Miscellaneous updates ...

I figured I'd give a few random updates on happenings in our lives ...

Becca's adoption is moving forward. It's going slower than we had hoped, but what do you do once you have paid the attorney? Every time we call I think he charges us, so I try not to make too many calls, but I do call when I need to. Becca's mom has signed off in agreement to the adoption. Her dad has agreed to it verbally (why not -- he hasn't been in her life since she was 2 years old, and it will save him nearly $20,000 in child support!), but he hasn't signed the paperwork and submitted it yet. Hopefully he will soon or we'll have to pay a sheriff to serve him. Sigh. Becca is very excited at the opportunity to become a Brown, and we're going to have a party for her once she does!

Our construction is also moving forward. Between this and aforementioned item, we will sure be broke! :) But at least we'll be happy ... Anyway, they have broken ground, poured the footings, poured the foundation walls, cut a hole out of the basement to connect it with the new section (making a muddy mess in my boys' room in the process!), sealed the foundation and moved the gas meter (no more going through the foundation wall, I suppose). So, in the next day or two they should pour the floor, and next week they'll start framing. Awesome.

I happened upon a couple of construction workers in the middle of a bet. Apparently one of them found a worm, and the other said he'd give him a dollar to eat it. So he did. I offered to take a picture for proof, but I didn't. I wish I had, because the worm-eater actually died two days later! He was just 17 or 18 years old and had a seizure and died. Very sad. My contractor showed up the next morning just heartbroken. So sad as I feel bad making fun of his worm-eating when he's no longer with us ...

Anyway, we're trying to figure out where we can do our own labor to save costs. My dad sealed the foundation for us, and we saved an "old" window well to reuse. We're going to put in our own kitchen floor and paint ourselves. We're also trying to make decisions and finding we don't have exactly the same tastes. I don't know how couples make a house from scratch! :) We're just hoping things continue to move along quickly, because we're without an a/c for now. I've been very grateful for the cool weather.

As for our kids, they're all looking forward to summer. Becca has a lot going on in the summer (girls' camp and a trek), but I also anticipate her missing her friends about two days after school is out. Tyler is struggling to go to school nowadays, and our construction doesn't help. He'd love to just sit and watch all day if he could. Since he can't, he just grumbles about having to go to school and asks how many more days until summer break. Fortunately our school ends in May!

I have to say that I'm also looking forward to summer break. I really enjoy lazy summer mornings, although a little exercise would be good, too. I was being so good about exercising (3+ times per week), and I now haven't exercised in about two months! I don't know how to get back into the habit, because I am sure enjoying being lazy ...