love thy neighbor...

i lived in a neighborhood growing up and i have fun memories of riding my bike in the cul de sac, playing with my neighbor buddies and carpool.  my parents were good friends with our neighbors, exchanging favors, helping with yard work or christmas lights and watching each others kids. 

i always expected that when i had my own family we would have a similar set up.  but when we moved to washington we were in the market for a home that had privacy and land.  these kind of homes tend to be in more rural spots, which means no neighborhood!  we have one neighbor that lives on the lake and we share a driveway with.  they are a couple (close in age to our own parents) and they have a large family with 11 grandkids (some are very close in age to bowie and ryder). 

they didn't have much of a relationship with the previous owners of the house, but from the moment we moved in they made us feel very welcomed and we became instant friends.  they would invite us over for dinner and parties and family gatherings.  i have often wondered if my children will miss out on these childhood friendships but we are lucky to have the best neighbors and get to build relationships with their grandkids. 

in the 5 years we lived in redondo beach, we never interacted with our neighbors.  so moving to washington has taught me what it means to be neighborly...

~checking in on each other during bad weather
~offering up your 2nd generator during a power outtage
~bringing over chikfila during the power ottage even when they say "we are OK"
~stopping by with a bottle of wine just because
~bringing your grandkids over to play
~bringing the whole fam over for an impromptu ping pong tournament
~including us in all parties and holidays
~spending two hours in the snow to get the car jump started
~calling and texting each other when something looks out of place
~telling each other to help yourself to pick fruit and veggies from your yard
~checking in on each others animals
~giving you permission to help yourself to the tool and toy shed
~letting us use their dock and lake access

this is a pic from last night as we walked down to debbie and guy's house in the snow storm for dinner.  we would have driven but as jarad helped guy take the trash down in the trailer they got stuck and jarad had a hard time getting back up the driveway.  we walked down and guy was able to drive us back home, thank goodness!  but we came home with full bellies, a couple of drinks and a fun time with good company, which was just what we needed!  a change of scenery in this snowmageddon!