Neighborhood Fun

This past week, we spent two very fun nights with our neighbors. On Tuesday night, we gathered out on our street for a "National Night Out" Block Party. National Night Out is intended to be a say-no-to-crime event, but to me, it just sounded like a GREAT excuse to have a block party and spend time with our neighbors! Plus, if you organize a block party on National Night Out, the City of Sac will waive the permit fee for closing your street...so, that's what we did. We blocked off our street, brought out a few BBQs, feasted on a potluck of delicious food, and had plenty of fun things for the kids to do.

It was fun to see everyone get excited for the event and contribute their gifts and talents. Several of the neighborhood kids helped me canvass the street in the weeks before the event, collecting the signatures we needed to get our City Permit. Other kids made Block Party signs to use as decorations. One man down the street, who is handy with tools, offered to build a barricade to close off the street. Another woman offered to do face-painting for the kids. Yet another brought henna and did henna creations for the women and girls (see picture of my ankle below). And, the most amazing part - 53 of our neighbors came out for the night!








Then, last night we walked down the street to our local park where they were showing an outdoor movie for kids. We loaded up the wagon with kids, chairs, and blankets and invited any kids who were outside to come with us. In the end, 17 of us from our street gathered to watch Madagascar together under the stars. There was a bounce house, rootbeer floats, and popcorn - all free! Such a fun summer night for our family. Thanks City of Sac!