This weekend was pretty awesome. And it’s been a while since we could say that so let me pause a second so I can knock on wood.
OK, back.
Anyway, instead of going to the shore or taking a day trip, we stuck around, walked down the empty streets, soaked up the sun and enjoyed our fantastic friends.
In talking about our time, I realize that I haven’t yet completely  (or properly) introduced some central characters in our lives: Our next door neighbors.
I have referenced them a few times, like how they got me the nicest birthday gift and how they have been there for us through some very tough times. We just moved into our home 18 months ago, but it seems like our next door neighbors are life-long friends. They have two young girls, both a bit older than my daughter, and they make for excellent playmates/teachers/mother’s helpers.
Because I live in a sideways facing house, any time I am exiting or entering my home, my view is right at my neighbor’s house. And it’s awesome. We talk, we laugh, we joke, we tell each other what we are making for dinner, and often decide to just eat together. We get together for wine nights once the kids go to sleep. We sometimes do wine-fueled yoga (and sober yoga as well) and the husband and I sing in Fox and the Hounds together which has brought incredible joy to my life.
We, as families, share so much; beers at the bar, microphones, cook-outs, secrets, inside jokes, baked goods…they are the perfect neighbors and the reason why I never want to leave.
I liken it sometimes to being in college; they are just next door, so when I want to grab a beer or see one of them outside on a recliner, we can just get together on a whim. And it’s awesome.
This weekend we got a lot of time with our neighbors and friends, as we hosted a nice, old fashioned BBQ on Saturday, which ended up with some spontaneous Bocce playing in our backyard. Then the kids went to bed and the adults gathered in the living room, laughing at ridiculous and funny stories about everything from med school to making late-night frappucinos.
On Sunday evening, my husband went to the late night showing of X-Men (which explains this) with a group of guys (including our neighbor), but before my best friend, who dropped off her husband, drove away, she came up to my dark bedroom and hugged me. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Today we swam with them, our daughter’s god-parents, and they led her around the pool and cared for her so delicately, I felt so grateful. I always feel grateful for them. I am also grateful that they are letting me help them pick paint for their new home (see above).
And then tonight, things reached a whole new level.
We were invited next door for a BBQ. The food was excellent, and I licked several bones clean of incredible, big-green-egg-grilled ribs.
But it also allowed me to try something that I have been wanting to for awhile now:
Peeps S’mores.
And ZOMG.
I am going to go ahead and boast (as I have been all night) that I am genius for this invention.
The sugar from the Peeps caramelizes, making for a crunchy outside with a gooier than normal inside marshmallow.
They are insane.
This was my first go at it
And because they’re amazing and smart and adorable, the girls drew sidewalk chalk pictures of me eating the s’mores. How can it get better than that?

We joke that they consider me half grown-up/half playmate, because I do things like offer to let them chalk my hair, sing duets and,
well,
make S’mores out of Peeps.
So, my neighbors and my best friends are wonderful, which led to a much needed weekend of fun and food and togetherness.
And as far as Peeps go, I have the very best.