Sea World Extravaganza!

THE DOLPHIN AND BIRD SHOW

IT IS AMAZING HOW THE DOLPHINS "WALK" THROUGH THE WATER

"SHAMU! SHAMU!"

THEY HAVE THE WHALE SHAKE IT'S TONGUE AT US

MATCHING SHAMUS

JACOB AND HIS SHAMU ICE CREAM!

TILIKUM: THE "KILLER" KILLER WHALE IN THE VIEWING TANK

YES, LEAH IS KISSING THE FAKE SHAMU

LIZZY AND SARAH POSING WITH "STEVE", LEAH'S ROPE OF CONTROL!

THE FISHY CAROUSEL: SQUID, WHALE, MANATEE, EEL

FINALLY!!! FREEDOM FROM THE SEAT!!!

DAN IN THE "COOLING" FOUNTAINS

WOULD AN APPROPRIATE TITLE BE "SPLASH?"

FEEDING THE DOLPHINS FROZEN SARDINES!  

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

THIS WAS TOO ADORABLE TO MISS!  

I LOVE GABRIELS FACE IN THIS PICTURE!

REBEL!!! HE SWIPED A BITE OF CHOCOLATE FROSTING OFF OF SARAH'S CAKE--3 WEEKS BEFORE HIS BIRTHDAY CAKE!!!  WE HAD "ALL DAY DINING" WRISTBANDS, SO THE KIDS GOT DESSERT AT EVERY MEAL!!

Photobooth Oops!

The kids were prepared and posing for a picture, then we realized it had started taking a video!  It just makes me laugh to watch it!

Mr. 10 months old!!

Sportin' a New Ride - - FINALLY!!!

Our New-to-Us 2007 Ford E-350 12 passenger van!!!  It only had 39,000 miles on it!

The Brady Bunch explanation!  I figured people would ask what was inside, why not just let them "see!"  

We can fit 2 adults, all our kids and all my Florida nieces and nephew in here at once!!  SWEET!

     When I found out I was pregnant with Gabriel, I immediately knew we needed a new car.  When mom and dad are in town from California, we can no longer fit all of us at once in the Expedition-since it only had 9 seatbelts.  Marc and I searched high and low for a 12 passenger van in our price range.  When we qualified for a loan, they would only let us take their money to an authorized dealership, so that narrowed the field down to one big Cranberry of a limo--in Jacksonville of all places!  Jacksonville is a solid 4 hour drive from Jupiter, but these big cars are hard to find used, low mileage and the right price, so we had to do it!  My sis-in-law Amy already had a sitter on Tuesday and offered to "ride" with me up.  I called everywhere and finally found a willing 18 year old who had never watched my kids!! Thank you, Lauren!  Amy and I had a great 4 hour drive up in the Expedition, but then had to spend over 2 1/2 hours at the dealership as we test drove, inspected, had tires replaced, did paperwork and got the car "cleaned" and gassed up for the trek home.  The LONGEST part was driving separate the 4 hours back home and not arriving until 10:45 pm!  So many thanks to my dear sis-in-law!  What a servant to spend 12 hours with me just to get US a new car, when she happened to have a house full of dirty laundry, concrete dusted dishes and cabinetry and 4 kids of her own!!  Here they are above, though, thrilled to all fit together as cousins in one car!  Marc will keep the Expedition as his car now and sell our newest car that has payments to reduce costs.  We are so thrilled that the Lord has seen fit to entrust us and provide us with such a big bus to transport all the BLESSINGS He has given us!  Soli Deo Gloria-ALWAYS!!!

Daddy and the "Bean"

Lizzy and Daddy were catching up with each other when Marc returned from 2 nights away in Ohio.  I was in the kitchen just before this shot and saw their feet hanging off the edge of the "big chair."  I had to run and get my camera!  Such sweetness in Daddy/Daughter time!  She had so much to tell him about her time at VBS this week!

Trip to the Everglades

The New Us

Here we are on our belated anniversary trip to the Everglades!  We had fun on the 30 minute airboat ride!  Overall we had such a fun 27 hours alone, talking, laughing, not being interrupted . . .