Let's Get This Party Started!

Yesterday (Friday), the heat backed off a tiny bit, probably only a 98-100 degree high, and visible progress was made. The carpenters started framing, laying wood over the foundation and beginning to set the floor joists. They also started framing what will be the wall between our Master Bath and Kitchen. Our contractor tells me that the plumber will be here on Monday to work on roughing in plumbing and that the unexpected replacement of all the existing ducting will cost us an additional $9500. Yikes.

On a personal family note, the kids have had it (and they're not the only ones). The heat and dislocation have pretty much undone them completely. Venti and Tall completely refused to go to swim team practice and Tall had a near-sit-down-strike at swim team Buddy Night. Grande claimed with some vehemence that he hates swimming and thus was going to refuse to swim at camp, despite the heat. (He did end up swimming, or at least brought home wet swim gear.) It's the incessant whining, complaining and poking at one another that really grates, however, especially since I'm working non-stop to find fun activities, especially tasty food, and other comforts to make up for the difficulties we're all enduring. Fortunately, I made a semi-savvy Priceline bid on a hotel in a nearby business area (cheap cheap cheap on the weekends, no business travellers) and we headed over there, where we turned up the air, took long showers and slept in. It wasn't a complete cure, but it was pretty nice and we'll probably do it again, especially if another heat wave strikes.

Today (Saturday) was a real treat, the whole family headed over to the stoneyard and picked out granite. Although dh and I have a widely divergent vision on the style of an ideal kitchen (he fancies an all-stainless steel commercial look, I want a warm sophisticated yet comfortable and family-friendly faux Tuscan), we were able to come to an agreement on a truly beautiful group of slabs. They're blue, with a wavy pattern that is soothing and oceanic without being crazy or distracting. Gorgeous! Should have taken some pictures there, oops, was busy trying to pick out the perfect pattern and trying to keep the kids safe.