Our little explorer!

Behind our home is a wooded area that divides our neighborhood from the one behind us.  We have been in this home for almost two years now and it is only in the last 6 months that the woods behind the house have become so alluring to our children. 

Our youngest, in particular, is enamored with these woods and loves to go on "adventures" and "expeditions" back there. (For those who don't know my son personally, this actually IS how he talks. His ridiculous adult vocabulary is the topic of a whole separate post! Maybe someday I will go there...)

I love how something as simple as a wooded lot can encourage such imagination in my boys.  Tommy has "discovered" several gems back there recently.

There's the "lookout spot" and the "picnic spot" and let's not forget the cool, "Spider tree" aptly named because the roots are pulled up and look like spider legs (to a 7 year old!)  There are vines strong enough for Tarzan and don't think for a second that each one has not been put to the test!

Tommy has been pestering me lately to go back there with him so that he can show me all these amazing places he has found.

Since we came home from our second trip to China, time alone, "Mom & Tommy time" as I call it, has been scarce, so I threw on my flip flops (yes, we are in the south) and traipsed into the woods to battle the vines and the roots and the thorns....

I saw every "trail" and shortcut he could show me.  He was happy as a clam showing off his "domain" to mom!

We weren't back there very long, but it was a few brief minutes in my day that I could treasure my little guy and give him my undivided attention.  I love you Tommy!