Neigborhood life

It's 5 o'clock here in Wilmington and all my babies have flown the coop.  It's not taken them too long to learn the ropes of neighborhood life.  Now that school is in session for us and most of year-round friends, it's party time come 3:30.  Peter's off playing basketball and soccer at a friends.  Emma, Ryan and Nathan and two friends have just deserted me for Molly's house because it is way cooler.  Molly has a trampoline.  This is all so unfamiliar and so uncertain for me but I'm beginning to embrace the rare moments when I'm alone.  It's my memories of my childhood neighborhood experiences that push me to let go.  Of course, I certainly wasn't 4 when I rode my bike to a friends house but I do feel certain that Nathan will be tended to closely by all the older guys.  We're having dinner tonight, with one such neighborhood friend of mine.  It's been over 25 years since we roamed the streets of our neighborhood but we are still friends.  I'm hopeful that our kids will experience the same types of friendships as they spend their growing up years in Echo Farms. 
Since I'm long over due in updating the blog, I'll take advantage of these quiet moments and let you in on our past month.

 The kids jumped in head first to the Echo Farms swim team.  They did an amazing job learning how to swim competitively.  I'm so proud of each of their accomplishments.  Nathan can't wait to join the fun next year.