A pardon?

So far our flight is not yet cancelled (quick touch wood!).  Today we went to a cool museum called Kelly Tarlton's Arctic Encounter and Underwater World.  Way cool.  The children loved it!  First we got to see Ray Encounter--where we saw Manta Rays up close and learned about them from a museum worker who got into the pool with them.  Then we learned about penguins and went on a ride into the Penguin area--that was my favorite part--up close and personal with King and Gentoo penguins!  We went on the ride three times!!  You ride in a little car around a track and see the penguins in their faux Antarctic climate.  Finally we see penguins--not in the wild, but the next best thing!  Then we went through a tube while sharks, fish, and manta rays swam around us.  Then we went to the fish area to see cool fish and other creatures.  Very well done and fun.  Low-tech, but that's OK too.  My only wish is that the glass hadn't been between us and the penguins; I know they need it there for the idiots who might try something stupid and hurt the penguins, but I would have liked to see them without glass between us--they were beautiful!  Truly awe-inspiring.  About a week ago, an emporer penguin was found on a beach in Southeaster Wales--where we had been a few days before and couldn't go to the park and the beach because of the rain.  It swam there from Antarctica; they said that the last time that happened was about 50 years ago.  Emporer penguins are about 4 feet tall!!  That would have been awesome to see!  They are waiting for it to leave on its own and finally had to post a guard so that people would stay far enough away.  Penguins are very curious and the penguin kept going over to the people who would come too close.





After lunch we took a long walk around Auckland with the children.  They even got to go near the tree that almost  ate me!  They were safe because it only eats Mommies.  Annie and I held hands as we walked and that was nice.  Will she still want to do that in a few years?  As a mom, I treasure each moment I spend with my children--even having Shelby sitting here beside me reading a book as I type.

Maybe another game of hearts before bedtime tonight.  Then to return the car and go to the airport tomorrow--wish us luck!