Every night The Mister takes Mikey and Nicholas on a walk around the neighborhood.� The walk is ostensibly to enjoy the great outdoors and instill good exercising habits, but really it’s to exhaust little boys into nightime submission.� One good run around the block is enough to make their pillows sing like sirens down the hall–a fact we take advantage of eagerly.
I sometimes go on the walk with them, depending on how behind I am writing my posts for The Bright Side Project.� Today The Mister had a last minute dinner meeting and I finished my post in the early afternoon, so after dinner I� grabbed the boys, the dogs, and my camera.
We began where we always do at the “On Your Marks, Get Set, GO! Starting Line.”
I know cul-de-sacs are less than revered by city planners, but you can’t get me to complain about the slow traffic that allows my boys to run through the streets with (minimal) cares in the world. The boys usually grab random found objects (that almost always happen to be fossils or discarded weapons left behind by victorious Clone Troopers). Today Mikey was content to stuff dinosaur eggs in his pocket (acorns) while Nicholas used a discarded light saber (palm frond) like a rudder.
Our neighborhood is full of older homes from the 50s. We absolutely love the homes from this period.
Nothing flashy or showy, just cute homes with well taken care of yards–among the families with older children. The homes with children five and younger (ahem) don’t have nearly as nice a front yard.
I always like to see what thrives where people live. In my area, agapanthus and roses as far as the eyes can see. Agapanthus are actually builder’s plants around here. You couldn’t kill them if you tried.
At the end of the cul-de-sac is the boys’ favorite part: The Secret Forest. The Mister and I find this name curious because the area is neither hidden nor shrouded in trees. We’re talking about a chain link fence and four palm trees.
You can thank these two rascals for the blurry pictures.
The Secret Forest is as good a spot as any to take pictures of boys who haven’t brushed their hair since morning.
Then we turn around and walk back home. Nicholas makes sure to follow step by step every move Mikey makes.
Although not always with the same five year old grace and dexterity.
As alarming as his screams and feigned attempted at paralysis may seem to strangers, I’m not impressed. He’s still clutching his Agapanthus bud and his palm frond/light saber.
Less than 2.6 nanoseconds after falling, a passing airplane confirms my suspicions.
The real tears come a few minutes later when I tell him it’s time to go inside.
Which stop as soon as he sees the pile of cars he left in the kitchen.
Love this one! FIrst, what a great neighborhood and how wonderful they can run down the street with little worry!! Second, beautiful flowers. You’ve inspired me to document one of our walks, it will be a little more scary since there is a lot more traffic but I’ll give it a go :) Thanks!
Jules that was such a nice post!! I just cant believe how the boys have grown. Nico looks so old now. I love the tears!!! I hope you and your family are enjoying your summer!!
What a nice little peek into your neighborhood. :-)
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Beautiful walk! Your neighborhood is enchanting…light sabers, fossilized eggs, and homes from another era…oh my! Your family is sweet.
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Those houses make me think of Revolutionary Road…
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What a good idea to walk them before bed. I too love cul-de-sacs. I grew up in one and I hope my kids can too. They are so quiet.
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I’m a mean, mean mommy, but I love the sorts of pictures like the last one you posted. I have one of my little girl during a Christmas photo shoot that looks equally pathetic. It’s one of my faves!!
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LOl, so I guess even though we don’t see you much (ahem) around the February mama’s board (Facebook, look us up! We miss you!) You’re going through the same 2 year old angst (aka Terrible Twos) as we’re discussing right now! Glad you’re still a part of our group, even if you’re not with us much. :)
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Is that what those purple flowers are called? Xander has been completely obsessed with them for the last several months, I mean OBSESSED! He calls them “Purple Flowers” but I am glad to finally learn their name so that I can tell him what it really is: Agapanthus. Love the photos. I do what you do, too. Walk/exercise/run them until they are dog-tired! ;-)
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We recently moved to a neighbourhood like yours (houses from the 50’s, well-kept yards, minimal traffic). We love that the boys can walk and use their scooters without it causing parental heart attacks.
Lovely pictures! Cute kids! Cute dogs!
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Oh how I wished I lived in a neighborhood like this…
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Just LOVE your neighborhood – so pretty
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Beautiful pictures! I just love your neighborhood and the fact that you have such a nice place for the kids to roam and play.
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Goodness, your boys are soooo adorable! I have so many fond memories of being outside in the summer before bed. There was something sweet about going to bed before it was dark and you could fall asleep with the sun. :)
Such beautiful boys; I have two boy 22 and 25 years old. I still really enjoy them.
Take each moment in and enjoy all stages.
Blessings
Heidi
HA! You’ve got to love the expressive faces of kids, right? That last one says it all: pure frustration about coming inside! BTW just came over to your site and am really enjoying it!