Turtles, Turtles and More Turtles

2009 - Samantha's very first trip to the aquarium. I can't believe how little my lil' munchkins were!

A trip to the Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium is a must at least once of our many trips to Meemaw's during the year. During my childhood I probably went to the aquarium only a handful of times total - maybe. I have been more than that in just the seven years since becoming a mom!

What can I say? The girls love it and I love seeing their reaction each and every year. From complete awe as little toddlers, even babies, to a little apprehensive and unsure of whether the glass would truly hold back the water and fish once they were older toddlers and preschoolers, to now where there is still the awe and amazement but also a new found appreciation and desire to actually learn more about what they are seeing.

Samantha, we have said for a while now, is destined to work somehow with sea life. She is absolutely obsessed with all creatures in water but her all time favorite animal - turtles, especially sea turtles.

This sea turtle seemed to come right up to Samantha which absolutely made her day. She was convinced the sea turtle came up to her because it knew she loves turtles.

There were plenty more turtles to be seen...

sand turtles...

various other turtles (sorry, can't remember any of the names!!)...

even some statue turtles!

The favorite was probably the new Sea Turtle Rescue area, an interactive, hands-on activity where the girls got to examine, care for and release their own little sea turtle.

It was a quick stop this time around but still worth the trip. I'm sure we'll be back in a few months at some point over the summer!