tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42748111224410153372024-03-13T04:26:51.933+01:00seny i rauxaOn Teens, Tapas and Travel...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger142125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4274811122441015337.post-12794523099315250642012-09-16T00:22:00.002+02:002012-09-16T00:22:58.811+02:00Adventures in Health careIt truly is never a dull moment here. Nick and I were out with friends on Friday night when I received a phone call from Joe asking when we were coming home. He hurt his shoulder walking home from babysitting. He was walking along a short wall he said, jumped off and fell when his ankle rolled. He landed on his right shoulder. He said he could move his arm fine. So I advised him to ice it and take some advil. It was still bothering him when we arrived home shortly after. And when he woke in the morning unable to lift his arm we went off to the ER.<br />
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We went to Teknon, ,a private supposedly American run hospital. Spanish health care is really very good. But we go to Teknon in the hopes of finding an English speaking doctor. And we actually never have. When we checked in I asked for a doctor who speaks English if possible. (in my bad spanish which was further marred by the Laryngitis that I woke up) No pasa nada, she said, Tranquila. Translation...Don't worry about it.<br />
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The nurse who welcomed Joe spoke some English and we were able to get our story across in English, in which we realize that Joe's small wall was actually higher than 3 feet. I started to lose hope that he'd just bruised something.Then the doctor came in and she didn't speak any English. But the good thing about it is when forced to use Spanish it turns out that we do ok. Not completely fluent but overall communication is achieved. A few x-rays later we found out that he indeed fractured his arm, high up right below the shoulder joint. No cast...just a fancy looking shoulder immobilizer. And advil...the wonder drug.<br />
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He's looking at 4-6 weeks of healing time. We've got a follow up appointment on Friday. I'm taking bets on whether or not he speaks English. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4274811122441015337.post-43622463967686914662012-08-30T19:14:00.002+02:002012-08-30T19:14:44.721+02:00Going my wayHi All,<br />
I owe you about a twenty posts from our trips this summer. And I promise to get to them as soon as I can. The kids start school next week so we're currently preparing for that. New families and faces to welcome. New supplies to acquire.But I had to post today because, truthfully, I've been a bit down lately. I suppose it's normal after such a fabulous summer of travel. And returning to a different landscape of friends as many left again this summer. Nick is away picking up the dogs so it's just me and a house full of teens. But I pulled myself together for some errands and I'm so glad I did.<br />
My biggest pet peeve about driving to my house is not that I have to drive four blocks past it to drive four blocks back due to the one ways in the neighborhood. My biggest pet peeve is the one street closest to the house that I can turn up to go to my street is a two way street with cars parked on the side that is NOT wide enough for both lanes AND cars parked, not to mention trees that line said road. So often I'd want to turn into the street and would not be able to enter because a car was parked near the entrance and another was going down...so there I was blocking traffic until I could actually turn in. And it's not like these cars didn't have three other options to turn down that I didn't have to use as an up. It was a legitimate gripe. To make matters worse they recently repaved the intersection and repainted the road line where I make my left up the street. Imagine my confusion when we returned from our trips to see a solid white line at the intersection seemingly indicating that I could NOT make the left there. As there was no other sign there...and I absolutely refused to drive another three blocks to the next left, I hoped that it was an oversight of the recent re-paving and kept my fingers crossed that a cop didn't see. Imagine my delight when I noticed this morning that the white line had black lines painted over it, creating the dotted line which indicated that indeed I could make my turn at that intersection. But there was also confusion as the also recently repainted stop marks on the ground for traffic coming down had also been repainted black. That simply didn't make sense. You can't read black paint even if the road is sort of tan. I started to hope against hope...and there it was at the top of the hill, a beautiful new "do not enter" sign. My pet peeve resolved. I gave a shout of triumph as I turned the corner.<br />
Ah, it's the little things. I change a little and Spain changes a little and we meet in the comfortable middle. But, boy oh boy do I like days when things go my way. And it looks like that will be happening more and more often. <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4274811122441015337.post-6362300162274635862012-07-12T20:23:00.003+02:002012-07-12T20:23:49.585+02:00things gone by...Hola,<br />
We're gearing up for a great summer full of exciting travel and there are a few things I've neglected to blog about during this time. So here are some things you might have missed...<br />
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1. Three hour tour...Nick and I took the kids (and Joe's friend) out on the boat...It started by accidentally paddling onto a protected area (who knew birds needed a beach sanctuary so close to the airport). And ended with a three hour wait for the Guardia Civil (think Spanish Coast Guard) to tow our "oops it looks like we've drifted onto the beach"ed boat. Fun was had by all until the motion sickness set in. (being towed backwards does NOT feel good)...and the boat was not damaged at all.<br />
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2. So long and thanks for all the fish...after 7 fabulous years, Nick finished his time at Vistaprint at the end of June. They had a very touching going away party for him, which they invited the whole family to. It was such a treat to have the kids hear the fabulous things others' had to say to about their Dad. We're all looking forward to spending time together. Nick is now officially a full-time slacker. <br />
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3. College tours....I think this one may deserve a post of it's own. Lots to talk about on the college front. Andrea, Alexa and I went to look at 5 colleges, Chapman University, UCLA, Loyola Marymount, Ithaca College and Syracuse. Interestingly enough the favorite fell off the list, the last minute add on ended up at the top...and we're still not sure we found the "it" school.<br />
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4. Home is where the puppies are... and they're on the Jersey Shore. Actually, that might be an awesome reality show. With all the travel we have planned it didn't seem right to leave them behind with a sitter looking in on them. So they are staying with Grandma and Grandpa. We all miss them terribly and the house feels empty. I'm counting down the days until they are back with us. <br />
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Soon we're off for the northern cruise...and then to Thailand where we're hoping to meet up with friends while touring exotic locales. It will be a summer to remember. I found a t-shirt for Nick at the airport in LA..."these are the good old days." I think that about sums it up.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4274811122441015337.post-77163234340528648762012-05-07T12:07:00.003+02:002012-05-07T12:07:48.542+02:00Cambiar SentidoHola todas,<br />
This just in, Nick passed his driving test. This was the actual driving test, in Spanish. And he passed the very 1st time! We're so proud of him. Now he's all legal. He had to learn some Spanish phrases in order to take the exam, things like, "When you can, turn right." etc. And one of them, struck me as particularly fitting at this point for us. Cuando puedas cambiar sentido. When you can, make a u turn...or more literally, change direction.<br />
<br />Just a few weeks ago we learned a change in direction was coming for us. While we thought we'd be in Spain for a few more years it looks like we're heading back to the US sooner. We're not sure where we're going to end up at the moment and we won't be going anywhere until Andrea finishes high school. But we do know that Nick is going to be able to spend more time with us in our celebration of our last year living together before the oldest goes off to college. We're looking at traveling more and enjoying each others company. So all in all, good stuff.<br />
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And Congratulations Nick for passing the exam on the first try!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4274811122441015337.post-62254932507037585342012-04-28T11:39:00.001+02:002012-04-28T11:39:14.282+02:00Castellers<br />
One of the things I love about Spain are the Castellers. These are groups of people who make human towers. It's amazing to see them standing on each others shoulders, the power in numbers and the bravery of one small kid who climbs to the top, waves and then they all climb down. The last time we were at Tibidabo, actually the church that is on the top of the mountain there was a small competition of Castellers. <br />
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My sister in law and I were up on the balcony of the church when we heard the announcements and went to observe. Below is the group in gray shirts building their tower. The matching shirts show that they all belong to the same group. Before they started it was announced that the smallest kid who climbs to the top was making his first public climb.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">starting off...the large group at the bottom and the first circle on top</td></tr>
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They climb up, getting a foothold in the large black belts that are meticulously woven around each casteller before they start. It usually takes at least one other person to get this right.<br />
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Now I want you to pay attention to the circle at the bottom. In order for the tower to build up, support is needed at the bottom. You need a lot of support to keep those people high up. What started as a group of gray shirts has grown to include all the colors. At times, at large public competitions even the crowd is encouraged to participate.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now the final part of the tower is added, sort of a bridge over the top two. You can see the small climber going up on the left.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">he/she waves quickly and heads back down</td></tr>
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Then, as carefully as they climb up, they climb down. This is when I have seen towers crumble. It's always scary watching people fall off, however, I've never seen anyone hurt. People are always caught. You will notice that the youngest ones at the top all wear helmets, though. It is not without risk.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">climbing down</td></tr>
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Because it was this castellers first climb they gave him/her a special tribute as they stood and waved on the way down and received an ovation.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">first timer</td></tr>
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I love the beauty of these towers. I love the lessons we can learn for them. The importance of preparing together in getting the belt right. The need for broad support if you want to climb high...what a great metaphor for building a person. It truly takes a village. That in the end the safety and success of each team is more important than the competition. And that there is always someone there to catch you when you fall. It really is an amazing thing to watch.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4274811122441015337.post-3085442295207958152012-04-17T11:44:00.001+02:002012-04-17T11:44:50.249+02:00And the years go flying by...<br />
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I used to say when the kids were little that the days lasted forever but the months flew by. Now it seems like years are passing us at the speed of light. It doesn't seem like it's possible that it has been 16 years since this picture was taken...my little peanut. Born 5 pounds and 6 ounces...the tiniest thing I had ever seen...we had to fold over the newborn diapers to fit. She went home in preemie clothes<br />
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But 16 years have passed. And last Saturday night we partied in style. Here is Alexa getting ready with her friends who flew in from Massachusetts to spend the week with her.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe looking good...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alexa and her cake</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">family who came for the special night</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">decorations</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the room</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Younger siblings with their best friends</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Alexa</td></tr>
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We ate upstairs in a room that looked out over all of Barcelona. Then, we went down to the Disco for the dancing. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dancing</td></tr>
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The evening was a great success. A good time was had by all. And my little peanut felt like a princess for the night. What more could we want.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">waiting for taxis</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4274811122441015337.post-24167024747573844742012-04-09T10:36:00.001+02:002012-04-09T10:37:02.979+02:00Lord, what fools these mortals be....We are blessed with 4 very dramatic, expressive kids. Once a year it is my absolute pleasure to share them with the world when the school presents their annual production. This year, with a new director, Mr Torbush, they worked on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Mr Torbush added some fabulous touches to the show by choosing Clockwork Orange type costumes and adding contemporary musical numbers. It was just the thing to get everyone interested in learning Shakespeare's English...which was basically a second language for everyone. Andrea was cast as the King Thesius...why my beautiful daughter is forever cast as men I will never know. Alexa was cast as the king's servant, which we all find exceedingly hysterical. Joseph, with his natural gift for comedic timing was Bottom and Jessica was Peas Blossom, the fairy who eats.(Maybe he was sending her a message that she needed to eat more?) After several months of practice it came down to the last week of practice. Doesn't it always...when on Monday I watched shaking my head and on Friday I couldn't have been more proud of the job they all did. What a difference a week makes...and an audience!<br />
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They had three shows. One Friday night and 2 on Saturday. <br />
Below is Alexa before the Matinee on Saturday with her makeup on. <br />
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Andrea onstage with Mr Santos, the school Principal who was the angry father.<br />
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Joe as Bottom, who was reading his script when Puck, played by our good friend Annie, whom he can't see took the book from his hands.<br />
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Joe having been turned into an Ass, being adored by the fairies...<br />
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Above: Jess sleeping on stage. (she had come to me after the Matinee and said she didn't feel well. I could tell right away she had a fever. We went home, I gave her ibuprofen and sent her to sleep for an hour. It was just a fever, no other unpleasant symptoms. I told her it was ok if I went back and told them she was too sick to go on. She had already had two shows. Her part could be skipped or given to another fairy. And she looked at me and said, "Serious actors go on even when they are sick. And I want to be a serious actor so..." and we went with the understanding that if at any time she felt worse she was to bow out. And she performed fabulously.<br />
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Above: Andrea and Alexa discussing which evening entertainment to pick<br />
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Below Left: Alexa signaling the arrival of the theater troupe. Below Right: Joseph breaking character to explain to the King that his curse was a cue for the actress to enter.<br />
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Dancing to Lady Gaga's Bad Romance, which really seemed to fit the play within the play.<br />
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They all had a great time. I surely was the proudest Mom there with all 4 kids in the play. But I was just as proud of the kids who were not mine. It was not easy to learn all those old English phrases and speak them with feeling so the audience knows what you are saying. And they performed this all in the library, where we had continuous technical difficulties because the lighting system kept shorting out the fuse. Hopefully next year we'll get a theater...there is some talk about some renovations needing to be made on one that comes with our new property. (keeping fingers and toes crossed that this happens.) But that is for another time. The kids never faltered, remembered their lines and delivered three fabulous shows. And , the curtain closes for another year. Rumors have it that we'll be doing Little Shop of Horrors...stay tuned to see what actually happens. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4274811122441015337.post-39383512316465165552012-03-06T15:09:00.000+01:002012-03-06T15:09:37.996+01:00Habitat for Humanity<br />
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When Nick and I were discussing whether or not we would extend his contract, one large point in favor of staying was the opportunity to for the kids to explore the world. The kids' school has sent a group to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity each year since we've been here. First it was Jordan, then Senegal and this year the trip was to Ghana. So we signed up Andrea and Alexa, got their requisite shots and loaded them up with bug spray, mosquito nets and epi pens. We were a little panicked about the use of peanuts in local cooking. It was a long week for me without my two A's...and without any contact. I'm so used to being able to text and call when we wanted. We did get a text when they arrived safe and sound, a few emails that were sent by the school that sent very generic "they're ok" messages. But I wasn't satisfied until Friday when they figured out how to do the international calling, that everything really was ok...despite the news that Alexa had indeed eaten food with peanuts in it and that Andrea was covered head to toe with a rash from the bug spray. But, as she said, she'd rather have a rash then malaria so she toughed it out. Andrea constantly amazes me. And Alexa recognized the peanut right away in the chocolate paste and didn't swallow it, so the reaction didn't require an epi pen...only benadryl. And all was well when we spoke and that was all I needed to know. Here's some pictures of their trip.</div>
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They spent the first day at the beach in Accra.</div>
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met some kids who could do amazing acrobatics<br />
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then traveled to the small village where they'd be staying all week.<br />
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the kids were very friendly. Alexa was amazed that all the women carried everything in large containers on their heads. And most of them while carrying babies on their backs in a sling, much like the sling that this little one is carrying her bear in.<br />
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relaxing...<br />
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celebrating...<br />
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working hard (there are no pictures of Alexa working...I like to think it's because she was taking the pictures)<br />
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Laundry day<br />
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dancing.<br />
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Alexa said that they made pinwheels out of sticks and leaves and ran around. She was amazed that they could create their own toys and be so entertained. I think that is what this picture is of.<br />
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Alexa said that they loved her sunglasses<br />
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All in all, it was an experience they will never forget. Both are looking forward to going back next year.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4274811122441015337.post-23819429948732885622012-03-06T14:40:00.002+01:002012-03-06T14:40:56.617+01:00More pictures from Font Romeu<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Nick and Joe on the ski lift<br />
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Andrea <br />
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Joe<br />
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and really...what is a family vacation without being plugged in...next time we'll leave the laptops at home.<br />
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The morning after we arrived I woke up with a fever. I wasn't planning on skiing anyway. I'm not much of a skier and we already went skiing once in Vermont this year (see...lucky). But I hadn't planned on spending the week sick. Nevertheless, sick I was, although not horribly sick...only fever, achy, how many days until we go home sick. And luckily for me, Alexa had hurt her arm playing basketball and was under doctor's orders to not snowboard so she kept me company.<br />
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We usually went into town once a day to do a little shopping and eat lunch. And about the third day I decided to stop by the pharmacy to see if they would sell me antibiotics. In Spain, (I love this country) they will sell you antibiotics if you know what you are asking for. So here is the funny thing that happens everytime we cross the border. My Spanish becomes flawless. Seriously, here in Spain, I struggle to find the words I need to get my point across. I agonize about which tense to use...and bumble my way through. In France...I've got nothing to say in French. And my brain automatically assumes these lovely kind French people can understand Spanish and it comes out flawlessly....and to no avail because half the time they do not understand Spanish either, which is a story for another time. The country is literally ten minutes away you'd think it would come in handy. But, no. Or it could be that my Spanish is still awful even in Spain. But never the less...the angst is always gone. I have no idea why. Maybe it's because it's a Hail Mary pass thrown in a last ditch effort to be understood. Who knows. I just find it fascinating that without thought or reason when someone starts speaking French to me, Spanish just comes right back out. The women in the Pharmacy did understand my limited attempts to get antibiotic-turns out you have to see a doctor in France. I definitely didn't have enough French for that. <br />
I read recently that you learn a second language in a different part of the brain then the first one. They found this out when stroke patients lost their first language but not their second. And also, recently, I was told that learning a second language holds off the onset of Alzheimer's Disease. So, I'm going to keep working at my Spanish...and try to remember to learn a few things in French so that the next time I go I've got something to say. They really do have fabulous blueberry jam.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4274811122441015337.post-66251258399241065252012-02-09T23:13:00.001+01:002012-02-09T23:13:17.203+01:00a little razzle dazzleJessica is my baby. She may be 13 (sometimes going on 18) but she is my youngest and forever holds that spot of baby in my eyes. For her older siblings there was always a day, usually the first time I saw them after the next child was born, where they seemingly grew up overnight. A moment when they went from babyhood straight into toddler-hood in the blink of an eye. And since Jess is the youngest she never had the moment in my mind. She was always the youngest of the bunch bring up the rear of the growth train.<br />
I hadn't intended for today to be such a big day for us. Yesterday I finally stopped procrastinating and got all the things we needed to get together for the consultation with the orthodontist. We had started this process in October but, we had a new local insurance that wanted us to change orthodontists and there were xrays to be done. Our insurance approved ortho didn't speak English as well and there was a difference of opinion on how best to treat Jessica's issues...which are eerily like my own...pull tons of teeth and push it all back, or pull the lower jaw forward to make the jaw aligned and create space. It took about two seconds for me to vote for option two. After having tons of my own teeth pulled and pushed back during three years of braces only to live with perpetual jaw pain from TMJ. I signed her up for option two....in my head. But making the appointment with our previous ortho and getting there was what was holding us up.<br />
I love Spanish medicine. Say what you want about the advancements in US medicine. We show up for our appointment and the ortho, after an absence of several months, and even though it would have set her back in her day, she was willing to put the braces on Jessica <i>yesterday</i>. I told her it wasn't necessary to ruin her whole day and so she scheduled us for this morning, a day incidentally that she has set aside for paperwork, to get Jessica started. She might have been concerned about still catching Jess in the middle of her growth spurt. But hey, she is still growing so we haven't surpassed it yet. She is just a baby.<br />
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I love Jessica's smile. Jessica earned the nickname "sunshine" when she was very young. Her optimism and energy often added the sun to my days. And she is taking to braces in her usual, glass half full kind of way. When she looked in the mirror at all the metal she only grinned larger and said, "that's a lot of bling."<br />
Yes, it is babe....yes it is.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4274811122441015337.post-75759162706033354382011-12-26T00:27:00.001+01:002011-12-26T00:31:40.417+01:00Vienna... Our very first year here friends of ours went to Vienna at Christmastime. When they returned they told us that we had to visit. "It's like a Christmas Card. Christmas Markets, Caroling...it's fabulous." Three years later we finally were able to schedule a weekend. Before we moved we were big fans of Passport to Europe. I think it was a travel channel show. Samantha Brown traveled all over the Europe in 3 days episodes. She did Vienna in three days...She saw all the Imperial sights, the Spanish horses, the Palaces, did some shopping. I've come to determine that she left out one very important thing. Teenagers.<br />
We scheduled almost three days in Vienna. We arrived on Sunday evening. The kids were shocked at how early the sun set. It probably didn't help that we were fast approaching the shortest day of the year. But by 5 pm when we were walking to the hotel from the train station they couldn't believe that night had fallen. Vienna's transportation is awesome. There is a train that leaves you right in the city center in about 15 minutes. It was a quick 7 minute walk (after we asked a cab driver which direction we needed to head in) to get to the Marriott we were staying at.<br />
One of the fabulous thing about staying at an American hotel is that we get to experience American foods once again. I know, who goes to Vienna for a hamburger but it made the kids super happy to see an American Sports Bar in the lobby, complete with the NFL on the big screen. A few Burgers,Fries and sodas later and they were happy campers. Jess and Joe elected to stay in the hotel and rest while Andrea, Alexa and I headed out to find the Staatsoper.<br />
The Staatsoper is the Opera house. And I was convinced I could find a sign in which I could stand in front of the Staat...leaving only me and the "soper", which is my maiden name. Alas, those Austrians, put their little signs way up high and I never was able to get a good picture of it. But we had fun trying. There was also a Market in the area there that we weren't able to find until our friend Maeve showed us the next day. We ended up getting lost, well, more like, wandering in the wrong direction. We stopped for a Starbucks, righted ourselves and headed back out into the night. We must have at least appeared to know what we were doing as a group of tourists stopped us and asked where to find something to eat. <br />
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The street to the right is the "red street" I'm not sure why. That's what Maeve called it. I just liked the decorations. It's also where when we found ourselves on the street again I knew we were not heading in the direction we thought we were.<br />
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The next day we woke up and headed out to the Schonbrunn Palace. This palace began it's existence as a hunting lodge on the outskirts of the city. It's now within the city limits and was transformed into quite the country cottage for the Imperial Family. Marie Antoinette spent time here as a child.<br />
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The market at Schonbrunn Palace was my favorite of all those we saw in Vienna. It was rather small but it had the most unique handmade items. It was where we had the best chocolate dipped fruit and our first taste of the kinderpunch. The non-alcoholic version of the warmed drink they served. Very delicious and much needed on the chilly morning.<br />
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After the Palace we left to meet Maeve, a friend of ours who moved to Vienna from Barcelona a year and a half ago. her daughter Chantalle is very good friends with Andrea. She took us to this great pasta place and then back to St. Stephen's where we got to go inside and look around. We even got to see Chantalle for a few moments when she got off the bus from school. But she had studying to do. And we were cold from the long day outside, so we headed back to the hotel for some swimming and dinner. </div>
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Our third morning we were a bit slow to get up. We went to the Hoffburg in the center of Vienna to visit the Imperial Apartments. It really is a fascinating history. One I've clearly forgotten. But in walking through the china rooms, where one setting came from Milan and another from Rome, reminds you of how vast their empire once was. We also learned all about Empress Sissy, who was an independent minded, if not severely depressed Empress of a beloved Emperor. After we were finished with the history lessons, it was back outside into the freezing temperatures to see another market.</div>
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The market between the two museums, it has a name which escapes me at the moment, was also really nice. They had some great food treats that we tried. <br />
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The Rathous market is the largest and most popular of all of the markets. It had the biggest number of stalls and the nicest mugs. We loved that they decorated the nearby trees with all sorts of different large lights, hearts, snowmen, trains. It was very whimsical. We went first in the afternoon and then came back at night since it was very clear that the lights would be beautiful at night. <br />
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We took a break back at the hotel to warm up before heading back out to meet Andrea's friend Chantalle. Chantalle planned for the kids to go ice skating in a nearby outdoor rink. We had no idea that this rink was so close to where we were. And the kids had a blast.<br />
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Then it was back to the Rathous market to enjoy the lights and get some good food before calling it a night. We were all frozen solid before turning in. But it was such a treat to spend time with old friends as well as soak in the culture and Christmas spirit of the markets. I'm not sure I would characterize it as a Christmas card come to life. But it was spectacular. And we didn't get to see all the top tourist attractions but were greeted with smiles and warmth from old friends. In the end it's the memories that we made that we'll take home with us. And that will continue to urge us to come back. <br />
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We woke up early on our last morning to take the train back to the airport. Vienna was truly magical but it was so nice to be back to the relative warmth of Barcelona.<br />
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Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night. <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4274811122441015337.post-28130521251904825042011-12-05T22:59:00.001+01:002011-12-05T23:21:17.240+01:00Giving Thanks in a foreign land...Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love the excuse to hide away in the kitchen making magic and mayhem in equal measure to feed my family. I love popping out to catch a glimpse of what part of the parade is passing in front of the Macy's doors. Mostly I love taking the time to really appreciate all we have been given. And this year's Thanksgiving, which was not our most traditional Thanksgiving was full of blessings.<br />
First we are thankful that my inlaws were able to visit just two weeks earlier and share a Pre-Thanksgiving feast. I am so grateful this year that on Thanksgiving, Toni, the man who is in charge of the rotisserie in town, offered to turn it on for us crazy Americans on a Thursday when the only day he does it is Sunday. I'm oh so grateful that he was the one slaving over the bird all day and not me. I'm thankful that I was able to make the holiday a little more like home for two new Moms by sharing Toni with them. I am also most grateful for new friends after so many left our little community last year. I'm thankful that all of those who left seem to have enjoyed their first Thanksgiving "home" in the US.<br />
Each year I've picked the kids up from school by 2 pm so we are home watching our slingbox, which sends our cable from the US over the internet. I completely forgot that we disconnected the cable until early that morning and spent the better part of my day searching the internet for something that would play it live. We're so very grateful that Karen offered to skype with us so we could see the parade. She pointed her laptop camera at the tv and everyone in the family, (Ben, Kyle, Aaron, Omi, Beverly, Nicole) sat with us and watched the parade. We talked during commercials and it was truly the next best thing to being there. Jessica thinks we should do it every year. I agree. (fair warning Karen-you started a new tradition)<br />
I'm grateful that even after I slaved over the stove all day making the sides we never did get a chance to eat together. You may wonder what there is to be thankful in that. Well, Nick was working and in today's economy I'm very grateful that he has an incredible job that challenges and fulfills him. By the time he was home, since it was Thursday which is our worst night for after school activities...I had already dropped Alexa off at Basketball practice and Andrea at soccer practice. So we ate in shifts, first with the J's then with the A's. After three years of not seeing them play, I'm so very grateful that the girls are participating in sports they love. There is almost nothing that brings out that carefree smile like playing with their teams. I am most grateful that the girls both landed amongst other amazing young women with super families who've taken us in, bad Spanish and all, and made us feel welcomed.<br />
Here in Spain, our Thanksgiving looks a little strange. The tastes are different. The timing doesn't always work out just right. But there is so very much to be thankful for, that our hearts are full.<br />
Sending our love to all...<br /><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4274811122441015337.post-13669070191679947172011-11-14T11:08:00.001+01:002011-11-14T16:48:54.383+01:00And we're walking...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with grandma at the aquarium</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandma resting with Rascal</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">view of Ruotolo's at lunch at Port Vell from above.</td></tr>
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And so we're starting backwards because I have yet to figure out this new Blog photo upload. I used to have to go backwards in time to have them upload correctly apparently that is no longer the case...and that is not what you came here to hear about. We've had a fabulous few weeks of visits from family. Visits from Family means I get to don my tourguide hat and hold aloft the plush flower that indicates everyone needs to follow me and listen to what I say. Finally! (grin, maybe that is why I like it so much)...alas, I do not really have a plush flower that we see so many tourguides walking around with...nor much to my children's pleasure do I hold up an umbrella either. Mostly because I'm rather close to my tour subjects in that they <br />
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know me rather well, what we us being related and all. We spent the last week with Nick's Mom and Sister. It is always a quick week when they come to visit...almost always over before we know it. The kids had a busy week with their activities but we were able to squeeze some fun family time at the Aquarium and then had lunch on the water.<br />
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The week before Mom and Maureen showed up. My Mom and her two cousins, Linda and Lorraine came to visit. They graciously brought Jessica's weight in American Candy for our Halloween party. More about that later. It was the second time that Linda had been to Barcelona, once before for a day after a cruise...and Lorraine's first time. So, we pulled out all the stops and showed them the fabulousness that we've grown accustomed to...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">in front of the umbrella building on the Ramblas</td></tr>
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We toured the Gothic quarter, walked the Ramblas, sent them on not one but two of the bus tours...and even got in a day trip to Girona. <br />
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We toured the Palau de Musica, a Catalan Modernista Choral auditorium then went to a restaurant in a Gaudi building, Casa Calvet, for lunch. We found out by reading the history on the menu that the knockers on the door were crosses that struck bedbugs, the universal symbol of evil. Who knew that even in the early 1900's people hated bedbugs...although it does make sense when one thinks about it. But the universal symbol of evil...that is rather harsh.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bed bug=EVIL</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jess helping play tourguide</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Girona</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">on Eifle's bridge</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">inside casa Batllo</td></tr>
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All these pictures are scrambled...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three beauties on Passieg de Gracia</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast in Sant Cugat</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More Girona</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast in Barcelona</td></tr>
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We've loved having all the family around us. Sometimes it's easy in our day to day to forget how lucky we are to live in such an amazing city. There is so much culture and history, beautiful architecture and fabulous food. But more than that is the opportunity to make memories that tide us over until the next time we see each other. So, until we meet again, here's looking at you kid...<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4274811122441015337.post-56290684189708427762011-10-16T17:30:00.000+02:002011-11-14T17:07:43.623+01:00An Americana in Paris The kids had their cultural field trip and Nick was away on a business trip to Paris. So I did what any sane female would do....I went to join my husband in Paris. He spent most of his time working. And while he was busy I wandered the streets of Paris...<br />
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I enjoyed getting a closer look at the gargoyles through the lens I didn't have the nerve to go up the stairs inside though.<br />
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<br />After walking around Notre Dame I headed back to the hotel for a break. Nick had a work dinner as well. I went to a restaurant in the guide that promised authentic French cooking. I was seated with a fabulous family from Norway. We had a great conversation about the Art in Paris. I was so glad I didn't stay in and order room service. The next morning, Nick was once again working and I spent the day at the Louvre.<br />
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I found the perfect tiara for me should anyone decide to make me Queen...</div>
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and followed the tourists around to all the most popular pieces of artwork...<br />
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The line in front of the Mona Lisa was long and thick. I waited and waited to take the picture below hoping to get a better sense of the photo since the distance and bullet proof glass make it seem rather remote. But...it didn't help. She is beautiful but always leaves me feeling a bit let down.<br />
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Winged Victory is one of my favorites.<br />
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Nick was stuck in work so I took a walk to the Museo D'Orsay hoping to see the incredible collection of Impressionist Artwork. Unfortunately those floors were closed.. I was able to see the Dancer though, as she was sequestered in a room we were not allowed to enter but could see through an opening in the hallway. It's funny that a statue in France can transport me right back to my Nana's house in Steelton where she had a replica. She never fails to make me smile.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paris at sunset</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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I finally met Nick in time for a sunset cruise on the River Seine....it was incredibly romantic and a fabulous way to spend our last night in Paris...together at last.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4274811122441015337.post-38720147518398976072011-10-16T16:15:00.000+02:002011-10-16T16:15:24.644+02:00Spanish lessons...or how to cheer on your daughter in Spain...<br />
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After three long years of wondering where the girls play sports here in Spain, we've finally found some clubs that host women's sports. Andrea found her soccer team, or futbal as they call it here last Spring and was asked to join as the second alternate goalie. We were just excited to have Ann playing again. Interestingly enough over the summer she started to get emails that half the team was leaving our club to go to another one and they invited Andrea to join them. We were concerned about this for several reasons but mostly because we wondered if there was even a team left to play for. It turned out that there was still enough for a team. We really liked this club because they let the girls try out and keep practicing when they didn't really have to at the end of last season. They treated us with respect and the team really made Andrea feel welcomed so we didn't want to abandon them for a club that we had never heard of before. So we stayed and learned at the first practice that Andrea went from being the second Alternate Portera (goalie) to the ONLY Portera. We are so glad we made the decision to stay.<br />
<br />They've played 4 games. Andrea played in three. She missed this weekend to take the PSAT's. Her first game they won 6-0 with some great saves from Andrea. The second they lost 5-6 . That was a tough one because she was hurt on the second goal and limped through the rest of the game. Our third game they won 13-0 with almost no action on her side of goal. This past week without her they won 2-1. Below are pictures of Andrea with her team.<br />
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taking the field...<br />
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half time hijinks, giving pointers to a friend in goal<br />
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popping a ball over the top-nice save<br />
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the lonely goalie<br />
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no really<br />
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goal kick<br />
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A fellow parent helped me find the club in Sant Cugat that played basketball for girls. It took us a few weeks to track them down and show up for a practice/try out. But once she was on the court it was great to see that huge grin on Alexa's face again. She said she was so happy to just be playing again. The coaches agreed that she was good enough but wanted to give her a probationary period where they would teach her the plays at practice and then in December we'd see if she was on the team. After a month of going to practice and not playing at games, Alexa was nervous this week about the possibility that she wouldn't make the team in December. So we asked the coaches again last night and they said, of course she will be on the team. They are getting the paperwork together for her now and hopefully withing 2 or 3 weeks she'll be all set to get on the court to play. Meanwhile the team has blown away all three of their opponents. And she's met some local girls who are excited to speak English with her...and she is excited to practice her Spanish with them. She met Olga (below in the picture) who is from Italy and has lived in the US as well. <br />
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One of the great things about this is the opportunity to meet local families, people who aren't just here for a year or two but truly live here. Both teams have very supportive families cheering them on during the games. This helps me to learn my "cheer" Spanish...Va Europa!, Defensia y Rebote! (rebound). I am completely out of my comfort zone though. The parents of the team mates are not like the parents at school or other people I've tried to talk with who are used to people butchering their language. The parents do try to speak to me, but speak so very quickly and I often get strange looks when I respond...heaven only know what I am saying. However, they seem so very friendly and I hope that at the end of the season I'll look back on this and think how funny it all was as now I understand everything they say. And all I can say is how proud I am of my girls who are not any more comfortable with Spanish than I am but are putting themselves out there to learn and fit in and go local. How far we've come in three short years.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4274811122441015337.post-73098640213014824382011-10-16T15:25:00.001+02:002011-10-16T15:25:07.153+02:00Happy Birthday Nick!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Nick's birthday was at the end of September. I finally managed to get us tickets to a Barca game. All six of us sitting together in the stadium (which is harder than one would think!) So it was quite the coincidence when we showed up at DaGreco's (Nick's favorite restaurant) for his birthday celebration and they seated us in the Barca seat table. And smiles all around when Nick opened the envelope with his gift in it.<br />
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All in all a great celebration for a great Dad and Husband!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4274811122441015337.post-57645668869742912052011-10-01T19:57:00.001+02:002011-10-04T14:41:37.236+02:00Correfoc!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Correfoc is a Catalan word for running with fire...or fire run...or hey, watch out those things are HOT! I'm not sure what it all is supposed to be about but it is an amazing amount of crazy fun! It is usually part of the local town's festa mejor's, the neighborhood's big fiesta's that commemorate a Saint's feast day. This particular festival was for La Merce, which is to celebrate the Mercy of Mary when she spared the city from plagues and I believe locusts. The end of the festival is generally when the Correfoc's are held. There is a children friendly version held earlier in the evening for the kids, but we saw children out at the night time one as well. They must be hearty parents though because I surely couldn't have done it. A few blocks down on Via Laetana, right next to the Barcelona Cathedral the street was blocked off for the Gates of Hell, (pictures above).<br />
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My friend Julie had been here last year so she was the perfect guide to tell us what to do, where to stand and generally keep us safe. She even lent me a head cover since I forgot one. It's important to cover up so you don't get singed by the sparks as they pass by.<br />
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The Devil first comes out to the beat of drums to open up the gates<br />
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and then the Colls come down the street, with their monsters and demons. Colls are what the goups are called. Each Coll has monsters that are made of some type of plaster that have fireworks attached that get sprayed out into the crowd. And they each have their own set of drummers.<br />
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The upload of these pictures was wonky. This is after the gates opened and before the first group came out. Below is one of the banners of the Coll.<br />
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The devils and demons held their pitchforks with sparklers on it that would whirl around and get everyone. The brave would go up and dance close to the devil . If you got close enough you wouldn't get hit by the sparks.<br />
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The drummers....I loved them<br />
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I got tons more pictures, most of the good ones are up on facebook. Not sure what is up with the photo upload today. But, this is a good representation. We had a blast as Coll after Coll came down. It was great about a half hour into it when the crowd seemed to thin and we could really get a good look at what was happening. Nick jumped in and got up close and personal with the demons...and has the burns on his clothes to prove it. Note to self, they aren't kidding about the flame retardant clothing. Next year we're taking the kids to see it. It should be twice as much fun experiencing it all over with them.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4274811122441015337.post-36073242490995341902011-09-26T16:58:00.001+02:002011-09-26T16:58:15.512+02:00They're coming from America...Just one day after we came home from camp we were back at the airport to pick up Alexa's friend Kara. I think it was the highlight of Alexa's summer to finally get to hang out with one of her best friend's from home.<br />
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The very next day my friend Jenn and her family came in from California. They weren't staying with us but we made arrangements to do some tours together. Jenn found a great Chocolate class at the Museo de Chocolate.<br />
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below our kids with Jordan and Jake.<br />
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Joe had made a new friend by the end of the day.<br />
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After our fabulous morning class we navigated the public transportation system up to Tibidabo...metros, trams and funiculars...<br />
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And Alexa and Kara took the Obligatory Tibidabo Photo...<br />
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It's seemed like no sooner had we picked up Kara at the airport that we were dropping her off again. The visits go by so fast. And then a few days later the Glovers came to stay with us. We put on our tourguide hats and headed back into the city...<br />
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Luckily, Gracia, one of Barcelona's neighborhoods, was having their Fiesta Major. It's their big street fair, and one of the best in the city, when all the streets compete against each other for bragging rights to the best decorated street. Here are a few of the examples...<br />
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Some were clearly scarier than others...<br />
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We had a great time just wandering around the city...<br />
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and hanging out by the port... <br />
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Finding ways for the kids to have fun...<br />
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And looking at ourselves from different perspectives (picture of reflection on building)<br />
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Candy by any other name still tastes as sweet... <br />
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After we said goodbye to the Glovers, Mary Weinstein and her daughter Ali came to stay with us. Andrea had been in Paris with them the days the Glovers were with us. And it was one more time around the city.<br />
We learned that it doesn't matter how many times you visit the beautiful landmarks here in Barcelona, each time has it's own discoveries and moments of laughter with friends.<br />
And so August flew by...and school was around the corner with new friends and new teachers and a brand new building too.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4274811122441015337.post-56326547559474654852011-09-26T15:53:00.002+02:002011-09-26T15:53:58.632+02:00playing catch up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When we picked up the kids from camp in July. (Yeah July...I'm super behind in updating I know), we decided to stay the night in Salamanca again instead of our original plan which was to spend the weekend in Madrid. But when we changed our plans that left us with Sunday to fill. We'd already seen Salamanca and the kids were looking forward to getting on the road. On the way to pick them up Nick and I noticed the walled city off the highway and commented that it would be a nice place to visit. Avila, the signs said. So Sunday morning we woke up, had breakfast and headed out to Avila, which is conveniently half way between Salamanca and Madrid, where we'd take our flight home. <br />
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Avila (accent on the first A-I need to find a Spanish keyboard) is famous for it's brown granite walls, constructed in the 11th century and still standing today. Inside the walls are many shops and restaurants.<br />
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a view from outside the city<br />
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outside one of the churches, Nick thought it was funny to get a picture of the Lion's rear end.<br />
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and more lion hijinks. You can take the boy out of Jersey...but you can't take the Jersey out of the boy<br />
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and we walked a little on the top of the wall. Some of us a little less than others. That wall was high.<br />
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We were walking around all day and I kept trying to think why Avila seemed so familiar to me. Then I saw a sign for St Teresa...and it dawned on me. St Teresa of Avila. One of the saints I had learned about when picking my confirmation name...and it was interesting to think of her life, one of contemplation and writing, existing within these very walls. After a day well spent we boarded our flight back to Barcelona and a very busy August full of visitors...more on that soon.<br />
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<span id="goog_1004638770"></span><span id="goog_1004638771"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4274811122441015337.post-90996121457932757562011-07-18T19:21:00.010+02:002011-08-29T16:25:41.666+02:00como se dice...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EBuyhKl34eA/TltXNaPFGhI/AAAAAAAACuM/d0hBG_fY1Ac/s1600/DSCN6793.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EBuyhKl34eA/TltXNaPFGhI/AAAAAAAACuM/d0hBG_fY1Ac/s320/DSCN6793.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646202445731535378" border="0" /></a>We've almost lived in Spain for three full years and it's almost embarrassing to admit that we are still not speaking the language. There are mitigating circumstances, like the use of the Catalan language in most of the daily living here as well as the kids attending an international school where English is the language of instruction. But you'd think after three full years we'd be speaking. And by we I mean them...the kids, because I use what I think of as "functional" Spanish. Not perfect but understandable. And because I go out into the community for things more often I have more of a reason to speak it. So started the plan to send the kids to a language immersion camp. Their Spanish teacher suggested a camp in Salamanca, a city about 2 hours drive from Madrid.
<br />Salamanca has a gorgeous old town which was made an UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988. The buildings are made of a sandstone and they seem to glow in the sunlight. The town's nickname is El Dorado, or The Golden City. It's home to Spain's oldest University, the University of Salamanca founded in 1218. And most importantly it's inhabitants speak what is considered the "purest" form of Spanish. So, in the middle of July we all boarded a plane to Madrid, and then drove to Salamanca.
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SWFP-o7o8BU/TltXM7HHr7I/AAAAAAAACuE/-KonlvziOEQ/s1600/DSCN6797.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SWFP-o7o8BU/TltXM7HHr7I/AAAAAAAACuE/-KonlvziOEQ/s320/DSCN6797.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646202437376651186" border="0" /></a>Camp check in was Sunday but we arrived one day early to get the lay of the land and for all of us to feel more comfortable leaving the kids. And by all of us I mean me. I wasn't going to leave my babies just anywhere. We couldn't actually see the inside of the campus until check in but we did manage a walk by...and we don't have a picture of that. We do have pictures of the rest of the city though...
<br />Outside the Plaza Mayor, which reminded me of Piazza San Marco, only more Spanish.
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<br />Inside the plaza....
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JxQLghOPKZM/TltSxkTPF7I/AAAAAAAACtk/Ygjp-GMP9RI/s1600/DSCN6803.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JxQLghOPKZM/TltSxkTPF7I/AAAAAAAACtk/Ygjp-GMP9RI/s320/DSCN6803.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646197569350473650" border="0" /></a>an old Church in the city...
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DhrL2Z8PpoI/TltSxdm4FmI/AAAAAAAACtc/bdSKk35q9p4/s1600/DSCN6809.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DhrL2Z8PpoI/TltSxdm4FmI/AAAAAAAACtc/bdSKk35q9p4/s320/DSCN6809.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646197567553803874" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lAK9Z7X_N3U/TltSxLK5kyI/AAAAAAAACtU/dXTSFc9Gxys/s1600/DSCN6814.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lAK9Z7X_N3U/TltSxLK5kyI/AAAAAAAACtU/dXTSFc9Gxys/s320/DSCN6814.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646197562604622626" border="0" />..
<br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AovFl12cRf8/TltSx83WPsI/AAAAAAAACts/VUNaNEQDZb8/s1600/DSCN6802.JPG">
<br /></a>an old Roman church that doubles as a skate park.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--vIbqMv9OKk/TltSwt8kijI/AAAAAAAACtM/h2tRVIRhXmM/s1600/DSCN6816.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--vIbqMv9OKk/TltSwt8kijI/AAAAAAAACtM/h2tRVIRhXmM/s320/DSCN6816.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646197554759895602" border="0" /></a>The Roman bridge...
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C4nncZdTG-c/TltQWqJl9YI/AAAAAAAACs8/a1Xnp29HwPo/s1600/DSCN6820.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C4nncZdTG-c/TltQWqJl9YI/AAAAAAAACs8/a1Xnp29HwPo/s320/DSCN6820.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646194908040918402" border="0" /></a>
<br />A church facade....
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XpWEq4uUans/TltQWKnpB4I/AAAAAAAACss/a3A4ey_C9Tk/s1600/DSCN6826.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XpWEq4uUans/TltQWKnpB4I/AAAAAAAACss/a3A4ey_C9Tk/s320/DSCN6826.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646194899577014146" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bf62vOR_Rh0/TltQVxSTXVI/AAAAAAAACsk/myCgnpTuh1E/s1600/DSCN6830.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bf62vOR_Rh0/TltQVxSTXVI/AAAAAAAACsk/myCgnpTuh1E/s320/DSCN6830.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646194892776627538" border="0" /></a>An out of order picture of the Church/skate park...
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j2GhaDpR3kc/TltQWyM7k7I/AAAAAAAACtE/MpWeeahkeQs/s1600/DSCN6817.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j2GhaDpR3kc/TltQWyM7k7I/AAAAAAAACtE/MpWeeahkeQs/s320/DSCN6817.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646194910202401714" border="0" /></a>The Cathedral...
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uatXBdpyPY0/TltMz9LESrI/AAAAAAAACsU/bFv76wuip0s/s1600/DSCN6835.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uatXBdpyPY0/TltMz9LESrI/AAAAAAAACsU/bFv76wuip0s/s320/DSCN6835.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646191013317069490" border="0" /></a>Our short tour of the city confirmed that it was indeed a fabulous place to leave the kids. Sunday morning we slept in, had breakfast and went on a short walk that ended at a riverside bar/cafe where we played a few hands of gin rummy before we had to say goodbye to the kids.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KG0XFN6mPdw/TltMzpbApxI/AAAAAAAACsM/guZ96QrFE8o/s1600/DSCN6838.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KG0XFN6mPdw/TltMzpbApxI/AAAAAAAACsM/guZ96QrFE8o/s320/DSCN6838.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646191008015230738" border="0" /></a>
<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>The kids were nervous when we dropped them off but we were confident they were going to make friends quickly and have a great time. And they did.
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4274811122441015337.post-42971933341669601812011-07-18T19:01:00.003+02:002011-07-18T19:20:49.418+02:00What does an American do when they aren't in the US for the 4th of JulyThey round up some friends and head to the nearest Amusement park. Nothing quite says USA like a trip to the "Old West" section of Port Aventura, one of Universal's amusement parks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p0-WbHxdx0Y/TiRqTIcFo0I/AAAAAAAACqY/SlttKSVAtOk/s1600/DSCN6767.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p0-WbHxdx0Y/TiRqTIcFo0I/AAAAAAAACqY/SlttKSVAtOk/s320/DSCN6767.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630742311035315010" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BBCjZM5kl6c/TiRpS0JSebI/AAAAAAAACqI/ITAShRVGf78/s1600/DSCN6769.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BBCjZM5kl6c/TiRpS0JSebI/AAAAAAAACqI/ITAShRVGf78/s320/DSCN6769.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630741206076127666" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1EDBrzGI5yM/TiRpSW__dtI/AAAAAAAACqA/gsdhH1K2CVw/s1600/DSCN6777.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1EDBrzGI5yM/TiRpSW__dtI/AAAAAAAACqA/gsdhH1K2CVw/s320/DSCN6777.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630741198252504786" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2D7-a6C5a0A/TiRpRjsjSKI/AAAAAAAACp4/QXGkkxwvA4U/s1600/DSCN6779.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2D7-a6C5a0A/TiRpRjsjSKI/AAAAAAAACp4/QXGkkxwvA4U/s320/DSCN6779.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630741184480757922" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TyUtfhNi6nA/TiRpRJOq6qI/AAAAAAAACpw/V52boMcWy4Q/s1600/DSCN6785.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TyUtfhNi6nA/TiRpRJOq6qI/AAAAAAAACpw/V52boMcWy4Q/s320/DSCN6785.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630741177376107170" border="0" /></a>After a fun day on the ride, we feasted at a restaurant promising 100% Authentic American food. Barbeque chicken and hamburgers all around. We could almost fool ourselves into thinking we were back in the USA.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4274811122441015337.post-56711319297718156792011-07-18T11:26:00.002+02:002011-07-18T11:28:08.317+02:00Lake Como pics and adventuresI started the Lake Como post and then life got in the way. It's finally up but backdated to the day I started it which is June 2nd. If you want to see/read it, please check it out there.<br />~BrenUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4274811122441015337.post-85640989109036855692011-07-18T10:35:00.004+02:002011-07-18T11:23:38.870+02:00When the boys are away...The girls will play. The last week of June and the first week of July Nick and Joe were off to the US. Joe spent two weeks with his other family, The Torans. Nick was up in Massachusetts getting the house ready to put on the market and working. Not much fun for him but Joe had a blast. Meanwhile back at the Casa, I had three very jealous girls who pointed out that Joe had been to the US not once, but twice more than them this year. How unfair! How tragic! What is a mom to do but try to make up for this discrepancy as well as inject some fun into two weeks of moving things at the Casa and preparing for the arrival of our US shipment (did someone say King size bed? Oh yeah!)? So I made arrangements for us to spend 4 days at Disneyland Paris to cut loose and have some fun!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wrw4ILKaVoQ/TiP2cYlYLeI/AAAAAAAACpg/48EIQctkuys/s1600/DSCN6725.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wrw4ILKaVoQ/TiP2cYlYLeI/AAAAAAAACpg/48EIQctkuys/s320/DSCN6725.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630614926639246818" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yu_A_CTpQwI/TiP2cLfxzCI/AAAAAAAACpY/uN32JjTqnS0/s1600/DSCN6728.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yu_A_CTpQwI/TiP2cLfxzCI/AAAAAAAACpY/uN32JjTqnS0/s320/DSCN6728.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630614923126098978" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TIPe5eKRHr0/TiP2b4khXbI/AAAAAAAACpQ/RyNzNrysKTs/s1600/DSCN6730.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TIPe5eKRHr0/TiP2b4khXbI/AAAAAAAACpQ/RyNzNrysKTs/s320/DSCN6730.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630614918045719986" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tWSKUfhl19w/TiP2b7ATSOI/AAAAAAAACpI/g-hm2Oj9UAc/s1600/DSCN6731.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tWSKUfhl19w/TiP2b7ATSOI/AAAAAAAACpI/g-hm2Oj9UAc/s320/DSCN6731.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630614918699108578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--bSdb3tFjoQ/TiP2clZtOMI/AAAAAAAACpo/kIq82wDlPzo/s1600/DSCN6708.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--bSdb3tFjoQ/TiP2clZtOMI/AAAAAAAACpo/kIq82wDlPzo/s320/DSCN6708.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630614930079955138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ptlKUMWGVt8/TiPzXmfxJvI/AAAAAAAACo4/NrhX7UCsBMg/s1600/DSCN6752.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ptlKUMWGVt8/TiPzXmfxJvI/AAAAAAAACo4/NrhX7UCsBMg/s320/DSCN6752.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630611545939584754" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-urPu4w5fmm4/TiPzXbcnjxI/AAAAAAAACow/9nGRTK8GhkY/s1600/DSCN6755.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-urPu4w5fmm4/TiPzXbcnjxI/AAAAAAAACow/9nGRTK8GhkY/s320/DSCN6755.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630611542973583122" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2wCOP5LLW7Y/TiPzW3EGm1I/AAAAAAAACog/fpba3ROf8q0/s1600/DSCN6763.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2wCOP5LLW7Y/TiPzW3EGm1I/AAAAAAAACog/fpba3ROf8q0/s320/DSCN6763.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630611533207083858" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cdF6bPeML1A/TiPzXLow65I/AAAAAAAACoo/qctSGWFTpig/s1600/DSCN6759.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cdF6bPeML1A/TiPzXLow65I/AAAAAAAACoo/qctSGWFTpig/s320/DSCN6759.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630611538729560978" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c8M6fEO8Z4I/TiPzYO8JMfI/AAAAAAAACpA/KLaZiShB05s/s1600/DSCN6745.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c8M6fEO8Z4I/TiPzYO8JMfI/AAAAAAAACpA/KLaZiShB05s/s320/DSCN6745.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630611556796019186" border="0" /></a>And then it was back to moving furniture and making space. But it sure was fun while it lasted!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4274811122441015337.post-89817699830189060812011-06-16T08:23:00.002+02:002011-06-16T08:25:55.798+02:00When a B trumps a AI'm not a perfect Mom. I actually don't even want to be perfect, too much pressure. I realize that it makes life harder for my kids at times but hey, that is another life lesson learned, right? Um, I hope so.<br />Case in point, last week was finals week at my house. We stress over finals here. It matters especially for the two in highschool because it effects their GPA. Nick has high expectations. (here is another shining example of where I fall short) I do not. I believe that one test does not accurately depict the kind of student someone is...and fails miserably short in measuring the kind of person they are so...I'm good with B's. Enter Andrea, who is a great student in class, mostly because she acts her ass off. (We're talented thespians in all areas of life) She will sit in class and pay attention and participate and come home and have not one clue how to get the homework assignment done, especially in math and science. This year she has worked with a tutor all year. Now, Anuradha is our friend, she went to MIT. She is brilliant. And somehow she reaches Andrea, past her crazy coping mechanisms, past her hang ups and anxieties, those two work together. It's really something to see after struggling for 10 years trying to teach Andrea math and failing. The midterms did not go well...she studied. Her teacher told me she was ready. Anuradha told me she was ready...and Andrea told me she was ready. Not that I much trusted Andrea's opinion because she's said that before only to fail miserably so...but since it was the general concensus I relaxed. She got a C. Nick and I had a long discussion and came to the conclusion that Andrea is a C student in math. And that was going to have to be ok. So now we're preparing for finals. Andrea actually has a B- in math class at the moment. Anuradha asked for several more tutoring sessions to be prepared for finals. We started a few weeks early adding an extra session a week. The week before Anuradha sat with Andrea for 3 hours on Sunday, and another 2 hours on Monday then was available for questions on Tuesday. Math exams were on Wednesday. Joe and Alexa studied. Well, Joe sort of studied because he told me that you can't study for math...um ok. I sent him to study his equations.<br />Math finals starts off a week of finals. Historically it has been awful in that it starts Andrea off on a low note, doubting herself and feeling defeated...which bleeds into her other subjects, even history and English which she does well in. This year though Andrea came home bouncing on Math exam day. She understood everything that was asked and even had time to finish bonus problems. That has never happened. Now, Andrea said she thought she did well on her midterm...minus the bouncing. And I asked her, Andrea, how can I know that it's any different from last time. And she told me, "Mom, I just told you what I thought you wanted to hear last time." (smack child- um no I didn't just wanted to) I told her that I didn't want to hear anything but the truth. And she said, "This time I really did get it Mom." Alexa said her exam was super easy. Joe was fixated with his 8th grade trip and declined to comment. <br /> And finals week became an actual pleasure. Andrea breezed through her other exams without the emotional baggage of previous exam weeks. She laughed. She joked. She studied. And we waited. I saw Anuradha at a party and we talked about the exams. I thanked her because even if Andrea's exam results were the same. Andrea's test anxiety was much relieved and to me, that made all the difference. She said she was going to ask the teacher how Andrea did. The next morning I got a text. Andrea did very well in her math exam.<br />Andrea came home and told me that she got a 87. An 87 is I believe at B, maybe a B+ if he is feeling generous. But, Andrea earned a B.<br />We celebrated all weekend. Occasionally calling out 87 and smiling. Joking that it was her birthday present to me, and my favorite one as well. And it was my favorite gift. really because it made her proud of herself. Nothing pains you more as a mother than to watch your child struggle and be helpless to fix it, as it eats away at her self confidence and pride. 87. My new favorite number.<br /> Alexa texted me yesterday because she got a 98 on her math final. Alexa has always done well in Math. She is one of those kids who gets B's without trying and when she puts effort into it gets A's. She likes learning...she enjoys projects and doing extra credit in Science. She loves to get competitive with kids in her class on grades because with a little bit of effort she can breeze through something and get great grades. Alexa is not acting. Alexa is achieving. She's something else in a classroom. I told her that it was awesome. I told her I was so proud of her. But she is not getting the attention that Andrea got.<br /> So, I am not a perfect mother. Because still I think 87 and get all choked up. Alexa earned her A . A 98 is fantastic. I AM proud of her. But Andrea fought for that B. She got down in the trenches of her own self doubt and clawed her way out. She studied and worked incredibly hard to understand even while those little voices were saying she couldn't do it. She sat there with that paper in hand and tackled one question at a time and won a hard fought battle. 87... I guess one test can tell exactly what kind of student you are.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0