Mother/Son Amazing Race!!!

Saturday September 10th, Shawn and I had the opportunity to participate in the first ever Mother/Son Amazing Race here in Rota!  This was a MWR sponsored event and it was so much fun!  First we recieved an envelope with 7 clues to get us to different locations where we would have tasks to complete.

So we went to the driving range first, where Shawn had to complete the first task.

Next we decided to go to the Movie Theater, where Shawn had to complete another task!

After this we went to the CDC to find out what our next task was!  The next task was a task for the moms.  I had to look at a picture, then after being blindfolded, paint a replica of the picture we were shown!

Next we headed to the track, what could be in store for us next...looks like another task for mommy!

That task was fun, but hard!  Onto the bowling alley next!

Next stop the baseball fields, wonder who will have to do this one!

Next we make our way to the last task....onto La Plaza parking lot.

So, we finished our last task and the clues all said "if this is your last task, go to La Plaza."  We were at La Plaze, but weren't really sure where to go.  When we realized we needed to run inside, another team ran by us and in the door we all ran!  We came in 2nd place out of 30 teams...with a run to the finish line and not really knowing what place we were at the time!  Most importantly, Shawn and I had a great time working together and running all over base!

Our first weekend visit to the Mediterranean Coast!

Labor Day weekend we took off on our second mini-vacation.  We went to a hotel called Cortijo Blanco, I think they call it a 3 star all inclusive!  It is located about 10 miles away from the town of Marbella, Spain.  And it was perfect for families with small kids, lots of activities for them to do and pools to swim in!  We went with two other families, the Smileys and the Hilemans and we had a blast!  So, we got there Friday evening and headed for dinner first after finding a place to park.  In the center of the hotel, there is a stage where the activities meet up in the day time and at night there is usually some form of entertainment!  This night there were dancers, very acrobatic dancers.  The little girls, Tatum, Alyssa, and Kelsey were mesmerized!  After the dancers were done performing, they placed music and lots of kids danced the night away, including Alyssa and Tatum, who stayed up till midnight dancing!

The next two days, we enjoyed spending time and relaxing at the resort and hitting the beach in Puerto Banus.  The hotel offered a shuttle, so each day we would head to the beach around 3:30 and then return in time to shower and have dinner.  The beach was beautiful, water was crystal clear, but very cold.  Each day we took a stroll to see all the fancy yachts, cars and stores, that all went together! 



The beach at Puerto Banus.



Shawn in the Mediterranean for the very first time!!  It was really cold!

Brian, the girls and our friends Owen and Tatum, all touching the Mediterranean for the first time!



Kelsey didn't seem to mind how cold it was in the beginning!



Alyssa playing in the water!



Puerto Banus, this is the beach that we spent our time at, so pretty!



I love this picture, Kara, taking a picture of Shawn and Johnny!



Puerto Banus, the land of the fancy yachts!



The further we walked, the bigger the boats got!



View from our beach, I think looking towards Marbella!



View from our hotel room, looking out to one of the courtyards at our hotel!



Shawn, Alyssa and Tatum dancing at one of the childrens activities!



Owen and Kelsey clapping and having a good time!

The girls helping Owen walk!



Kelsey and Dylan, we were wandering around the hotel!



Alyssa and Tatum, they became best buddies really fast!




Tatum, Kelsey, Dylan and Alyssa being silly!



The mothers went for a walk and came back to burried babies!



Alyssa and Tatum watching the entertainment!




Even Kelsey was dancing!!

We had a great weekend, Monday morning our plan was to go into the town of Marbella and then head home.  Well, I woke up that morning sick, so Brian, the girls and I headed home earlier than planned.  Shawn stayed with the Hilemans and they went into Marbella!  Our mini vacation was a success and we found friends that we will definately travel with again!

First day of school....2011!!!

Shawn is in the second grade this year, his teacher is Ms. Cuba.  One of the unique things about living on base overseas, is that he is going to be able to walk and ride his bike to school!  So, Shawn's first day was Monday, August 29th.  It was a day for the parents to stay and meet the teacher and ask questions.  Everything went well that day, then that night, Shawn was up all night, sick with the GI bug.  Not a huge surprise, since Alyssa and Daddy were sick over the weekend.  So, he ended up missing Tuesday and Wednesday!  But Thursday was back to school, and once he got over the fact that the toothfairy forgot to get his tooth and bring him money, he was excited to ride his bike to school for the first time!  And then it rained, so we had to pick him up from school.  Rain isn't a big deal, but apparently it is uncommon here during the summer, winter is the rainy season here.  Anyway, we endured the week, and are excited to go out of town this weekend on our next adventure in Spain!



Shawn, Luke and Victoria, getting ready to leave for the first day of school!



Shawn following his teacher to the classroom!




Shawn not to sure yet, he didn't know too many kids yet.




Shawn sitting in his new classroom!




And...Shawn's very first locker!!!



Meeting new friends and spending time at home!

We have been really lucky since we moved here.  Our house is great, with an amazing view, but most importantly, wonderful neighbors with friends for all of the kids!  Friends have taken us to their favorite restaurants and we have had cook outs with neighbors!  We have even managed to wear the kids out from time to time! 


Alyssa, Anna, and Kelsey, hanging out in the backyard!




Johnathan and Kelsey at Blanco Paloma, a restaurant on the water!





Another amazing view fromour house, moon shining above!



Kelsey and her best buddy Lee, we were having a cook out at their house.  The big kids were supposed to spend the night out in the tent, but it was too windy!

A day in Rota, just the moms and the kids!

So, my neighbor Alicia and I decided to take the kids into Rota for a few hours, just us and the kids!  I tell the kids everytime we leave the house to do something new...it's an adventure!  We went on our adventure and enjoyed the morning, just wandering around town and capturing a few sites!  The kids were very good, they even endured walking against the heaving winds on the way back to the car!

The four kids, Shawn, Alyssa, Kelsey and Raya!

The girls, Kelsey, Alyssa and Raya!  This is one of my favorite pictures!