Forget milkshakes

Do you want to know what brings all the boys to the yard? Hint: it isn't milkshakes (sorry Kelis).

Betty Lou doesn't live with us. We like her and all, but we also like to stay on good terms with our neighbors. Having a bus parked out front isn't the best way to make friends... unless you would like ALL NEIGHBORHOOD CHILDREN to congregate on your front lawn. A school bus does that.

This weekend we needed power so Betty Lou came for a visit. As did all the kids in a one block radius. Since we have 4 helpers of our own, it isn't such a big deal. There is a lot that the kids can do to be helpful and they were more than happy to lend a hand. Free labor, baby. Well, we did buy them all mini cans of root beer for a job well done.

The kids swept, scrubbed, sprayed, painted, picked up trash and kept some hilarious commentary going for the 3 day weekend. ("do you even know what your doing?" and "Are you going to fall off that?")

The adults in the neighborhood were not immune to the draw of a school bus either. Before we brought her home, we printed up a notice and left it on the doors of our neighbors houses, just so people would know what was going on and wouldn't call the cops on us for stealing a bus. Pretty much every neighbor popped their head in to see what we were up to.

What to get to know your neighbors? Buy a bus.