Let There Be Light... I Mean, A Room!

I do believe we almost have a room. I mean, if you consider stark drywall and concrete floor to be a room, but we're much closer anyway.

On other fronts, I thought that once our dossier was submitted we'd go onto the waiting list. However, I learned today that I misunderstood that one (is anyone surprised?). The dossier IS submitted, and it's being reviewed. But we also must have CIS clearance to go on the wait list. We had clearance for Guatemala, so we submitted for a "switch" a couple of weeks ago to Ethiopia. Let's hope they are feeling festive in the CIS office in Phoenix and get that change made pronto!

But with the holidays upon us and folks coming into town and cookies baking (and the sun shining), I can't complain about much.

More to come...

Demolition continues...

We're moving along on the demolition. I called our drywall/framer today to ask him if he remembered that he also had to take down the wall in our bathroom through which one would have to walk (and into which a door therefore must be installed) to get to the baby's room. Do you think his answer was actually "Yes?"

If so, you would be mistaken.

"He did not remember," I thought, "which means he also didn't remember to include that work in his price!" I don't want to pay anyone more than necessary, and I also don't want someone to come into my bathroom with a sledge hammer because there is a portion of our bathroom which will have to be put back together (by me) and it includes tile and, from experience, I can tell you that you want to have to dremel out as little grout as possible down the road. It isn't fun.

Therefore, I saw NO reason not to just start tearing out the bathroom myself. Doesn't that sound perfectly reasonable?

David didn't think so.

I can't appropriately describe the look on his face when he came in wondering about all the hammering and saw the reality of what was causing it.

Of course, Jack came in and announced that he needed Santa to bring him his own tool set --- drill, hammer, and screwdrivers, so that he could get in there with me and really help!

The framer/drywall guy is coming tomorrow morning (I'll believe it when I see it) and will begin his part. In the meantime, I'll continue with my part. I have to get a 4 ft x 6 ft mirror off the wall (it's glued on there thanks to the homebuilder) before David gets home because he has no desire to help me or watch me or even know that I'm doing it.

The real joy: I leave town tomorrow for the weekend to visit Katie, Steve, and Sylvie and so David has to live with this construction over the weekend. Of course, I'm not thrilled either because that means I don't get to wire electrical with Len. But Len said he'd leave some work for me to do on Sunday night or Monday morning. Yeah!

I'm praying that the reference letter we're waiting on will arrive today and I can lug the kids to UPS to overnight our dossier to our agency. That would be a wonderful birthday gift, as my birthday is tomorrow (hint hint).

More soon!

Please hurry, I must get back to work!

I love telescoping drill bits!

How the heck is this thing connected?

When all else fails, go for the hammer.

Grace was home from school today because she was feeling a bit under the weather last night. We had a few errands to run, including Old Navy. While I was in the women's section, she said, "I'm going to go to the kids' section."

Grace is really not all that into clothing (thank goodness). She likes what I buy her and rarely peruses the girls' section of a store. I figured she was just killing time.

About 15 minutes later, she found me and said, "Mom, I was looking for my sister! Look what I found! Isn't this perfect? AND it was on sale!" And here it is.

Come on - is that the cutest thing you've ever seen or what? And the fact that she was paying attention to the sales was extremely validating!

Our dossier should go into the mail tomorrow. FINALLY! This one wasn't bad, but we're just very ready to be back on the wait list!