A little good news to start the week

We signed the loan papers on Friday, so the renovations can start back up now. The next step is concrete (tearing out what we have, digging down for the foundation of the garage, and pouring it), which I'm hoping will start next week. I'll have to have Dan take pictures of the progress while the kids and I are in Michigan. At least curious kids will be out of the way of the workers, so there's less chance an errant footprint will be permanently embedded in our driveway. I'll leave it up to you to guess which child is most likely to step in wet concrete...

Parents' day at Greyson's day camp

Greyson's camp ended today, and he is already saying he wants to go back next year. This is the first one he's said that about, so we must have chosen correctly.Parents' day was Wednesday, and Dan, Ben, and I all got to go for varying amounts of time. The counselors had mentioned that we should come ready to participate, and they weren't kidding. We played ultimate frisbee and touch football (kids and counselors against parents) and got to try archery. The parents won frisbee (I caught one in the end zone, thank you very much), and the kids walloped us in football. I managed to get one of my three arrows on the target in archery, so I think I didn't embarass my child this go-around. We also got to watch the kids swim, and Ben not only remembered to bring his camera but got lots of video. Here is Greyson doing the butterfly:

Is it really the 3rd week of July already?

What? You wanted to see photos of kids? Updates on our doings? Something to read at work to break up the boredom? I am here to help.

Reece had a bug bite behind his right ear a few weeks ago and we thought nothing of it. Then I picked him up from school the next day and he looked like this (actually, the hair is courtesy of just getting out of the bathtub):I think half of his head was channeling Dopey from Snow White. As you can see, it didn't bother him at all. That same evening, Greyson decided to label his belly with his name. In case he lost it, I guess:

We've had two weeks of company - first some of Dan's fraternity brothers and one spouse for a reunion weekend, then Dan's sister and niece came for six days (they left today) and his brother is here for two weeks. It's been great fun but has left little time for blogging. I also didn't get very many pictures because I could never find my camera when I wanted it and I was having too much fun to care very much.

I stayed home with the two little ones (Carly is 3) on Monday while everyone else went to see the new Harry Potter movie. Much painting took place that evening, with lots of cooperating and admiring each other's art. I fear Reece needs a little sister. Except when she tries to talk to him when he's watching TV. My ears are still ringing from his wails of "CAAAARRRRLLLYYYY! Stop Talking!!"

Isn't she a cutie??!! A real pistol and very sweet at the same time.

No, really??

I get email updates on product recalls from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and sometimes the wording of the warning cracks me up with its obviousness. Examples include burn hazards associated with lighters and laceration risks due to using knives. But this one I received today is by far the best:

Women’s Shoes Recalled by Charles David Due to Fall Hazard

Seriously?? Granted, the actual risk is that the heels tend to break off, but I have to say I just wouldn't be surprised if I fell wearing one of these even with the heels fully intact. I especially like that they're designed by a man...

Attempt to beautify a concrete slab

My mom asked to see a photo of how I "beautified" the back patio, and since I try to do as my mother asks, here are two:

Also, one of Reece's teachers convinced him to get into the water yesterday during swim lessons, so he asked me this morning if we could go to the pool together so he can "swim" in the big pool. That's got to be some kind of record of going from fear of the water to being ready to jump right in!

Renovations update

Kids? I don't have kids to write about. I just have a house that's been partially demolished and no secure funding to build it up again. I'm going to have to rename this blog shortly to something like "The Drama About the House" if things don't get resolved soon around here.

We have now had three appraisers come through -one before the demolition and two since. I'm getting very adept at talking up the best points of our house and skirting around any negatives. The irony is that while we're hoping for the house to appraise high for loan purposes, the county auditor just sent us a notice that they've lowered our house's worth for taxes. Best case scenario is that the appraisals come back high for the bank, we do all the renovations, and we pay lower taxes. Worst case, we start putting away the money we're saving on taxes so we can rebuild the garage, etc. in 10 years and Dan kills me this winter after the 100th day he has to dig his car out from under two feet of snow at 7am.

Most likely we'll know by the end of the week what both banks are willing to give us and then we'll decide from there. Oh and the kids? They're fine. Greyson's loving his camp; Reece started swim lessons at school/camp but refuses to actually get in the water (he will, however, lie on the drain shelf and put his WHOLE FACE in to blow bubbles); we had a lovely July 4th weekend that included all the required activities - a bbq/picnic with friends, pool time, fireworks with the cousins, an Indians game for Dan & Greyson, and planting flowers for Reece & me. I took no pictures during this time and am depending on Tara and her new camera to provide them. Eventually I'll post photos from our Chicago trip a few weeks ago, but I need to get permission from some people who are also in them before I do so. Until then, you're stuck with a whole lot of black print on white background.