The house...

Our rental house here is dreamy! It has so many features that we absolutely love. I will have to take photos of more details in the future...but here is the general style of it.

The living room/dining room has a big boveda ceiling (brickwork that is in a big dome shape...so it is a high roof!).


These large glass doors on 2 of the walls, making it bright and airy!

These doors on the right are pocket doors, and open ALL the way into the walls, leaving the glass entirely hidden behind the walls. We can have the screen closed our open, too.

The bedroom door can be seen across the patio, and it also has nice big windows and doors that open. The 2 bedrooms (the kids share one) are big and roomy.


Most importantly, each room has skylights that keep everything bright and cheery. There is absolutely no need for turning on lights anywhere during the day, as there are skylights in the bathroom, closet, hallways, etc!

AND...every day is absolutely, stunningly, BEAUTIFUL.

A different kind of sprinker...

Have a smaller yard? Why bother with hoses and sprinklers? Here is an attachment that turns your spout INTO a sprinkler...for real!

Mexican Parking...

why not?

Nieve...

A good friend of mine treated me to Nieves the other day (Nieve=snow). They put fruit juice in a big container which is then shaken/rotated in a big rustic barrel full of salt and ice. I really still don't understand how that could make something turn into nieve...but I love it!

So...introducing what I would call FROZEN LEMONADE (quite possibly the best frozen dessert in existance)! I used to crave these when going to "Worlds of Fun" in Kansas City, but I was rarely willing to pay the price tag. Here? $2.50 and under for a cup!


Oh, but don't forget your toppings! Pour some more lemon juice on, and don't forget your CHILI powder!

Yes, seriously. They put chili powder on their FROZEN LEMONADE.

:::shaking head:::


This is what a true Mexican nieve looks like. Mine had only a dash of chili powder so I could try it (not terrible, but not preferable, either!)

A Mother's Worst Nightmare...

Or at least one of them!

Guess what we found in Ethan's little tent that he sleeps/plays in sometimes?



Luckily:

#1. It was dead (why? I have no idea!)
#2. He wasn't sleeping in it (no, he now regularly sleeps in a bed that is off the ground)
#3. We are now checking the tent more thoroughly before letting him play or sleep in it!
#4. It is the only one we've seen here, so far!

Babying the Baby...

Ella and Maiya treat Ethan like he is a doll. It is absolutely terrifying for me, sometimes! But other times it has its sweet moments...

Shopping for School Supplies

The school here gave us a list of school supplies needed for each girl. So, we went school supply shopping...Mexican style!

We entered a local Papeleria, which essentially sells any thing: cards, ribbons, gift bags, glue, notebooks, sewing supplies, etc. Really...it is a mix of anything and everything!

Close to the Ajijic Plaza is Papeleria Hidalgo, with a very nice couple who has owned the business for over 20 years. It shows, because there are so many things hidden in every nook and cranny (and perhaps some are as old as the store?)! I

We handed them the school supply list, and let them try to knock off as many items as they could. It was a good 30-45 minute wait, but we enjoyed browsing and relaxing on the front stoop...until we walked away with nearly $100 worth of school supplies (and there are still some items we missed!)! Ouch! :-)