SeaWorld: Dolphins, Dirty Looks & a Drenched Boy

Hello friends, join me on this lovely photographic journey of a day at SeaWorld...

a wonderland of toddler emotions.

Between the excitement of being with cousins, and the constant over-stimulation of an amusement park, it's amazing we made it out without any meltdowns.

Attitude, definitely.  Meltdowns?  Only by mommy.

The Dolphin Show.

You see, shows are odd for toddlers because we sit in venues that look as if something exciting might happen and we wait for 15 minutes before anything does.

That's the equivalent of spending six toddler months just looking around and trying to figure out what in the world we are supposed to be watching..

But then the dolphins show up and you're all like....

OMYGAWD!  DOLPHINS!

I was super impressed that someone was able to train these dolphins to flip over and splash the crowd with their tails.

Peanut was insistent that it was his turn to do it next.

He wanted to sit next to that lady with the tarp.

Which makes me wonder, why do you sit in the designated soak zone and then cover your legs with a flimsy blue poncho?

Dylan was mesmerized.

Either that or he was calculating how to get out of there before he got splashed.

Riding two dolphins is not nearly as graceful or feminine as one might think but she is quite talented.

This was also something that Peanut insisted was his turn next.

This is when we buy stinky fish, wait, we didn't buy that- thank you to whatever auntie or uncle got that for Peanut!- and we try to feed the seals that are fed all day, every day.

As you can see, these guys aren't exactly racing to the edge to receive their treats.

The only logical thing to do is pelt the noisy beasts with your fish.

I'm pretty sure they're just yelling at him and not trying to eat the fish.

Unless you can find this bird.  He wants all the fish and he's not afraid to step on a seal to get to it.

Cousin love.

This was a hug.  Or a tackle.

It depends on how much space you give them and how much energy you have.

If you're tired or hot and you think it might be a tackle but noone is screaming yet, you can call it a hug and actively ignore it.

But really, this was a hug.

The Shamu show starts at 1 pm.

1 pm = Nap time

After a weekend of excitement and random schedules and noise and food and whatnot, naps are important BUT it's Shamu.

We had a whole group and you can't miss the shamu show.

So we did what every parent in this situation does.  We hype it up.

LOOK PEANUT!  IT'S A WHALE!

I look at him with that frozen excitement face plastered on.

You know, the one that involves raising your eyebrows and shoulders, mouth open in a wide grin in the hopes of getting some kind of reciprocation.
I know you're mimicking it right now.
Your excitement face doesn't seem to me working either.

WOW!  LOOK AT THOSE WHALES JUMPING AND FLIPPING!

AREN'T THEY AMAZING!

HAHAHA!  AREN'T THEY SILLY!

.................

AND SPINNING, BABY!  SEE THE WHALES SPINNING!

I clap my hands wildly, snap a few pictures and give him the excitement face again.

Um, what?

This is either the look angry celebrities give the paparazzi for jumping out from behind a bush for a surprise this unwanted picture of you will be on tomorrow's cover
  OR
he's making an obscene gesture.

You call it.

But then some Gangnam Style song came on and I guess he couldn't help but pound his fist to the beat.

He has never, to my knowledge, been exposed to this music.

I'll be honest,
I found his immediate response a bit alarming.
















Of course, daddy decided to go on a big ride with his cousins.
I knew the only way to keep him from a meltdown was the water play area.

This kid LOVES the water.

As you saw HERE.

I kinda wish that you couldn't see this area from all the kiddie rides.
It's hard to keep him away and not something I want to do repeatedly through the day.

But did you see that kid's face?

I cannot resist it.

And 15 minutes later.