Tonight we had the neighborhood party marking the departure of the H family. Julie has been there every step of the way raising my kids and I've been there for her. She'came to my house to take care of my kids when I went to give birth to Naomi. We've been desperation backup for each other all the way along.
When I heard they were actually moving, doing the moving truck thing this very week even though their house has not sold. I knew KNEW that we had to have a party, Non-negotiable, had to happen. So the next door neighbors agreed to host, I made the invitations, brought fruit salad and root beer, conceived the gift (which Becky finished)
Lovely party! Lasagna, garlic bread, 3 salads, and a fancy cake to finish it off. sitting out on the back deck on a late summer evening. At the end, we started the 'I remember the time that' stories. So appropriate and comforting. Becky said she always tells the story which she attributed to me (which, of course, I don't remember) that the first kid knows how to do lots of thing but the last kid only knows how to go to soccer practice. My favorite was Duncan's story about how, when he moved in and got out the lawn mower, Dane came walking over probably around age 4.
Dane: "You going to mow the lawn"
Duncan: "Yes I am"
Dane: "My dad's lawnmower is bigger than yours"
And always stories about Dave blowing up wasps nests with M80s or similar.
We gave Julie the picture (finished in lovely fashion by Becky). Sweet and cute, a good choice if I do say so myself.
It's bee great for us to have such a warm cohesive neighborhood. A gift.
First picture is Julie holding up the picture. Then the group shot. I'm taking the picture, the first group shot of the neighborhood I can remember
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