Cassidy and Evie and Delaney and Aidan on a roller coaster

We spent all day today at Sea World.

We saw Shamu, a dolphin show and the shark exhibit. We rode the big waterslide and played in the wave pool.

The kids got to pet and feed dolphins.

More photos here.

Luke chilling by the pool

We did a whole lot of tubing today. Later we hung out by the pool and swam.

At night they have a campfire where the kids can make smores. Last night there was a huge game of flashlight tag, where one kid has a flashlight and the last kid to get tagged by the flashlight wins. Cassidy won one of the games and Delaney did great too.

Tomorrow we’re off to Seaworld to see Shamu.

Cassidy and Delaney in the Alamo

We are on the first day of a vacation in the Texas hill country. We spent part of the day in San Antonio. We took the kids to the Alamo and had lunch on the San Antonio Riverwalk.

Afterwards, we came to the Hill Country Hyatt, where we checked in and then went tubing on its man made “lazy river.” We’re going to do some more tubing tomorrow. We’re going to Seaworld on Friday.

Big fun so far.

I’m starting to get the hang of my new camera. It’s a slow process, but I’m getting there.

I learned code back in the day by looking at other programs and seeing how they were written. I found that approach a lot easier than just reading books (I read plenty, but it was the hands on stuff that got me over the hump). I’ve discovered a similar way to learn photography.

I explore on Flickr and when I find a photo I am interested in (such as brightly colored night shots, etc.) I look for the “More Properties” link in the “Additional Information” column on the right hand side. Via that link I can see all of the settings used for the particular shot. Over time I start to see patterns that lead to a better understanding of the interplay between ISO, aperture and shutter speed.

The shot above is of Aidan, who is becoming quite the swimmer.

Doc Searls has been looking for a new camera and decided on the Canon EOS 30D.

He made a good choice, in my opinion.

The more I use this camera, the more amazed I am by what it can do. My newest addition is a Canon EF-S 60mm macro lens, which lets me take close up pictures of small things, like this orb weaver who has a home outside my study window.

I have a lot more to learn about photography, but the more I learn the more I like the 30D.

Luke was baptized during our church service today. Gigi and Papa were there, as were his Godfamilies the Clarks and the Veldmans, and Delaney’s Godfamily, the Fenrichs. We had a big crowd and Luke handled it like a champ.

Afterwards, everyone came over for a fajita lunch and swimming. Cassidy, Evie and Rachael wrote and have been practicing a musical about owls, based on some baby owls we saw in our yard the other night. They prevailed on me to make a stage out of the deck in the new yard, complete with offstage areas behind some camping air mattresses, on which they performed their musical to thunderous applause.

The kids practiced their swimming strokes a little, played games and took turns jumping off the big wall into the pool. I got some good shots, including this one of Larsen, Evie and Cassidy. After cake and ice cream, the kids each recorded a message in an audible photo book for Remy, who is moving to Michigan in two weeks (this being a profoundly sad thing for us). Afterwards, the kids went to Rachael’s dance recital and Evie’s piano recital.

Between getting up at 6:30 a.m. for swim practice yesterday and the busy day we had today, everybody is pretty wiped out. I think it’s time for Daddy to take a little nap.

Unless, of course, the kids want to play a little soccer.

I’m really digging my new camera.