Saturday, November 30, 2013

Futbol... in San Juan de la Valle

Today Aydin had a game in San Juan de la Valle.  Of course we had NO clue where it was and the typical response was 'just outside of Jerez' (about a half an hour away).  We got up early and followed the bus to the field..... just outside of Jerez.... and a LOT more.  San Juan is almost an hour and a half away.  It was a blink and miss kind of town but very cute.  The boys were playing second for the day so we watched the other Chipiona team play first.  

 Maria Jose and me
 Javi, Aydin and Steve
 The team:









I would like to say we won... or it was a great game but not only did he have 3 hours of travel time... we watched the boys play their worst EVER.  They lost 8-0 and were lucky it was only that.  Hopefully next week they can play better- they way they know how.

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving.

Like I stated in the earlier post, I am so grateful for good friends.  Today we were able to spend Thanksgiving at the Nelsons house for the second year in a row.  I am so grateful for their friendship and for who they are.  Sharing this day with us all was Leticia and Ashleigh, and the Leholm family (minus Tina).  I didnt get any pictures of Rob and the ladies.... I stopped taking pictures before he even came and now regret it... next year... right?!

Erik carving the turkey:
 Heather busy at work:
 I cannot believe how tall he is getting...

  Heather makes amazing food and I am grateful she shares it with us!!







 Leticia and Ashliegh

 Kailey and Cade

The food was amazing like always... and the company was even better.  We are so blessed to have such great friends to share the holidays with.  Cannot wait for next year to eat like this again!!

After sitting around chatting for a bit... we headed home to be lazy.  

Many things... many thanks.

There are so many things that I am grateful for in this life.  The list of these things is endless and therefore not going to be complete but here are some of the most important things I am most grateful for (in no particular order):

My faith in Jesus Christ (and my church).
Without Him in my life, I would be lost.

Steve.
He is my everything!!  I have never met a man (or woman... well maybe my mother) who is more patient than him (he does have to put up with me every day).  He is a great husband, father, provider and friend.

My kids.
Each one of them are so very different but all so fantastic.  They are my world!  Aydin and Morgan are so helpful with Liam and around the house.  They are the best of friends even though they have the sibling love/hate relationship.  Liam is so much fun and happy (most of the time).  He still loves to cuddle which is the best thing a mother can have!!  All three of them are my inspiration- they have jumped right into spanish everything and taken off running.  They are all speaking spanish and making great friends at school.  I am so grateful for the young individuals they are becoming.

My family: parents, siblings and in-laws, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
 I have been blessed with the best family!!  Not only are my parents the best parents on the earth, my in-laws are a close second :).   I am so grateful for the relationship I have with my siblings: 3 brothers, 3 sisters and their spouses, as well as Steve's family.

My friends.
Moving every 3-4 years (and sometimes sooner) true friends are hard to come by.  I have been able to make some of the best friends over the years who have made a difference in my life.  Some of them are more like sisters to me than friends and I am so lucky to have found them.  I may not always get the chance to talk to them daily but know that after months (and sometimes years) without speaking or seeing one another they are always there for me if I need without feeling like any time has past.

Health.
This year I have seen so many people lose loved ones, become sick and endure many other illnesses that have been extremely difficult.  I am so grateful that I am healthy and have a healthy family.  I feel so blessed for it.

Steve's job.
Although being a Navy family can be difficult at times when we are separated by miles and miles from our loved ones (and often from Steve) I am thankful that he has a job and provides for us daily.  He works so hard for us and is often not thanked enough: by us or by those who work with him.

Opportunities.
I am so grateful for the opportunities we have had over the past year(s).  These last few year we have have been able to travel: something I have always wanted to do in my life.  I made a goal for myself this January to visit at least 7 different countries this year and that goal will be met next week.  I am so thankful that we are able to live in Spain, to learn their culture, live in town, make local friends, and learn spanish.

The little things.
There are so many little things in life that I am thankful for it is impossible to list them all.  I am so blessed in so many ways it is incredible.

Every day I am thankful for all of these things but on days like today feel like they should be written down for others to see... that I am thankful for so much!

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Chipiona vs. Rota futbol

Today the boys played a great game... Although they lost, they had improved so much in the past few weeks.  








Friday, November 15, 2013

S'mores please...

Tonight our friends came over for pizza and s'mores.  The kids love s'mores and do not care if we are not camping... they will make do with out fireplace in the living room.

Ashliegh and Liam (not the best pictures- they were from my phone)

 Ashliegh, Liam and Morgan:

and of course... Ecko and Chupito
 (YES... he does have a sweater on... dont judge me he is small and its cold- so there!)

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Liam....

Liam is unlike most other kids we know.... FEARLESS!!  This kid will jump off of anything, climb to the top of whatever he can, and pick up any living creature he possibly can.... with his bare hands.  
Today at practice.... I was sitting talking with other parents and Liam was up holding this:



No fear.... just full of pride and joy.  

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Paris day 2

Thursday we got a late start but really didnt have much planned for the day.
We took the metro over to another shopping district in hopes of finding a vintage shop with fantastic deals.  Getting off of the metro and walking in the direction we needed to go- I quickly realized we were in the same area that our family stayed last time we were there.  We walked around, grabbed food- pastries and crepes and shopped before getting back on the metro towards Notre Dame.  

When we walked up the stairs of the metro station, we found ourselves at a little art-homemade shopping district.  We walked though those booths and tents for a bit looking for anything we could find that we could not live without.
Before going into the booths- we walked passed this:






Notre Dame:











We spent the rest of the trip walking around, having fun, eating great food and enjoying one another.  


It was so nice having the opportunity to spend time with Monica and Stephanie.  It was so much fun and a much needed trip!!  I have missed Monica so much over the years and am so happy for the little time we had with one another!!   


***I would not have been able to make this trip if I did not have the help from Susan who got the kids ready for school, picked them up after school, watched them while Steve was working and I am sure made dinner for my family, Leticia South and Jackie Samuelson who took my kids to school, Ana and Vito to getting Aydin to and from soccer and Steve who was willing to take me to the airport at 4 am, take care of the kids, and fund my trip!!  I have so many wonderful people in my life and cannot believe how blessed I am for each and every one of them.***