Around The World In 36 Hours

The long-awaited (Ha!) traveling recap is here.

Our game plan ahead of leaving on our trip was this:

Stay two nights to get the maximum Duty (Heh) Free exemption.

Take the quickest route possible so as to make it (somewhat) bearable to travel in a confined space with three small children.

Purchase a wide array of clothing for the kids (They keep growing. WHAT THE HECK?), and pick up a few classic staples/necessities for myself, such as:

• New training runners.  I have been using my 4-year-old trail runners which are both bulky and awkward.
• Pick up some new workout gear. I get uncomfortably hot if I wear my full-length lululemons to boot camp.  I have a pair of Costco yoga capris, but they are quite fitted.  I feel like my Inner Thigh is all, “HI! NICE TO MEET YOU!”
• Two pairs of boots. Black and brown. Please and thank you.
• A fitted winter coat, in either black or charcoal grey.
• A pair of straight-legged black pants. My current pair of black pants is also quite fitted. My Inner Thigh is feeling a little over-exposed.

We left Thursday morning and made it to the Abbotsford/Sumas border in about three hours. We stopped for lunch (McRaunchy’s. I had a salad.) and then made our way across the border.

Those US border guards are FIERCE. Dude opened the door and called out the kids’ names for a response. He then asked if we were their parents. Could you imagine the craziness that would ensue had they said, “No”?

We stopped in Bellingham to buy some tool that Matthew needed. I do not question his tool purchases and he does not question my photo gear purchases. That’s how we roll.

We planned on stopping at the Target in Burlington to reward the kids with a toy for being such great travelers (They really were. Who knew?) As we were nearing the exit, I saw that the Burlington outlets had added a lululemon outlet since we were there last year. We got the kids their Target toys and then I got to browse lululemon while Matthew and the kids hung out in the van.

Two pairs of capris and a tank top for the regular price of a pair of yoga pants. Score!

We got to our hotel and endured the kids jumping from bed to bed. Literally. We all watched a Disney movie and then turned out the lights. I’ll spare you the details, but IT TOOK AWHILE TO GET EVERYONE TO SLEEP.

In the middle of the night Miss Emily decided that the play pen was not worthy. She needed to sleep between Honey and I.  I got to endure kicks to the stomach, leg and neck (!). Matthew ended up perched on the very edge of the mattress.

The “family bed”?  NOT FOR US.

In the morning, Matthew had a brilliant idea.  After shopping at the outlets, we should drive through Washington and stay somewhere south of the border closer to home. Instead of trying to kill hours in a hotel room with our kids bouncing off the walls (literally), we could see more of Washington and then crash somewhere that would leave us a much shorter drive in the morning.

We did the outlet mall in the most efficient way possible:

• Signed up for the VIP club to get the coupon book FOR FREE (Sign up within a month of heading there). HUGE discounts to be had in addition to outlet prices.
• We hit the kids’ stores first. Once we got everything they needed, Matthew took them to the van for a “break”, which included a movie on the DVD player.
• I then busted my hump and did my personal shopping. I found most everything I needed, save for the pants.
• I let Matthew have some kid-free time and he found a pair of hiking boots that he so desperately needed.

We then headed East through Washington.

Long story short: We got to Wenatchee (Where I found the last item on my list. Black straight-legged pants! From Old Navy!) and the kids were wired after a nap in the van.

We discussed what we should do. We could stay in a hotel to get the two-day Duty (Heh) Free exemption…or we could just go home and pay the duty.

We opted to drive to our house. There really is no place like home…

We made a few stops in small towns where I realized that small-town folk in BC are AWFULLY SIMILAR to small-town folk in Washington. The redness around the neck gives them away.

The border dude only made us pay Duty (Heh) on Matthew’s tool (Heh) even though we did not stay for two nights. Canadian border dudes are awesome.

Let me show you a map of the trip we took:

1,000 kilometers (622 miles) in less than two days.

Yes, we are crazy.

However. At 9 am on Saturday morning, while I was working and Matthew was cleaning (Score!), I mentioned the fact that had we stayed in Wenatchee we would only be starting on the four-hour drive home.

Here is a glimpse of some of the goodness we purchased (For cheap!):

My new pants and boots:

The boots come up to my knee. I also bought them in brown.

My new jacket.

Exactly what I wanted, for far less than I thought it would cost.

(You can click on the photos for more details.)

I had the kids model some of their new duds. This was after church. I threatened torture encouraged them to give me a nice photo so that WE COULD ALL EAT LUNCH ALREADY.

Take #1:

Don’t they look impressed?

Take #2:

Not quite what I envisioned.

Take #3:

THAT’S BETTER. Ish.

It is Thanksgiving weekend up here in Canada. I am a thankful person by nature, but love the opportunity to reflect on what I am thankful for.  I am thankful for all of the above, and then some.

How about you?