The Copperheads (or: the benefits of living in a neighborhood)

There are times that I really hate living in a neighborhood.  Like when we get a threatening letter in the mail warning us that we have too many weeds and will be fined if we don't remedy the situation in 15 days (uh, where were you when I had infants?  You couldn't see the house for the weeds).  And awful, rude, irresponsible neighbors (I have something stewing...perhaps I'll write it down...in another post maybe).

But when I think about someday moving and having the choice to live in a neighborhood or not, I have a hard time imagining not being close neighbors to other families.  

There is a pack of boys that love to play sports in the open field at the entrance of street.  One little boy is really determined, and goes around our loop collecting the boys to come and play.  Almost every day our doorbell rings and  someone is looking for Andrew to come out and join them.  Often when we come back from an outing, the boys are playing.  They see our van and start waving us down, "We NEED you Andrew!  Come play!"

It is fabulous.   I mean, to be honest, they spend most of their time arguing about the rules or what game they are going to play or stand around waiting for the one last boy to finish his homework and join them.  But they do eventually play, and the have never...not once...gone inside each other's houses.  It is all outdoor play...at least that is what Andrew gets invited to do.  They make up games, like the latest fad, "Upper Deck", which basically entails trying to kick a giant ball up on our roof.  They sometimes play capture the flag or soccer.  Occasionally they will go to our neighborhood courts to play basketball or tennis.  The love to play football.

They love football so much, that they have created their own team, the Copperheads (we all live on Copperleaf Dr.).  They spend all their time on the bus discussing different plays and who plays what position that day, when they are going to have practice, etc.  They spend WAY more time talking about the Copperheads than actually playing football.

I think it is awesome.  

But don't feel bad for Lily and Michael.  I don't give them as free range as the other kids their age, but we get tons of kids that want to play on our hill and our play set to keep them company.  If not, the big boys are very patient and include Lily and Michael if they want to.  It is not an unusual site to catch Lily snapping the ball.  Michael is usually just their cheerleader...a bit too intimidated to play...yet.

Sometimes, living in a neighborhood is very worth it.  Even if I know they are watching me and my weeds.


And as an added bonus...look who's a Daisy this year.  With the hip/head cock pose going strong.  Weirdo.