As most of you know Spaniards are soccer fanatics!! well, since we are living here, Matt & Marco have joined in the madness.. Tonight was the final game of the Eurocup Spain vs Germany and our entire urba gathered downstairs to watch the game and have some beers.. The men mostly watched the games while the kids ran around playing and the wives just gossiped and also drank some beers. As you can see from the pictured above the men were very into the game.. Luckily we won 1-0 after a 44 year losing streak.. You could imagine the celebration here… fireworks, screaming fans, cars beeping…and everyone jumped in the pool with their red t-shirts!!

Marco and Bella prepared by painting the Spanish flag on their cheeks..

They also prepared Matt while he took a nap by painting flags and the word “podemos” (we can, the motto of the game) on his back!!

A while back I published a post about how Misty sent a plant to her boyfriend in the hopes of proposing to him. Well, a few months later I’m very excited to announce that they are now Engaged!! Yes, at the time he didn’t answer her proposal but had been planning his all along.

They went to California to a friends wedding and on that trip Shane decided to pop the question. I had known all along because he consulted with me on rings and ideas. I had been avoiding her for weeks because I didn’t want her to get it out of me…I spoke to Misty yesterday and she gave me all the details.

They had decided to take a hike on a path called “Damnation trail” (hahaha, she later asked him if this was a good sign), when they traveled they were told the weather was very nice so they did not bring warm clothes with them. On the day of the hike Misty was wearing a very cute black and white outfit but needed sneakers, so she decided to buy some cheap ones at Target before the big hike. The only color they had was brown and pink..To make a long story short she ended up wearing two layers of coats, shoes that didn’t match her outfit and overall, she was not looking how she would have wanted to.

A little while into the hike Shane handed her a flat white envelope with the initials MWYMM written on it and he said if you could figure out what they mean you could have what is in the envelope. She figured it was probably some sort of gift card because she still needed to buy shoes for her friends wedding. She started to try to guess but just couldn’t come up with it, so she finally said to him, “I don’t want to work so hard for this envelope you keep it!!”, He said, come on, give it one more try..(while freaking out, because he didn’t have a PLAN B). She finally said kidding around “Oh it says, Misty Marry Me, oh yes, I will, oh yes, I thought you would never ask” all this truly kidding around.. but then she saw the look in his face and looked inside the envelope to find a beautiful engagement ring!!!!!

MWYMM as you have already guessed stands for MISTY WILL YOU MARRY ME!!..Congratulations to them… I now have a Bachelorette party to plan and well, she still hasn’t officially set the date or decided on brides maids and maid of honor.. I will keep you posted.

Today is my dad’s Birthday and we want to wish him a very Happy Birthday!! We wish we could be with him but want him to know we love him very much and we wish him the very best.. Have fun!!!

 
The Hogueras are the most popular fiestas here in Playa San Juan, it is the official begining of Summer, otherwise known as the Summer Solstice, a time when there is cause for celebration, bonfires are built and old things are burnt and there are new wishes but the rest of the year.

Every year since we have been here we have celebrated this event with our friends in the beach. It is the only time of the year the city allows bonfires to be made in the beach, everyone gathers with friends and family to burn the “Hoguera” and to eat food and drink, lots of drinking!!

This year we were about 30 friends who got together to enjoy the beautiful night. Matt was in charge of the fire and we had a ball. There are several rituals that need to be done such as getting your feet wet in the ocean at midnight while jumping backwards in the water 7 times, jumping over the “Hoguera” 3 times (that was tricky this year since it was fairly wide), burning anything old you want to get rid off, making a wish at midnight while your feet are in the water, meditating on the new to come.. We did it all plus drink and sing songs..

You can see all the pictures HERE.  

 
Sorry it has taken so long to write again but the last week of school was full of activities, parties and many, many more activities..The kids had their end of school performance where Bella danced, Marco did a Judo exhibition and played the guitar. My dad and M.T were here visiting so they got to enjoy the long… performances.. hahaha.

Bella danced a Flamenco and a Hawaiian dance.. She did great.. At the end she bowed so long she wouldn’t get back up. Marco did a Judo exhibition where he earned his orange and green belt, and played the guitar with his guitar class. Over all, we were very proud of our little performers and we are glad they have no fear of being on stage. You can view all pictures and videos HERE. 

Let me just say that passing this test has consumed me for over a month.. With non stop studying my 300 page manual , anyway it all paid off. Yesterday I went to take the test and that was an experience in itself. A group from our driving school went to the official test taking center where we had to wait over 2 hours in line to get in.. Once in they call your name one at a time and hand you over a sheet in which you will place your answers. I felt sorry for some of the people with peculiar names because as they were being called out they had to step from the crowd pass through everyone who was cracking up at their names….

No one laughed at my name and I was given the sheet.. You walk into a huge classroom and sit down where you are directed.. Everything is very organized and they have it down to a science. Once you sit down one of the persons in charge ask you for your ID card and make sure it is you.. They look you up and down and either ask you to put on your glasses or take them off, pull your hair back or let it down depending on what picture you have on your ID card..If they are unsure they will not let you take the test.. (don’t even think of getting a haircut or anything of the sort days before the exam).

Anyway, once they have verified everyones person, a General type man stands up and tells everyone he is going to give the instructions and he is only going to explain it once, if you do not pay attention you are out!!! In the middle of his explanation of how we were to sign our name, put the name of the particular test you received, the usage of a black pen, how to put a cross within the box for the correct answer and so on, he noticed that a guy was not paying attention and he walked up to him, ripped his paper in half and kindly asked him to step outside.

We had 30 minutes to answer 30 multiple choice questions, ready set go….Every 10 minutes he would announce 20 minutes left, 10 minutes and so on.. making you even more nervous...I don’t know if it was that I studied so much that the test seemed too easy or that I got lucky and the questions given to me where the easiest in the room.. Either way I was able to answer all questions in time and even had enough time left to double and triple check them.. They were so easy I got a little nervous thinking there must be a trick… When I got out of there I didn’t even know what to think..

I had to wait until this morning to go to the website to check if I had passed.. I got 1 wrong so I’m “apto” as they say to continue on to torture number two the driving part...which in a way, I think might even be worse than this part… I will keep you all updated…

Marco is like me when it come to drawing, we are a bit limited..but the other day he did a painting that although is not a drawing perfection the meaning is 1000 times better. The picture you see above is Marco’s interpretation of the planet and all the children in it, holding hands. The children are all different colors and sizes but are united around the world.

He made it for Matt  I and he also writes “buena suerte mama”, because on Wednesday the 11th I’m taking the written part of the drivers test which he hopes I pass. Anyway, an artist he might not be but a very loving and caring boy he sure is…

photo Marco Dela Pola Pendas

I had heard of Facebook but I haven’t really had time to join or play with it, but today Maruchy (thanks) invited me to join and I said why not! I don’t have anything else to do..hahahaa… other than study for the Spanish driver’s test, pick up the kids from school (now at  pm) cook lunch, take them to their friends house, clean the house, write on this blog, actually work!! anyway, I’m all signed up, click here to join Facebook ..See you there.