it's a school's-out-after-school-Christmas-s'mores'n'hot-chocoate-neighborhood party

We are really working on getting to know our neighbours.  I get all excited about the different things we could do and different things that I have planned.  This was another good one.  Well, at least in theory.

We planned to have s'mores and hot chocolate for the neighbourhood the late afternoon/early evening after kids were all home on the last day of school before Christmas vacation.  Cade and Lucy cheerfully handed out invitations to everyone house, once again.  Then on Friday the 19th, we got everything set up and ready for 4:00.

A few people slowly trickled out.  One of our neighbours (the only ones who really welcomed us when we moved in - and with delicious cinnamon roles even!) came with her two sweet little kids.  

Mia had some of her friends over for a sleepover, so that made the crowd a little larger as well.

And some of the regulars came as well.

(you will notice that it rapidly changes from day to night in these pictures…. no, it didn't go on for hours. It just gets dark at 4:30/4:45 at this time of year!).

The kids went a recruited a few more of the neighbour kids to come as well.

Another man on the street came to hang out for a while too, which was great.

While we were at it, we handed out the gifts for all the neighbours who came (Eric brought the rest of the gifts to the neighbours who didn't come a few days later).  The kids thought these were the more ridiculous gifts imaginable.  I thought they were clever and practical.  I'd be happy to get paper plates and plastic cups instead of more sugar during a very sugar-rich time.  Perhaps I am the only one…. but too bad, so sad.  That is what they got!

Eric and our neighbour stayed and talked for quite a while after the rest of the festivities died down.  It was rather nice, because then they hauled everything in and took care of the clean up while I tried to rustle up some dinner.

It was what I would classify as another noble attempt.  There isn't much spirit and neighbourliness here (which the lady with the two young children confirmed), but we'll keep working on changing that.  Maybe some day we'll get the whole bunch outside partying with us.