As of the last month, Mathieu's number one outdoor activity has been throwing pine cones, sticks, and rocks off the dock. A favored activity by both the young and old, stick/rock/pine cone throwing has always been enjoyable to Mathieu, but this past month marks a sharp increase in the devotion to hearing a splash. In the past, Mathieu would throw some material found near the water source. He would forage outward from that point, at most carrying 3 things in his hands, until he lost interest or he exhausted his nearby resources. This has all changed. Mathieu now gathers pine cones extensively, filling his car to the limit, before he drives it towards the dock. When he throws, he doesn't just toss with abandon. He watches to see which way the pine cone floats (our creek is tidal, so twice a day it's flowing in one direction, and twice a day in the opposite), he comments on the type of splash, and just truly enjoys these moments. Given free reign, Mathieu will gladly gather, drive, and toss for 1 and1/2 hours.

The Loaded Car

Showing you his treasure

St. Augustine and some manatees

Last weekend my mom, Dave, Mathieu and I drove to St. Augustine,Florida and continued our drive south to Blue Spring State Park. St. Augustine, the oldest city in the US, is older than Plymouth and Jamestown, and as the guide book said, it claims to be the oldest in everything (schools, churches, street sign, etc.) but that it's pretty much true. Mathieu ate ice cream for the first time in front of the oldest church parish in the country. We tried on hats in front of old buildings. We covered our ears as we watched a canon fire from the oldest fort, and did a lot of running down hills.
Blue Spring State Park in Florida is known for it's winter refuge of manatees. Because the spring is coming from deep within the earth, the water is always at a constant 73 degree, making it an ideal winter stopping ground for these cold sensitive mammals. As cool as it was to see manatees, and we saw plenty, Mathieu's real joy came from throwing big rocks into the water.
We stayed in a perfect little cabin with rocking chairs and a screened in porch.
We had a wonderful time together!