A Sea World Christmas

 Since we were in San Antonio, Paul wanted to take the boys to Sea World.  We went ahead and got Season Passes this year because you basically have to just go twice to pay for it.  We're thinking we'll make a little mini vacation there this summer and enjoy the water park, too.  

Sea World was still having their Christmas Celebration, too, so that was really cool!

It was also very cold temperature wise.  I think it was in the 50's all day with overcast skies...brrr!

 Us with Shamu Claus

 Our first stop was Dolphin Cove.  We weren't sure if they still let you feed the dolphins, but Paul David was excited to find out they do!!!

 He was really into petting them this time, too:)

 Judson was cool with feeding them, but not touching them!

 I'm pretty sure he traumatized one of them by screaming in his face!

Then, we saw the fish and sharks in the Aquarium!

Sweet Brothers...

 We also saw the Sea Lion Show, which Paul David thought was HILARIOUS!!!!

 It was really cute and they decorated the place for Christmas and Santa came!

 Next up was the Shamu Coaster.  It was Judson's first time to ride anything like this since Disney World.  He was fine at first...

 Then, he lost it!

And I didn't know you couldn't have your electronic devices out during the ride...oops!

 He did ask to ride it again later, so he was finally cool with it!!!

Judson asked to ride the carousel next...

 Paul David went and sat on his usual bench, but last minute, he came over and wanted on a horse...

Then, he FREAKED!  Which made Judson FREAK!  It was crazy!  The ride started so I told him to just get over it!  He looked down the whole time!

 Carousels just aren't Paul David's thing for some reason.

Judson ended up liking it though!

 Paul David did want to ride this Fish Ride that is like those big boats that go back and forth, but this one went side to side, too.  I had to ride with him because Daddy doesn't do spinning things!!!

 He thought it was the COOLEST thing EVER!!!

We rode it again later, too!

 Judson did this while we rode...

 Next, we saw A Dolphin Christmas...

 And Elmo's Christmas Wish...

 And Judson got to meet Elmo and Big Bird, but it was a closed Photo Session and we didn't even look to see how much that would cost!  He was happy just to hug them, so I think we're good!

Then, we saw Shamu's Christmas Miracle...

 We got there really early, so we had great seats...

 And I think it would have been an amazing show, but the whales decided they didn't want to perform...ugh!  It was about half the show!

We headed over to the Penguin area where they had a Snowman Christmas Express Train.

It was right under the Steel Eel, so we got to watch it a million times.

Paul David screamed the whole time it went by, but he wouldn't get on it. Maybe this summer he said...HA...says the boy who freaked on the carousel!

 The boys picked the Caboose (thank goodness because Paul and I had to squeeze ourselves in that little train car...a sight to behold I'm sure!)

 Then, the Penguins. They're so cool...if they weren't so stinky!

They were nesting right now, so there were a ton of them sitting on perches!  

They said they have over 200 penguins and about 115 eggs right now!  Very cool!

 Shamu again...

 Judson rode with daddy and didn't cry!!

 The Candy Cane Forest was beautiful!

 During the day there was a group of 4 out there called the Peppermints that were singing Christmas Carols!  We went by one time, and they were singing Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and Judson looked up and was so excited to hear it!  Too cute!

 We ran up on this and didn't know what it was, so we went in...

 It was this winding path all decorated with lights and candy canes and such.  

They had fake snow and bubbles blowing in places!

Then, they had some characters scattered through out...

The Penguin...

 A Walrus...

 An Otter...

 The Beluga Whale!

 We hit the Aquarium One more Time, and then headed to the front to watch the Christmas Tree Light Show.  It was awesome, too, and I looked over and Judson was asleep and Paul David was sitting like this:

  

Cracked Me UP!

It was such a fun family day for us, and we all needed that little bit of surprise fun for Christmas!!!