Life was good in the hood

I returned to our old stomping grounds tonight to visit a few friends. When we finally decided to take the plunge and move, I couldn't get out of there fast enough and I promised to never return! It was the day I had waited for 2 + years. But tonight my feelings were different. Our time spent living at and managing Cherry Hill was difficult to say the least, but also so good. We grew from a newly married couple into a family there. I brought 2 babies home from the hospital, cooked a million meals in that kitchen, spent many late night conversations with the best friends ever, beat Team Snow at Rook 923,475,293,457 times, never lost to the Curtis' in settlers, went through a million light bulbs, went to gym night with the girls, exchanged baby monitors, spent a million hours sitting on those cement steps, and made the best friends I will ever have.
My good friend and neighbor Danielle wrote:
"One day we'll look back at these good 'ole days we spent living at Cherry Hill apartments. We'll sit back on our porch, sipping lemonade while we watch our kids play in our luscious green backyard and reminisce about the time we spent here. We'll look back fondly to these days when our kids were small. We'll laugh about cramming stuff (and people) in small spaces and inventing all sorts of ways to 'make things work.' We will think of our cold winters and hot summers and all the in between. For sure we'll remember these good times and wish for the simple life again."

We'll probably never hear so many languages in one place at one time (and so late at night). We will never pay such a small amount for monthly rent or lived with one car successfully. We have fond memories with friends. We'll remember the get-togethers and parties and dinners where we've crammed 14 adults in teeny tiny living rooms and kitchens. We'll never have as great of neighbors and friends as we have now. There is nothing like knowing you have 5 reliable friends only steps away- for an emergency babysitter, much needed game night, or even just to borrow an egg. One day we'll look back. One day we'll think these things. But it won't be anytime soon...... -Danielle Porter

*Speaking of game night....remember the boys vs. girls Cranium night at the Bodines? Seth as the puppeteer and Truston as his puppet? Classic.

(Maggie and BFF Talmadge)

We are so happy in our new place! I love all of our closet space, but I miss our Cherry Hill family. Here's to growing up and moving on. In the month that I've been away, I've come to realize that life was good in the hood! We miss you all!