Independence Day

In the way of an update, over the course of the last ten days:

• We grew totally frustrated with the ridiculously poor management of our apartment complex (air conditioning problems in the deep South in the summer are no laughing matter)
• We applied for a mortgage loan, as a lark, really - and got approved
• We searched for a house with certain qualities and requirements - and FOUND it
• We have put down a contract and are nearly 100% sure to get the house we want

So, in a whirlwind of activity, things are changing and fast. Our back porch is starting to fill up with boxes, and we officially gave our move-out notice a few days ago. We hope to close and move in a few weeks' time. Getting away from this place, and the unpleasantness of it all - not the least of which would be throwing money out the window each month - will be liberating.

Stephen never went to the summer camp I had hoped would be the answer to our "summer is here and I miss school" problems. It was a disaster - construction delays prevented the camp from being held in the proper location, and our gut instincts didn't feel right about the teacher, the set-up, or anything. In a move that seems not-so-smart in retrospect, we let Stephen's school-year teacher come and get him so he could spend time with her, and at first, he pined for her on every day that he DIDN'T get to see her. It smoothed out a bit, though, and I suppose it all turned out okay. Monday he'll start ESY services with her, back at the school building he's used to, and that goes through the end of July. Two weeks into August, school starts back in earnest.

Kerry will begin middle school in the fall, and all the emotions wrapped up in that deserve a blog entry of their own. He's growing up before my eyes - I watched him at the pool yesterday, playing with some little kids (probably 6 to 7 years old) and saw him in a whole new light. He was the BIG kid, laughing and playing and being good-naturedly teasing with the little ones. He's an amazing young man, who's very excited about the new house, and has claimed the downstairs den as his own - for Lego storage and a hoped-for drumkit... Like I said, he's growing up. :-)

I haven't been very faithful to write here lately, and I'm afraid moving to a new house will only make it worse. I look forward to updating later with pictures of the new place and stories of how we all handle the transition.

So, Happy Independence Day to you all - however you choose to celebrate it. And now, back to the boxes...