Mr. Art

The kids and I often visit our neighbor Arturo on the days we walk home from school.  He stands outside his garage every morning and afternoon, waving to all the moms and dads and kids as they walk to and from school.  He's watched many of them grow up over the last ten years he's lived here and his garage is covered with all sorts of children's artwork given to him over the years.

He's an awesome grandpa to his own grandkids and loves the neighborhood kids the same way. He often passes down his grandchildren's toys to Sam and Evie and he taught Sam how to play darts.  There's always a dish of candy out for the kids - Sam likes to eat it, Evie just likes to unwrap it.   He loves to talk about what he's planting in his garden, just like our Pops!  He grows some of his plants from seeds and has a little greenhouse in his backyard that he likes to show off.   I like when he tells stories about his time as a soldier in Desert Storm or shows us his bowling team patches from the seventies and other cool treasures from his past.  

The kids look for him everyday and they're always disappointed on the rare occasion he's not outside when we pass by his house.  Sam and Evie have wonderful grandfathers of their own, but it's also nice to have a grandfatherly neighbor right down the street, too, to ask you how school was, spoil you with candy and toys, and tell you to stop fighting with your sister!