Full Circle - Playdate at the Aquarium

Yesterday the girls and I met up with Auntie and Grayson for lunch and a walk through the Sea Life Aquarium.    In between screeches and squeals over the 'sea monsters and mermaids' Ashley mentioned that pictures of when she and uncle j had taken Parker and Jolie here came up on her timehop app this morning.. 

bows / little blue olive // tee / old navy

 Two years ago to the day..
How we randomly planned this little playdate on the anniversary of their first visit is pretty impressive and how b i g these two are now compared to then.. well, they are basically teenagers.  Stringbeans, they are.  

It was a morning.  One of those mornings that make you want to crawl back into bed and sleep for 3 days to forget about all the chaos that was.  I almost called to cancel on Ashley after a tantrum for the history books a la Parker and a baby with unsatisfying hunger that hates every second of being in her carseat nearly put me over the edge in the 5 minutes I was trying to get out the door.  Isn't that how it always happens?  Usually. 

But, I persevered through the insanity.  Jolie told me she was excited to see 'gaysun and auntie', so I knew I had to make it work. 

Alas.  All was right in the 3 under 3 world once we arrived.  Isn't that how it always happens?

Usually.

Although.. Baker still hates her carseat. 

The fishies, sharks, sea horses, and sting rays were a huge hit!  They loved every single second of our trip.  I cant believe I haven't taken them here sooner- it is really close to our house and they get in free until they are three.  It was an easy day to plan, not to mention the chatter that continued to come out of their mouths for hours after the visit.  

Their first official date - Baby G slept through most of it.  But he looked so darn cute doing so.

There were these inner tubes you could stand under to get a closer peek into the tanks - and we sort of had a good/great time and laugh watching all the babes in them- including Grayson!  I love that little man.  We left Baker out of this one because, well, she was quietly sitting in her carseat and who wants to ruin a good moment?

A stressful morning led to a perfect afternoon with my favorite people.  Sometimes you want to throw in the towel.. and this morning was one of those times.  But, as I share these photos of our time together I realize that if I would have let a terrible morning dictate my entire day, I would have missed out on these sweet happy faces.