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good times

Just in case you were wondering, if all my kids ever did was live in their bathing suits and in the water–fear not! I’m here to show you that there IS life after water for my family.

Before moving into our home here, I had never heard of National Night Out.

Ever hear of it?  I’m not sure if it’s an inner city thing (where we live) or what.  But the idea behind the evening is to get people out of their homes, hanging out together, and taking a stand against drugs.

Yup, we can do that!

Our street celebrates the evening in style.

We forget all about the humidity and the mosquitos, and gather together to eat copious amounts of yummy food and just hang out together.  We do quite a lot of block parties, but this is one of the biggest. We stay out until late into the night–letting the kids run around while we build relationships with each other. 

We have awesome neighbors.  Everyone knows each other and there are always hands to help if ever there is a need.  I guess that’s what happens when you live in a row house and your neighbors live right on your doorstep.  Literally.

There are lots and lots of little kids.

And beautiful bigger kids too.

Pretty girls hang out in the park across the street and practice their hoola-hooping skills.

And big boys naturally make their way to the food table.  How is it even possible for kids to eat so much and never gain weight?  When does that change in life?  I just have to look at food and gain weight.  So not fair.

My handsome blue-eyed second born.  I love.  His eyes are so very blue.  There are no blue eyes anywhere in my family.  The only person to have them was Anthony’s great-grandmother (Lebanese, of all things!).  Funny how it comes up so many generations later. 

Hands up, baby, hands up.  Gimme your heart.  Gimme, gimme your heart.

(80’s music rocks, by the way. Nothing like it.)

Our neighborhood is really all about community.  Because we live on a historic park where lots of people come to walk their dogs and just hang out, it is so easy to meet people in the community.  I do love that about living here.  Even our local fire chief, Mr. Dave, came to hang out with us–or rather, with the kids.

The dude rocked the bean bag toss.  Totally gave the kids a run for their money.  Even when blindfolded.

“Wow, how did he even do that?”

“Totally ‘beast!'”  Or wicked.  Or sick.

Or whatever it is they say these days.  I lose track.

“Mmmmm….quite impressive!”

Asian beauties–so not interested in tossing bean bags. Posing for a picture is much more fun.  Such lovely girls.

Baby sister?

She has finally mastered the art of drinking out of one of these without spilling a single drop.  Well, maybe just a couple.

Do you think I’m clever?

So, so smart, sweetheart.

As the sun went down, the party continued.  Our little street soon became the hub of activity as our local policemen came over to join us.  They lined our street with their police cars and motorcycles and just hung out (and ate every morsel of food left over).

The highlight for the kids was getting to play a game of football with the chaps.  They were such good sports about it, taking their time to play with each child and make them feel special. They gave our children such special memories–ones they will, for sure, never forget.

My boys absolutely loved being able to check out some of their super-cool equipment.

And learn some new moves too.

A fun time was definitely had by all.

Especially the children on the block.

My only request?

“Make sure that you NEVER end up in the back of one of those!”

And that was that. The end of another fabulous National Night Out event on our street.

Definitely one my children will never forget.

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