Tuesday, July 5, 2011

San Antonio Part 2

Day 2 we woke up bright and early so we could get to Sea World right when they opened.  I definitely recommend this because we got awesome parking and ended up being very close to the front of the line!!

Here are a few pictures waiting to get in the park!!

Our first stop was to feed the dolphins.  We were told by a friend to head there first because during the day it gets to crowded and the dolphins aren't as hungry.  We are so glad we did because it was SO NEAT!!  Briley wasn't too sure about it but Daniel and I loved it!!
We then headed to the beautiful aquarium with all the sharks!!  That's one of the things I love so much about Sea World...everything is so well taken care of!!
We then headed to see our first show...the Sea Lions!!  We decided to feed them first which was so much fun because there were hilarious!!  They were so loud...they definitely wanted food!!
We then headed over to the Dolphin and Beluga Whale tank to the see show Azul.  This one was so amazing!!  They had divers, synchronized swimmers, trainers swimming with dolphins and beluga whales, and beautiful birds that were a part of the show!! 
Taking our picture with the pretty bird girl!!

After this show we stopped for lunch and then decided to walk over to the Lost Lagoon waterpark to cool off.  I don't have pictures yet from there because we used our water camera and I need to get them developed.  It was great to cool off in the lazy river, wave pool, and Briley had a blast at the children's area where water was coming out from every direction!!  You can tell how much fun she had by the next picture...
We then headed to see the famous Shamu show!!  I have to admit I was a little disappointed because I kept waiting for the trainers to swim with them, but Daniel said they don't do that anymore because of an accident that happened a couple years ago.  Still, it was a great show!!  My favorite shot is of the Mommy and baby Shamu!!
After the Shamu show it was blistering hot, so we headed over to the NEW Sesame Street Bay of Play Splash Park!!  It is geared toward toddler age so I new Briley would love it...and she did!!  She was not happy when we pulled her away to watch another show!!
We walked over to watch the boat show were they do tricks with skiers and jet ski's and then we stopped so Daniel and I could have a snack and Briley could eat dinner!!  The food was actually REALLY good!!  On our way we ran into Shamu too!!
After dinner, Daniel somehow talked me into standing with Briley in front of the splash roller coaster...I think he just wanted to play with the settings on our camera!!  It does make for some fun shots though!!
For the rest of the evening we played at the Bay of Play and even met some of the Sesame Street characters!!

As you can tell our day was jam packed but it was so much fun!!  We were so proud of Briley and how well she did with only about a 45 min nap.  We made so many special memories and it was just what our family needed with such a hard month to endure.

We ended the night with finding our two favorite places right next door to each other...
Daniel and I decided after eating at BOTH places that it was definitely worth the 5 hour drive from home to eat there...and the fun we had at Sea World too!!  :)

Next up San Antonio Part 3...Alamo and Children's Museum!!

In Christ's Love,

Sunday, July 3, 2011

San Antonio Part 1

We had the BEST time as a family visiting San Antonio.  I love being a Texas girl for many reasons, but one is that we can take such a fun vacation right in our very own state!!  Last summer we talked about going to Sea World but decided that Briley was still too little and it would be better to wait.  I'm glad we did because for her first time she was the perfect age!!  Of course we took about 700 pictures and so I'm going to break our trip up into 3 posts...and don't worry I'm not planning on posting all of them!!!  But I do want to remember our trip when I look back in our blog book I order at the end of the year, so I apologize for all the details :)

After we released Hadley's balloons on Tuesday we were off!! 
Briley fell asleep right away because apparently we woke her up too early!!

 Mom and Dad are ready to go!!

We made it!!
Who doesn't love a little monkey jumping on the bed?

After we rested a bit, we got dressed and headed down to the Riverwalk for dinner!!  I was excited to take Briley to eat at the Rainforest Cafe because I figured she would love it...WRONG.  She was afraid of the animals and the thunderstorm!!  She wasn't deathly afraid but you could tell she was not enjoying it.  The pictures are pretty comical though!!
A thunderstorm???  What??
I'll close my eyes and hug Mommy until it's over!!

While we were waiting on dinner, Daniel decided to take her to see the animals around the restaurant.  Once again she wasn't having it!!
She is into closing her eyes real tight when something scares her so we have a lot of pictures like that!!

Another thunderstorm???
Love this one!!  I think we look a lot alike in these pictures :)

We decided that she had done a pretty good job at dinner eating and being scared so we bought the monkey cup full of cherry icee as a treat!!

Here is a cute video Daniel took during one of the "thunderstorms" and getting her monkey cup!!

A few pictures with Mommy and the animals...she was ready to leave!!
I think I was a little scared of that Tiger too!!  Yikes!!

After dinner we decided to walk along the river and look for a place to buy boat tickets.  Daniel is a big history buff and loves any kind of tour where you can learn about the city!! Here are a few pictures before our boat ride.

The boat was filled with people all around us and it was pretty hot so we don't have that many pictures but it was so interesting and we are glad we did it!!  We learned some really cool stuff about the Riverwalk and downtown San Antonio.  Did you know the drain the river every year in January??  Our tour guide said they find a lot of interesting stuff at the bottom...mostly wallets!!
The River was so pretty at night and surprisingly not too hot!!

We had such a great first night in SA!!  

On our way back to the hotel I wanted to see the Alamo at night and so we drove by and Daniel got this amazing shot!!

Next post- San Antonio Part 2...Sea World!!!!

In Christ's Love,

Saturday, July 2, 2011

4 months

I can't think of a betters song/lyrics to play for Hadley's 4 month birthday in Heaven.  It is the song that was played at her memorial and the song that I played over and over again when I was in the hospital with her.  It isn't ironic that you were born exactly 4 months from your original due date.  God knew when you would be born and when you would come to Him.  Your time here with us was short but it will be nothing compared to the beautiful eternity we get to spend with you.  I am so humbled by God that he loves us that much!!

Happy 4 months sweet girl!!  We miss you so much and know you are more beautiful than ever!!

 (Please let song play while you look at pictures from her balloon release)

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray
 Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain
I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain
 Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty 

After the storm, God always gives us a rainbow.  That is exactly what HE and Hadley gave to us on the last day of our trip!!

"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him." -James 1:12

4 months in Heaven
June 28, 2011
We love you so much Hadley D'Layne!!

In Christ's Love,