Summer Beach Bums

So where have we been hiding?

Why at the beach of course with nature as our personal playground :)

We've been to a couple of different lakes but I just love being near the ocean and I definitely wasn't disappointed when we found a spot right along the beach.

 

 We enjoyed sunshine and welcomed the cloudy days to recover from the heat..

played with giant bull kelp...

swam in the ocean while tug boats, barges and fishing boats chugged by...

 

scrounged under the rocks at low tide catching crabs and seeing who was brave enough to hold the big ones that threatened to pink our fingers...

dug for clams...

 

watched the cruise ships float by each evening and slept so deeply after each day of play to the lapping sound of the ocean with the rise and fall of the tides :)

Oh how we are counting the days until Hubby comes home from work again and we can do it all over again *grin*.

How is your summer going? What makes you smile during the summer months?

Hugs,

Rosina

Nature Walk ~ MacDonald Wood

Earlier this week we had a chance to meet up with some great friends and head out into the woods for some nature exploration. Sunshine, blue sky, brisk air... who could has ask for a better winter day :)

A short stroll through the wooded trails led us to this great boardwalk leading to the beach where the real exploring began.

There were empty clam shells to be examined, barnacle clad rocks to be rolled...

brave fingers willing to pick up smaller crabs whose pinch had no bite...

and the fun of packing around a moon jelly or two with their see through bodies and jello like texture :)

All of the children so willing to share their finds as they clustered around in the shallows of the ocean. Anytime there is water involved that seems to be where they all end up *grin*. Case in point, I reminded my youngest two that they were in snow boots and wellies with a few holes in them and that going into the deep water might not be such a smart idea but of course they filled their boots literally. Just in case you're interested it takes two full days in front of the woodstove to dry out a sopping wet snow boot full of salt water LOL.

My oldest son, very much the senior of the younger neighborwoodie crew enjoys these outings tremendously :)

I wish we could have spent longer taking in the scenery, scents and sounds but I know we'll be back. I love to pop out to one of these spots during a busy day in the city to let the children run free and burn off some of that pent up energy that grows while being cooped up in the car for much of the day.

It really makes for much happier and well behaved children I find when I take that extra minute or hour to go exploring with them before grocery shopping. I just make sure to bring along extra clothes in the event of a very wet child! LOL.

Hugs,
Rosina

Seal Bay Nature Walk

Today we joined in with our nature woody friends and explored Seal Bay :) There was a great low tide and lots of tide pools to be discovered.

We'd never been there when the tide was out and we weren't the only ones taking advantage of it. There were TONS of Bald Eagles hanging about and picniking on all of the sea creatures that were now exposed. They didn't seem to be bothered at all either that there were a bunch of loud preschoolers running around *grin*.

We found crabs....

starfish....

and one of the girls spotted this dead octopus floating in the water!



It may have been part of this Eagle's snack :)

We were there well over two hours and even though the tide was coming in and it was definitely time to head back up the beach to the trail no one was ready to leave. We're definitely going to have to check hubby's tide book and see when there is another super low tide so we can come and explore again!

~ Rosina

Nature Outing Fun

We finally made it out to one of the weekly nature walks that we participate in and we couldn't have asked for better weather! Thoroughly coated in suntan lotion we headed down the wooded path of the Mack Laing nature park.

The trail winds along a little stream and it was so cute to see my two boys holding hands as they made their way towards the beach :)

As we came out of the woods we were greeted by the scorching 32 degree heat and the magnificent views of the mountains and ocean. There's a great little boardwalk in front of the original homestead where you can look out over the marshy area and do a little bird watching but today it was all about the beach *grin*.

The group of children combed the rocky beach in search of crabs, shells and other signs of sea life....

and what would a trip to the beach be without a little water play! I swear if there is even a trickle of water nearby they're all in it. LOL. I'll admit it was a perfect way though to keep cool in the heat and some of the children were more than slightly wet when we started to head back up the trail *grin*.

L wanted to sport her new polka dot wellies even though I warned her they would probably get wet inside and I was right. She ended up filling them to the brims with sea water as she puddled around in the shallows ;) How come no one ever wants to take moms advice?!

Can't wait for next week as we head out to another great trail :)

~Rosina