Beach (Field) Trip

Mexico Beach at sunset. Amazing.

 
We decided to make a trip to the beach last week! We have it made because we get to see Seth's grandmother, MeMaw, and we get to go to the nice secluded Mexico Beach! Since we were making a trip to the ocean I decided to skip quite a few lessons in science and jump straight to the aquatic biomes. We got to get really involved with the marine biome. Seth really liked to be able to teach some while at the beach too. This was right up his alley because he is a very hands on teacher and he loves to teach. G really listens to him and MG adores him so it gave me a little break to sit back and relax too. I do NOT like getting out in the water. I have a DEEP respect for it! I do not like not being able to see what is swimming up at me.

The Bigs and Seth caught a lot of animals and we are working on reports on a specific animal they would like to learn more about. MG picked clams... (really?!) and G would like to dig deeper into horseshoe crabs.
The Bigs loved to play in the water. W didn't like it as much. We kept his puddle jumper on once we got down there. (yes, we do have a sweet picture without his girl jumper on!) He liked to dig in the sand, yet didn't like it when I would build (or try to build) a sand castle. This kid is all about demolition and he tore it down EVERY time. 

 
















We went to Port St. Joe and found a little strip of a sand bar and it was LOADED with hermit crabs! They were everywhere. I was amazed that we used to buy these at the beach and extra shells for them to change into. It was a great experience.

 
On our last day at the beach, W fell asleep while I was holding him; this does not happen ever anymore.

We are calling W "shark bait" now! A shark was so close to my baby! It was a smaller one (I believe Seth said it was a black tip??) but it was WAY too close for comfort! W didn't even realize anything and he laughed and tried to get away as I was screaming and lounging at him!! Seth got a few good whacks on the shark with a shovel though!! It was a scary 5 seconds!

The part that looks like an orange is actually eggs!

Seth caught two blue crabs and one ended up being pregnant (we weren't sure then, but we've looked it up since we've been home). He also caught two horseshoe crabs! It was really cool to see all of the animals that he caught up close and yes, we did release them.

She is always so interested!

Our last day we stopped at the pier and watched the storm rolling in!

I have many videos, but I can't seem to get any to upload so maybe one day I will just have a post of videos!!