Flying Helicopters

The girls and I had never flown helicopters before, so we all enjoyed our first time (we were quite reckless, with our hands off the controls). Click on the first image and look at Julia in the second aircraft. Her face is aglow with the joy that only a pilot can know.

The Ladies on an Elephant

Some more shots from Discovery Kingdom.

Annie and the girls got to ride one of the elephants. I stood at the sidelines with Sam (who is a bigoted elephantophobe) and took photos.

I can tell you this much: you never realize how big an elephant is until you see your family on top of one. Conversely, I'm sure the elephant went back to his buddies at the end of his shift and said, "You never realize how puny humans are until you've got a family of them on your back."

You'll note everyone's glee (save for the elephant and his goad-wielding handler). I was thrilled too: this is the closest my family has ever come (yet) to reenacting Hannibal's invasion of the Roman Empire.

The Kids Encounter a Walrus

We went to Discovery Kingdom (Marine World Africa USA for you old-timers) a few weeks ago, and the kidlets had a blast. The adventure began with a visit to the walrus exhibit on the way to the Sea Lion Show.

The resident male walrus was fascinated with the kids. He watched them through the glass, clapping his flippers together all the while.

The girls, for their part, were quite enamored with the massive pinniped. I imagine their fondness for the walrus would have turned to something else without the 4-inch-thick plexiglass separating them.

















The walrus discovered Sam, and spent a few moments staring him down. Sam didn't quite know what to make of the beast before him, and the encounter soon degenerated into an uneasy Sam turning to mommy for solace and a disinterested walrus turning back to the girls.

















Can any of you guess what the walrus was named? We didn't have to consult the display; the girls knew right away. That's right, you guessed it. The walrus is named Wally.