Bye Hyde Park

May is really the month that things come back to life in Cincinnati, and we can *really* shake off winter for good. The great thing about such a long and gray winter is the GLORIOUS spring, and the neighborhood is always bumping with giddy, vitamin-D absorbing pedestrians. In my leaving-Cincinnati-nostalgia, I was sure to capture some quick shots of Hyde Park to remember.

We have loved this neighborhood. During a season of our lives that has been tough in many ways with the challenges of Scout's residency, this neighborhood has met us with entertainment (for free!), a sense of community, peacefulness and also excitement, nurturing for us and our kiddos, and countless other little things that are hard to articulate. We will always remember strolling through the streets with a single stroller, then a tricycle, then a double stroller, then a bike and a stroller. We will always remember Kate stopping to say hi to the firemen at the station and then strutting down the sidewalk like she owned the square. I will always remember the sales people and regulars in the 'hood who were my friends before I had any. I will always remember the lonely evenings when Scout was working days on end and I will remember that walking right out the front door was all we needed to be in the thick of things... and that that was so delightful, so many times! We will always remember the playground, the fountain, the farmer's market, the races and festivals, the little coffee shop and the Jimmy Buffet type who played for us all every Friday, our favorite restaurants and their patios, breakfasts at Echo, storytimes at the neighborhood library, the biddies at On Occasions, the incredible Ault Park blooms, the flower pots on every corner and doggie bowls at every door, and our favorite streets, too many to count. Most importantly, we will always be thankful for our sweet neighbors who loved on our girls, included us right away even though we were *renters* (eek!), baby-sat for us when we needed a night out and couldn't afford a "real" sitter, and - maybe most importantly - gave us a snow shovel and taught us how to use it. ...Even helped us melt the inches of ice all over our walk when we slacked off during a nasty storm. Thank you, Hyde Park and Eastside Avenue crew. We see that God planted us down right where He wanted us for these past 3 years, and, as usual, He is really good.