Let me take you back in time a few years. When Little Miss was about 18 months old, I got the bright idea that we would take her to Sea World. She was already showing signs of loving all thing aquatic, and I thought this would be a fun way to spend a day. A day. Turns out, she loved it so much that if there is ever a "Sea World Docent" job opening soon, I am going to put an application in for her, she loves it that much.
The memory that sticks in my mind as clearly as if it were yesterday is this one: We went to see the Shamu show. This was in the "good ole days" when the trainers were still allowed to get into the pool with the whales and basically get launched like a missile out of the water at 40 miles per hour by the orcas. At this point in her young life, Little Miss had never seen such a sight as this:
So, imagine her surprise when Shamu jumped out of the water. She stood bolt upright on my lap, pointed a chubby little finger towards the water, and shouted, "What's up, what's up....what's up with THAT!!!" I was laughing, the DH was laughing, everyone around was laughing. And, Little Miss was hooked. She began just casually mentioning (say 20 to 30 times a day) "I was just thinkin'.......about Sea World." Anyone who came to my house can tell you she never stopped thinkin' about Sea World. And we kept going with season passes every year since.
Now, fast forward to this year, last week to be exact. We decided to brave the heat and spend a day at the park. Little Miss still loves all things aquatic, and now has developed a love of the carnival games, too. So we were not surprised when she wanted to go to the Midway and take her turn to try to win a prize. Let me tell you, over the years we have amassed quite the collection of Shamus. Big ones, little ones, you name it, we have won it. I'm surprised that Greenpeace doesn't set up outside my house with signs saying "Free the Whales" we have so many. But we have never, ever, won The Big Prize.
Until this trip:
Yes, the hubby did it. He finally threw a little plastic ring onto the neck of a glass 2-liter bottle and captured the elusive Pink Shamu. It now resides on the entire bed of Little Miss. She does make this denizen of the deep go to the floor at night, but she has a couple of fish rugs from IKEA down there to "keep her company". Daddy has confirmed his "rock star" status for at least another year around here.
Needless to say, there was much celebration at Chateau du Williams that night, and all the next day, and pretty much every day since. The greatest moment for me was watching as the DH was carrying his catch out to the car and we were passing by all the other folks at Sea World. They would each say something about how magnificent his prize was, and each time Little Miss would just give him a little pat on the back and look up at him with pure adoration in her baby blue eyes.
Then I took money out of his wallet and took the kiddo to eat ribs while he carried the whale out to the car. Because isn't that his job? He hunts the quarry to take care of his family.
So, to celebrate I wanted to share this card with y'all:
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| Stamp Sets: Pennant Parade, Fabulous Phrases Card stock: Island Indigo, Cherry Cobbler, Pool Party, Whisper White Ink: Island Indigo, Cherry Cobbler, Pool Party Accessories: Pennant Punch, Cherry Cobbler/white baker's twine |
Kim
1 comment:
What a fabulous whale tale and so entainingly told I can feel the joy bubbling through you all. Now I'm picturing more stories of the pink shamu and her whale tales of love with the ruggy fishes. Love too that your pennant card continued the theme with a banner that has its own whale tails! Love too how you created your own background paper with the star image from the stamp set.
Thanks for sharing the joy and inspiration.
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