Hall-o-Scream

Last Friday was the PERFECT day to be at Sea World San Antonio. The weather was mild - I think the highs were in the mid 70s. So maybe it wasn't perfect if you were wanting to ride all of the soaking water rides or if you wanted to sit in the splash zone (Summer and Kyla). But for those of us over the age of 9 that were there...it was GREAT!


We wanted to use our season passes at least one more time this year...we bought them last year when Kim, Isaac, and Rebekah Evans came to visit at their fall break. I would say that the passes have paid for themselves...we have gone 4 more times...and we hope to get one more visit in before the end of the year. This time, we invited Granny and PopPop along. The park has been open for 20 years...and they hadn't even been. But then again, until last year, the last time I had been was the year it opened, 1988.



We took it upon ourselves to be their 'unofficial' Sea World tour guides. We obviously saw the dolphins... taking the time to feed them. We have been there at times when there were sooo many people that they were hardly interested. This day, there were sooo few people that the dolphins were coming to the surface and practically BEGGING us for fish.





We took in the Cannery Row Caper Show. I wish I had my 35mm shots back because I got some great ones (or at least I hope I did) of one of the characters from the show (human, not sea-life) interacting with Kyla & Kyle. The reporter from the show wanted some of their popcorn and even turned it into a game of them trying to throw it into his mouth or him trying to throw it into theirs. I didn't think it was possible...but I believe it even embarassed Kyla just a little bit.


The fall celebration at Sea World is centered around the theme of "Hall-o-Scream." Well, perhaps I should have paid a little bit closer attention to some of the 'scream' zones that opened up after 6 p.m. in the park because we found ourselves eating dinner...outdoors...when what can only be described as a pack of very realistic warewolves began to 'roam' around the area. Poor Luke! He may require therapy later in life! He was genuinely frightened...which was not our intent AT ALL! The girls, however, realizing that they were just people in costume, played along with them and would distract unsuspecting park patrons so that the warewolves could then jump out and frighten them. The girls had several good laughs! OK - so they may need therapy now too.





















My favorite Sea World show up to this point was the Halloween whale show from last year. The "Believe" show is good, and the "Summer Nights" show was good, but that Halloween show was amazing. I was hoping for a repeat this year that didn't let down Granny and PopPop...because I had talked it up A LOT. Fortunately, Sea World didn't let me down! The whales just seem to have more fun - can that be possible?




The trainers wore wet suits that were black and had skeleton bones on them. They had the fog machines that blew fog out over the water. There were pyrotechnic effects. The music was fun and rockin'. At one point in the show they had FOUR whales in the water at the SAME time. That is the only time I've seen that!! I think the only one who complained about anything in the show was Luke. He told us he didn't like the m.c. of the show -- I can't say that I blame him, he was dressed as some sort of zombie pumpkin-headed man. And, after his experience with the warewolves, he was understandably leery of anything out of the 'ordinary.' Much to my relief (because it had really cooled off by dark), for the first time EVER we didn't sit in the splash zone...and Luke was pleased that "password"...his strange and funny name for all things Sea World...didn't get us wet this time.


Since I wasn't in the Splash Zone, I was hoping to finally get some good pictures with my 35mm. However, my 35mm began acting up and I am afraid that I am going to have to take it in and get it looked at. Maybe it will finally be time to go "big" digital??....or maybe that is just wishful thinking. Let me leave you with this parting shot of the trainer being catapulted out of the water by the whale. It is a little hard to see her because of the black and white wetsuit and the dark background...but she is the squiggly line in the center. I am glad she is willing to go that extra mile for our enjoyment...but I would have to say a big, "NO THANK YOU!"

Pumpkin Patch

I don't think I tell our family enough - but even though I still miss our friends in Alabama, it is NICE to be near our family once again. For instance, we were able to meet up with Dustin, Lisa, Caitlin, and Taylor on a Sunday afternoon and take some great pictures at the pumpkin patch. I haven't developed the film from my 35mm yet...I'll be excited to see what I was able to 'capture.' But thanks to Dustin and Lisa, I have this great shot of all 5 kids to post.Our attempt to get this picture was reminiscent of our attempt to get a Christmas card photo of Granny and PopPop and all 5 kids. I think the only person to be completely successful at it has been Gwen Sawyer of Be True Photography. I was AMAZED at the pictures that she got of all 5 kids last winter! Photographers just don't get enough credit for how hard their job is!!

The day was beautiful... sunny...but far from fall like. Even though the morning started out a little 'chilly', in true Texas fashion it was warm...almost hot...by the afternoon. The kids roamed around, looking at pumpkins here and there. Then, at some point they decided that sitting on the pumpkins was the thing to do. We would just look over and one of the kids would be sitting on some BIG pumpkin, smiling, posing for the picture that they knew was inevitable.

By the end of our 'photo shoot', I think that my kids, my husband, and myself were spent! It all seems to go downhill so quickly when crankiness sets in. We jumped in the car and left so quickly that I don't even think I told my sister-in-law goodbye...Sorry Lisa!

What Life's Been Like...

I can always tell what life has been like by the number of posts that I have any given month. The ones that have more seem to be 'calmer' months when I have a chance to catch my breath and catch you up on the latest and greatest news. Or maybe they are the months where I have become accustomed to the hectic pace that life has become and I have just figured out a way to get to the computer. ha! Either way, life did speed up last month...but in good ways.

We had two birthday celebrations in September - Poppy Rohan (Granny Gerry's dad) turned 87! We celebrated as a family at Beef and Bourbon in San Antonio. And then...there was ME! I turned....well, lets just say that 40 seems to be getting closer and closer every year! ha! My birthday was spread out over a couple of days...which is ALWAYS nice. Kyle and I were able to go out to eat the day before at Red Lobster...just the two of us thanks to Granny and PopPop. And on my birthday my mom drove over and took me out to lunch. She brought all kinds of goodies...including a cake! As an adult, I have always had a little 'childish' hangup on NOT getting a birthday cake. I LOVE getting a cake...I don't know what it is...perhaps my belief that the calories don't really count if you eat the cake on your actual birthday? Whatever the case, I was fortunate to get one this year...see...

Kyle and I also traveled with Dustin and Lisa to College Station, TX...to see Texas A&M play the Miami Hurricanes on September 20th. After looking at the final score the word "play" may be a little misleading...we are pretty sure the Aggies showed up. We know Miami did because we only sat 5 rows off the field, just behind the Miami bench. In all of my years at A&M I NEVER sat so close that I could actually read the players names on their jerseys. It was odd...the stadium doesn't seem nearly as big when you aren't in the 3rd deck. The game wasn't all that we wished for, but the experience of being back in College Station was WONDERFUL. We all loaded up with t-shirts for ourselves and our kids...we will all be sporting our Aggie apparel for months to come!

Some of the little spare time that I did have lately has been spent trying to get back in 'shape'. I'll spare you the actual weight goals, etc. but I have plans to at least get healthier. We live so close to a nice paved walking/jogging trail...it runs all the way down Schertz Parkway from our subdivision to the interstate. If I walk it that far and back then I go approximately 5 miles. I have been trying to do that at least 3 times a week (hopefully 4 or 5) - pushing Luke in the stroller the whole way. He puts up with it....because he knows that when we are done we will stop at the neighborhood park and ride the slides for a while. Hopefully, when you see our family Christmas photo this year you will be able to tell...we'll see!