Funnily my twins are nothing alike, have absolutely nothing in common except of course their birthday and that they are twins.

Anjali loves to read, sing, gardening, and just wants to hang out and have a good time with her friends. I think of Anjali as bohemian.

Rani on the other hand loves to get dressed up – really dressed up, loves to design and sew her own clothes, and when she celebrates her birthday she wants it to be “fancy and elegant or unique and different.”  I think of Rani as sophisticated.

As you can see – they are nothing alike. Ever since the twins became teenagers they have wanted to celebrate their birthdays separately with their own group of friends.

Anjali’s 16th Birthday Celebration

The twins turned sixteen last week.  Where do the years go? Anjali has been planning her sixteenth birthday from the moment she turned fifteen.

For over a year now she has been reminding me that she wants to celebrate her 16th birthday with a day trip with her friends to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Of course I agreed.

I’m always game for a birthday party that involves appreciating our natural environment, and our Monterey Bay Aquarium does an amazing job in showcasing that. Taking a bunch of kids to the aquarium to encourage conservation and environmental responsibility? What’s not to like with this birthday idea?

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Monterey Bay Aquarium’s mission is wide-reaching that includes preserving California’s ocean health, sustaining a thriving ocean wildlife, promoting sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, to inspire and inform government decision makers to take science-based action on behalf of ocean health and encouraging climate action for the ocean.

16th birthday celebration at the aquarium

Here are a few photos of our birthday girl’s 16th birthday celebration at Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, California.

Getting ready to hit the road.

On the road to Monterey via Santa Cruz. On Hwy 17 over the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Passing through farms and wild mustard flowers on Hwy 1.

Almost in Monterey! Passing by sand dunes and the ocean.

In Monterey on Cannery Row.

Grabbing a bite before the aquarium.

Monterey Bay Aquarium!

Some photos of the fishes at the aquarium 🐠🐟🐡🐬

Open Sea Exhibit. Open Sea
Anchovies

Pacific Sardines

Jelly fish

The Kelp Forest. Ocean animals at the kelp forest exhibit

The boys were eager to see Dori and Nemo 😀😀.  They must have asked me at least five times where Dori was 😀😀. We finally saw not just one clown fish but lots of them!

Moray Eel

Stepped outside to see over 25 sea otters playing in the ocean.

The Grumpy Fish.

“Mom, come and see this fish that looks like he is grumpy.” said Rani as she pulled me towards a large fish tank.   This fish looked hilarious with a scowl on his face 😄😠!!    We couldn’t identify him initially so we called him The Grumpy Fish 🐡😠.

The fish is called a giant sea bass and he reminded Rani of both her grumpy grandpas 😕☹️😀.

Swimming with the sharks

Under the Wave

Ending the day with sundaes at Ghirardelli Chocolate Shop 🍨🍨🍧 😋.

Sundaes! 🍧🍨🍦

Perfect ending to a wonderful birthday celebration. Happy 16th Birthday Anjali  🎂❤️💕💞!

Caught a rainbow as we were leaving.

A special thanks to Anjali’s friends who joined her on this special birthday celebration 🤗.

For more information on Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, California check out this link  Monterey Bay Aquarium.