Although our parents are probably disappointed that they didn't make it here first, I am sure that no one will be surprised that Erin was our first official visitor!!! Erin came into town Saturday September 24th and stayed till Tuesday the 27th! It was a whirlwind trip, and we all had a great time. Right after we picked her up from the airport in Jerez we took off on a new adventure to Arcos de la Frontera, one of Spain's pueblos blancos or white villages. We really didn't know exactly where to go, that is why we call them adventures! But we found the parking and walked up...literally! I wish I had taken a picture from below to show exactly what I mean...I will do that next time! The kids did remarkably well after a minor meltdown by Alyssa, but overall walked without needing to be carried. They were rewarded with ice cream when we reached the top, and then that sustained them till we were done! We just wandered around the town and took in the sights for a while and then headed home! We had a babysitter come and stay with the kids that night and Erin and I had a nice relaxing dinner in Puerto and Brian had a work function. Erin and I enjoyed catching up and just enjoyed the Spanish pace of a meal and not being rushed out! Sunday we spent at home and the garden store. Erin helped me pick out some beautiful window boxes and then she had the kids help her plant the flowers in them! Erin was great at giving the kids projects...including building out of dry spagetti and marshmellows, the kids loved it! We also enjoyed one of Erin's favorites..Spanish tortilla...yummy!! Monday the kids had to school, so Erin and I went to Jerez and shopped at the gypsy market and found lots of fun purchases!! Then we enjoyed lunch, with an amazing view! And to finish off our fun, we took the kids to the beach after they got home from school! Overall, a great visit with a great friend! Hopefully she will come back for more!
This is a hospital entrance we passed in Arcos, so beautiful, it was hard to believe it was a hospital.
This is a view from Arcos!
Iglesia de Santa Maria
Iglesia de Santa Maria
The narrow streets in Arcos!
Another church in Arcos, beautiful stone amidst all the white!
More fun narrow streets.
Very narrow street, to the left is actually the church wall I believe, and I think cars actually drive through here!
Our beach view from our lunch on Monday!
Erin with a view of Rota in the background!
Kids playing on the same beach we saw from lunch earlier in the day! They had a blast!
Alyssa and Kelsey have both started Spanish Immersion progams at the child development center here on base last month. Alyssa started September 12th and Kelsey on the 19th! It has been a few weeks now and so far they both are enjoying it. Alyssa seems very eager to learn Spanish, one week she was singing her numbers in Spanish and the next week she was onto the days of the week! She is constantly asking what words are in Spanish! Who knows, she might learn enough to go to Spanish school in town next year! Kelsey gets excited to go to school, then when we walk in the door she gets a little upset! Her teachers comfort her by drawing a picture of a car on a sticky note, and it is "Mama's coche," she has it stuck to her all day! Silly little things!
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!
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!
