I completely forgot that this past weekend was Memorial Weekend until someone said that they had just come back home for the three day weekend. For a few moments [confession: it was a few hours], I was confused. I'm out of school, so there's no particular reason for me to religiously keep up on the holidays. Then, when my mother said that we were going to a BBQ for Memorial Day, I realized, "Wow. Way to NOT be an American." Usually, I'd take pride in something like this, but the fact that my mind didn't feel the need to remember the day set apart to honor the men and women who died put me to shame.
But I celebrated. Even though I, personally, don't know anyone who's died in the military.
An aunt and uncle that I knew in Jamaica came to visit us on Friday with their two kids from Canada, where they're living. Their youngest, Jason, is soo cute. He's two years old. He's get a head of curls that only adds to his cuteness. And he doesn't talk, except for the few moments when he's saying "Cheese!" for the camera, or the "Nonono!" when someone doesn't give him what he wants. He loves to move and run and explore, and his parents always have to keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn't kill himself.
On Sunday, my family met up with some other friends for a picnic at Champoege Park here in Oregon, and he was just having a ball. At one point, his mother looked up to see that he had wondered over to a group next to us because he had seen a dog. I offered to get him. They, of course, were smitten with him, and gave me some bubbles for him to play with. He got so excited. So, we went back to our own area, and I attempted to blow them for him. Yea. Failed. Couldn't blow a single bubble. He wanted to try, so I gave him the wand. He dunk it, then put it right up to his lips and tried to blow. He, also, failed. But instead of just putting it back to get more bubbles, he popped the wand into his mouth and proceeded to lick it clean. I should have stopped him right then and there, but I couldn't. I was laughing to hard. He smiled, and stuck his tongue out. Why? So's to lick all the soapiness around his mouth.
He was thoroughly entertained by that. Everybody was making fun of me for it, though, saying that I was having more fun with the bubbles than he was. It wasn't that I was entertained by the bubbles [confession: I was], but his reactions cracked me up. I love that kid, even though I've only known him for four days. Then, at one point, his father was trying to feed him corn off the cob, but he was struggling with it. Every time he put his mouth on the cob, he couldn't sink his teeth into it and pull the kernels off. His dad kept urging him, "You can do it! Come on!" It was so adorable. And I, being the nerdy wanna-be-mother, snapped plenty of pictures to memorialize the moment.
They left this morning. I'll miss them. I had fun with this family. It was especially good seeing a father take the time to talk to his children and hold his son. I applaud the mother, as well, because she deserves it. But it seems like not many fathers take the time to look after the children to take a little weight off of the mothers. In fact, most of the pictures I have of Jason is with his father. And I had to take one with him. Mostly because I loved hearing him say [it was actually a whisper, he was so quiet], "Cheese...cheese".
This weekend was good. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought [since I forgot it was a holiday and had planned to be lazy]. And I bonded with a two year old who I had never met before, yet instantly fell in love with.
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