How to do a vacation more affordably- Sea World Pics

So Sea World in Orlando- is loads of fun....this is a show that is done with rescued animals like dogs, cats, mice, birds, a pig, a skunk, too cute & the kids love it!!
This is my favorite part- the smiles! Who could resist this? NOT ME!
Here are some cute penguins...
This look of - hey look at that! Is so fun.
Kraken ride- Yes that is Jason on the last row, and Abigail is right next to him.
Splashing into fun- (I thought you could all use some cheese)
This is what the kids are looking at in the following pic

Can't see it very well, but if you are waiting for people going on Atlantis- the water ride pictured above....there is a little shop of course, but next to the shop is this fun aquarium that has aquariums along the wall, under your feet, and over your head- Lots of fun!!!
I just couldn't get enough of this creature- I believe it is a dragon fish, but it just floated and looked so pretty. How could people think that happened by chance? I stand in awe of God's beauty! Daily!

Almost felt sorry for the other girl sitting in the middle of most of our kids. I am snapping pics and she is like- I don't know you!
Jonathan...
Elizabeth...and mommy - with my eyes closed (I have issues sometimes when it comes to pics and keeping my eyes open??)
Matthew & Abigail.......
Andrew.......
Joshua........
Sarah.......
A mommy & baby dolphin...the kids loved that!!!
Manatee- whenever I see them I think of the song from Veggie Tales (those moms out there that know it you will sing it in your head just like I do) Babara Manatee, manatee, you are the one for me, one for me, sent from up above, up above...you are the one I love, one I love............(Chances are if you can sing this song you have young children, or just like being a child!)
Not sure what happened to this pic, it cut off some? But you get the cute look from our little man!
Go Joshua- this was the hotel we stayed at in Orlando- great pools!!!!!
Look- a baby sea lion with mommy- nursing....so cute!!!! Anyone thinking of their future children like I am this can be very sentimental in a weird sort of way.
Loved this new aquarium area this year! It is behind the new flying coaster put in called "Manta". Which by the way - is a great ride!!!!! It tips you forward and then off you go, and gives the sensation of flying!!!! So this place has this tube of fish, and you can crawl up inside and watch the fish.....here is the result of letting your kids play in this area.............



Did you do a quick count like I did? Yep, just remembered our oldest is on the ride with one of us adults- which would explain why there are only 6 kids. Kind of funny how I count even in pictures taken...hmmmm
Ride called Ocean Commotion- the kids loved it!
The famous Shamu ride- of which we took up 4 shamus.....no pics Abigail?? What is that about?
Our 3 older boys.....Awww.........
Dolphin and whale show- look at them all....amazing & fun to watch!
Stingrays- to pet....feel slimmy on top, but underneath they suck on your hands....to fun!
So there we are studying them....having fun, and the kids love asking questions about them as well.....Loads of great memories.....

In addition to the last e-mail with tips that are very much money saving. We also try to stay with family (which we are lucky some happen to live in Florida) or rent a house. Have you ever done that? It is great. We have a lot of great experiences with that!
Bonuses with this- you can buy cheap breakfast things, and keep drinks cold, and have loads of space!!! Which is important with our crew. You can also have meals without eating out all the time- saves soooo much money!!!

We love theme parks- we buy season passes so we can feel like we can go more than one day....and the kids don't get as cranky if we leave before meltdowns happens! This year we bought a platinum pass- at Sea World San Antonio (not too bad in price), and are able to use it for 2 whole years, at ANY Busch theme park anywhere....you get discounts on food, you don't pay for preferred parking, and you get discounts on other stuff you buy as well. So for us it was a great deal.

This is how we can afford these things- we are by no means rich in money anyway. Spiritually we are Blessed and OVERflowing!!!!! Praise God!

On a side note......please pray as we have a major decision to make.......can't really give anything away unfortunately. Just know that we could use your prayers. Thanks!!!!