Special Invitation

Because we are donors to the Monterey Bay Aquarium we got a special invitation to come up and have a special viewing time before they open to the general public. 

We went up last night and stayed at a hotel.  It was decent but WHOA they went a tad overboard on the deoderizer.  Blarg I thought I would pass out.  I don't know what it is but the boys are overjoyed when we get to stay in a Ho-tayl.  Even though we were only staying overnight and would be out early in the morning they had to bring a big backpack full of trains and cars. And BOTH of them had to sleep with me, so I didn't get a whole lot of it. 

After we parked and were walking towards the Aquarium we had to hit the cinnamon roll shop.  Logan now prefers to show his tough face when taking pictures.

Ronan still says Cheeeeeeeese

We get to the Aquarium at 8am and have a little bit of breakfast.  The invitation also included a continental breakfast so that was another bonus.  After that we went and viewed the octopus feeding. Sorry for the blur but when I turn the flash off my camera I must have shaky hands as they almost always are blurry.  But the octopus was very active.  I think of all the times I've been there this may be the only time I've ever seen one moving.  This is the female.  Her name is November. 

The handler played with her a bit and petted her and fed her some shrimp and a squid.

Then we headed over to the bat rays and we got to feed them!  How totally cool!  Logan wouldn't feed one but he did get brave enough to pet one.  I was amazed at how velvety soft they are.

Then the boys had had about enough of looking and needed to burn off some of the sugar so we headed up to the splash zone.  They of course were in hog heaven.  No other kids, the place to themselves!

 I love this one!

Then we headed for my favorite part of the aquarium.  The Seahorses!

 baby seahorses!  swoooon

I could stay there and watch them float about all day.

Then we headed to the outer bay exhibit.  Lots of colorful fishies and....

Jellies!

Now you see him

Now you dont!

The boys had a blast turning on and off the light to make the jelly disappear!

Hi there!

Smile or Grimace?

There was lots of cleaning going on.  The boys were fascinated watching the divers scrub the glass.  Logan wants one of the sucker things that helped them stay in one spot.

Lunch on the way home.  Ronan took this.  Not too bad.