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!!

 
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.  

 
There is an interesting website called Celebrity Match up where in a matter of a few clicks you could find out what celebrity you look like. Just pick your sex, upload your photo and there you go..Above you can see our family results..

Send me your look-a-like so I can post it up!!

My cousin Javier sent me his childhood picture and thought he would probably get a lot more girls if he still looked like this or NOT! hahaha.. He was the cutest little kid you had ever seen, a red haired freakled little boy who looked like an inocent child. As you can see from his picture now as an adult, he is still very cute but the innocent part, I’m not sure of..

Has he really changed that much? You tell me.. Please send me pictures of yourself when you were young and a recent one, I would love to do mini posts on my friends and family, before and after…After…responsibility, worries and fears started to set in..

Gracias Javi, estas guapisimo!! 

Yesterday it was Mother’s Day here in Spain and we had a lovely day.  Marco gave me a little plant made out of clay and isabella a rose made out of not sure what.. They were great (pictured above). Marco also wrote me a card, telling me he loved me very much because I helped him with his homework and helped him pick up his toys after he played.

We went to lunch at an Italian restaurant with our friends Cristal and Snap, Marco’s “favorite profesional baskeball player” as he calls him. We had a great time, Marco and Snap had a game of “pulso” Marco won 3 times hahahaa. We later had some ice cream then hung out around town.

A perfect Mother’s Day with my loved ones..

On Sunday we went to a mini camping trip with Marco and Bella’s school. We met at the school grounds and took a bus to a city called Castalla and went to a mini camp ground called “campament de fonts”. As soon as we arrived there were monitors who took the kids organized them by age and started their activities. The adults were also taken aside and given choices of what we wanted to do..

Our choices were hiking and yoga, paddling a canoe and going over some net bridge to fall to our death, mountain climb and repel down...and other great ideas which you all know I’m not quite fond of. I wanted to hike and do yoga but Matt decided it would be fun to plunge to our death in the mountains and paddle our way in a canoe. And that is what we did…I don’t think I have laughed so hard in my life.. My one person kayak (canoe, whatever you want to call it) just wanted to go in circles for the life of me I couldn’t get it to go in a straight line.. it looked like water bumper cars more than anything, from there we were taken to bridge of death as I like to refer to it, where they hooked us up (not, me I refused!!) with a harness and a helmet (like the helmet is going to help you when you plunge to your death!!) and the willing participants like Matt walked across a net.. Anyway, from there were hiked a little then went tree climbing. I did dare to do this but didn’t make it quite to the top.. Matt did make it to the top!!

The kids had a ball, above you could see Bella rowing!! and no life vest, Matt took this picture I’m glad I didn’t see that.

Marco had a blast with all his friends, they saw caves, climbed, jumped…A little of everything.

Overall, we had a great time, ate a great Paella, drank beer, sang songs.. A really fun way to spend our Sunday, although today I’m sunburned and I’m not sure how I’m using my hands to type this because I’m very sore..

You can see all the pics here. 

Today March 19th “San Jose” is Father’s Day here in Spain. This celebration is not as comercial as it is in the states. Here, gifts are not often given although everyday that is changing and Spain is copying a lot of the American holidays such as Halloween.. As if they didn’t have enough holidays here..
Father’s Day here is celebrated with the family gathering and a nice big lunch or dinner, what else?? We celebrated with Matt this afternoon and the kids made him lovely paintings...

So, Happy Father’s Day to all those fathers out there..from all of us here in Spain.

photo google

I must admit it was hard getting up this morning, the jet lag got the best of all of us and we were beat.

Marco was welcomed in school like a king, all his friends were very excited to see him and as soon as he got out of school he already had a play date! Isabella’s friends were also very excited to see her and one of her friends gave her a little gift..

My first day back to work was hectic but I was glad to be in the routine again and in away its like the starting of my vacation (NO KIDS!!), if my bosses are reading this, they are probably going to ask me if I should pay them if the job is a vacation spot..hahahaaaa….

It will probably take all week to catch up on sleep and adjust our schedules..and Friday is Isabella’s birthday which we will celebrate in school that day and in our Urba on sat.. How much fun for me!!!!

pictured marco & I in the rainforest cafe in downtown Disney (I’m taking advantage and posting photos of our trip here are there), where Marco fell asleep while eating he was exhausted!!!

I can’t believe it we are finally home! We are very jetlagged, tired and confused..hahahah..we had a great trip but now its back to reality.. I don’t have much energy to write much today so I will leave you with the pictures of our trip..

You can click on the ONLINE PHOTO ALBUM and click on miami trip feb 08 or simply click HERE to view all the pictures.

We are very sad, it has gone by so fast..We have done so much, yet it seems like so little..We will miss all our friends and family. I would like to thank all the following people for their kindness and gifts to the kids..

My dad and M.T. who took us to Disney !! bought the kids gifts and let them destroy their beautiful beach apartment..we love you and we will miss you..

To my brother and Cristina for their hospitality, their beautiful son and the honor they have giving me by making me a Godmother.. we will miss you guys and hope that you will visit us soon…

To Margie and Chris, Minna, as she is called by the kids went to Disney with us and showered the kids with gifts and love, the poor thing had to sleep with Bella and had the patience not to kill her..Chris took Marco and Bella to Chuckey Cheese, an event Marco will never forget..we will miss you very much..

To Alex and Cindy for their gifts and love to the kids.. Alex we can´t wait to see you guys in Madrid very soon..Cindy, keep the Skype on girl, and we will chat..

To Alberto and Patricia for the wonderful lunch and company. We will see you in Madrid very soon..

To aunt AnaMarie, Marco is reading up a storm his Harry Potter collection and Isabella will not take the princess dress off.. thanks for the dinner and getaway, that I really needed.. love you and hope to see you in Spain soon.

To Mark and Maruchi and little Mark for the fun times.. Marco and Bella said.. we liked that boy he was very nice..hahaha… take care and keep in touch..

To Alex and Cucu and the kids.. Marco and Isabella wanted to stay in your house and live forever..you have a beautiful family and we wish you the best..

Tom and Wanda, it was great seeing you, You have a beautiful daughter, love to you and with luck with the new business venture..

If I forgot someone, I´m sure you will let me know..

Again, thank you to all.. We will miss you but we will stay in touch through this blog..