SeaWorld

It rained quite a bit during our time on the Gold Coast in Australia, but the one day that the weather cooperated happened to be on the day that we had decided to go to SeaWorld. It was really a fun day for Aden and Wiley (and Mommy and Daddy) that started off by getting to ride on public transportation. This was always one of the highlights for Aden and Wiley to ride on a big city bus. And just when you thought it couldn't get any better, the bus takes you to SeaWorld, full of dolphins, seals, sharks, polar bears, penguins and fun rides and shows. We did our best to cram it all in, and here are some of the highlights:

The Dolphin Show - Aden and Wiley loved seeing them soar out of the water an do flips, and also throw the trainers up into the air on some of the jumps. This show really made an impression.

The Shark Tank - There was an underground viewing level making it like a giant aquarium. Lots of sharks, rays, large fish and other sea creatures to look at.

The Water Ski Show - Lots of acrobatics and jumps to enjoy watching while we ate our lunch.

The Sesame Street-themed amusement park - there were rides that the boys (along with Mommy and Daddy) could enjoy. Some were trucks that went around a track that we all rode on. The boys rode in the driver's seat and pretended to drive. There were helicopters that we were all able to ride in. Aden was the pilot and loved every minute of flying us around. It went up in the air about 15 feet or so. There was another that was an airplane that Daddy rode on with Aden. And there was a carousel that was a lot of fun too.

The Viking Ship - this was similar to a 'Log Ride' where you float around through tunnels and caves relaxingly and then go up the conveyor to the top of a hill, only to come sliding down into a pool of water which of course splashes everyone in the boat. Daddy rode this one by himself the first time, but later Aden asked if he could ride it. The two of them stood in line uncertain if Aden was even tall enough. When he was measured, he was just at the line and was able to go. They had a boat all to themselves. They went all around and then came splashing down. Daddy quickly asked Aden if he liked that (not really knowing if Aden would be terrified by such a ride in the first place) and the only response that came from Aden with a stunned look on his face was, "My pants got wet!"

Other fun things were the monorail and skyrail around the park, watching Daddy on the big roller coasters (not sure this was as much of a highlight for the boys as it was for Daddy) and seeing the polar bear and penguins. All in all, it was a fun day that was of course capped off by another ride on the city bus back to our hotel. That night, there was quite a splash in the bathtub when we were able to see the Dolphin Show re-enacted.