My goodness!  That's about all I can say!  I feel like I've been running a marathon and the homestretch is still out of sight.  There has been so many different things that I've been wanting to blog, but haven't found the time.  I'll post bits and pieces here to keep everyone in the loop.  If any garner much attention, I'll elaborate in a separate blog.

Many of you know about the house.  It's coming along very nicely.  We have all the rough-in complete and hope to have an inspection early next week.  We will be framing in the pantry today (ugh, in the heat) and we have to repair some places on the house wrap, then we can get the exterior inspected.  We have someone lined up to install our siding.  We decided on vinyl siding - cost/expense helped us determine this.  Since we hired an electrician rather than do it ourselves, we had to absorb the extra cost somewhere.  That's OK, we're still in budget AND we can hire someone to install it for us.  With our current work schedule, that's a HUGE benefit.

School's almost out for the summer.  I am looking very forward to that!  It's been a great year, but it's had a couple of bumps along the way.  My son was accused of stealing markers.  It was resolved and they acknowledged that it wasn't him (after I showed my tail).  But it still hurts when someone makes false accusations.  He also got in a fight with a kid (we think the one who tried to set him up about the stealing).  Again, my son didn't have any discipline repurcussions.  He was defending himself.  The other kid was expelled.  I simply cannot tollerate a bully. 

Memorial Day weekend was LOVELY!  We spent the weekend at Lake Gaston and I have rarely seen so much incredible beauty.  I was fortunate enough to have my camera ready to snap pictures of the blue heron swooping across the water.  I got pictures of the family of geese on the shoreline.  Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera when we were taking a long walk and spooked up a doe.  We thought it strange that she let us get so close, and when we looked at where she had been bedding down, we saw two, absolutely beautiful, spotted fawns.  They couldn't be more than days old.  While I would have loved to sit and watch them, I knew mama deer was nearby, waiting to come back, so we left.  A part of me wanted to go back and get my camera, but I didn't want to disturb them again.  So that's a beautiful memory I can share only in words, not pictures.  But the picture is firmly planted in my mind.  It was incredible.

Fast forward to yesterday.  Had to take my son to the dentist.  He was complaining about his tooth hurting.  He had 2 root canals (partial pulpotomy) a couple of years ago and I guess it's time to complete it.  I've always wondered why he has so much trouble with his teeth.  None of the rest of us do, but at his age to have had 2 root canals...it doens't make sense to me.  We very strongly enforce good dental hygiene.  The dentist said there must have been a time when he was a baby that he ran a very high fever and that can damage teeth during formation.   I thought back and sure enough, there was twice as a toddler that he spiked a fever (104).  As quickly as that fever came it, it went away.  We had him at the dr both times and they just said it was a virus and let it run it's course.  Those high fevers always worry me.  The dentist said that it probably affected his teeth, which is why he has soft enamel.  So, we have him scheduled for root canal later this month.  Poor guy!  He's brave and he's a trooper.  After this one, we can get the permanent crown on the top and then he'll be done with that tooth.  Eventually he'll have to have the other tooth done, and then he'll be finished. 

While all this was happening, we had to take Abby (our lab) to the vet for an emergency visit.  She came in the house the other day with dirt caked on her cheek.  A closer inspection showed that she had sores and gooey patches on her face.  Her face was swollen and she was limping on that shoulder as well.  At first, we thought it was a hot spot (our male lab would get those), so we put dermacool on it.  But by the next morning (yesterday) it seemed a little worse.  We feared she'd been bitten by a snake, so we took her to the vet.  turned out it was only a hot spot.  The vet shaved her cheek, cleaned her up very good and gave her a shot that would keep her from itching.  It's MUCH better today and she is a much happier/relaxed dog.  Thank goodness! 

Well, I guess that's it for now.  Time to head out to the house to do some work.  The kids both have sleep-overs at friends' houses, so we have a rare adult night scheduled for tonight.  We'll probably grab something to eat, come home and crash!  That's what happened last time.  It's tough getting old!  (just kidding).