a zoorific birthday

About six months ago we asked this girl what she wanted for her birthday.

"I want to stay in a hotel room for my birthday," was her prompt answer.

I was tempted to book the Holiday Inn in town and call it done, but instead we took a mini two-day one night trip down to San Diego instead.

We started at Sea World.

We got there in the afternoon and hit up all four shows in the first 3 hours we were there.

Maddie was pretty young when we were there last, so it was nice to see her really take in the shows.

Katie was uber pleased with her one souvenir, a stuffed dolphin which she "won" against her sister in the water gun game.

The Arctic exhibit was impressive.

The walrus kept coming up to the glass and blowing bubbles right in the girls' faces making them laugh.

The beluga whales were magnificent, looking ghostly iridescent underwater.

Perhaps the best part about Sea World on this trip was the fact that it. was. empty. We felt like we had the whole place to ourselves -- and, at times we literally did.

We didn't visit as many food haunts as we usually do on this quick trip, but we did go to an old time favorite -- Alambres.

The joint itself has gotten fancier than when I worked downtown, but I can not stress how much I enjoy these tacos.

That would be chopped and sauteed chicken, bacon, onions and bell peppers.

The next morning I found the birthday girl behind the room darkening curtains playing.

Then it was off the the zoo.

Mo was a little slow-going at the beginning.

But quickly perked up when we boarded one of these.

The skyfari was perhaps the biggest hit of the day, if not the trip.

No, seriously we went on it six -- yes, six -- times mostly because the birthday girl wanted to.

In between skyfari rides we saw lions, tigers, bears and more.

It was a really good trip (plus I didn't have to plan a birthday party).

I can't believe my babygirl is 5.