No, this is not a post about the recent Great White shark sightings at various beaches in the country.  Though we have seen sharks this week AND been to the seashore, they were not together (lucky for us).  We’ve been studying the ocean this summer and during our visit to Washington this week  we went to the zoo/aquarium to see some sea creatures as part of our ocean study.  I was very sad to learn the Beluga whales were gone from the zoo, but we got to see lots of other fun things.

Point Defiance Zoo overlooks the Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA.  It’s a beautiful setting.

I’ve always loved this shark tank.  You can get right up close to the sharks.

A consternated sea anemone

And a cute girl.

A happy sea snail

Then yesterday Grandpa and the boys and I tried to find a tide pool so we could check out some REAL sea snails and anemones.  We went to a beach on the beautiful Hood Canal and found LOTS of oysters, clams, muscles and tiny crabs, but none of the more exciting stuff like sea stars, anemones and sea urchins.  I was a bit disappointed, but the boys had a great time exploring.

Levi’s first big find-a cluster of oyster shells.  He was pretty proud of his find.  Behind him you see thousands of other oysters shells, and muscles carpeting the shore. 

Reagan found this oyster shell full of tiny hermit crabs.

Cade was happy collecting shells.

Levi searched long and hard for a crab…
and finally found this one.


He carried his new little friend around in this shell until it was time to leave when we put him back in the water.  And then he filled the shell up with all kinds of little treasures; dead crabs, tiny shells, barnacles.

When it comes to outdoor exploration, thank goodness these boys are easy to please!