Sea World

About a week ago my girlfriend Anna asked if the boys and I wanted to go to Sea World with her and her son, Wyatt. I have been wanting to take the boys there because they have never been, and I haven't ben since high school! Brianna's Grandparents would always take the Grandkids every summer, so I never even took her! It isn't on Craig's big list of things to do because he thinks it is a sea jail. Although it makes me sad to see the animals there instead of the ocean I do think it is really cool and exciting for the kids to see these animals close up!

First time seeing Shamu, he didn't know what to think.

First time seeing Shamu, he was thrilled! 

Manta Rays. The boys didn't want to try to feed them or touch them. Jake didn't even want to look at them! 

Anna tried feeding them and it was a very difficult task! I think it got one of the fish! 

Cute Sea Turtles

Looking at the Sea Stars, but not touching them.

Jake freaking out for some reason!

Love this picture!

Friends having fun!

Sharks! James' favorite part!

They still have the Clyde and Seymour show! We all loved that!

Watching the show...

Having slurpees while watching the show.

The Dolphin show. This was a really strange show and at the end James says to me, "I don't understand it." I said, it's ok, me neither! 

Watching the sea lions

So cute!

Watched Sesame Street show from afar. 

Having fun in the play area

James making the jump signal for Shamu

Jake doing the signal. 

Funny big milk!

Looking at the beluga whales James met this little girl who he kept following around. He kept trying to pull me to find her, it was like he couldn't let her go! So weird, it was like out of a movie, that they will meet again later in life! Anna and I were tripping out a bit. 

Sharks!!

Yummy dessert

James making a serious face! 

Dolphins, my favorite!

We were so close to touching it! But didn't. 

All of a sudden this trainer comes out and the dolphin comes right in front of us and puts his tail up. I thought to myself oh no is he going to splash us! But he was just bouncing up and down for awhile, so  I guess not. All of a sudden I saw the tail go back and I tried pulling James down off the wall, but not completely in time! James got sprayed! He was so mad! He did not like that at all! 

We went on this ride...

On the ride...

The view, beautiful. 

Finally talked the boys into going on a ride and they loved it!

We had so much fun! They wanted to go back the next day!

We can't wait to go back with Daddy! 

Some Summer Fun!

Summer is going by so fast! We have been a little busy. 

James went to day camp at his school for a week. He had lots of fun!

 We went to cousin Ayden's Birthday party where they had a car train ride. 

 We went on over and over again!

 One day we went to Pioneer park with a lot of friends where they have this water park as well as a regular park. 

The boys would not go in the first time all the kids went in. We went to the regular park and they got all hot and sweaty and then wanted to go in the water! 

Love that pic of Jake laughing! 

 Had so much fun! 

We have enjoyed lots of swimming this summer. Both the boys are so much more comfortable and confident in the water! Makes me so happy!

Jake has been going in the pool every time we have been at my Mom's for about 2 hours each time. And doesn't stop doing this... 

Craig and I celebrated our 7th anniversary. 

 Right after we were finished with dessert this firework show started! It was perfect timing, so well planned out! Craig tried to take credit but it was the owner of Kettle One Vodka his wife's Birthday! Nice try Craig! 

Swim Lessons

Last year when we finished our swim lessons with Tom he said that the boys were done with him. They didn't need any more lessons from him. They were swimming pretty good, Jake was very brave, swimming all the time and jumping in to me all by himself. James was swimming well, but was nervous to jump in. This year I decided they needed more work once we got in the pool for the first time this summer and neither on of them would take off their tubes and wanted nothing to do with swimming. I wasn't surprised by that from James, but I was with Jake. Jake was fearless last year and just wouldn't take a rest. This year I think his fear caught up with him and he didn't want to do anything. I enrolled them in El Dorado High School's swim program. It was two weeks Monday- Thursday. 

The first day James was kicking and screaming when we were getting ready to go. He whined all the way there and once we got there he was very hesitant to get in the water. Jake didn't know what was happening and once we got there started crying and cried most of the lesson. 

This was the first day...

James getting ready to get in. 

Jake getting ready to get in.

 

Jake got out and pouted

He cried for about two days and then he would only cry once he got in and about 5 minutes later he would be fine.

James getting a ride from his instructor

Going to get the ring

A couple days later...

 James got so much confidence I was so happy! 

Jumping in by himself!

This was at my Mom's house after 4 days of swimming. He never did this last year.

 The last day of swim lessons. 

Jake much happier!

 Using the noodle all by himself!

 Jumping in by himself!

 Since it was the last day the older kids played some games. They were playing categories and the first two times James didn't swim. I didn't know if it was because they didn't call what he picked or that he didn't want to swim that far. They had to swim out about 15 feet to the instructor and back. But the third time he went! He doggy paddled and swam out to the instructor and his instructor was shocked and jumped in to make sure James could make it. James was one of the youngest and least experienced in that group. 

That is his little head in the middle! I was so proud of him I didn't think he would go! 

And this was yesterday at my Mom's house! SO BRAVE! My little boy totally transformed! 

Can't wait to see how both of them are swimming at the end of summer! :)