The Knotwell Family Blog

Today is Veteran's Day. However, it wasn't always called Veteran's Day. Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Armistice Day as November 12, 1919 to honor those that had served in World War I. In 1953, a Kansas Shoe Store named Al King lobbied his city council and then his local House Representative to pass legislation proclaiming this day as Veteran's Day - to honor all Veterans. President Dwight Eisenhower signed it into law in 1954.

Last Saturday Sarah Alvord, Heather Dalton, and I ran in the Sandy City Turkey Trot. It was really fun and the weather was awesome! John set my goal at 26 minutes and I ran it 28:31 and took 7th in my age division. Our next race in on Thanksgiving somewhere and I am going to beat my goal by 1 minute.
Thanks ladies for the good time and can't wait for the next one!

There is no need to call DCFS on me, this was not my fault. We were at a friends house helping her move, and my little man loves to climb up chairs. Yeah, yeah I know you know where this is going, but the chair fell over with William aboard and it split his eye open. He actually was fine and really not crying until the stitches. I ran Will over to Urgent Care and they were awesome! They wanted to numb his eye before they gave him his shot to really numb it. Well he was not about to do that and ripped right off of his face. We had to swaddle him with a blanket to hold his arms down while the mean doctor gave him shots. After going through this, I would rather give birth with no drugs. Will kept looking at me with those eyes asking "Why do you hate me so much?" It was honestly one of the hardest things I have had to do. Once he was done and completely sweatey from crying so hard, he got 2 suckers and a Capri Sun. He was so happy and I don't think he even remembered what had happened 5 minutes ago. He is such a tough little kid and I can't wait to see what will happen next.

This was probably the most fun of all the days of our trip. Seaworld is a blast, go there, you won't be disappointed. We've been as a family twice and I spent some awesome summers going to the park more than a few times when I was growing up. Really... go... don't be afraid, most of the stuff there can't even walk on dry land.



Seaworld is owned by the Anheuser-Busch company. They respect their place as stewards of the environment and as fortunate recipients of the blessings of liberty. During each of the last two Shamu shows we've been too, they ask every past and present member of the armed services to stand. The entire audience then stands and claps for their service. It's very emotional. This circle of flags has been here since I can remember. It's a Seaworld landmark.

The star of the whole park. Shamu performs only twice a day now (thankfully), but the show is spectacular. Orca's are amazing creatures.

My darling wife took this shot, this is priceless. I think Emily and Ed stood there for about 5 of the coasters to come down and splash them. They were wet most of the day.

My favorite shot from the day. Beluga's are my favorite animal at the park.

A polar bear... or, wait, is that Ed?

No, those are not Knotwell children, those are penguins.

William love playing with the starfish with his Momo.

When I was a young boy growing up in San Diego, this was one of my favorite places to visit. I loved going in the "tram" around the park to see the animals "close up." Many of our friends have asked where to go when they go to San Diego. I always recommend this over the zoo. It's been many years since I was last at the Wild Animal Park and I was very disappointed. The park has not been as well maintained as I remembered and the kids were pretty bored most of the day. I did capture some great shots of the animals... and, for the record, I would go back again, if for no other reason than to see the animals in a more natural state.





The elephants have and always will be my favorite animal. Elephants gather together in large groups, often 5-20 animals at a time. The Matriarch leads the group and is the most experienced female animal in the group. Elephants often protect their youngest members by surrounding them and guarding them against predators, in their world, it takes a village to raise a child. When Elephants die, they mourn their dead, often burying them with branches, dirt or any other debris they can find. They will linger in the area for several days.

All the water in the Wild Animal Park comes from aquifers. The San Diego Zoo (owns the WAP) promised the city of Escondido (the incorporated parts of the park) that they would never take city water to keep the park running. They've kept their promise for more than 20 years now.

This will be the last post about our trip to California Adventure. Our whole purpose for going there was to make our way to Ariel's Grotto. The restaurant offers dinner with the princesses. Since most of the princesses can't be found regularly in any of the parks, you have to book a reservation here and enjoy dinner while they walk by and interact with the kids, sign autographs and pose for pictures. Of course, since Ariel is the host, you get your first shot with her as you walk in the door.

Then came Belle, Aurora (Sleeping Beauty), Cinderella and Jasmine. I think Charlotte like her experience with Jasmine the most because Jasmine commented on her shoes and talked with her the most. When I was sorting through the pictures, Char kept saying, "go to my shoes, daddy." She wanted to see her friend Jasmine!

Even princes wear crowns...


And so do princesses



This picture is an ode to my sister-in-law Kari. She takes more macro pictures (and sometimes of food). So, when I take these style of pictures, it reminds me of her.