I'd Like to Be... Under the Sea

Today was a sad day.  It was our last trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  Our passes expire tomorrow.  Sniff.  In the past twelve months we have been sixteen times!  

Going to the aquarium has been Caroline's absolute favorite thing to do while we've lived here.   It's kind of funny because every time I say, "Do you want to go to the aquarium?"  She gets super excited and shouts, "And see the DOLPHINS?!"  It's funny because there are no dolphins at the aquarium.  But she still says it every time.  And for Em, I'd say her favorite is a toss up between the aquarium and the beach.   At any rate, they both LOVE it.  It has been fun to watch them learn all about life under the sea.  And I have learned right along with them.  Growing up in Price, the only species of fish I knew of came from Scofield Reservoir: trout and rainbow trout.  

So, who knew that sea horses are the only species in the animal kingdom in which the male gives birth?

Or that if a starfish's arm gets bit off by a sting ray, it will grow back?

Or that octopuses are quite intelligent creatures and have their own distinct personalities?

The whole aquarium experience has been made even more awesome by the bike ride to and from along the coastal trail...so beautiful!  Even if I wanted to drive, I couldn't.  C would ferociously protest.  She just loves the bike.  There's no other way to go in her mind.

Matching outfits compliments of Grandma!

Scenery from the coastal trail

Arriving

Can you see all the starfish?

Holy Mackerel!

  

Exploring

The fascinating sea horses  

Petting the star fish

Dorie and Nemo

And here are a few shots from times past: 

Visiting with cousins Natalie and Jack

 When ever I think back on our time in Monterey, the aquarium will definitely have a special place in my heart.

Farewell to a Great Car

Yesterday we sold our Toyota 4Runner.  I was extremely relieved, as I hate the whole selling/buying a vehicle process, but at the same time, I was a little sad.  And Ben was A LOT sad.  But, since we're headed to Germany (did I mention we finally got orders for Germany?!), we can only take one car, and the 4Runner simply doesn't have enough seats as we hope to grow our family.  Plus the mileage just isn't compatible with European gas prices.  As Ben has been bemoaning selling the car, I've told him we don't have to, we actually have two other options:  either get out of the army or have no more children.  I won't tell you what his preference was, because I don't want our future children to have a complex, but I was finally able to prevail upon him to put the dang thing up for sale. 

So, a little history: We bought this car the year we got married, six years ago just after Ben got home from Iraq.  It has been the family car ever since.  You couldn't ask for a more comfortable car, leather seats, amazing stereo system, and rides smooth as glass.

Obviously I don't have photos of every adventure it's taken us on, but here are just a few

Camping in TN, before we had kids

Visiting Smokey Mountain National Park 

Gearing up for Ride for the Cure

Surviving the record breaking winter in DC when we had no garage

Taking us on road trips all around Poland

 

And of course, lots of family trips with the girls

So, what did we replace it with?  Well, this:

Yeah, I know it's not nearly as swank as the 4Runner, but at least it's not quite a minivan (no offense to minvan drivers out there, we were this close to getting one).  It's a 2008 Kia Rondo and it has seven seats, but is super compact.  The perfect family sized car for Europe.  So, here's to making new memories!

Apple Picking!!

The girls had a blast picking apples, not so much eating them.

Not my kid, but dang cute: 

Em and her peeps:

Sharing her ice cream: