Sharks and penguins

We checked *Go to the aquarium* off of our summer to do list.

We were super excited about seeing the penguins.

Little did we know that we would be a little disappointed.

The aquarium loves to wow you with some things.

Walking in was this awesome sand sculpture.

Way to make my sand castles look like a piece of crap.

Impressive though.

The girls took complete advance of EVERYTHING they could climb on.

Even if they weren't suppose to climb on it.

The pegiun exhibit was the size of a large window.

Three of the four penguins were sleeping.

The one that was awake just stood there facing the fake rock wall.

We saw his back.

That's it.

As we were leaving the exhibit feeling very disappointed, this little guy popped up.

He looked right at me.

It was love at first sight.

I have loved penguins ever since I read And Tango Makes Three in college.

That is when I found out that penguins are one of the few animals that mate for life.

How awesome.

I love that.

Anyway, we walked outside and snapped pictures of the girls that everyone has snapped of their children.

Emma was the size of a King Penguin.

King penguins have colorful feathers around their necks and heads.  They are the brightest of all the species of penguin.  (credit)

That is a perfect match for Emma.

She would definitely be the most stylish of penguins.

Caroline was the same size as an emperor penguin.

Emperor penguins can stay underwater for around 20 minutes at a time. (credit)

This is a feat that Caroline swears she is going to accomplish one day.

We even had to google the world record from holding your breath.

The answer:  22 minutes, 22 seconds

While outside, we went to the snake hut.  We took no pictures of that because my Nana would have a heart attack.

The girls did touch a snake.

They were asked NOT to tell Nana.

She is deathly afraid of snakes.

What was the first thing the girls did when they saw Nana?

Told her.

She was upset and swore they could not be related to her.

We also did a little bird watching outside.

It was 8 million degrees so really the "bird watching" consisted of the girls hanging on the binoculars like monkeys for a total of 2 whole minutes and then we headed back inside.

While we were "bird watching" I spotted this compass.

I love a compass.

They are so pretty to me.

This is the exact compass (or one just like it at the aquarium) that taught me years ago that our coast faced South.

When you are at the beach, you just assume you are looking west to places like Morocco, Spain, and Portugal.

Nope.

Our coast actually faces South... to Florida.

It was also shark week at the aquarium.

Who doesn't love a good shark?

This awesome picture of a shark in the big shark tank should totally be entered into a photograph contest.

Best picture of a shark's tail everrrrrr!

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And now a little

interview with Big & Bug

What was your favorite part of the aquarium?

Big:  The otters

Bug:  The penguins

What was your favorite animal?

Big:  The octopus

Bug:  The otters

Do you want to go back to the aquarium?

Big:  Yes

Bug:  Yes

What did that snake that you touched feel like?

Big:  Wet shingles

Bug:  Rubber

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Ok, so Big must have been in LaLa land while we were at the aquarium.

Her favorite animal... the octopus?

Yeah, we didn't see an octopus.

He was hiding.

I guess she dreamed it.

Her answer about the snake feeling like "wet shingles".

What does that even mean?

When has she ever felt wet shingles?

Weird.

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All in all, it was a successful aquarium trip.

Fun was had by all!