Our Day at Sea World

When it comes to theme parks, I'm just a big kid. Getting up at 5:30am wasn't that great, but after the three hour drive from Lori and Jonathan's house, I began to get really excited when we started spotting signs for the Orlando area parks. I had vague memories of Sea World as my family spent Christmas week in Orlando in 1990, but walking through the main gate this time had a whole new feel. This time I was a mommy! Thank you Jonathan and Lori for picking Sea World as our destination because it was right up Philip's alley. He loves animals! The weather was beautiful, the kids did great for skipping nap time, and we have good memories.



Matthew holding two toddlers totally ready to take on Sea World!



Philip tries to pet a sting ray.



Philip and Hannah check out the wild life.



Philip demonstrates what an alligator looks like.



Philip and Matthew look at the penguins. I didn't know penguins are only in the South Pole!


This was so funny. When kids touched these hand shapes on the wall, a movie above would begin playing. I saw Philip touching it and thought how neat that he knew what to do. The funny part came when I noticed that he was saying, "High five" as he was slapping the wall!


The Dolphin Show was my favorite part of the day. It was the story of a girl's dreams as she had dolphins and birds flying outside her window. There were amazing performers who dove from high platforms and swang on trapeze-like swings. The music almost made me cry!


The kids' eyes were glued to the dolphin show. Well, at least for this second when I took the picture.



Yeah, lunch time! We enjoyed hotdogs and chips from the Sandbar Cafe.

After lunch, we headed to our next show: Shamu! This was pretty good. Just watching the trainers swimming with such huge animals, I wondered, "Does Shamu ever have a day when he doesn't want to perform?" Sadly enough, I guess the crowd in San Diego yesterday saw that happen when Shamu dragged his trainer underwater.



We enjoyed one ride, the Jazzy Jellies (balloon ride meets tea cups) in the kiddie area, Shamu's Happy Harbor. Hannah and Philip loved the ride, but were a little frustrated waiting our turn in line.



Next stop, the Wild Arctic! Wow, a sleeping seal!


As the day grew to a close, the park's Christmas lights provided a new atmosphere.

A Brooks' family portrait in front of the Christmas tree.



More Brooks'.



And more Brooks'!


Although it had been a beautiful, sunny, mid-70's day at Sea World, we were fortunate to be at the park for their Holiday Celebration. At 7:45pm, Jonathan found us a perfect waterfront spot to watch the show. Christmas music filled the air as colored lights lit up the fountains.


The excitement escorted us all the way out of the park as imitation snow (mini-soap bubbles) was blowing from the rooftops of the shops. It was everywhere, but this picture doesn't do it justice. Maybe we'll have a chance to see real snow before the winter's over.

Thanksgiving Day

Thursday was a great day as we continued just relaxing and enjoying being together with Lori, Jonathan and Hannah. Each morning was funny as Philip would wake up first, look for Hannah, be told she was sleeping and to be quiet, and then be greeted a little while later by a very excited Hannah who came running into the playroom looking for Philip.

Lori was a wonderful Thanksgiving hostess and began preparation for our meal at mid-morning. The rest of us watched some of the Macy's parade and football as the kids played.

We all did spend some time outside in the beautiful south Florida weather as Philip and Hannah burned even more calories (those two hardly ever slowed down!).

But I can't complain as it always brought forth good, long naps in the afternoons. This week was Philip's first experience not sleeping in a crib or Pack 'N Play. Lori had borrowed a toddler air mattress and he slept so well on it. (We're planning to move him into the twin bed in his room this weekend!)

Before naptime, Lori brought out the supplies for Hannah and Philip to make their first Thanksgiving craft - a Native American headdress! It was fun, but unfortunately neither was too excited about wearing the "hats".

As the ever-proud mom, the headdress was packed in the suitcase and Philip decided he would like to wear it once we were home.




The adults played a few games of darts while the kids slept before heading back inside to finish the Thanksgiving dinner preparations. After much hardwork, we sat down to a fabulous meal. Our menu included turkey, corn casserole, green beans, mashed potatoes, orange cranberry relish, sweet potato souffle, pear and spinach salad, and crescent rolls.


Matthew, Philip and me



Jonathan, Lori, and Hannah

One very proud Grandma! A grandmother's love is something you definitely have to experience to understand. How great to watch the children you raised raise children of their own, and to have those grandchildren be as sweet as these two!

Dinner was great, but as always at Thanksgiving, we all got up from the table a little uncomfortable. A walk through the neighborhood and quaint-small-town park was in order. It sounds like a simple day, but God's blessings were abundant! To have a loving, Christian family, plenty to eat, and a personal relationship with the Maker of the Universe to whom I give all thanks is more than one person can ask for!

The day ended with Uncle Jonathan showing Hannah and Philip a website which previewed what we would be seeing the next day... Sea World!!

More from Florida

When Wednesday morning came, Hannah and Philip were well rested and ready to play. It was a low-key day as we watched them play around the house, went to a near-by park, and just enjoyed the time being together.


Riding a dinosaur together.



Goodbye, park! We had a great time.

After dinner, the kids had fun with Uncle Jonathan, wrestling and dancing as he played his guitar. Philip wanted to play along so he found a toy guitar.

Heading to Sunny Florida!

Thanksgiving weekend finally arrived and we headed down to Florida to spend the week with Matthew's brother, Jonathan, our sister-in-law Lori and Philip's cousin Hannah. We were really excited as it had been since last Christmas when we saw them last.

Matthew, Ruth Ann, Philip and I flew from Charlotte, NC to Miami, FL. Philip had flown when he was four months but this was our first real test. Luckily we got a lot of his energy out in the airport between watching the planes take off and dancing with some new friends he made.





Philip was really excited once it was finally our turn to get on the plane. However, it was a small plane (two seats, aisle, one seat) and we were in the very back. The flight was great and taking off at 5:45pm allowed us to see the city lights of Charlotte upon departure and Miami upon arrival. Philip was a wonderful passenger but got scared at a few moments (the air pressure probably confused him when his ears popped). We made it through by scribbling, putting stickers in a book, watching a few minutes of a Boz DVD on Matthew's laptop, and passing him back and forth between the three of us. About 20 minutes before landing, Philip began saying, "All done." He had had enough of the small plane.

To wrap up our first day, we landed, found Jonathan, Lori and Hannah at baggage claim, headed out of the Miami airport area, ate a yummy, late dinner at McDonald's, and drove the hour back to their house. Hannah and Philip still had some energy left to play for a little while before we all went to bed. Yeah, we're on vacation!


Philip and Hannah hug when seeing each other in the airport.


Hannah shows Philip her toy room. Wow, we're going to have fun playing here!

Our sweet, silly Philip

Philip does silly things almost everyday day. I'm trying to capture as many on camera as I can but miss more than I catch. Friends whose children are older are telling me to write down what he says and does as to not forget. One such thing is that we've taken him to my last two baby check-ups. At each appointment, we've asked him if he's heard the baby's heartbeat. Now whenever we're out running errands and pass the doctor's office building, he points and says, "Heart! Heart!" So cute. I also don't want to forget his little voice and the way he says things. "Shim" everytime he sees water anywhere meaning he wants to swim in it. "I wanna shee him" when Matthew leaves for work and we run to the front door to watch the Trailblazer drive down the road.

Here are some of the funny pictures.

One Year Older

This past Tuesday my birthday came and my birthday went. I'm now 31. It was the first year I really almost forgot it was my birthday (actually forgot off and on several times throughout the day!). I'll say it was due partly to being pregnant and partly to having plenty of other things on my mind. This is rare because I've always been excited about my birthday and Matthew laughs at me because I even say, "It's my birthday time," any day of the year when a digital clock reads 11:14.

I suppose my birthday wasn't that significant because overall at this stage in my life I feel more blessed than ever before. I have a wonderful husband. He bought me a new outfit at Motherhood on Saturday and then presented me with a card and "The Little Mermaid" on DVD the morning of my birthday. Matthew then brought roses home to me that evening which he let Philip carry to me (I put them in the vase later that night).

Speaking of which, God blessed us more than we could ever imagine with our son, Philip. I pray to never take him for granted and always see him as a gift from Jesus. This goes for our second baby too who is growing more each day. We are excited to find out if Philip will have a brother or a sister in January and then to welcome this child into the world in May.

God is also at work in the lives of our parents, siblings and extended family. For that I am thankful too.

Above all of this I am grateful for my salvation in Christ Jesus. This year in Bible Study, I am studying through the book of Romans. I am being clearly reminded of how unworthy I am and how amazing God's love for us is. We all begin as powerless, ungodly people (Romans 5:6) and yet Christ in His amazing grace stepped out of heaven to die for us "while we were yet sinners" (Rom. 5:8). It is my daily goal and daily struggle to live as the apostle Paul did when he said, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."" (Romans 1:16-17).

Matthew and I recently attended a Third Day concert. We had a great time, they had a really cool lighting system, and the name of Jesus was declared as we worshiped.



My favorite Third Day song is "Cry Out to Jesus". If you have not yet decided to make Christ Jesus the Lord of your life just read through this chorus and see what you are missing.

There is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary,
Love for the broken heart.
There is grace and forgiveness,
Mercy and healing,
He’ll meet you wherever you are.
Cry out to Jesus, cry out to Jesus.

Salvation is available to everyone, but you must individually choose to accept it (Romans 5:17).

Pumpkin Fun and Harvest Fest

Flashback with me to October 28... After returning from Niven's Apple Farm, Matthew, Philip and I began carving our big pumpkin! I couldn't remember actually having carved a pumpkin before so I was pretty excited. Also Matthew had found a cool pumpkin carving kit which proved quite handy. Here's how it went.


Philip checks over his little pumpkin.


Matthew begins working on the big pumpkin's insides while Philip examines the top.


Philip gets in on the fun!


Mommy's turn to pull out some pumpkin insides.


Daddy gets to work on his "masterpiece".


Philip takes his little pumpkin and goes off to play.



The finished product. Not bad if I do say so myself!


Here's the pumpkin lit. It's a spooky house! We liked this design in the kit better than the others (skeletons and spiders).


Here's Philip's little "Jack". Matthew carved it with Philip while I was out, but he said they had a good time together and no one got cut!

Moving on... Our church celebrates October 31 by having Harvest Fest, a family-fun alternative to door-to-door trick-or-treating. The parking lot is full of food vendors, rides and church members' cars with the trunks open sporting a little game and chance to collect candy. The kids can go car to car "trunk-or-treating"! You might remember if you're a long time blog reader that last year we had a ferret trunk. This year I didn't want to be tied down but instead walk around with Philip.

Philip was very excited about Harvest Fest since he had been to the fair a few weeks before. I told him there would be rides, and he found one he really loved!


Riding the balloon ride with Mommy.


Riding the balloon ride with Papa (my dad).


And one more time (we might not see the balloon ride for another year!) with Daddy.


I was so glad my Mom (and Dad) came to Harvest Fest. She was feeling ok at this time but they only stayed about an hour. Long enough to see their favorite Pooh Bear ride the balloons and dance around to the music!

(Side note: Mom is still healing but we have some big praise reports! Her blood work came back perfect for the second time (CANCER-FREE!!!) since her surgeries. Plus her year follow-up colonoscopy last week was clear and the doctor said her insides are healing well. Praise God. However, continue to pray as she still has painful bowel movements and somedays up to 8+ movements. We pray that as the months go on her body will transition back to somewhat normal and much less pain.)