Days like today make me miss our neighbors; our directly across the street neighbors. Especially a Sunday afternoon like this. Unseasonably pleasant weather and sunny.

A year ago, we would at some point have all been in the front yard doing something outside or hanging with our kids.  Us playing softball with Reese, them hanging with 2 year old driving around the yard in one of his toys.

It would possibly start with a wave and a few “hey, how’s it going?” or most likely a recap of us hanging out the night before.  Our weekend nights usually included hanging out or at least ending the night with a drink together after we all came home.

During or after the activity ends one family would slowly wander over, possibly with an afternoon adult beverage or snack in hand to share, and the hanging out would start.  The kids (who equally love each other, despite their 9 year age difference) would be running around together, Reese being the big sister, helping him/teaching him to play different things. Him creating big smiles on her face and laughter from her mouth.

A few hours later dinner plans would be inevitable and easy.  We would order out or one family would just throw on a few more burgers to feed everyone.

We would hang out into the early evening (sometimes a bit later), enjoying every last second of this pre-spring weather that most likely will be followed by a snowy/cold/rainy week.

Unfortunately, this won’t happen today.  Last June our neighbors found their forever house that they loved and couldn’t pass up.  They moved about 30 minutes away.  We were sad and disappointed but SO happy for them.  We are still close, the kids still love each other, and we see each other at least once a month but it’s not really the same.  Days like these remind me how much it’s not the same.