Trinidad

I love Brooke's face, it's great.

Grace

Grandma helping Grace.

I was trying to help her touch the starfish.

Grace, not quite sure about this.

Annika studying the underside of a starfish.

Brooke, you are brave!!

Hannah holding a sun starfish.
The tenticles on that creature were funky!!



Don't you just love Beckham's face?
Eeeeewwwww!!!

Beckham, gingerly holding the starfish.

He got a little braver as our time went on.

This is a picture of the sea anemone that attacked me.
The big one.

Starfish

Sean with Grace.
Grace loves Uncle Sean. She was constantly holding her arms up to him.
How sweet is that?

Sean and Brooke both being silly and getting in my way.
Really?

Sean, making fun of how I was taking my pictures.
Really?

Off to the right of the seaweed is an Arbor Seal.
Really, it's there.

Blackberries grow wild there.
Brent has memories of picking the berries. He hated it.
But he loved the pies and cobblers that came from his labor.

I LOVED Trinidad. I wish I had time to drive up and down the streets of this beautiful coast city. It was very charming and quaint. And probably very expensive. We headed there for the Humbolt State Marine Laboratory. They had a few small aquariums and a small "tide pool". The kids loved picking up, touching and exploring those sea creatures. Jaren encouraged me to touch the sea anemone. I was hesitant because I knew they stung. I relented and reached in to touch this alien-like creature. I yelped and pulled my hand out like it was going to be eaten. I splashed water all over Donna scaring her in the process. No, it didn't sting me, but it felt like it was sticking to me. Not a comforting feeling. Yuck. It was so fun watching the children's eyes and faces as they reacted to this new, strange world. I'm sure they could have stayed there all day. But alas, there were other places to venture to.
After the laboratory we went to the Trinidad Pear. It was WINDY!!! I had to take my hat off for fear of it floating out to sea. Here, Sean relentlessly made fun of me. He's good at that. After a while, we noticed off into the distance a Harbor Seal swimming around the seaweed. It's always so exhilirating to see oceanic wildlife in it's element. Even if it seems like the size of an ant.
Aside from the wind, it was another beautiful, bright day.
More from this day to come. There are just so many pictures.