My neighbors are hoarders

Since I moved into my condo, I always knew that the neighbors that lived behind my complex were trashy. They always allowed their 4 kids to run around buck naked if they felt, (on a busy street no less!) their yard is full of cigarette butts, and the trash bins that line the side of the house are overflowing. Last week, they moved out, claiming that it was time to get out of the neighborhood because of its declining atmosphere. Perhaps in the 10 years they have destroyed their rental home the neighborhood has declined but it sure hasn't since I moved here.

I knew that something was wrong with their house when the Oregon State health department showed up last week to inspect. Recently, the family has had Aaron's and Rent-A-Center bringing over a lot of furniture and appliances. It is my only guess that one of the delivery people called about the condition of their house. When they moved out, they didn't seemingly take much, probably because there wasn't much left to take except the things they have rented to own.

The day after they left, A very large dumpster showed up in the driveway. A few hours later, people were dressed in painter's clothes and breathing masks and started to shovel. Everything in the house, including tiling, doors, pieces of walls, and other things started piling up in the dumpster. It didn't take long to fill the first two, then a third appeared and is mostly full now. One of the workers told me the other day that the house will more than likely be condemned because of the condition it is in. When walking to the corner store on Friday, I had to walk right passed their house. There were no doors left to hold back the smell and garbage, it was atrocious! The smell emanating from the house was enough to make the strongest stomach turn. The walls were covered half way up in what looked like toxic black mold and dirt.

The saddest part of all of this is that this family has small children. One of them approximately 5 and the other no more than 2 or 3. I honestly don't understand how people can allow their houses to get that bad. Especially a house they are renting and doesn't even belong to someone. While I may not be the cleanest person ever, I am at least pleased to say my house doesn't smell, my floors and everything else is moderately clean and my house is safe for a toddler to be in.

BIG

Hail is getting to be a huge kid. At 16-months old, he is 23 pounds and 9 ounces. He is 3 feet tall, yes I said three feet, and he is getting 6 new teeth as we speak. He has learned a few more words and he is finally starting to walk. Raph and I have to bribe him with candy, but he gets up and is on the move more than ever. It amazes me how quickly a toddler grows, however, mine could stop at any time. By the time he is two, I'm going to be asking him to get me things from the top shelf in the kitchen.

It seems that time flies way too fast, and I can't even keep him in clothes. He is already wearing a 2t-3t because of how tall he is. he is learning to form his own little opinions and what he wants to do. Reading books and playing with his cars and trains is his favorite. Never before would I have thought that my kid was going to end up being so smart at such a young age.

Just yesterday, we were looking at animals on the computer and he was able to tell me what most everyone sounded like. He can't do it if he doesn't see the animal, but the point being, he can do it and knows the information as soon as he sees it. I would love to crawl inside his head and watch his thoughts float around.