A Little Trooper and Crazy Rides

We have a fledgling stuntman in our family!! Cooper *loves* speed and bumps and thrills and wild and crazy roller coasters. The wilder the better. It is an absolute hoot to take him!! I took him to Disneyland, because I thought that with the personality he has (mature) he would understand and appreciate the experience. I was proven so right.

He has stood up to 3200 kms of driving with not *one* complaint or comment about too much driving. He has spent up to 15 hours in the car - with site seeing thrown in through the day. He has had late nights and early mornings and just kept on ticking. There was only one day when he was exhausted and it showed. That night I put him to bed at 5:30 and he slept 14 hours straight! And the next day he was up and running, just as cheerful as ever.

Happy Always

This child does not stop smiling!! He grins from ear to ear and it is funny, because people get such a kick out of him that he ends of getting pictures taken by Japanese and Europeans.

When we went to Disneyland we tried out the first out the first rides and Cooper was good with them. So we tried out the radical rides, like Thunder Mountain. He loved it!! It was a roller coaster that bumped and threw you back and forth and to the side. More, more, he said!

Thunder Mountain and Two Brothers - Cooper Was Sitting With Me

It was so much fun sharing this experience with him. It reminded me of when I went skiing with Colt when he was four years old. It was an experience I didn't think I would be having until he was much older. I was able to do chair lifts with him and he would race me down the mountain and invariably he would often win! It was a real bonding experience. Well, spending this time with Cooper on a level higher than four year old has been the same thing. And he only *just* turned four!

After Thunder Mountain we tried Space Mountain. This is another radical rollercoaster ride, but this time it is through a building with loud, loud rock and roll music and psychadelic neon lights and such. This was his favourite ride!! LOL!

His brother is more of a gentle spirit and has graduated from not wanting to ride roller coasters to where he loves them. Though they still scare him. Cassidy's favourite ride at Disneyland was Space Mountain - not that you could tell by his face!

During the Ride

Nearly The End

It Wasn't So Bad!

In this child's defence, *I* am very timid of rollercoasters!! And he has tried every single rollercoaster and each one has been worse than the previous one!!! Kudos to him! At his age *I* might not have even ridden! Now this time I might not have ridden, but I didn't have a choice, because Cooper wanted to ride!! *laugh*

When we went to Sea World we discovered they had a ride "Journey to Atlantis". You had to be 42" to ride this. About two weeks ago we measured both Austin and Cooper for the rides and they were both border line - Austin 46 1/2" and he had to be 46" to ride some rides, and Cooper was 41" and he had to be 41" to ride other rides!!! Well, when we got to Sea World we thought he would not be able to ride any of the rides, cause they were all 42". Imagine our surprise when we measured him and found he was now 43" tall!! He had a growth spurt, just in the nick of time. We were all thrilled for him, since he loves the rides so much!

The Journey To Atlantis

The Journey to Atlantis ride is *not* something I want to experience again. Call me chicken!! You go up a track as soon as you enter the car. Right at the top you go forward a few feet and then *drop* about 35'. My stomach went right up. After that you go round and then up an elevator and then out and around and all the typical roller coaster stuff. When it was done and we had been *soaked* through two flooded bases I asked Cooper if he liked it. His answer? He loved it and wanted to do it again!!!

That Was FUN!!

Showing the Faces They Had on the Ride

When we got off this ride and were able to see our faces on the photo they take of you, it was hilarious!! There was me with my face looking very windblown and tense; Dane having a ball with a great big grin; Austin looking unsure; Cassidy looking terrified; and Cooper with his hands waving in the air and a great big grin on his face!! We would have bought the picture except it was $12.

The next ride was the Shipwreck Rapids. In this they warn you that you will get soaked. I should have not gone on!!! Again I did not like this ride!! Maybe in the heat of summer! We all got on this large innertube and strapped in. We then headed down this 'river like' thing. The first thing that happened was we went down this rapids and *my* end ended up getting drenched. It all went down my neck! ICK! It continued around bends and such and it came to an end with us going under a *waterfall* and we got even more drenched. When we got off we were all so wet.

The Rapids!

Posing With Soaking Wet Faces and Bodies

We had to go to a hotel that night in San Diego. I had to dry everything we had, because we had not brought any spare clothes, cause it was just for one night!!

Shamu - Believe - An Unforgettable Experience

They have created the most awesome, breathtaking, majestic experience in their "Believe" show!! This show is done to music and will blow your socks off!! It has been ten years in the making. Starting at the end of March it will be shown at night -you can imagine the affect!!! Another blessing -- this show was not supposed to open until the end of March. We were thrilled to bits to see it early. I videotaped this also.

It begins with a boy on the big screen in a kayak in the ocean. He has an awesome experience where he sees a whale - right there. He 'believes' that one day he will work with these magnificent creatures. It shows throughout on the big screen the experience of seeing them in the ocean. At one point the 'boy' - now grown up, runs off the higher platform, with his paddle in handle and runs down to the pool. The music thunders and you know something is about to happen. The gates open and you wait... mouth dropped and in incredible suspense. Boom, boom, boom... Shamu glides through the water. You see this shadow and then WOW!! She shoots up in the air!!!

Hello

The boy dives into the water with her and a moment later he comes sailing through the water on the tip of her nose!!

Riding Her Nose

You get goosebumps. It is enough to bring tears to your eyes at the absolute beauty of the moment - man and creature - as one!

You can see the love of this man for this whale.

Giving the Signal

When you sit back in the audience and watch the trainers give the signals, it gives you the chills!! It is so incredible, because you know that these simple signals, placed with the music is going to make these 8000 lb whale do the most remarkable stunts! But more than that. It is the music and the movement and the interaction of a small human being and a huge sea creature in this respectful, mutual relationship!

The Result of the Signal

Spinning Tricks

After this was done a woman dived into the water and the music soared again. You knew something was coming. Soon, out of the water glided the whale, lying on her back, with the woman lying on her back on his underbelly!!!

These trainers have to be able to dive to the bottom of 26 feet and retreive an item. They have to be able to swim under water the length of the pool, which must be at least 100 feet!! When you see them in the water, submerged and going down and then up as naturally as if *they* were sea creatures, it would amaze you!!

Riding the Whale

Towards the end of the show there was so much fun. The trainers stood at the front and showed us to wave our hands in the air, like waves and chant, "Shamu, Shamu." "Shamu, Shamu." The results?? It caused Shamu to go through the water and then - SPLASH - she would raise her tail and splash the audience!! No small splashes. We were in the soak zone!! Thankfully *we* managed to not get drenched!

Shamu, Shamu!

Saying "Hello"

Finale

Saying Goodbye

Sea World - Dining With Shamu

The Sea Lion "Risky Rescue" was from 1:00 - 1:25 and so we had to race to get to Shamu in time for 1:30. Most people arrived there with plenty of time to spare. So when we arrived most were already eating. We dashed past this little booth and one of the workers asked us for our ticket. I explained we had already given it at the counter. I showed him our V.I.P. passes and continued on.

We were thankful to get the last table at the front. It was a great poolside view.




The trainer was talking and telling all kinds of information. We dropped our stuff and then walked inside to get food from the buffet. You should have seen this buffet!!! As we were waiting in line I saw this table in the row behind the front row and I thought, "Poor people. I wouldn't want that row!" A moment later another guy arrived and very courteously asked us for the ticket. I explained I had already given it, but I thought the number on it was 43. He then told me that 43 was *that* table (the one behind the front row) and the other one in the front row was already taken, but the people had not yet arrived. We accepted our fate and moved forward to get our food.

We sat down to enjoy the commentary and see Shamu's antics and eat our delicous food!

Shortly thereafter one of those men arrived again and I thought, "What now??" He very graciously apologized for the mixup and told me he had reimbursed me for one adult and one child!!! Well, if you remember this meal was way more than I had been anticipating paying!!

Not only that, the boys' school program was paying for Dane, Cassidy, and Austin. I had to pay privately for Cooper and myself. Well, he had reimbursed me for Cooper and myself!!! So we ended up with this wonderful experience without even being out of pocket! I have to tell you this whole holiday has been 'blessed' in all aspects from the start!!!!

Enjoying Our Tasty Meal

Chocolate Fudge Cheesecake - Yum!

Day 10 - Sea World - Risky Rescue

After the Dolphin Interaction we saw the "Risky Rescue" show with the sea lion and seal. It was absolutely hilarious!! There was this mime that started out the show and then the other characters arrived.

The Mime

These two animals were so well trained, they could do anything. I videotaped the show, and unfortunately you will not get the same impact without the music, but at least you can see their antics!

Clapping For Their Pepsi

Perusing the Situation

Watching....

Being Eaten

Gone...

Ship Leaking

The Admiral Arrives..

Talking With the Admiral

The End

Day 10 - Sea World

Sea World Drive

Today we drove to Sea World. We were going to go home at the end of the day, but I soon realized that it would take 2 hours each way and there was no way we were going to want to do that - breakfast waiting for us or not!

As soon as we got to Sea World we got tickets to Dine With Shamu. I was thinking this was the deal where it was $20 for adults and $8 for kids, so when I got up to the counter and she told me $35 for adults and $20 for kids, it was a surprise and I had to make a quick decision. From what the woman said and from what my friend had once told me, it sounded like a great opportunity, so we bought the tickets.

I liked how Sea World was set up. There were these great shows and then they had exhibits to see. It wasn't your typical aquarium.


The first show we saw was the Dolphin Interaction - this was when they did training for us to watch. There wasn't much to it and my camera was slow, so I kept missing pictures of the dolphins in the air!

Dolphin Interaction

After this the boys visited the Manatee Rescue. This is where they rescue manatees from entanglement and collisions with vessels etc.

Manatee Rescue

Penguins

A Huge Shark Mouth! Now Extinct.

Fish Tanks

We went to the Wild Arctic Exhibition. Here we were able to ride a simulator helicopter into the Arctic. What a ride!!!! That was so cool. When we got off the helicopter we were supposedly in the Arctic. Here we were able to see all the sea creatures from the Arctic. Here are some polar bears.

Polar Bears

Lost Franklin Expedition

After the Wild Arctic Exhibition we took some rides. I will show those on another blog as they are a story in their own right. After those rides the park was closing and we were able to see some pink flamingos on our way out. They were beautiful! So many of them.

Beautiful Birds

In the middle of the day we also had experiences of Dining With Shamu, the Shamu "Believe" experience, and the Sea Lion and Sea "Risky Rescue" show. Those will be on separate blogs.