Aquarium!

 I had told some homeschool friends that we were thinking of going to the aquarium for the girls' birthdays and they said they had been wanting to go so I invited the whole homeschool group and we ended up having a group of a little over 30, including parents. 

Usually the girls race past this picture outside since "It scary!" as Peaches says, but this time they were brave and wanted a picture with it. :) 

Birthday girls!

The first thing they wanted to do was pet the stingrays. They are pretty fun and feel so slippery and rubbery! 

Daddy helped Peaches feed one. 

The girls had so much fun being there with their friends!

 

Peaches loved the water features and played with them at several points of the afternoon.

See that little boy in front of her? Later she decided to try to "help" him reach up and put a ball in the tank and swung him up to the side, but instead of him standing on the side like she was apparently anticipating, she dumped him right in the water and he got soaked. Good grief. I felt so bad! Especially when it was freezing outside! :/ Thankfully they are friends of ours and his mom was very gracious about it.

 We all went into the bird room for a long time. Lou was pretty suspicious of them. Haha.

 

She liked looking at them, but she did not like when they landed on her...which is totally understandable because their little claws scratch the kids up pretty bad. 

 

But it's still really neat to have these beautiful birds land all over you! 

I like the teal-bellied ones.

This was Daddy's first time seeing them and the girls thought it was hilarious when a bird landed on his head! 

The first time we went it seemed like they weren't quite so crazy. This time they were fighting over the food and kept getting startled and swooping, as a group, up to the trees and back down again.

Peaches loves this turtle! I don't know if it's more her speed or what, but this is one of her favorite parts of the whole place. It doesn't even do anything...I think it was actually asleep at this time.

Friends!

Noni looked after this little one while we chased after the big girls. She was busy and loved all the action!

This isn't all the kids, but a good portion of them.

 

Lou and I took a nursing break and she found a mirror is great fun!

Hi baby!

A two headed pirate!

Peanut really wanted me to take this picture. :) 

Lou enjoyed "fishing" for the magnet fish. 

Bug fed the stingrays near the end. The big one is named Bubbles.

Sisters!

 

Climbing to the top of the mast! It's pretty high up there!

 

These little fish come and eat the dead skin off your hands when you stick them in...kinda gross!

What a fun day celebrating our birthday girls! 

Thanks for coming and helping us out Noni!