TJay Belt's Personal Thoughts: Christmas 2009

Day 4 finds us waking up late and deciding not to goto the Zoo. We had thought that our passes we currently hold for a zoo in Utah would gain us a discount of sorts in San Diego, but that is not the case. The kids voted and decided to not goto the Zoo, but to sightsee and possibly goto an aquarium. Getting up late and lounging about on vacation is something we have heard about other people doing, but rarely get to experience it ourselves. It is all its cracked up to be! The aquarium we went too is called the Birch Aquarium, and is part of the University of California San Diego. The first thing we see as we approach (besides the California Lake Treyson decided to call the ocean) was a submersible. The kids were fascinated with this device, and we stood and talked and read about it for quite some time. Once inside the aquarium, it was a mad dash from spot to spot, taking videos and pictures of everything we could along the way. We'd stop in awe and look at each display. We'd look for all the creatures that the display would teach us about. Hunting and looking until we could find as many as possible. It was a great learning experience for all of us. There are tidal pools that are open to the public, with creatures aplenty living in the shallows, awaiting the eager fingers of the young and young at heart to touch and feel and mess with. There are actually two tidal pools, one open while the other rests. I interpret this as, one open for abuse from humans, while the other recovers from the recent abuse it suffered at the hands of the curious. At first the children were a bit shy at touching the sea creatures, but soon got over their initial feelings, and began running from opened creature to opened creature. Waiting for the animal to open up again so that digits could be inserted causing its closure once again was a lesson in patience for them. They loved it. We had to be careful to keep an eye on Treyson, as he being short, ended up climbing up onto the walls and almost joining the water bound animals below.

Treyson mezmorized as he stares into the large fish tank

Lemme stick my finger in this one now!

Lets both stick our fingers in this one!

AHHHH, we've been eaten

AHHHH, we've been eaten

There was a device that let water flow from one end to the other, allowing kids the chance to divert the water with a series of blockage devices. There is a video of them playing with one, that seemed to capture their attention more so than anything so far. Kids playing, building, always a good attention draw.
Watch the video here.

The second half of the aquarium was an advertisement for global warming, which is ironic, because the 'global warming' we are currently experiencing in Utah is what forced us to venture south in search of warmth for this holiday season. There was a newsroom where the kids could stand in front of a green screen and read the telecast from the teleprompter. Performing the newscast on a number of topics could be performed then watched later on a large screen outside the newsroom. Kylie and Alyssa both got to take a turn talking and messing with the other during their respective newscasts. Videos will be uploaded for your enjoyment.
Alyssa Part 1
Alyssa Part 2
Kylie

After the aquarium, we went close by to visit the ocean, for the first time for the children. AS soon as we parked, and they could close their gaping mouths, they all ran out, practically disrobing along the way, in search of the tidal waves. In spite of the frigid water temperature, each of us went into the water, some further than others. Treyson, being the shortest, and most affected by the pull of the tide, ended up being thrust to the ground by one particularly vicious wave, causing him to become drenched. Did this upset his demeanor? Affect his mood? Only slightly and only briefly. He was back at it, soaked and all. The kids loved their first adventures wit the ocean. Plans were already in the works as to how they could live here, goto college here, even marry and stay here. Oh the visions of the future from the young. The memories and plans will stick with us almost as long as the pervasive grains of sand we walked away with.

As the sun was coloring up the palette of the sky, we were able to snap quite a few shots of the sand and surf and children walking, holding hands, and simply being at the beach. One forgets how wondrous these experiences are for the first time. Being able to witness the utter joy thru their eyes again, even when you knew it was gonna be incredible, is still an awesome experience.