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We have a vacant lot out behind our house and the girls went out to explore it for the first time yesterday.  It made me beyond happy to see them traipsing out with their baskets, ready to explore and collect "berries" or whatever else they could find under the cottonwoods.  I told Vera how I used to play in a lot with my best friend, pretending we were the Ingalls family - bears and panthers out to get us :)  I am so happy my kids get this kind of small town childhood, at least for now!