An Oldie But A Goodie

A few months ago Shawn, Cole, and I skipped out on the State Democratic Convention. We had been running late that morning and even though intended to go - didn't feel it once we made it all the way to SLC. We decided to go to the Zoo. But once we got up there found they were holding some 'special day' like "Bring Your Whole Neighborhood to the Zoo Day" and the place was packed - ridiculously so. PASS. So fearing we'd have to go back to the Salt Palace and the convention quickly came up with the idea to go to the Living Planet Aquarium. Not having planned very well, we left our camera at home so we picked up a disposable at the aquarium. The quality of the final prints is really, really grainy. I'm thinking it's a combination of the disposable camera and forgetting about developing the prints after all.

Cole is about eight-ish months old in these pictures. But we had a great time and the democrats carried on very well without us!

I don't think he was so sure about the whole idea at first. It's a little dark inside this building (the aquarium is trying to raise some money and build a really great home, but in the mean tine are in an old store front in Sandy) and I think it was really, REALLY relaxing. 

This new move of Cole's started about this time (March / April). We'll have to try to get it on video since this picture really doesn't do it justice. But in a nutshell, when he's really excited or after being started, he'll raise his hand or fist to his mouth and bounce it rhythmically in place as if he's contemplating some significant discovery. We think here is was attributed to the splashing water from the Manta Ray tank he's parked next to and the laughing kids. 

We can't tell here if he's really enjoying the fish swimming past him or admiring his own reflection. Either way, he kept it up for some time and as usual is cracking us up. And as you can see in the following picture, to the point of wearing himself out for his dad's turn at the tank.

No, he's not studying the sea-horses or the crabs scurrying around the bottom of the tank - he's completely asleep. (Of sure, when we're running around he can nod off without any problem, but just try to get a repeat of this act at night when he's SUPPOSED to go to sleep.)

So back to the Manta Ray tank for us. It was a really fun time even though the aquarium is pretty small and pales in comparison to Marine World (which by the way has really changed - including it's location) or Sea World in California (duh). But for me, it brought back some fun memories when my Dad was working at Marine World and we used to go - what seems like all the time. I still recall him making me stand on the edge of what seemed like a narrow tank surround to feed the dolphins. I thought I was going to fall in for sure and die. Now I regret these facilities don't offer those same opportunities. I guess we'll have to sneak in the herring in our pockets ... well Shawn's pocket.