The landlord may suck, and the rent may be far too high, but we have otherwise landed quite well. Accepting that we do not live in our dream house, the girls and I have decided that we do live in a dream neighborhood.
The folks on the right have a tremendous magnolia tree - not only loaded with flowers and gorgeous leaves, but also laden with strong branches and easy to climb. The owners of the tree have no children, but welcome all of the neighborhood kids climbing and building in their tree. Lilly has helped him with yard work, and names him as one of her friends.
The folks on the left have three kids, two of whom spend more time outside than in. They play on pogo sticks, bikes, wagons, scooters and more, and they've done much of the construction in the magnolia tree.
Across the street is a family with two young kids and one teenagers. We hoped that the teenager would want to mow our lawn, but we're beginning to realize that kids don't mow lawns in Arlington. Hispanics mow lawns in Arlington. Hispanics and Dave. But their younger kids spend a lot of time on our side of the street, and in the tree.
The best, though, lives two doors down. That address holds another Foreign Service Family. Betty and Emmy just arrived from Burma, and they're new kids in their classes this year, too. Emmy is another 1st grader, and she and Lilly quickly became fast friends.
Amazingly, each family sends their kids to a different school, which adds an interesting dynamic to the street as well. But they all play together, and they all play outside. Its an idyllic neighborhood, where I can send out my kids after school and expect to hear the front door slam behind their again at about dinnertime. I believe that the next door neighbors call their kids in with a dinnerbell.
Lilly says she's the only kid in her class lucky enough to have friends living right next door, and right next door again. Lilly has changed schools and houses at least once a year for most of her life - if anyone knows how lucky we are, its her.
The folks on the right have a tremendous magnolia tree - not only loaded with flowers and gorgeous leaves, but also laden with strong branches and easy to climb. The owners of the tree have no children, but welcome all of the neighborhood kids climbing and building in their tree. Lilly has helped him with yard work, and names him as one of her friends.
The folks on the left have three kids, two of whom spend more time outside than in. They play on pogo sticks, bikes, wagons, scooters and more, and they've done much of the construction in the magnolia tree.
Across the street is a family with two young kids and one teenagers. We hoped that the teenager would want to mow our lawn, but we're beginning to realize that kids don't mow lawns in Arlington. Hispanics mow lawns in Arlington. Hispanics and Dave. But their younger kids spend a lot of time on our side of the street, and in the tree.
The best, though, lives two doors down. That address holds another Foreign Service Family. Betty and Emmy just arrived from Burma, and they're new kids in their classes this year, too. Emmy is another 1st grader, and she and Lilly quickly became fast friends.
Amazingly, each family sends their kids to a different school, which adds an interesting dynamic to the street as well. But they all play together, and they all play outside. Its an idyllic neighborhood, where I can send out my kids after school and expect to hear the front door slam behind their again at about dinnertime. I believe that the next door neighbors call their kids in with a dinnerbell.
Lilly says she's the only kid in her class lucky enough to have friends living right next door, and right next door again. Lilly has changed schools and houses at least once a year for most of her life - if anyone knows how lucky we are, its her.
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