4 Smiles and 1 Banana

It has become too cold outside for the gathering of pinecones, twigs and rocks, so the kids have found entertainment inside. Their days consist of school, Spanish cartoons, homework and the making of "chemical X". No one is allowed in the bathroom, other than the Scientist and his 3 assistants (which pretty much just leaves me). Halloween couldn't come soon enough for them, as they are all eager to dress up as Scientists. We may constantly have a precariously full cup of "chemical X" on the counter, and have to dip our hands into a glass of mushy soap to wash, but it's a small price to pay for happy kids, who have lived in a hotel without toys for WAY too long. Gavin woke Saturday with a high fever, Addie with a terrible cough, and Eli with a sore throat. Gavin didn't get to go to a birthday party he was really looking forward to, but seemed to be much happier after finding out he also wouldn't be attending church. Three hours of church is pretty long for kids, and in another language is a whole different story. It's going to be tough keeping them pumped up for church.

It seems our shipment of belongings will never arrive. It's killing me to not have Christmas decorations. Our air-ship consists of: clothes, linens (though we won't have beds to put sheets on), flatware, glasses, dishes, and Christmas decorations. All things essential. We may not get our sea shipment until after Christmas (original date was Dec. 6) which is unfortunate but at least we'll have a tree, our stockings, and a variety of clothes (our suitcases did not hold enough for laundry conditions and our extended hotel stay), though gifts we had already purchased are also in the sea ship -whoops.

And now, onto the very chic ways of the Ross family in Spain.

1. As I write this post, Brett is dancing around with his ipod, singing way too loud (kids are sleeping), wearing a T-shirt, khaki socks, and red Hawaiian print swim trunks. Due to laundry conditions, he is out of pajama pants as well as any comfy pants.

2. Because of afore mentioned laundry conditions, clothes are worn MUCH longer than would normally be acceptable by me. We now understand why Europeans have gotten a bad rap for smelling foul. When it takes an hour plus to wash and a good 6-9 hrs to dry very small loads, wearing clothes until you have to chisel them off, is the only answer. Conditions will hopefully improve when we move into the house and can do more than one measily load of laundry a day.

3. We piled our kids up with groceries as we shopped, refusing to pay a Euro to use a shopping cart. It turns out, you put in the Euro to unlock the cart, and get it back when you lock the cart up after. Would have been helpful to know a little earlier. Actually a pretty good system, as you are less likely to abandon the cart somewhere.

4. The kids had to take their lunches to school in trash bags. I ran out of the few brown bags I had brought with us, and their lunch boxes are in the sea shipment. We have since bought new lunch bags.

5. I walk an hour (in windy, 37 degree weather), to the house to do a load of laundry, and then carry the clean load home on my back.

6. Last but not least, as I'm sure I'm missing a few, we are driving around in a banana boat. Pictured below, is our Mercedes. Brett dropped me off to grab a few groceries while he circled the parking lot and thought he was pretty funny to honk a few times when he pulled up to me. I'm having flashbacks of asking my mom to drop me off around the corner. I'm sure it's the car they save for cool American families.

We are living a picturesque Euro dream. Driving around in our sweet banana, wearing crusty clothes, carrying lunches in trash bags, and totin' 4 kids piled high with groceries. Nevermind the Land Cruiser parked next to us is full of 3 matching youngsters -boy in knickers, knee socks, sweater, pea coat, and appropriately contrasting scarf; girls in matching sweater dresses stylishly layered, tights, boots, and bow atop perfect curls. As much as I love this look, we are American, and I don't think Gavin is going to be trading in his slick pants and Nike's, for knickers. We are just happy that the kids are young and seemingly unaware. They don't seem to notice any of these little details. When they saw the banana boat, they were so excited, and couldn't wait for a ride. And yes, I'm grateful for our Mercedes, so I don't have to walk in the rain with laundry on my back.

*Brett added my name to the rental Friday, so I got to take the plunge. I dropped him off at the train station and then drove a stick for the first time in 7 years, amidst crazy Spanish drivers, on streets where lanes are a very casual suggestion, in a VERY long car. I survived though it took a while for my heart rate to get back to normal.