Wow summer break is just about over! My children go back to school next Tuesday. I have been able to ignore that fact because for the past few weeks because I have been helping plan for our annual block party. It all started a few years ago when one of my neighbors had a gathering for all the neighbors to get together and meet. A group of us starting talking and the idea of a block party were born. We started to plan the activities that we will have and if we were going to charge each family that participated. After that was discussed at length, we needed the rest of the block’s approval. In speaking with the police, it was discovered that we need 51% approval of the block to get the permit. So we went door to door and got the signatures needed. With this permit we were able to close off the street and hire a DJ. We also had a moon bounce, water slide, fireworks and many activities geared towards making it a fun family event. This year we had temporary tattoos, bubbles and sidewalk chalk as well as an egg toss and water balloon fights. Each family supplies their own food but we usually gather and everybody shares. The kids ride their bikes, run up and down the street and have a great time with the freedom of running around without fear of being hit by a car and nutty drivers that run our stop sign, but that is a story for another day. There are also activities for the adults. We have raffled off baskets of cheer and this expanded out to gift cards and things of that nature. Each family that participates in the block party automatically gets entered to win. We also have a fifty-fifty which we managed this to have two offerings of $50 each. What fun! Anyway… it is over now. It was a success, as always, but it truly signifies the end of summer. The kids got their back to school haircuts and all their supplies are purchased. I am looking forward to sharpening many many pencils before the first day of school. I don’t want this summer to end. We have been having so much fun, but I realize that the real world is calling and we do have to answer.