The nicest couple has moved in next door to us back in January I think. They have the cutest 3 year old son and 1.5 year old daughter and my two sons really love playing with them. In particular, Nick has really hit it off with their son and they both love playing together. It is interesting because of the large age gap but it doesn't seem to bother either of them and they just play together so well. Nick is very sweet with the 3 year old (almost 4). He really acts like an older brother with him, probably with less fighting. It is really sweet to watch. Ben really enjoys playing with the neighbor children's toys more than he enjoys playing with the neighbor children:).
So every day when we finish school, the first thing the boys want to do is see if M (the neighbor boy) ickcan play. Their mom is so sweet and she loves having the boys over. She says they keep her son busy and they all play well together. She said it gives her a break. It definitely gives me long breaks. Sometimes they go over there around 12:30 and stay until 5:30 or 6:00. They usually play outside until around 4:00ish and then they all go in and she gets dinner started while the kids play inside. I normally go over and visit with her for a while, sometimes while they are outside and sometimes after they have gone in. Sometimes they will all come over into our back yard and play in our sandbox. The mom is so nice and we get along very well. Her son, M, has been over here to play inside only once. I told her today that she should start sending M over here to play during the daughter's nap so that she (the mom) could have a break or, if she needs to go shopping or something that her son could stay here and play with my sons. I would feel a little better if we switched off a little. I end up feeling that I am getting all of the breaks and she always has all of the kids, even though she insists that it is a break for her when my sons are there because they keep her son entertained. Anyway, for now, the kids are enjoying playing together and it is really sweet to watch Nick playing with this little almost-4 year old and treating him so kindly.
It is kind of funny and I even start missing Nick and Ben at times. I got outside and did the weed-whacking of the front and side yards today, since the boys were next door playing and I have mowed the yard the past two weeks, although the husband was home and working in the yard when I did that. He has been staying busy building a tree house for the boys. It is coming along slowly, since he does not have a lot of time to devote to it, but he is really doing a stellar job on it and it will be very sturdy and safe when he is finished.
Well, that is it for tonight. I will try to post more soon and to post some pictures (I know I keep promising that and I have not delivered but I have very good intentions:).
