thatswhatshesaid

A grouping of our sprinklers went out while we were on vacation so we came home to a large dead patch in our front lawn. Because our area is facing drought and water is at a premium we thought we'd go ahead and install the walkway to our front door that we've always talked about, rather than replace the grass (the dead patch being pretty much exactly where the walkway will go). But being as this is a spontaneous project we have a small budget.

The yard is not steep but it does slope a fair amount. The pathway would be a few feet wide and about 12 feet long. We were hoping to avoid steps (cost and amount of work involved). Is that wise? We were thinking decomposed granite since that would allow us to dig it up if there were problems with the irrgation pipes that run below it, or if we wanted to change it to something nicer in the long run. I didn't know how well decomposed granite would work on a slope.

Any other material suggestions or advice appreciated.

I am the adoptive mother of a 2yo boy from Ethiopia. I also have 2 bio kids, 5 and 7yo.

I would like ANY suggestions on how to help my son with the questions he has/will have. Be BRUTALLY honest.

Here is what we do now:

We have an open adoption and contact with my sons Ethiopian father and 4 siblings. His mother passed away.

We will visit every other year or every 3rd year as finances allow. In the meantime, we write frequently and send photos. We sponsor his 4 siblings (who are still with his father) so that they can attend school.

We have photos of my son with his father and us with his father hanging with all the other family photos. We also have a video message from him that our son watches whenever he wants.

I have kept a box with every single adoption related document I received, for my son whenever he is ready for it.

We have made friends with other Ethiopian adoptees and embraced his culture.

What else can I/should I be doing? What am I doing wrong?