Dinner and Flamenco Show

It's been a while since the last post.  We have been busy hosting Justin's mom, preparing ourselves for baby #2 and our big move to San Diego.  We leave Spain in April for 3 years in San Diego/Coronado Island.  Justin was offered a JAG position with Navy Special Forces and we could not turn it down.  So we leave beautiful sunny Spain for beautiful sunny San Diego.  Not a bad gig, this Navy life.

Last night, we decided to go out and see authentic Flamenco dancing before the baby arrives and we become slaves to the home.  We have been wanting to see Flamenco live for some time and just decided to get a baby-sitter and go.  Flamenco originated in the area we live in so it is just so authentic when you watch it live.  Typical of Spain, dinner started at about 9:30 and the show started about 10:45pm.  We got home around 12:30am.  So, so tired today when a certain someone was bright-eyed at 6:30am this morning.

Justin took some video of the Flamenco show.  We didn't take any pics because we did not want the flash to go off as the dancers were performing.  The video speaks for itself.  This woman was so raw and intense.  She was mesmerizing to watch.

Epiphany Children's Parade

The Spanish do not celebrate Christmas the same way the US does. They have a small celebration on Christmas Eve for Jesus's birth but their BIG celebration is actually Epiphany on January 6th. This day commemorates when the three kings visited Jesus and gave him gifts. The kings are the equivalent of our Santa Claus for kids. There are kings at the mall that kids can go and ask for presents from. They write letters to the kings asking for toys and they leave out food for the kings who come at night on Epiphany Eve to deliver presents to the kids while they are sleeping. See the connection?
On Epiphany Eve, the local towns hold parades where the kings go through the streets on floats throwing toys and candy to the kids. And by throwing I mean "baseball pitching" hard candy at you so that you leave with welts on your head. Once the three kings are seen in town, the families must go home and get a good night sleep so that the kings know to visit your house (again Santa Claus-ish). We decided to hit the parade and see what it was like for another culture.


Awaiting the parade to start with our neighbors and good friends, the Olsen's. Yes, we are in the middle of the street. Heaven forbid both sides of the street stay on their respective curbs. Nope. Have to get up close to the action and get as much candy as you can.


Justin got up to higher ground to show the crowds of people waiting for the parade. You can still see us in the middle of the street.


The "marching" band. Not much marching going on with this bunch. A lot of meandering, talking and smoking with the occasional drum beat. They need a lesson from USC.


The first float taken from O's perspective. What does Sponge Bob have to do with Epiphany? Absolutely nothing. But the girls did throw candy and streamers which was nice.


Another float with girls done up. Have no idea what they represent but they did look so pretty.


The mule bringing the presents for Jesus.


And could not resist including one of the kings. This is Balthazar. He was the last and best float as he threw candy and toys down. I tried to catch this ball but some teenage kid beat me to it. As Balthazar was darker skinned than the other 2 kings, they simply painted him black. Yes. He has black paint on him. No. This would NEVER fly in the US.

Aunt Sarah's 40th Birthday

Justin's sister was here in Spain still visiting when her big 4-0 birthday hit. We celebrated in style! A nice homemade meatloaf and cake made by her mom to celebrate the big day. 3 canisters of frosting were requested for the cake so we slathered them on and proceeded to have stomach aches for the rest of the night. Olivia helped Mary Ann make the cake. That's why there is a ginormous glob of sprinkles in the middle of it. It was a fun celebration and we were glad to share this birthday with her. On her actual day, we went out to a fantastic Spanish meal at a local restaurant.


The monstrosity, I mean, beautiful cake.


Singing "Happy Birthday" to Aunt Sarah.


Olivia helped Aunt Sarah blow out the candles since she gets out of breath easier at her new age. Hehe.

Christmas 2010

Justin's sister, brother-in-law, and other niece arrived on Christmas Eve in time to take a nap, go to mass, eat a Spanish tapas meal of cheese, dip, bread, olives and wine and then start opening the family presents. It was so nice to have the family together to celebrate! And O was a champ at mass. Other kids were taken out for misbehaving but she sat there and took all the singing and praying in. We could not have asked for a better Christmas this year.

Christmas Eve. Squatty, our tree, is ready for all the presents to be opened. I am happy to report that he is alive and well and no ornaments were lost this year.


Churched up, well fed and now ready to open some presents.


Olivia, the youngest, gets to open her present first. Let's just say she opened more presents than anyone.



Sitting patiently on the couch with Aunt Sarah and Mary Ann as others get their turn to open presents.


Anna gave her cousin, Baby Dos, a Rome soccer jersey. Based on the size of my belly, it looks like it already fits!


Christmas morning. Santa has arrived!


O's #1 present??? A Belle Barbie. She woke up asking if Santa had brought it for her.


O immediately started playing with her Disney Princess dolls.


The start of Christmas dinner. Props to myself and Justin again for cooking a turkey and all the fixings with absolutely no phone call before to my parents asking for help and reassurance.

Polar Express

We have been fortunate to have Justin's family staying with us for the holidays. Justin's father passed away recently so this was a time that the family needed to come together and celebrate the holidays and get through the sadness that his passing created. That means that I have been a major slacker when it came to the blog. Mucho posts to come as we have been able to celebrate events leading up to Christmas, Christmas itself and some trips we all have been able to take together in the last week.

The week before Christmas, Justin's niece, who is studying in Rome for the year, and mom arrived. We had some events on base that they could join us for. One such event was the Polar Express at the base elementary school. This event held for the kids offered rides on the local train from Rota (decorated to be like the Polar Express), a dance recital for the kids taking dance on base, music, crafts and fun treats for the kids. Needless to say, Olivia loved every minute. Especially the ride around base housing on the train.


Waiting to get on the Polar Express. It was unseasonably cold this night so we all had to dress a little warmer for the ride as the sun had already set.


Waiting for the all clear to get on. We got on the first ride to beat the rush. Wise move because there was a huge line waiting when we got back.


O and I as the Polar Express starts its loop around housing to look at the Christmas decorations.


Who else has joined us for the ride???? Liv loved turning around and waving to him.


Liv is mesmerized watching the Christmas dance recital. Here's hoping she loves doing it as much as she loves watching it.

Christmas Decorating

We went out yesterday to buy our tree and decorate the house for Christmas. It was the perfect day to stay indoors and decorate as it was cold, windy and rainy all day. When you buy a real tree in Spain, you get the root bulb included which means you have to plant the tree. I know, it's crazy but there is not a tree stand to be bought anywhere. The good thing is that the trees are dirt cheap and I got a new ceramic pot to plant something in later! I nicknamed our tree "Squatty". You'll understand once you see him. Good enough size for a house like ours.


O and I putting the first ornament on Squatty.


O got the hang of decorating the tree quickly and then demanded that she hang every ornament. She got to hang all the ones that were not breakable.


After we decorated the tree and house, we all sat down to write a letter to Santa. We went to the mall the day after Thanksgiving and I picked up a catalog from the toy store. She has not put it down since and looks only at the Barbie page. Here she is dictating to Daddy what she wants in the letter.


The final copy. The list is hilarious. O and I are going to the base post office tomorrow to send it.


O cozy on the couch with her catalog while Squatty shines bright in the corner. If he loses his needles and dies before Christmas like last year's tree, mark my words, it is fake hereafter.

NS Rota Cinderella Ball

Our base planned a much anticipated Cinderella Ball for Daddies and daughters ONLY to attend. The daughter could be as young as a baby to as old as 18 years and the attire was formal. Party dresses and tiaras were highly encouraged for the girls and the dads could wear their dress uniform, suits or even tuxedos. It was held at the grade school multi-purpose room and was decorated beautifully for the occasion. They provided refreshments, horse-drawn carriage rides and Cinderella and Prince Charming made an appearance at the ball! I was so excited for Justin and Olivia to share in this event together as there is just not enough offered specifically for dads/daughters on the base. Olivia and I went to the mall and picked out her dress and tiara and it's a toss-up who was more excited for the event, me or her! Justin said they had a great time together even though she ditched him to dance by herself on the dance floor.



Getting ready at Mommy's vanity for the big night. Her hair was curled for the occasion and she even got to wear some of my blush and lip gloss to complete the look.


All dressed up for the ball!


She felt like a princess and she looked like one too!


All the ladies ready for their big night with their daddies.


The dads and daughters.



Walking to the ball. The beauty of living in base housing with the school a block away.


Olivia petting the "horse".


I know. There's a joke here somewhere with the parking sign behind the carriage. And the fact that the carriages are being pulled by horses (?).


Enjoying her cupcake and punch. No moms were allowed in to the ball at all so I relied on Justin to capture some pics of the night.


Dancing ballet to the music.


Getting down on the dance floor. Justin had been ditched at this point.