San Diego Day 6: Last Day of Go Pass Fun

We had a 5-day Go San Diego Pass, which I'd recommend highly. All of the places we visited were included, including some discounts in shops and food. Plus, in the interest of getting the most out of the pass, it really did get us up and out the door each day. The drawbacks were the 5:30pm cut off time as we would have enjoyed some evening activities. It also didn't include Sea World.

Today, we set out for the Birch Aquarium, in La Jolla. A much more manageable place than Sea World-less crowds, less showy but the boys loved it.


In the tide pool area, the boys got to touch a sea cucumber and a starfish. Connor was ready to get into the pool with them, but that was frowned upon.


Having fun in the shark exhibit.



Perhaps the coolest area was the water play, where they could rearrange slats in the water to allow boats to race down to the end. There were jets on the slanted table, so they propelled the boats down, but it was interesting in how some boats got stuck and others followed the current easily. Science experiments and lessons to be discovered. My brother-in-law Chris would probably have some super explanation for what was happening. It's a little eerie how much Ian and Chris are alike.

The kids play area included large hand puppets.

We ate our lunch and headed off to the San Diego Zoo, which I didn't remember as being quite as rigorous when I went 12 or so years ago. Maybe I was more agile then and didn't care. But wheeling over 60 lbs of boys up and down steep hills-let's just say it was a great workout.

Tom decided to head over to the BodyWorks exhibit at the Natural History Museum, which I saw when they went to the Science Center. (I think I forgot to mention those in my previous posts) I think this is the exhibit that Jesse and Tewlyn were telling me about and it was definitely very interesting, but probably too macabre for young children. While Tom was visiting the exhibit, I took the boys down the street to the zoo.

I hauled the kids around the zoo, which was like a comedy routine. I asked Ian twice about visiting the restroom, with a clear NO each time. They wanted to see elephants. Ian, at one point, stands up in the wagon while I am pulling and falls flat on his back on the pavement.

We get to the elephants and neither of them are remotely interested in looking at them. Instead they wanted to see the scorpions, dung beetles and spiders. Greeeat.

Ian announces he needs to use the restroom, now that we are close to any of them. This is Murphy's Law. I haul them to the restroom and begin parking the wagon in front of the building. Ian hops out of the wagon and yanks down his pants, ready to take care of business.

Ian: Okay, I am ready to go standing up!

Mommy: NOOOOOO, pull up your pants! The restroom is RIGHT THERE.

Ian: It's okay, Mommy, I can pee on the tree right there.

Mommy: Yeah, no you can't.

Passerbys: (whispers and giggles)

The joy of boys.
Tom meets us in the zoo a bit later and takes the boys on the SkyRide. I am not certain how Ian liked it.
We met up at the Reptile House at Ian's request to see snakes. (sorry, Grandma Sheila)

A photo of all of us.

And just for fun....a photo of Tom and me, B.C. circa 1997.


Back at the ho and tell, more Lego building and playing.




Camping Update: I have no update! I haven't heard from Tom or Ian, but they should arrive sometime today. Connor and I watched Thomas the Train, read stories and I watched some Friends until 1:00am.