We have the worlds best neighbours, honestly. He has every DIY tool in the world and will take the time to come over and show us how to use them/help us do stuff. Our sheds back onto one another and if he's sweeping leaves off his roof he'll do ours. He noticed our drains were getting blocked recently so he made some little caps for them to keep the leaves out and popped them over for us. The other day I went out to weed the drive and he'd already done it as he was doing his anyway (I was going to do his but he beat me to both!!). If he's baking he'll holla over the fence to see if we'd like fresh brownies. He remembers if we'd said we're working on something or struggling with something and offers suggestions or help. He's a surrogate grandad to our kids, and his kids babysit for us and sometimes take my oldest to school if they're around (it's their old school so they like to pop back) I just love them! We hardly ever ask him for anything, he just notices and offers, but somehow without ever overstepping or anything. They're just a wonderful, supportive nice family.
In comparison we're two working parents with small children, who rarely bake, have zero skills to offer. We've invited them over for BBQ's a few times in the summer but it's not worked out yet. I feel like we're forever just saying heartfelt thank you's, but I'd love to treat them in someway.
Last year I made them a Christmas hamper to say thanks for everything and he got really awkward saying that he didn't want to get into exchanging gifts with us. I tried to explain that we didn't expect anything in return, but that he helps us out in some small way at least twice a month so we just wanted to give a token of our appreciation, but he was still a bit awkward.
So, can anyone think of anything we could do that isn't a 'gift', so hopefully wouldn't cause any awkwardness? We're moving next year, and I'm a bit heartbroken that we won't live next door anymore :(