The Beginning

Friday, Puck was back into naming his matchbox cars. Carrie was in the process of teaching him the names of the various makes and models.
“What’re you looking for, Puck?” she asked him as he rummaged through his car box.
“Bugati!” he exclaimed.
He also knew ‘Corvette’ and ‘Hummer’.

It was a day to be busy.

Linnea was leaving for the Carolinas with Mandarin and her family. So by 11:30, Mom shipped her over to their house, with bike and helmet included.

And Dad was busy studying, helping Carrie get her paperwork together for her PhD admission, and examining tours to the Middle East for himself and Mom. All this, after taking his morning run.

Meanwhile, Joe’s party was on Saturday. So Mom, Carrie, and Collette shopped at Costco for all necessary supplies. Upon return, Carrie strung up colored LED lights in the trees out back. Mom caught up on a quick nap before joining Dad at El Maguey. Joe returned from his all-day class, later to accompany Magnus to OLeif’s and Collette’s for the evening. Collette and Puck returned home to make Monte Christos (being grilled hot dogs sliced down the middle with a little chili powder, toasted on baguettes with mozzarella, and spread with grape jelly on top) where Rose dropped in to freshen up before joining Annamaria for O’Charley’s. And Francis was air-softing with Creole and Puff ‘o Lump…

That evening, while the boys clowned around in the basement and OLeif worked on his various studies and side-jobs, Collette went over the details of their adoption packet. Lord willing, if all went as planned, they would have a little brother for Puck, from Colombia. It would be a long wait, but they were all looking forward to it, and excited to begin the long process.