Last minute preparations

Well with only 5 days left before we head down to Colombia we are doing last minute things to get the house in order...up until the last 2 days our living room - which is now the play room has been a repository for all sorts of things that people have been stopping by to drop off.

I cannot get over how generous everyone has been in going through their things and finding clothes, toys and just general 'kid stuff' that their children have either grown out of or in one case some friends of ours had their children go around their rooms/house with shopping bags and pick out toys to 'share' with Carol, John-Freddy, and Anji. We have had folks pulling up in mini-vans chock full of stuff saying "Whatever you don't use pass it on...". This has been really incredible. Thanks so much to everyone...really - we could not have done this without everybody's help.

So up until yesterday - when Donna and Heidi spent the WHOLE day (sun-up till sun-down) - we were seriously walking over boxes of toys and piles of clothes in our living room, hallways and even half of our garage. but the house is finally coming together. Donna has really been working so hard to sort and organize in addition to managing all the details of the trip...she really has been great and I wanted to share a picture of her handiwork. We have converted our living into a playroom...and it looks fantastic with PLENTY of room for getting down on the floor and playing (especially knee hockey):

As for me - I've been trying to finish up some work on a few side jobs and also get things organized at work for when I'm gone (This is the most time I've ever taken off at once !). I've also been honing my 'father'-ing skills by reviewing all my 'Leave it to Beaver' DVDs...Ward always seems to know what to say!

More updates to come as we get closer to leaving...

later,
Scott