The Lantern Festival

We had such a blast at the Lantern Festival on my birthday that we couldn’t resist going back for round two this weekend. This time, we made it a family affair and invited Alison’s side of the crew to join us. Debbie came along with Kristin and her girls, and even their cousin Scarlet tagged along. Blake, however, stayed back—he couldn’t miss BYU’s bowl game (priorities, right?).

The weather wasn’t exactly on our side this time—it started raining just as we arrived. So, we decided to kick things off indoors at the aquarium. As soon as we got in, Mads let us know she was hungry. Alison and I made a beeline for the shark room to feed her while enjoying the mesmerizing views of the sharks gliding by. Turns out, Mads is quite the shark fan herself—when she wasn’t eating, she was totally captivated by the big fish.

While Alison fed Mads, I took a quick tour with the rest of the family. We checked out some of the aquarium’s highlights, like the giant octopus (so cool and surprisingly active at night!) and a few other exhibits before everyone ended up back in the shark room. We spent a good chunk of time there—it was hard to leave with how lively the sharks were tonight. They were putting on quite the show, and Mads finished her dinner with front-row seats to all the action.

From there, we explored a few other sections of the aquarium. The penguins and otters weren’t quite as lively—they were fast asleep, which was kind of adorable in its own way. But other exhibits were buzzing with life. Nighttime definitely brings a unique vibe to the aquarium—some animals like the octopus and lobsters really come alive, while others call it a night. It’s always a different experience, depending on when you visit.

Of course, no trip to the aquarium is complete without a stop at the gift shop. Anna, our resident gift shop connoisseur, was in her element, and I have to admit, I’m a close second when it comes to browsing for treasures. I told Anna she could help me pick out a new stuffie for the loft, which led to a lively debate with contributions from Skylee and Scarlet. After much deliberation (and maybe a little friendly lobbying), we ended up with two: a jellyfish and the cutest little otter you’ve ever seen.

Finally, we headed outside to enjoy the lantern festival. Just like before, Mads was completely transfixed by the lights and sounds—she couldn’t get enough. The kids were just as enchanted, running around and taking it all in. It’s such a magical event and even better when shared with family. I’m so glad we got to experience it together.