Sea Anenome and Hermit Crabs

Today we went to the tide pools at White Point in San Pedro (for info, see http://www.greatoutdoors.com/published/explore-white-point-tidepools). Even though we got there just past high tide, we were still able to find lots of wildlife among the rocky tidepools, which was crowded with other wildlife seekers wading through the water. We managed to reach a large, relatively flat rock outcropping about 50 feet from shore. At least one route there was shallow enough for all the kids to walk there. By searching the crevices in the rocks, we were able to find large and colorful sea anemone and crabs. We saw lots of snail shells, most of which were inhabited by hermit crabs, but a few of which actually had snails in them. We enjoyed watching the hermit crabs scrambling around. We saw quite a few tiny fish, but we even caught glimpses of some bigger fish hiding among the rocks. Unfortunately, the lifeguard said that we wouldn't see sea stars because people take them.

The other tidepool area in the southern area of Los Angeles is down the road in Abalone Cove, Palos Verdes. On our way home, we tried to stop and see the Point Fermin lighthouse, but the parking lot and Point Fermin Park, itself, were too crowded. We probably should have tried to walk to the lighthouse from the tidepools (though I don't know if the kids would make it there and back without complaining).

I planning a really fun last two weeks of our Los Angeles adventure, and I found some great attraction coupons in the OC Family magazine (Orange County Family), including buy one adult, get a child free for the Aquarium of the Pacific and SeaWorld. We will definitely take in a couple of major attractions that we haven't seen yet--perhaps Getty Museum, Bowers Kidseum, Aquarium of the Pacific, or Adventure City (a small amusement park for the younger kids) and revisit some favorites like the LA Zoo, Griffith Park, La Habra Children's Museum and the California Science Center.

Dinosaur Hall and Flying Machines

Every morning Laura checks with me to make sure she is going to camp. Wednesday was butterfly day. We made butterfly picture frame, butterfly wings and butterfly books, and we went to the butterfly pavillion. Benjamin came home with a pom-pom launcher and Joshua took pictures of the roller coaster they made during camp (see photo). In the afternoon, Benjamin also saw the butterflies. In the third photo, paleontologist Laura is putting together the dinosaur bones.

Thursday was snake day for Laura; she made snakes, painted a snake and saw a live snake. Joshua made a container to keep an egg from breaking when dropped from a height of 20 feet (see photo) and Benjamin brought home a balloon-powered boat. In the afternoon, Joshua made a bird whistle and nest and went looking for birds in the rose garden. Benjamin made another dinosaur diorama, this time about dinosaurs living in the water. After camp we stopped at the Eagle Rock library to try our hand at drawing pirate-themed cartoons with Dave Boatman the cartoonist. The kids had fun drawing but didn't pay all that much attention to the detailed instructions.

Friday was finally the last day of camp here in Los Angeles. Laura took her toilet-paper tube binoculars to look at the birds in the natural history museum (see photo), dissected an owl pellet and then had free time to make her own creation. Joshua used a laser pointer to observe sound waves and brought home his contraption so that we can try it together. Benjamin brought home some flying contraptions. In the afternoon, Joshua's program talked about human powered flight, and he brought home a collection of airplanes. Benjamin made his dinosaur hall and saw the tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur show. After camp we played in the museum again. They loved the TV studio area of the 3rd floor discovery room, and they insisted on playing in the shadow wall area in the Identity exhibit.

Laura starts camp

The kids were excited about the first day of a new week of camp in Exposition Park, especially Laura. Benjamin has Build It, Race It, Fly It camp and Joshua is doing Funtastic Physics camp. Joshua came home with a paper airplane and Benjamin with a paper whirlybird which he called a robocopter. In Laura's camp we talked about camouflage, and we went to look at camouflaged bugs in the discovery center.

After I picked up the boys, we ate lunch and then Benjamin wanted to show us around the Aerospace building in the Science Center. They especially enjoyed the Wright Plane simulator and the airplane launching area.

In the afternoon, Joshua had Feathered Friends camp and Benjamin Dino-Mite camp. Laura had to run errands with Mommy. Benjamin was excited that he dug up some bones and assembled a dinosaur. He also went behind the scenes in the Dino-Lab. Joshua was disappointed that he didn't get a snack during camp. After camp, we went to a weekly LACMA program at the Los Feliz library (paint is the topic of the month). The kids got to paint with dry tempura paint cakes (they looked like watercolors). Joshua painted a building, Benjamin painted a fire engine next to a burning building, and Laura just made a mess.

On Tuesday, Daddy decided to hang out with us at the museums instead of going to work. Laura's topic of the day in camp was tortoises. First we read about them, then we did some crafts, and finally we saw a real tortoise. Joshua compared the buoyancy of a clay boat with an aluminum boat and Benjamin made a rocketship. Then we all went to El Pollo Loco for lunch. In the afternoon, Benjamin made a dinosaur diarama, and Joshua dissected an owl pellet. Daddy and Laura spent a little time in the science museum. Finally, after camp was over we saw the Under the Sea 3D IMAX show with 3D glasses (see photo). The kids haven't seen a 3d movie like that yet, so they were awed! We really felt like we were in the water right there with the fish. Benjamin and Laura stood up and tried to touch the fish and coral reef, so we had to make sure they didn't trip over the seat in front of them.

On our way back to Eagle Rock we saw a fire in the hills just above our neighborhood. From the house, we could hear the helicopters flying overhead and dumping water on the fire. Fortunately by bedtime the fire was almost contained. For dinner, we went to Nitin's house where he served a few Indian dishes and pizza. The kids enjoyed watching It's a Bug's Life in his home theater while the adults ate and Nitin and Bruce showed off their elaborate house updates.