one morning in maine...preschool style

Sandi's dad came to Ella's preschool last week to teach the kids about lobster fishing (to go along with their "Maine" theme.) As a 35 year fishing veteran, I would say he makes an excellent expert. Plus, he has this whole PBS kids show feel to him when he teaches little kids.

In short, it was adorable. And I'm not just talking about those nifty oil pants.

He brought a cooler full of salt water show and tell.

What could be more interesting than hearing about lobsters when you are four or five-years- old? Well...duh...touching them!


He had lobster, hermit crabs, jonah crabs, eel grass or picky toe crabs, spider crabs, mahogony quahogs and soft-shell clams.

He even brought these very lovely sculpin fish whose bellies fill with air when they are out of water and then they float like balloons on the surface when they return to the water. They seriously look put-out for all the hassle.

He showed the kids how to measure the lobsters and which ones they can keep and which ones they throw back. He explained how a lobster trap has rooms, a living room, a kitchen, a bedroom- and how the lobsters are "caught" in the kitchen where they eat the bait. And, yes, he even brought in bait!

He also taught them how to tell the difference between a boy and a girl. (Note Maya in the lower corner licking her lips. Our girls LOVE lobster.)

It was such a fun, proud morning for Ella to share her grandfather with her class. Every time I think we can't be more blessed than we are, I realize we are. It turns out there are even more benefits to having a lobsterman for a father-in-love beyond getting to eat so much lobster...