Kid Kountry

I might've mentioned it before, but I live in a pretty great community.  It's home to a pretty awesome school system, and the football team (the one that just recently lost a member as well as a member of the male spirit squad) is currently undefeated.  Everyone's supportive of schools and sports and community activities.  It's just a super-huge family; a family that never fails to come together when people need it the most.

Our community is home to one of the greatest playgrounds around.  When I moved here as a teenager in high school, this park had been around for a while.  I was already past "playground" status, but I took kids I babysat there, and they always had a blast.  Named Kid Kountry, it totally felt like you were entering into a castle when you ducked under the sign.  It's a pretty good size as far as playgrounds go, and there's never a shortage of things to do.

Over the years, I've taken my boys there from time to time, sometimes meeting friends who still live in the area, sometimes just to blow off some steam.  There are basketball goals and wide open spaces, perfect for playing catch.  It used to be the meeting spot for exchanging N when he was coming home from/going to his dad's house.  They've added some ball fields, and the biggest deal aside from Kid Kountry (which still draws a huge crowd) is the Aquatic Center with its indoor and outdoor pools.

Well...as most things do, Kid Kountry needed an update.  The community banded together, and with donations and tons of volunteers, they completely revamped Kid Kountry.  Today was our first time to go since the renovations, and we were totally impressed.  Some of the original structures are there, but there is so much more space!  There's tons of room to add on in the future, and I hope they do.  They really created a spot for "littles" under the age of 5, complete with fake grass and a huge mosaic hippo.  It's precious!

Tonight, I met a friend from high school that I haven't seen in 6 years or so.  She brought her kiddos, a boy who's in between N and B, and a "little" girl who is tiny and precious and knows no fear.  We introduced the boys, and they were gone.  We didn't see them for a long time, so we were able to take "little" into the little area, where she was unsure about the sand for a minute.  It didn't take long!  As we were catching up, I looked to my right and saw a guy I went to high school with, hanging with his wife and kids in another area of the little section. 

Seeing people I went to high school with back in the town (assuming they ever left) is not uncommon.  In fact, I'm surprised if I don't see someone I know when I go anywhere in this town.  Case in point, we went to Chipotle after Kid Kountry, and a girl who graduated the year after me was walking out as we were walking in.  I don't really remember much about her at all because we weren't friends, but recognition dawned on both of us at the same time...and I'm usually hard to place because my hair is a completely different color these days.

It was so much fun hanging out with my friend Natalie, watching our kids play, and catching up on the past few years.  It's so crazy to think of both of us as moms, when it seems like we were just crazy teenagers yesterday. Tons of good memories though, and I can't wait for us to hang out again soon.  It seems like our boys have become fast friends, they're already planning when we're going to hang out again!

Tomorrow is N's last ballgame of the season, and I'm kind of sad about it.  He's had such a great time, and met some really great boys.  I hope they'll stay in touch and hang out, even once the season is over.  I know some of them are signed up to play winter basketball just like N, so maybe we'll get lucky play with/against some of them.  While it'll be nice to have a little breather from practice during the week, I'm excited for him to get started with basketball again.

Can you believe it's already November?!  AND, tomorrow's daylight savings time!!!  I'm all about getting an extra hour of sleep.  Yeah right, like that'll happen.  This next week will fly by and then I'll be in Houston, helping my dad make sure his house is Thanksgiving ready.  Then, a week later, the boys and I will be back, ready for some family time and a little R&R Pampaw style!  We'll end the week with birthdays, and then it's practically December!  Where has this year gone?!

Aubs