Splash!

So, this past Saturday, Aaron and I had our first impromptu swim date of the summer.  We met with my sister, nieces, and my sister's in-laws at their camp on the Pascagoula River, and Aaron and I experienced a first together:  swimming splashing in the river!

Here's Aaron and McKayla riding McKayla's 4-wheeler . . .

Aaron is ready to get in the boat to cross the river to the sandbar on the other side . . .

A little sand, a little sun . . .

Then on Sunday, we went to our usual water venue . . . my parents' camp on Black Creek!

My sister-in-law was also there with her kiddos.  Aaron and Carter had places to go in Carter's truck . . . too bad the battery was dead!

Summer hasn't even technically begun, but it's already quite hot.  I have a feeling we'll be having many more wet days ahead in an effort to keep cool!

A Moment of Local History - Merrill Bridge

Tonight, Aaron and I were about to arrive at our evening destination about 20 minutes early, when it occurred to me, that he might enjoy seeing the Merrill Bridge.

The Merrill Bridge is located in Northwestern George County (our home county) where it crosses the Pascagoula River just below where it is formed by the merging of the Leaf and Chickasawhay Rivers.

At 84 years old, the Merrill Bridge is one of the oldest span bridges in Mississippi, and has been designated an official Mississippi landmark by the state's Department of Archives and History.

One of the truly unique features of this bridge that I enjoy is the lack of concrete.  When you drive or walk across this bridge, you don't look down to concrete, you look right down to the river/river bed through the grate on which you are driving/walking.

As the bridge is only one lane, I stopped just off the bridge in case any other traffic needed to cross while Aaron and I were there.  As Aaron and I stepped onto the grated span of the bridge, Aaron instantly stopped, and just looked . . . down . . . down . . .  I assured him that while he could see way down to the river below, he would not fall.  I then asked if he was OK, and if he wanted to go out further.  He did.  Though his first several steps were quite tentative, he soon seemed quite comfortable with the near nothingness below our feet.

Of course we took pictures of the visit.  I hope there are many more visits there in the future.  It really is a unique and beautiful place.

Happy Mother's Day to Me . . .

This is my first Mother's Day as a single mom, and I confess to feeling a bit sorry for myself as the day approached.  After all, no one was going to remember to do anything special for me this year . . .  Then I arrived home Thursday to find a card from my best friend of 20 years in the mailbox.  I almost started crying, and felt a little foolish!  LOL

And then this morning, I realized, that today, Mother's Day, while a wonderful day to honor our mothers, is not the day that tells the tale of me as a mother . . .  No, my amazing little boy, while we do have our challenges, does special things to show me how special I am every day.  

• Weekend morning snuggles - His sweet voice as he enters my room, lit by early morning light, "Mama.  I want to snuggle you."
• Gifts from the outdoors - He waits patiently by the door while calling to me from outside, "Mama.  Come.  Come!  I have something for you!"  My gift is usually a stick, as large as he is, or a rock.  :-)  Such is the sweetness from a little boy's heart!
• Time - He drags some long forgotten book or toy from his room.  He just wants me to read to him, or play with him.  Just us.  No TV.  No phone.  No computer.  He just wants me.
• Healing - He stubs his toe, or bumps his head.  He's such an energetic little boy, this is not uncommon.  And as I soothe his tears, he asks for a kiss, or for a song, "Sing 'Rocky Baby', Mama."  Such simple things with the power to heal . . .
• Energetic hugs/kisses - There is nothing quite like those hugs that sqeeze me tight or come with a near take down as he sees me at the end of the day.  And, we can't forget the kiss after kiss mornings, when my cheek is left wet with enthusiasm!  :-)  Or, the sweetness of the night, when after tucking him in to bed and sitting back down in my recliner, I heard the patter of little feet in the hall, followed by my sweet boy by my side.  "I forgot to kiss you, Mama," followed by the deposit of one sweet gentle kiss on my cheek, and a sweet voice, "Goodnight, Mama," and footsteps back down the hall to his room.
• Praise - When he decides to be super sweet, my baby sings my praises.  He tells me I'm beautiful.  He tells me I'm awesome.  He tells me I'm his best friend.  He tells me, "I love you 'dis much," while streching his arms to infinity, and he tells me, "I love you first" and "I love you more."
• Night time snuggles - And no matter what the day, he always wants those night time snuggles.  The ones where his head is tucked under my chin, my nose is buried in his hair, and I breath him in.  And, there is no sweeter smell . . .

So, today I've tried not to focus so much on what my son doesn't know to say, "Happy Mother's Day."  I've tried to focus on what he tells me every day instead . . .

Park Days . . .

We're five months in to 2012, and I've yet to update on any events of the current year.  I'm not even going to try to play catch up.  I'm just diving in where we are.

Aaron loves going to the park, and with the pleasant weather recently, he's been indulged a bit . . .

Here he is at the little park right on the beach in Ocean Springs.  I will not even begin to attempt spelling the name of the park!  :-)

 

 

Yesterday, we went to the 3rd Annual George County Firefighter's Association BBQ Challenge.  The turnout was poor due to the rain, but Aaron and I had a great time anyway.  Aaron loved bouncing in the bouncy castle and playing on the park playground.  He also greatly enjoyed the THREE slushies and the plate of BBQ we consumed!  In addition to that, he rode a kid powered train . . .

and met local musician, Brandon Green . . .

My camera battery was low yesterday, thus the lack of photos.  Thankfully I have a camera on my phone, though the quality is poor!  In any case, when the camera is put away, I have more time for fun stuff . . . like getting dizzy with Aaron on the merry-go-round!