A Trip to the Aquarium

On Martin Luther King Day, the kids didn't have school, so I took them to the Adventure Aquarium in Camden, New Jersey.  Paul was planning to go but he couldn't walk in the morning because his foot hurt too much.  I insisted he go to the doctor while I took the kids even though I was nervous to drive there on my own.  Sure enough, Paul had an infection in his foot.  Two days later he was in the hospital for the rest of the week.  Thankfully, the infection didn't travel to the bone and they were able to treat it with IV antibiotics.  Whew!  What a relief.   

The kids loved the aquarium.  They had a ton of touch tanks.  They were able to touch sharks, rays, crabs, lobsters, starfish, anenomes, jellyfish, shrimp, and more things that I can't remember.  The shark tunnel was awesome!  Each twist and turn in the aquarium brought us new things to explore.  My camera battery ran out halfway through the trip but it was a wonderful, educational activity for the kids. 

At the aquarium, looking at Philly from the New Jersey side of the Delaware River

Spencer, Caitlin, Rachel and Courtney with Philadelphia in the background

Kids with the Ben Franklin Bridge in the background

The kids loved watching the hippos swimming around

These jellyfish were huge!

Giant Crab

Sharks were awesome!

Horsing around!

Caitlin and Courtney called the pink fish "pinkalicious fish."

The rays glide through the water so fast that it's hard to get a picture of them!  They are beautiful, though.

Touching the sharks

Feeling the rays

Outside watching the seals

We got to see this one get fed!

We loved these little clown fish swimming among the anenomes



Wickedly Talented!

 Rachel and her friends performed a number from Wicked in their school talent show.

The kids got a snack during intermission.  Spencer put his hat on sideways and tried some Michael Jackson moves, copying one of the kids that performed.  It was an entertaining evening!

Snow Day Fun

We've had a lot of snow days.  Spencer spent most of the snow day building Legos.  He designed and built this awesome tank.  He was very pleased with how it turned out!

Rachel got all beautiful to go out with her friends. I think Spencer may have taken this picture.

Speaking of snow days, when the district called to cancel school the other day, Rachel was already ready.  She said, "I'm sad we're not having school.  I look pretty today."  Ahhhh, she really is a teenager!

Flower Fun

Paul brought home these beautiful flowers the other day.  The roses bloomed so big and beautiful.  Caitlin and Courtney loved looking at them, playing with them and smelling their delicious scent.  Thanks Paul!

With the new year, Paul and I decided dinner time scripture study wasn't working out as well as we would like because of so many evening practices and activities that turned it into a rushed affair.  So we have started scripture reading at 6:30 a.m.  Rachel has to catch the bus at 7:10 so it seemed like the best time.  The kids all take turns reading, which takes longer that it used to but it's been wonderful hearing everyone participate.  Now the whole family sees the sunrise every morning.  What a beautiful way to begin our day!  I love sunrises and sunsets in the otherwise colorless winter.  They are something to look forward and enjoy to even when things are dreary, gray and bitterly cold.