Well, We're Back, In the Car Again...

We made it, in one piece, or several as it happens. We finally made it off that last plane with all the pieces of checked luggage (5 boxes, two suitcases, a car seat, and a back pack child carrier), carry on luggage ( 2 backpacks, two shoulder bags, one wheeled bag, and one duffel), and all the people in our family (two adults and one very tired two and a half year old). We got into a generous friend's car, who brought us to the 'home' we'll have here in Juneau. I must admit, after a long day of traveling, little sleep in the last week, and the anxiety over the unknown state the house would be in when we arrived, I felt like that kid on Jurassic Park. After he is thrown over a cement wall in a car by the T-Rex, the hero guy finds him in the car, in the tree. They have to make a mad dash to get down the tree before the car falls on them. Then the car does fall over them as they land on the ground. The kid breathlessly says, "Well....we're back...in the car...again." To which the hero guys replies, "Yeah, but at least you're out of the tree."

It is true. The traveling part is over. We made it. We are back in a beautiful Alaskan rain forest, and in a large space of our own where the rent is paid for the next several months. We are "out of the tree." This morning things look a little more do-able than they did last night. When we arrived in the house it looked like there was a layer of dirt on EVERY surface, and that we were still in the middle of an unfinished construction zone with ladders, drills, saws (I just barely got to it before Elise did this morning!), and other evidences of a house not quite ready for human habitation. I felt just like that kid, feeling there is just still so much to do to get to the point where we can unpack and get some groceries. I mean, we don't even have hand soap to wash our hands, and only one roll of toilet paper....grim prospects at midnight when you are exhausted and worried about putting the toddler down because she'll get filthy in her pjs.

HOWEVER, my sweet husband is fabulous and got a bed put together so we could get some sleep at about midnight, and got up this morning to run to the store for some essential items. Half an hour later, I discovered him still home, because we're having car trouble today as well. It has now been almost four hours since he first tried to get the day started by getting our supplies and is confident the car problem is almost solved. This may be a bit more of a daunting situation than I'd anticipated, but Elise and I got some food, and we are exploring the house. She's loving that she will for the first time ever have her VERY OWN ROOM! She was upset that I made her lay on my bed in my room to get dressed instead of in her room on the dirty floor. She just wants to be in her room. She loves it. She says she likes our 'new' home, and is getting very good at navigating and exploring. We're hoping to get some before pictures, because my mom-in-law told me it will help us appreciate how far we've come if we can see the pre-situation next to the post-situation pics. I find myself getting excited to organize the new spaces, and am ready to accept any organizational advice or tips anyone has. This house is kind of like a blank wall, and you get to decide what to do with it. Right this minute, I think we'll say that is exciting, instead of daunting.......although I think I'm gonna wipe it all down with cleanser first......Hooray for good cleaning products!!!