Bria's 4th Birthday Party

Bria's birthday is December 15.  It is always challenging to schedule her birthday party to avoid being too close to Christmas and people's Christmas activities.  We had her 4th birthday party on December 5 at Pump It Up.  Pump It Up is a venue with lots of bounce houses - including an enormous slide, an obstacle course, a basketball jumper, and other assorted bouncers.  It is wildly popular with kids and Bria was so excited that she was old enough to have her party there.



Video of Swimming with the Dolphins

This video shows our experience swimming with the dolphins.  The girls did so well!

Riding a dolphin!!

Towards the end of our experience, there is an opportunity to ride the dolphins.  It requires swimming out to the middle of the tank alone, treading water, putting your hands in a certain position, and grabbing the dolphin's fins as the dolphin circles you.  Brynn was a champ at this.  We were so impressed.  Bria did not want to swim out alone but was very sad to not ride the dolphin.  We asked the trainer and he had a way to make it so Bria could ride the dolphin.  She did great!

 

Swimming with the Dolphins

Swimming with the dolphins was a highlight of our trip.  Especially for little Bria.  Which is a little ironic.  Our resort had a deal where you received on complimentary pass to swimming with the dolphins with a junior family suite and half off of all other admissions for swimming with the dolphins.  Thursday night Papa and I went to inquire about the swimming with the dolphins for Friday and found out that there was a height restriction.  One which Bria was well below.  All of the other packages that permitted a child of Bria's height would have been much more expensive.  I stuck to my guns and eventually was able to get a waiver allowing Bria to swim with the dolphins.  We were warned, however, that there were parts of the dolphin experience she would not be able to participate in - namely anything in deep water. 

At the dolphin venue, we quickly determined everything was in deep water.  We decided to just pretend there was no issue.  There was not.  Bria swam out with us into the middle of the tank and patiently waited to pet the dolphins. 

Thanksgiving - Day 5

Saturday was our last day in Mexico (our shuttle picked us up at 6 am on Sunday).  We spent a lot of the day at the pool with Brynn and Bria showing off their perfected skills.  We then went into town to do our trinket shopping.  The girls got pretty Mexican dresses, leather purses, and whatever else they could talk Mom, Gramma, and Papa into.  Brynn suckered Papa into buying a blue "diamond" for her that is one of her greatest treasures.

Best buds in the water.

It is harder to get a hot of kids in the air than you might think.  This involved many, many takes.  Which was quite alright with the girls.

Just looking pretty.

Pretty Brynn in her Mexican dress.

 Pretty Bria.  Needless to say, she wanted a purple dress.

Finding some last seashells with Gramma.

Posing with the swan towel sculpture.