Sea Turtle Exhibit at Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium

One of our favorite things to do when we go to the beach is to visit the aquarium, especially in the winter months. This weekend we took a quick weekend trip to the beach and also made it to the aquarium, and actually watched a couple of the programs.  The first we watched was at the shark exhibit. They had scuba divers in the tank who answered questions and talked about what they were doing while they swam. Sydney wasn't super interested in what they were talking about but she did enjoy seeing the scuba divers and sharks...but only from a distance. My favorite comment of the day from her was "that shark has ugly teeth".

We also watched the otter enrichment, again where the aquarium workers answer questions and give a basic overview of the otters. They also put fish and carrots (who knew otters would be so excited about carrots?) out in their habitat, which it was fun to watch the otters search for the goodies.

The aquarium has just added a new exhibit dedicated to sea turtles.  Nimbus, a rare white sea turtle with a cleft palate and permanent fixture at the aquarium, is the "star" of the exhibit.  Sydney got to wear a white lab coat and carry an electronic turtle around the exhibit. She put her turtle in one area for diagnosis. She got to draw blood and put in a machine for analysis.  Her turtle was diagnosed as having low weight. She then got to take the turtle to the treatment area. She lost interest at this point as it went into great detail about what the diagnosis meant and how to treat the turtle (including something about a turtle enema!) so we moved on to the next section. There she was able to weigh baby sea turtles. Finally, she got to release her turtle back into the sea! This exhibit was awesome. I'm sure we will visit it again soon!

Here's my turtle

Diagnosing the turtle

Weighing the baby turtle

Releasing the turtle back to the sea

Dr. Sydney

Merry Christmas!

This Christmas we had a four day extravaganza. We started out at Sydney's Nana and Grampa's house and were joined by Uncle Matthew and Aunt Katie. Nana and Grampa bought Sydney some Christmas "creatures" (snowmen, reindeer, and santas) which she carried around and played with nonstop. She also loved decorating sugar cookies with Nana. They put frosting and sprinkles on the cookies.  Sydney loved putting sprinkles on the most.  She also liked serving everyone. :)  Sydney was also spoiled with many gifts and had a blast opening them.

Cookies with Nana

Sprinkles!

Yum!

Present time!

Pretending to go to the beach

We stayed at Nana and Grampa's through Christmas Eve, but came home that evening to prepare for Santa!  I have enjoyed starting new traditions with Sydney this year, especially since she is old enough to truly participate.  This year we made cookies for Santa- chocolate chip, of course!  Sydney helped with adding ingredients, and I think it's a miracle the cookies turned out as well as they did since she "helped" so much.  When we put the cookies out for Santa, I asked her how many she thought we should put out, and her response was "all of them!".  After we baked the cookies, Blake showed Sydney the Norad Santa tracking website.  She was definitely intrigued, and I know this will be a tradition in years to come as she becomes more aware of the fact that Santa goes to everyone's house!

Adding ingredients

Where's Santa?

I felt like a kid myself on Christmas morning.  I couldn't wait for Sydney to wake up so she could see her gifts from Santa.  We asked her if she remembered who was supposed to come the night before, and she knew it was Santa.  However, I think she was kind of like "whatever, you guys keep talking about Santa but I'm not really seeing anything".  When she came downstairs and saw her Santa pile, though, I think it all clicked together.  Her word of the morning was "Look!".  Santa brought her a bunch of creatures, per her request, and she picked each one up to check it out as she said "Look!"

Creatures!!

Look!!!!!!!

T-rex!!

And...more creatures!

As a family present, Blake and I bought an iPad.  We had it for quite a while but decided we wouldn't use it until Christmas- talk about burning a hole in your pocket!  Well, we had a blast with it on Christmas morning.  The best part was getting to do Face Time with Sydney's Aunt Jennifer, Uncle Pete, and cousing PJ.  Since they live in California, we never get to see them.  While I talk all the time about them to Sydney, it is hard to know how much she really understands.  It was amazing for Sydney to be able to hear them and see them!  She loved seeing all of PJ's toys as well as their pets.  I am so glad she will now be able to get to know her cousin, even virtually!

Christmas evening we headed up to Blake's grandmother's house.  She had tons of food, and it was great to just visit with family.  Sydney especially enjoyed playing with her cousin Amelia, who is several years older than Sydney, but is wonderful with her.  Of course, there were also some presents to open. :)

Sharing creatures with Amelia

Presents!

Ernie from Aunt Carolyn

The day after Christmas (thus the four day extravaganza), we got together with Blake's immediate family- Sydney's MeMe and Pops and Uncle Brent and (soon-to-be) Aunt Catherine.  We, of course, enjoyed more food and present opening and Sydney was much the center of attention again.  It was so nice having Catherine in the mix as well this year!

With MeMe and Pops

Aunt Catherine and Uncle Brent

Delicious food at MeMe and Pops

Disney On Ice

At the beginning of December, Blake and I took Sydney to see Disney on Ice.  We weren't sure how she would like it, especially since she hasn't seen any of the movies.  She is familiar with Mickey and Minnie, so we figured she would at least be a bit entertained by them.  To say she liked would be an understatement.  She was totally engrossed the entire time and still talks about going to see the "show".  In fact, she now pretends that she is "ice skating like Mickey" all the time.  This simply means she is running around in circles.  :)  Overall her favorites were Mickey and Goofy and the Little Mermaid part, especially Sebastian and Flounder.

Checking out the ice before the show started

Mickey!

Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy

After the show!

We went with Sydney's friend Lilyanne and her parents (thanks for the awesome seats, Dianne!).  Sydney constantly talks about Lilyanne, but the funny part is that they basically ignore each other whenever we get together.  When it was time to go, we tried to get the girls to hug each other before leaving.  They both acted super shy and braced for a hug, but neither actually extended arms or even attempted a hug.  So funny to see how two year olds interact!  I hate that I didn't get any pictures of them together...

Mountain Trip for Uncle Brent's Birthday

Mid-December we headed to the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area of Tennessee with Sydney's MeMe and Pops and Uncle Brent and Aunt Catherine to celebrate Brent's 30th birthday.  We rented a cabin with gorgeous views of the mountains.  The cabin itself was great- three decks to check out the mountain view, air hockey (Sydney's favorite) and pool tables, and plenty of comfy places to sit and relax. 

Hanging out on the deck

Daytime view

Evening view

Playing a little air hockey

There was a ton to do in both Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.  We visited the Ripley's aquarium one day, which was actually pretty neat and was one of pretty much everyone's favorite.  The aquarium had lots of different fish, but the coolest was probably the shark tank.  It had several different types of sharks, a sea turtle and other fish as well.  You viewed the fish from both above and below.  They also had a penguin exhibit that was both indoors and outdoors. 

Saw shark from above

Another shark from above

Checking out the fish

Penguins!

Brent and Catherine at the aquarium

Another highlight of the trip was Sydney's first Putt-Putt experience.  At first she was just mesmerized by the jungle/dinosaur/pirate theme of the course we played and the fact that she had a ball- pink, of course.  She wanted to whack the alligator and other animals with her club, which she called a bat.  Blake was finally able to coax her into letting him help her hit the ball into the hole.  Once she heard everyone clap for her when the ball went in the hole, she ate up the attention.  So much fun!

Mummy at PuttPutt

My bat! (Funny look...ha!)

The ball went in the hole!

Help from Daddy

Hooray!

Overall, what a great trip!  We are so glad we had Brent's birthday as an excuse to get away for a bit.  Happy birthday, Uncle Brent!  We love you!

Uncle Brent and Aunt Catherine

Happy birthday!

Holiday Express and Seeing Santa

For the second year we went to Pullen Park for the Holiday Express.  It was a blast riding the train in the dark with all the Christmas lights decorating the park.  Sydney's favorites were Santa in the helicopter and (of course) the dinosaur lights. 

Waiting for the train

T-rex decorating a Christmas tree...random

After the train we went and waited in line for Santa.  We had to wait about 20 minutes or so, but Sydney did great.  We weren't sure what her reaction to sitting on Santa's lap would be, but she said she wanted to sit with him.  Once our turn came, she was a little nervous, but sat fine on his lap.  It's funny that her nervous tick is to chat, so she chatted the whole time she was on Santa's lap.  She wasn't necessarily talking to him, but just talking in general.  She did tell him that she wanted him to bring her creatures.  Yes, creatures, that wasn't a typo. 

Sydney with Santa- can you tell she is talking? :)

We ended the evening with her favorite: the carousel.  This event is one of our favorites and is quickly becoming a family tradition!

Riding on the pig!