We saw Africa!

I knew we were close to Africa, but didn't realize you could actually see it from Gibraltar!  Only an hour and a half drive away....amazing!  A very easy drive and the perfect day trip with the family.  I have been wanting to go for some time and we finally made it.  We went with our friends and neighbors the McMillans, so our kids were happy from the start!  We decided the only way to do it was to take a minibus tour of the Rock.  I think the driver and guide had 14 of us in this minibus...we were hesitant at first, but it worked out just fine!  Our first stop was St. Micheal's cave....saw stalactites and stalagmites!  Kids had a fun time exploring.  Then we went a little further up the Rock and saw the Apes.  Two different apes tried to get in our minibus, one actually had its hands on the stearing wheel!  Shawn was sitting in the front when this was happening...he was a little scared!  After this we went through the Great Siege Tunnels, the kids loved climbing all over the cannons!  The minibus ride was the way to go for us, with all our kids, but there is also a cable car that takes you to the top of the Rock.  The roads were very narrow and there were many times the driver had to do a multiple point turn!!  Glad she was driving and not me!  We had a great lunch at a Thai restaurant and wandered back to our cars.  Overall the trip was a lot of fun, nice day trip!

Shawn and Luke in the front seat of the minibus...they loved that!



Shawn...is that Africa you see??

 

View of the Mediterranean from the Rock!

Africa in the distance, so close, yet so far!

Victoria with an ape on her head...yuck!

Luke with the same ape on his head...yuck!

This was as close as any of the Kings came to the apes, although this one did try to jump on Brian and he pushed it away!

Kids inside the Great Siege Tunnels!

Part of the old sea wall!

Another amazing sunset from our backyard after a fun day trip to Gibraltar, still can't believe we live here!

Tired girls, and trip to the Jerez zoo!

I don't even know why the girls were so tired this day, but they were in their jammies and watching a show!  Shawn was calling for me, "Mom, get Kelsey off of me!!!!"  She managed to wiggle her way on top of him to then fall asleep!  Shawn is a good big brother, I think she was just starting to get too heavy!

My friend Ali and I decided to take the kids to the zoo in Jerez one day during the break!  Get them out of the house to run around!  It is the perfect size zoo for our kids, and I nice playgroung where we had a picnic lunch!  We had a really nice day, and the kids were also excited to ride the train through the zoo.  A fun day was had by all!

I just think flamingos look so funny on one leg with their heads tucked into their body...what balance!

Lots of babies at the zoo!

Parrot was hanging upside down and saying "hola!"

Kids on the train, they are so silly!

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!!!

Christmas Eve was like any other day here, kids played with the neighborhood kids!  They have been having so much fun over the break, playing all day long!  We went to church tonight after dinner, took the pictures by the tree and daddy read The Polar Express! 

Christmas morning, Shawn was up many times throughout the night asking if we could get up yet.  I think we held him off till about 8:30, the girls were still asleep so we had to wake them up.  It took them a few minutes to realize someone had been to our house through the night.  The kids were very excited about all of their presents from Santa and their grandparents and aunts and uncles!  We had a nice relaxing day and spent the afternoon and into the evening with our friend here with a huge pot luck Christmas dinner.  The kids ate a little while they ran around the park and played!

Someone has been here...look at all the presents!



Brian's birthday!

Cake and a beautiful sunset, what more can you ask for!

Arcos de la Frontera Live Nativity!

So, Brian returned home on Saturday Dec 17th at about 1pm, we came home for a couple hours than left on the next adventure!  Just an evening trip to Arcos de la Frontera where they do a one night live nativity through the town.  They had a torch lit marked path through the town that took us through live scenes!  The town itself is beautiful, but this was amazing!!  There was even a live baby in manger as baby Jesus.  The Spanish really seem to embrace to reason for the season!



Street leadingup to Arcos, Iglesia de Santa Maria in the background.



The palms were arched throughout the town to guide our path, Parador in the background here.



First scene we came across!

 

Palm arches and torches lit.



Mike and Tatum petting the donkey.

 

Sunlit glow on the church, was beautiful.

 

Kelsey, with the largest of the set ups behind her.

 

Shawn and Victoria.



The live baby in the manger...kids thought that was wild.