They're Back!

The Christmas Inflatables have landed! 

Having younger families with children on our street has certainly made Christmas, as well as other seasonal celebrations like Easter and Halloween, more fun. In all the years that I have lived on this street, we have never had things like inflatable cartoon characters popping up on lawns. We didn't have such things back in the day when our kids were small..maybe a wooden Santa, or a reindeer..? 

I must say, it is a treat to have children in the neighbourhood again. Those of us who have lived on this street for over 50 years, have seen it change from a neighbourhood of young families with children playing road hockey on the street, to one of an older generation where the only children we ever saw, were grandchildren coming to visit. 

Now it is fun to see little ones again...and be reminded of our own childhoods and that of our own children. We once again have hockey nets in driveways..home-made skating rinks on the lawn, swings in trees, tricycles and pedal cars parked at the front step. 

And again, we have kids at play..It is wonderful to see them...

...gleefully jumping in the huge pile of leaves their Dad raked up for them. Remember that? When Dad would rake them back up again and make a bonfire? Back when that was legal? 

... building snowmen and snow forts with mom and dad in the front yard. I remember also digging into the huge snowbanks to make snow houses and no-one worried that perhaps the bank would collapse on us? yikes.

... showing up with their parents at our doors on Halloween in co-ordinated costumes, parents included. I loved the one that had mom and dad as mustard and ketchup and the kids as hotdogs! Hmmm I don't remember my parents dressing up too, but how neat is that?

.. and of course frolicking in and around those inflatable unicorns, grumpy cats and bears!

Inflatable cartoon characters? I don't remember them back in the day. Not my thing, but I can live with them. The smiles on those little faces are worth it. 
 
And, a little bit of nostalgia can brighten the day!  

PS: please excuse the trip down memory lane; it was triggered by a lovely chat this morning with the "dad" who has put up those air-filled characters for their three children. That family has been through some traumatic times, and through it all, he and his wife have been amazing parents, doing the best they can to create an enriched and loving childhood for those children. I admire them immensely.