Our Beach

November 2010, by the Cherry Creek

Sea World, day 2

Anja rode Journey to Atlantis TEN times! We did not have to get off between rides because lines were virtually non-existent. She wore her full rain-suit to keep dry in the cooler weather. Isak rode it three times. And then we spent a lot of time at the Shamu Express, and Mark and I got to ride the Great White in the dark a few times. That is the short version.

 Shamu Express riders up front.

 Wohoo!

 The face after ten times on Journey to Atlantis. Yes, she wants more...

 going up

 Isak has inherited fear of heights from me, but after a few rides he was very comfortable.

Smiling here, but truly upset that she could not go on any rides.

Sea World, day 1

Going to Sea World during Thanksgiving week is the BEST. The temperatures are just right and there are essentially NO lines, or 3 minutes wait time maximum. Several rides that we had been counting on were CLOSED this year. Texas Splashdown (precis som Flume Ride - Isak och Elina åkte hur många gånger som helst), och Rio Loco som var våran favorit, (till och med Donna åkte med på den, och Isak blev genomblöt). After some mandatory mourning, we enjoyed ourselves anyway. Anja grew over the last year and qualified to go on some 'adult' rides. First she rode the Shamu Express (typ Nyckelpigan, länken visar den i Orlando och den i San Antonio är något mindre, men går istället två varv) and loved it - refused to get out when the ride was over, then doubled back to get in before the next wave of people. She rode it five times.

Then, Anja braved the Journey to Atlantis after Elina went once (and refused to go again). Anja, however, LOVED it and told me when the ride was over "Mamma, gå inte av! Sitt kvar!" But we had to get off and get in line again. She went twice with me and twice with Mark and then once more with me. Five times, and she was not done! Isak, who rode it last year was suddenly scared. It took him all day at the park to muster up bravery to go. He was reieved when it was over, happy he had done it. He may, or may not, go again today. But Anja wants to go at least five times today again. "Var du inte rädd, Anja?" "Nej, båten är bara rolig. Det går jättefort och alla skriker!" And she added sound effects and theatrical moves to go along with the sound of speed and people screaming.

She also wanted to ride the Steel Eel but she is not tall enough. Elina and I went once last year. Elina was only 5 and before that day had never gone on a roller coaster or any type of amusement park ride. I swear I willl NEVER go on the Steel Eel again. It is by far the worst ride I have ever done. If there had been hills underneath the rail I would have been fine, but the sheer distance from the ground was enough to have me praying the whole way. Isak went on the Steel Eel THREE times last year with Mark, but on the last ride got a bit sick to his stomach and therefore is reluctant to do it again this year.

Mark and I, who both love roller coasters, had during 10 years of marriage never gone on a roller coaster together. Our marriage has been mainly work, I guess, and not so much play. But last year we rode the Great White together some 4 or 5 times while Donna stayed with the kids. No lines, just walked straight on to the ride each time. One or twice they let us just stay on without getting off. I rode it twice yesterday and so did Mark - not together though. We cannot convince Isak to go. He has sufficient height but not enough guts. Elina has the guts but not the height. And Anja, well, there is not a ride in the park she doesn't want to ride - over and over.

We also saw Killer Whales (awesome show!), Sea Lions, Dolphins and all manner of ocean life - penguins, sharks etc. This year a new show called "Azul" in the Beluga stadium that was amazing. Very much like the circus - acrobatics and diving combined, with dolphins and Beluga whales.

 Rio Loco, last year

 Fantastic whales.

 Anja's very first amusement ride, last year. but not her last.

 Last year.

 Texas Splashdown - closed this year, sadly!

 Getting ready to swim, yesterday morning.

 Elina waiting to get splashed from Journey to Atlantis.

 Yep, she got wet! And good thing too,because it was rather warm.

 Anja and Pappa after her third Journey to Atlantis ride.

From the Azul performance. Its amazingness completely un-captured by this photo, though.

 Splash from Journey to Atlantis.

I can add that pretty much ALL restaurants were closed all day yesterday, or closed early. We had a choice of Whattaburger and IHOP and chose the latter. But we were so hungry it was not enough food. Last year we did cook a Thanksgiving dinner after being at the park at our condo (but we are in a hotel this year) - rotisserie chicken (store bought), instant mashed potatoes, instant stove top stuffing, green beans out a can and apple and pumpkin pies - store bought. It was a great dinner and no one was hungry. We're going to have to have Thanksgiving dinner today instead.

San Antonio

 Last year's pool (view from condo).

This year's pool (view from room).

For the second year in a row we are celebrating Thanksgiving week in San Antonio, Texas. Last year's trip went un-blogged. Julia just turned on Mexican music on the radio and is dancing to it while the three 'big' kids and Pappa are swimming in the pool, which I was told needed to be properly documented. We've got some real pool fans in this family. Now we are off to Sea World. Happy Thanksgiving! Oh, and Thanksgiving Dinner will be eaten at Golden Corral or something like that.

My Birthday

Early this morning - really early. My alarm went off at 6.35 and I got up to wake the kids - something I normally don't have to do because Isak has his alarm set for 6.25 and gets himself dressed, wakes Elina and then comes and gets me. I thought he must have forgot to set the alarm. He has slept the past 5 nights in Elina's room making regular routines a bit different, because we FOAMED the house last week, and the attic/storage space next to Isak's room is open to let it dry completely.

But I found empty beds when I got up and then saw the car gone from the drive way. Can't believe I didn't hear anything! I'm such a light sleeper. They must have been very quiet.

Then at 9 am I get a call from Mark to go and check the mailbox. He had taken the kids to get birthday cards for me. Here is what I found (I will with keep Mark's card for my private viewing). But here are Isak and Elina's own chosen ones that they wrote completely without any input or help. I should also add that I took these pictures with Mark's work camera because our own only works sometimes, and less and less is the pattern. My super-kind parents are getting me a new one that I can go and pick out today!! THANK YOU!

Kuvertet

Kortet. 

(Vi har dansat till "Hay Un Amigo En Mi" som jag älskar, över helgen - 

vi hade lånat Toy Story 3. Jag antar att detta var inspiration)

Här är Elinas:

De har tränat sina telefonnummer i skolan på sistone.

Lägg märke till julkrubban...

Framsidan.

owys = always

The School Bus

We were told at the beginning of the school year that we only live 1.49 miles away from the school. If we lived 1.5 miles away Isak and Elina would qualify for riding the school bus. I frankly think it is too far to walk every day - we did it occasionally last year, but I would never send the kids by themselves because they have to cross Main Street. This year they attend two different schools (a couple hundred yards apart) and I never figured out how and where to effectively retrieve them both on foot and walk home. So I drive them to and from school. But I kept seeing the school bus in our neighborhood, for those who live far enough away, and I finally examined the issue more closely. I discovered that google maps said we live 1.6 miles from the school. Well, google is not foolproof, so zeroed the odometer and drove it. 1.6 miles. Then we did it with the other car. 1.6 miles. Then Mark brought a surveying tool from work and we measured the distance in feet: 8480 feet = 1.61 miles. I then contacted the Bus Barn again and challenged their software that claimed we live 1.49 miles away, and two days later a nice man came and drove the distance in his car. 1.6 miles.  That day the kids were issued bus passes. Yay!

So now we walk to the 'bus stop' 0.3 miles away in the mornings and everyone loves it, especially Sadie.

I took this picture about an hour ago: