State of the Union

My attention to this blog has lapsed somewhat in the last two months. We have packed all of our worldly possessions into a closet storage unit and a two bedroom apartment while doing the addition/remodel on the house that we've been talking about for years. Well, okay, *we* are not actually doing the remodel, but it is being done.

I've been updating the photo documentation of the remodel pretty regularly here. Despite several unforeseen delays, the contractor is still claiming they should meet our four month completion estimate. That would put us back in the house in early-mid November.

The transition to apartment living has been pretty smooth, but certainly not without a hitch. Larkin and Finn feel a little uprooted from their nest, but they are excited enough about the prospect of their new rooms that it has not been too traumatic. They have been fluctuating very regularly between wanting to stay at the apartment forever and wishing we could move back into the house immediately.

The kids have enjoyed having a flat, paved expanse right outside the door that they can ride their bikes and scooters on.

Emile takes them swimming in the pool almost every evening.

They've also been pretty thrilled to have lots of kids around who are ready to play. Before now, I don't think Larkin has ever turned down the opportunity to play, but having so many kids around has allowed her to be a bit more discerning in her friendships. The other day, she came in from playing outside saying she needed some space from one of our neighbors. "He kept saying he was going to go home if we didn't play what he wanted to play... so I told him to go home."

It has been interesting to see Larkin and Finn become a united front when there is conflict with other kids. They often don't want to play unless they are both there in case back-up is needed. I think this is partly because there is some clique-ishness among the kids who have known each other longer and there is safety in numbers.

More on recent activities soon.