Monterey Day 2

So, Max had a few difficulties today... or should I say last night and today? The kid only poops once every 12 days, and he was due. So, after a terrible night, I was walking around the hotel lobby with him at 5 am and we found a lighted aquarium in the hotel restaurant - talk about mesmerized. He seriously looked at it for like 20 minutes! That's when I realized that the 3 month old might like the Monterey Bay Aquarium just as much as the older kids... and it was so!

(PS luckily he did finally poop this morning, perfect timing, we were just showering from the beach before heading out to the aquarium - phew!)
He seriously loved it, but it was funny. He only likes small fish - the sharks and things were just a little too big for him, he would fuss and look away. The tank above was his favorite - we think he liked the bubbles in the top.
Everyone loves a good anchovy swim! The jellyfish were also a big hit.
Pearl and Sam holding the starfish - and yes, we did get in a little bit of trouble for taking them out of the water...
We did get to go to the gift shop. Pearl must have asked like 15 times if we were going, and when we counted her money she had $8 to spend. So, she found a little seal for $5.99 and Sam picked out an octopus. Then, when we were at lunch, we discussed names for our new acquisitions. This is how I know Sam is no longer a baby, but a full fledged little boy. He wanted to name his octopus "stinky poop." After many suggestions, we finally ended up with "Swirly," but it was touch and go for a good half hour! As far as I know, Pearl still hasn't named hers, but she was contemplating something to do with mermaids...

The kiddos loved the hotel we stayed at, the Embassy Suites in Seaside. Two blocks from the beach (we got to ride scooters there), indoor swimming pool, separate bedroom for Jared and I, super cool breakfast, lobby with koi pond and turtles and fountains, and, the best part, the glass elevators. Oh my, there was button pushing and story telling about if you push 1 and 3 together it goes higher than all the floors and you'll end up in the clouds. We did have to try it, and I must say Pearl was extremely nervous... imagine her relief when we ended up on floors three and one! We got tears from more than one kids on the way home because we weren't going back to the hotel...

Perfect vacation... short, but sweet!