Well, Sage, Eliza and Jacob are not exactly "Cousins by the dozens" yet, but everyday still feels like a family reunion to me, and I love it! It's nice to be within 1 house of Becca and Danielle, 4 blocks north of Krista, 4 blocks east of Kim, 4 blocks south of Suzy, and 10 min from Mom and Dad. Sage, Eliza and I are being spoiled rotten.
Kim specializes in early morning visits and is a regular breakfast companion at our house. Since she's willing to sit in one of the booster seats, and actually fits, we're happy to have her polish off the remaining waffles. She also supplies stale duck food and good company when we go to the pond by her house.
Becca and Jordan are always on treat duty. They specialize in marshmallows, Dora fruit snacks and cheese whiz (and the kids know it), and have constructed a kiddie house out of a Dell computer box, complete with Dora pictures and other furnishings. Becca and Jordan do a huge share of Sunday childcare, and Danielle and I have started drawing straws to see whose kids get to sit on the bench next to them during Sacrament meeting.
Suzy is the latest addition to the "neighborhood." She drops in to deliver Brick Oven goodies and stories and collect cooking advice and we usually force her to raid our fridge while she's here (her compliments are a regular source of my self-esteem these days). Even though she won't eat the treats, she allows us to host ice cream parties for anyone she can round up. (Well, that just happened once, but I hope it will happen again).
Danielle and Adam have provided Sage's number one joy in life these days: Jacob. Despite the age difference, Sage and Jacob love spending time together. How do I know? Because even though they each get approximately 2 time outs per hour spent together for hitting each other, they ask for each other from sunup to sundown. Good thing they live through the backyard! Danielle is a great walking partner, babysitter, and dishwasher. She washes a load of dishes at my house each day. Last night Adam fixed my broken cupboard, and even did a Stefano impression (Wait...no, he didn't. But I wish he would.).
Krista and Bryce are only four blocks away but are, of course, and unfortunately, in a different ward. They help Sage get her Spanish practice by taking her to visit a little Latin neighbor friend across the street, and by speaking to Sage regularly in Spanish. We appreciate this, as it's nice to add cool, fun people to the list of Spanish speakers Sage knows [which includes next to no native speakers...basically only Mark]. Krista seems to have endless energy for chasing Eliza around the sidelines during intramural games, even if she does call her Olive Oil because of her zombie walk. I think Sage has a secret crush on Bryce's youngest brother, Hunter, who is so sweet, and, unfortunately, much too old for her.
Do you believe me now, when I say we’re spoiled? You Wilsons sure make it hard for us to even entertain ideas of leaving
