Sea World

    Shamu the killer whale show

     

    These killer whales were mesmerizing to watch

  • Travel & Vacation: SeaWorld (Orlando, FL)

    We made it to SeaWorld! 🙂

    A few months ago our family was able to go to Florida and visit some great friends that lived there.  One of the days we were in Florida we spent at SeaWorld.  The girls LOVED it!  It was so much fun exploring SeaWorld with friends.

    Got their maps out and a mission to have fun!

    Our troop at Sea World, we had a great time!

    Girlies trying to see who can lean up against the ice cap the longest!

    The polar bear was swimming

    Fun at Sea World with friends

  • Travel & Vacation: Cold Hollow Cider Mill Tour (Waterbury, VT)

    Apple Cider Mill

    On the way back to the airport we made a stop at the Cold Hollow Cider Mill in Waterbury, Vermont.  We were hoping to do a tour but we didn’t time it quite right.  It was really great going through the apple cider mill.  The girls had a lot of fun following the apples to the cider press, seeing all the cool machines, reading about the process, and drinking the homemade apple cider.

    Welcome to the Cold Hollow Cider Mill!

    The girls loved watching the bees make honey

    The girls thought this sign was hilarious

    Apple cider press

    Big container of apple cider

    A bunch of flattened apples, interesting (yup)!

    Apple Cider Mill

    Fresh Apple Cider Doughnut

    Karlie enjoying her apple cider doughnuts!

    Brina eating her apple cider doughnut

  • Travel & Vacation: Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour (Waterbury, VT)

    Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour

    On our way back to the airport in Vermont we made a quick stop by the Ben & Jerry’s Factory in Waterbury, Vermont.  The girls found the tour fascinating and they especially liked the ice cream sample at the end! 🙂  The factory we visited makes all the pint size ice cream for Ben & Jerry’s.  They do 160,000 containers of one flavor every day.  If I remember right they were making “Coffee Caramel Buzz” the day that we went through the factory.  We couldn’t take pictures while we were actually in the factory but here are some of the highlights.  If you are every in that area it is a pretty fun and quick tour to go on with the kids.

    We parked in front of a neat “Infarmation” sign that describes the steps for making Ben & Jerry’s ice cream

    Do you see what the big containers are labeled in front of Jake and Brina?  From left to right – Sugar, Milk, Milk, Cream, and Cream (definitely an ice cream factory)

    We all got a good laugh from this one!  It is the “original Vermont fly swatter”.  It is a stuffed cow tail.

    Display with pint size containers of Ben & Jerry’s euphoric flavors

    Karlie and Brina loved exploring and learning all the neat things about the Ben & Jerry’s factory. They especially enjoyed their “Hot Chocolate” ice cream sample! 🙂

  • Travel & Vacation: Visiting Our Grandparents (part 2)

    The girls had a wonderful time up in Vermont with Grandma Kay and Irish.  Thankful for an opportunity to spend some time with Jake’s Mom and grandparents.

    Earlier this year we were able to fly up to Vermont to spend a long weekend with Jake’s Mom and grandparents.  We were blessed to have a good trip, plenty of snow, safe travels, good memories, and lots of fun. The girls weren’t ready to go home when the weekend was over, but it was time to get back to school again.  The day we left was the coldest day, but we ran outside for a few quick pictures before we had to head back to the airport!

    Hanging out with Nana and PopPop in Vermont (aka Grams and Gramps)!  Karlie and Brina had a blast.  We took this picture on the front porch right next to the big snowdrift!

    Last morning in Vermont, we had a great trip!

    Karlie’s card that she made for Grandma Kay. Very cute, I especially like the creative “pop-out” heart!

    When we came down that morning this is what we caught Karlie doing…yup, playing a game on Grandma’s Kay cell phone.  Somebody got them hooked on it the night before!

    And what do you think Brina was doing at the same time?!  Yes, Grandma had introduced Brina to a new game and she was hooked within the first few seconds of playing!  Oh boy!

    Daddy, Brina, and Karlie building some cool items

    Sweet Nana and PopPop

  • Travel & Vacation: Visiting Our Grandparents

    Playing in the sun room

    We recently had an opportunity to go to Vermont and spend some time with Jake’s family.  The girls had a blast playing games, doing puzzles, reading books, and more!  They thought it was awesome having a dog in the house too and loved leading Irish around as well as learning how to give her various commands.  It was a nice relaxing weekend with Jake’s Mom and grandparents.  Thankful for a chance to spend time with them and have fun.

    Brina hanging out near the stove with Irish.  Hmmm….seems like Irish should be the one in that bed?   She thought Irish’s bed was a soft place to sit.  Irish was a good sport and didn’t seem to mind sharing.

    Craft time!  The girls loved doing crafts and were often found at the table cutting, gluing, coloring and more!

    Jake and Gramps – Wonder what they are up to now!?

    We made a stop by Eatons Sugar House in South Royalton, Vermont

    Glad to see the bridge is back up and working again.  It was taken out with a flood over a year ago

    The river looks a little icy today, don’t think anyone wants to go tubing this time

    PopPop looking great

  • Travel & Vacation: Celebrating in Vermont

    Birthday cake!  Doesn’t the birthday cake look beautiful?!  Grandma Kay made the cake and did the main layer of frosting and Brina added all the colorful frosting and goodies to the cake.  It looked pretty and tasted delicious! 🙂

    The girls had a four day birthday weekend since they didn’t have school on Friday or Monday so we made a quick trip up to Vermont to spend some time with Jake’s Mom and grandparents.  We celebrated the girls birthday during our visit which was a lot of fun.  The girls enjoyed spending time with their grandparents.  It was a great trip packed full of a lot of good memories.  Grandma Kay gave Brina some good tips on cake decorating which Brina loved (she was tickled pink that Grandma let her decorate their birthday cake).

     Brina decorating her and Karlie’s birthday cake

    Karlie all smiles. While Brina was decorating the birthday cake Karlie was happily picking up the toys and cleaning.

    Brina loves helping in the kitchen, decorating the birthday cake was a big hit with her

    Karlie discovered a cool toy in Grandma’s stash while cleaning up!  She thought the helicopter was pretty amazing!

    Grandma Kay showing Brina how to do another neat trick with the frosting!

    Sweet girl having fun

    Brina so proud of her decorated cake

    Karlie having fun!

    Brina had extra frosting so Grandma let her decorate some cookies.  Daddy eating one of the cookies Brina just frosted.

    Happy Birthday Sweet Girls!

    Look whose eight!  Grandma Kay found some really cool number 8 balloons that the girls loved!