Sea World

Ashten, Ayden, Grammy, Anderson, and Papa feeding the seals Look at the look on Ashty's face when a bird swooped in and stole the fish from him

The Dolphin Show During the dolphin show we sat in the splash zone, they aren't kidding.

Brad, Taylor, Britany, and Tana

Ayden didn't love the salty water burning all his little cuts on his knees. Seriously, if I had a dollar for every time one of my kids fell on this trip I would be very rich!

My boys checking out the flamingos they were fascinated that the birds could stand on one leg.

There was this spray park inside of Sea World. It was every mom's worst nightmare. There was no gate or anyway to keep them in that part of the park and it was a huge area. So being that there are 3 kids versus 2 adults, it was very crazy. Luckily, everyone was found, but just in case I had written my cell phone number on all of the boys' bodies. Next trip like this I will bring a sharpie!

The kids visiting the Clydesdale, mostly for Armand's entertainment.

Tana waiting for everyone to get back from riding the Atlantis roller coaster.

Taylor

AJ was watching for Daddy to come down the waterfall part

Brad, Ayden, and Armand on the Journey to Atlantis

Ashten ended up chickening out so Britany brought him back to me.
The calm before the storm

Brad, Me, and Armand We stopped in to see this show, it was like Saturday Night Live it was pretty funny. This is the Shamu impersonator (the walrus). Were laughing our heads off!
Walking through the shark tank

Our first Shamu show

This morning we woke up, had breakfast, and went to buy some shoes (my feet were dying) and Armand just wanted some shoes. Brad, Britany, and the girls, and Mom and Dad all trekked down to San Diego, about an hour away. It was a beautiful day despite the weather forecast of low 60's and possible rain. I don't think I had ever been to Sea World before so I was surprised that had rides there. It is a really cool park. Our favorite parts were the shows especially if we got to get wet. We also went on the rides. The best one there was the water roller coaster. Almost as soon as you got on it you were dropping down a water fall, then there was this elevator that the car rolled into that lifted you up while tipping you side to side...very creepy. Ayden and Ashten had been on some big rides at Disneyland, but for some reason they did not want to go on it. Ayden went once and then said he wouldn't go again, but I wanted him to come with me so I tried bribing him with choosing anything out of the gift shop, he must have been pretty traumatized because he wouldn't even consider it. Anyway, we watch a few shows, ate WAY too much (Armand). They had this deal where you pay so much and you can eat all day whenever, whatever you want. Armand's goal was to make his money back and then some. We were successful. I think everyone in our group helped him achieve that goal. Anyway the coolest part of Sea World was the end of the day when they do the nighttime Shamu show. It was great with cool lights, good music, and Shamu of course. Anyway, after a long day we had no hotel to go to so we had Dad find us a hotel on Hotwire and paid only $60 for a super nice hotel. (Which made me even more annoyed about paying $53 for the Motel 6). When we got to our room I worked on my finals a bit, while everyone else crashed. It has been so easy to get the kids to sleep this week. I am loving it;)

Disneyland

Armand, Ayden, and Ashten Britany, Taylor, Tana, Brad, AJ, and Armand on our first ride, The Jungle Cruise. It was cute and the boat driver was really funny. The kids loved it. Elephants in the Jungle Cruise
Anderson, Amie, Brad, Tana, and Ayden This was the first big ride we went on, it was great!

Except for the two people dropping the F bomb because Brad and I splashed them! It's a water ride people;) While Brad and Armand went on a "grownup ride" we went to visit Tigger

and Eeyore

Brad, Britany, Tana, and Taylor on The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Everytime I thought, this ride is going to be so lame...it turned out awesome! This ride was no exception, maybe I am easily amused.

Ayden and Ashten really wanted to go to this Jedi Training Academy. It was a little boring at first, but then just as they had given up these guys came out so we stayed to watch.

Our Goofy dinner.

Aj LOVED all the characters from far away, but he wouldn't get close to any of them without Mommy. Minnie won him over though.

The kids loved Minnie

Ashten really wanted to go on the King Arthur Carrousel

Time to go home

Today was our first real vacation day. Brad, Britany, Tana, and Taylor had arrived late on Thursday night from Arizona. So we went to Disneyland this morning. It was great the kids had SO much fun. They loved every minute of it and the lines weren't too horrible because it was overcast today. As soon as we got into the park we decided that we would put a peice of paper in each of the kid's lanyards (which they got for free for booking online I think) that had our phone numbers on it. This came in handy because as soon as we had done that Ayden ran off to the bathroom and somehow managed to walk right past us and get lost! We started to wonder what was taking him so long when we realized that he wasn't in the bathroom any more. Luckily, we had put the phone number and had several talks about what to do if he got lost. He had found a worker walking by and asked her to help him call us. It worked out well, and I am so glad that I was blessed with the idea. I am kind of glad it happened right away because all of the kids were good at sticking close by after that. Anyway, we went on as many rides as we could fit in between 9am and 12am. It was a super long day but we had fun and everyone got along well. I was surprised at some of the rides the kids went on. Pretty much anything they were allowed to go on they did. Daddy and Uncle Brad took them on the majority of the rides, while Britany and I would wait with the little ones. Then, we would use a Child Swap pass and we would take our turn while the guys waited with the babies. We also met up with Mom, Dad, Great Aunt Vicki, and Great Uncle Fred for a few minutes here and there and to ride The Pirates of the Caribbean. In the evening, we split up for dinner. Brad, Britany, and the girls went to a Princess dinner and our family went to the Goofy Dinner. Seriously, the best food I have ever eaten. It was amazing. The characters came around to the table to visit and sign autographs, etc. Goofy had a little performance. It was very cute, and it was nice that the kids got some good (non-park) food. But, when they were done eating they wanted to get out and go on more

rides. We stayed for the Majestik fireworks show. It was so crazy, everyone packs into to such limited space to see this show and you have to stand there for 40 minutes before it even starts (people had laid blankets out before noon so they could have a spot.) Anyway, the day was awesome, the kids had a blast, but the park was closing so it was time to head home. We went to the parking garage and couldn't find our car! We didn't get back to our hotel and in bed until 1:30am. We can't wait til tomorrow!

Baby Girl Taylor

Taylor Rae Betenson Tana and Taylor
Britany, Taylor, and Brad
Taylr Rae Betenson The world is definitely changing. This morning I got a text message (actually two text messages) about babies being born. Technology is awesome! The first text was from a friend who had had her baby boy just before midnight last night and the second text was from Brad and Britany. Taylor was born this morning, weighing in at 7.4 pounds and measuring 21 inches. She is beautiful! We can't wait to see and hold her. My parents now have 5 grandchildren ages 4, 3, 2, 1, and 0! Someone better hurry up and get started on that next baby...