The Hunter Goold Memorial Scholarship - Weekend in Arizona.

The kids and I visited Arizona in January and while we had so much fun playing with Super Shelley and Papa, the real reason for our trip was to present the award for the 5th Anniversary of The Hunter Goold Memorial Scholarship at E&A's Safety School.

Growing up my father worked for a company, Jeff Ellis and Associates or E&A.  E&A is an International Aquatic Safety and Risk Management Consulting firm dedicated to the prevention and elimination of drowning.  My dad traveled the world with E&A speaking in seminars and trainings. Our family was able to travel across the United States (a 7 week tour when I was 15 in 2002), to the Bahamas(2006) and Dubai(2008) all while my dad worked for E&A.

Bahamas 2006. 

Dubai 2008

Some of our greatest memories as a family, especially with our sweet brother Hunter are times we traveled for Dad's work with E&A.   E&A employees from water parks across the country and world (Chris Perry I'm talking to you) have certainly become family. This years presentation of the HGMS was pretty special since my sweet son Hunter got to be the presenter.  My mom did a beautiful job, even making us shed a few tears, introducing my brother and our family history with E&A.  Hunter was a little charmer as Papa walked him on stage. He looked like a mini celebrity flashing his big smile and waving at the audience.  My Dad, as always, did his thing and wrapped up the presentation with an incredible message to the guards.  (Dad looked so cool in his awesome BowTie. Such a hipster!) I am so grateful for my parents and the wonderful examples they are to me.  Watching them share our story... our loss... it inspires me to be stronger, be better and love deeper. 

We were hosted at the stunning Arizona Grand Resort. 

Our dear family friends RAC and Joe made us feel more welcomed and loved then ever.

RAC & Joe even did a pretty great job keeping my kiddos entertained at almost 11 o'clock at night when they had been up since 5am! 

What a special weekend and I am so grateful to E&A for carrying on this awesome tradition and for keeping The Goold's in the E&A family. 
We are eternally grateful for your love, support and friendship.

Sea Life Arizona.

While visiting Arizona last weekend, my children and I, along with my parents, were able to visit Arizona Sea Life Aquarium.  After a prior week spent watching Finding Nemo multiple times, the kids were ecstatic to go on an under water adventure. We were greeted by the kindest front desk associate and given some tools for our adventure. I instantly was impressed with the uniqueness of the aquarium and how before we went through the front doors I knew this was going to be a hands on and educational experience. (That's an instant 5 star rating in my mom book!) Each kid received a dive book with over 8 different activities to complete while we walked through the aquarium.  If you complete the dive book tasks throughout your tour of the aquarium, you receive a gold medal at the end when you leave.  My kids were pretty jazzed at the included souvenir they both picked up before we headed home. 

They also got a pair of goggles! 

How cute are these? 

The perfect touch to make us feel like we were really on an adventure.

I loved that throughout the entire aquarium there were informational boards introducing the part of the aquarium you were about to enter. Too often aquariums feel like long hallways of ceiling to floor fish. Sea Life does an outstanding job making the whole experience fun and educational with posters and standing signs filled with tons of information about the Sea and the creatures that live in it. 

Hunter LOVED the tasks Sea Life has set up at the end of each area of the aquarium and stamping his dive book was his favorite part! 

Anything hands on is always a big hit with my kids so it was no surprise that they both wanted to pet the starfish.

These little creatures were beautiful and it was fun to get our hands wet while we learned more about starfish.

I think this was little Hayden's favorite part. She's a brave girl and just went right for it.

 We got to see a TON of awesome Sea Life!! 

Towards the end of our adventure we were able to catch a Shark Feeding in the large water tank. 

It was so neat to watch the person in the water feeding the shark. 

One really special creature we loved getting to see was Cora the green sea turtle. 

We were able to learn a little about Cora before our visit which made seeing her swimming in the tank even more special.

Cora was hit by a boat and found off the coast of Florida with a spinal fracture. The Georgia Sea Turtle Rescue stepped in to aid Cora's recovery. 

Although her spine has fully healed, a weight has strategically been placed on her shell to compensate for the permanent air bubble that developed under her shell.

Cora seems very happy in her new home in the Tropical Bay of Rays at Sea Life Arizona! 

You can follow Cora's journey on Sea Life Arizona's Facebook page! 

We absolutely loved our day at Sea Life Arizona Aquarium.

We were so impressed with all of the tanks of sea life, hands on activities and fun facts we learned on our Under Water Adventure.

If you're in Arizona this is a MUST DO with your kids! 

Be sure to follow Sea Life Arizona on  Facebook  or check out their website for upcoming events and ticket information!  Sea Life Arizona Aquarium 

This post was sponsored by Sea Life Arizona Aquarium. Thanks for having us!