I Love Our Neighborhood

Rain or shine, the 'gang' of elementary school boys in our neighborhood are out and about doing what little boys do. I'm going to miss it when we leave...

It was so refreshing to see 5 or 6 little boys (with an average of age of about 8.5) sitting in the middle of the driveway eating popsicles yesterday afternoon. (I only wish I'd gotten a picture of it!)

It was refreshing to hear them playing outside. Times have changed, but the games young boys play outside are still the same...cowboys and indians/cops and robbers/star wars/army men...pretty much anything with a hat or helmet and some sort of weapon (toy weapons, of course).

It is refreshing to hear my 8 year old say that he's really going to miss CD when we move. He hasn't been old enough to really experience a military move yet - leaving friends, memories, etc. - I'm dreading the summer months!

It's refreshing to be able to send my 8 year old out the back door and that all he has to do is walk across the neighbor's back yard, cross the street and he's at the school.

It's refreshing to know that when the National Anthem plays at 1700, all the little guys line up, stand at attention and put their hand over their heart...for 2 minutes! A sight to behold. (I need a picture of that too!)

It was refreshing to see my 8 year old hop out of his dinner chair last night, willing to go help a friend look for his Nerf gun, even though he was already "in" for the night. "Where was the last place you had it?" he asked his friend. (He talked him through it as if he'd heard the speech somewhere before! Hmmm...wonder where!)

It is refreshing to see the boys meet up on the way to school in the morning and run across the backyard together. It is equally enjoyable to hear them on their way home in the afternoon.

It is refreshing to have neighbor kids who are respectful and understand that homework or scouts or sports practice or dinner/lunch or even running errands w/Mom takes precedence before being able to play.

I shall enjoy all these things while I can. I hope my boys remember these times and these people! I know I will.