Back to the Beach!

Case asked to go to the tide pools again this week.  Actually he asked to go find hermit crabs again this week, but we hadn't been to our favorite beach in about a month, so he was overruled. 
There were lots of really big things at the beach this weekend.

 Really big crabs,

 (and one really tiny one.)

 Big waves that were great for body surfing,

 big differences in activity levels between my two boys (also big muscles,)

 and very big castles.

We are still working out the details of giant bucket sand-castle making.  The first two towers came out well, but the second two collapsed when the bucket was removed.  We thought that tower 3 was too wet, so we made tower 4 pretty dry. . . but got similar results.  We will keep working at it, but even half-right was pretty impressive.

Hermit Crabs

 While Case does love the snails we can find at most beaches, he often requests that we find some hermit crabs.

 This requires a bit more adventure, and crawling around on the newest part of our island. 

 Soon our hunt is rewarded.

 The rough lava rock creating the tide pools make for great occupational therapy and a lovely Saturday.

Pictured:  at least two big hermit crabs, about a dozen snails, and a really great morning together.

Aloha

Pardon our dust!

Dove bird

 Tonight after dinner we were all working on our chores when Marc hops up and rockets into the backyard without a word.

 It turns out he was busy saving a little bird from being pecked by Myna birds. 

 A little research and flipping through bird books identified this fledgeling as a Spotted Dove, a common visitor to our backyard feeding station. 

 We let Case gently hold it while we figured out what to do with the little guy.  Ideally his parents would come pick him up and we'd all go home happy, but we didn't see any doves in the area.  We settled on scattering bread crumbs in the yard, with the little bird placed carefully in the grass in the middle.  We sat on the patio to eat cookies and potentially chase off any attackers.

While there was no obvious tearful reunion with bird parents, Case's calming touch and the approach of other birds did relax the little guy enough that it eventually it had a little snack of delicious leftover challah.  Then without so much as a thank you, he flew off.  Best of luck, little dove bird.