Yesterday's happenings.

So yesterday was the big border run. We've completely capitalized on the fact that we live 40 minutes from the American border and buying things from the States on the cheap is pretty accessible for us. We feel a little bit bad not supporting the local market, but it's seriously hard to justify spending 50 - 100% more on something that was made in another country anyways.

At any rate, we had to go and pick up some things. I knew this was going to be a big run and bororowed our good friend Trev's big 15 passenger van. I took out the seats, except for one bench so the boys could be legal...oh, and it's much safer than letting them play in the back whilst driving. I might just win some award for being so diligent with my kids safety (and I'm totally kidding...it makes me cringe to see some of the things that we see on the road with regards to kids and car seats/seat belts etc)

So, we picked up the van and off we went. I checked the gas gauge to make sure that I wouldn't run out...just over 3/4 of a tank, perfect. I figured I'd top up in the States and save a little (a lot) on gas.
We were driving and I noticed the gauge getting closer to full, and as I pulled in I thought wow, I'm almost at full, I guess I won't top up here.

I got all of my packages (about 20 of them, Nik ordered our plumbing stuff and it all came in separate boxes) and the two skids (a bathtub and floor tile) and headed outta there! The border was fun, actually, no lies. So we were driving and driving and I heard a beep beep, and saw a little gas pump light up. Oh heavens, it dawned on me that the gauge was getting closer to empty...not full. This, admittedly, was one of the blondest moments, of.my.life.

My husband has nothing to say about it, though I'm sure he's bursting with pride.
The boys had lots of fun in the car and loved getting out of the living room...I mean house.

Our tub and tile (seriously folks, 3.00/sq foot for travertine as opposed to 10.00 here)


plumbing


the van

I'm probably not that clean.

Let me tell you a story about a girl who shathes. This girl tends to put off shathing at all costs because it's not particularely fun. In fact, it's downright dirty. I am this girl and Nik and I invented this word for whatever it is we 'do' when we 'try' to 'clean' ourselves. Our 100 year old rusty clawfoot tub with no shower is in the middle of our second floor, exposed to the elements. I realized this morning that it seems as if I've become one with nature. But, as I sat there (read: laid in the fetal position as semi warm water from a sprayer that continuously pops out of the faucet sprays onto me) I was trying to figure out if it's because I haven't figured out how to reach certain 'spots' to get clean and I just smell like nature, or if it's because I can literally see all of Hill St as we sit perched at its crest and our walls are smashed to bits so there's nothing protecting me from the watchful eyes of our neighbors, so I'm literally IN nature...

To tell you the truth. It's not the shath itself that is all that bad...once I get over the rusty water being sprayed into every orifice (that is pore) but it's stepping out as the breeze catches the dust on the floor and whisps it back up to attach to my not nearly dry enough legs/arms/whatever therefor making my shath almost meaningless and a big ol' waste of time. And as I trudge down the stairs accumulating even more dust to the bottoms of my feet, that were ALMOST clean...I take a look at my, again, blackened face and wonder, "what's the point?"

Perfume sure is my friend these days.

This first photo is a picture of our little one's bedroom looking into the bathroom.



Here's one looking onto the beauty of a linoleum wall that's been half ripped off and if you're not careful can cut you WHILE you're shathing.

Check out the drywall....you GOTS to be careful with that sprayer...it's either open insulation )on the other side of fake tiled wall) or brand new drywall waiting to be hung....both of which would be DISASTERS if they got wet.

Sleeping STATIoNS!

This is where we're sleeping.
We've been here for one month and 10 days. My kids' sleep habits have gone from semi bad to a heck of a lot worse. They were in bed at 10 last night, and the babes didn't fall asleep until...midnight. He was up at 7:45 (which is a whole hour and 45 minutes later than he would normally wake up). Needless to say, I'm so thankful for separate rooms. Someday, we'll have that luxury back, and believe you me. It's a luxury. Sometimes, living in North America is ridiculous, I SO took my personal space for granted. But, think about where some families live...It's great to put things into perspective. So, don't get me wrong, I won't complain, I'm well aware that even though we sleep within 10 feet of each other, we still have many, MANY things that I know others do not.

And. This will make for great stories at Christmas dinners in 15 years. Or so they say.