Family Time

The past 2 weeks have been challenging. For those who know what my husband does, the protests against embassies in the Middle East have meant that he is very busy at work lately. He reported in 2 Mondays ago, and since then has been working long days and rotating shifts on a very demanding schedule. No, he won't deploy, so that is a huge relief. But there are days where the kids don't see him at all, which has been hard on all of us. In addition, he is kept "on call" at all times, so he is not allowed to leave base, and is supposed to be in cammies at all times. Nevertheless, he is adjusting well to his new job and learning the ropes. He refers to it as trial by fire, but it seems he is coming through it successfully, and I am very proud of him.

So when he is around, we try to spend as much quality time with the kids as we can, whether it is a family bike ride, trip to the playground, or just going shopping together. Last weekend, we decided to get some cheap new toys and games, since the house is pretty empty and there is not much for the kids to do here. We picked up Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders, those childhood classics. It's the first time we have sat down with the kids to play an actual board game, and they loved it! Candy Land was a little easier for them, since they know their colors. Chutes and Ladders they enjoyed, but we had to do the counting for them. But the last few days I have really enjoyed playing a quick game with them before nap or bedtime. Candy Land only takes about 15 minutes, and we all have fun. So it's not all dramatic traveling adventures here, but we are enjoying our little family adventures too! :-)

Field Trip to Puerto de Santa Maria

We just came back from a field trip to Puerto de Santa Maria! Puerto is a town just north of base, larger than Rota. I heard that the Fleet and Family Services Center offered field trips a few times each month to nearby towns, and they provide bus transportation, all for free! So of course I signed up the kids and I to go! Just so you know, you can put carseats on a coach bus. :-)

We drove about 15 minutes to get to the center of Puerto, and the first place to see was the bullfighting arena. This is one of the oldest bull rings in this area, but it was built in 1880. Our guide said it took almost 100 years to complete! They still do bullfights throughout the summer, and use it for ballet and other performances in the off-season. They no longer have a running of the bulls in this area, because it just became too dangerous with too many drunks wandering into the streets. But apparently the reason people used to do it is that they all ran toward the stadium, and once the bulls were in they closed the doors. So those who ran in front got in for free! Those who ran behind the bulls had to pay for tickets. There is also this very anatomically correct statue/fountain in front of the arena. This was Danny's favorite part, because it actually shows the matador fighting the bull. So he kept walking through town looking for more guys fighting bulls.

Next we walked a few blocks to the Cathedral. I was not expecting the High Gothic style! I guess I am used to French cathedrals, built in the very beginning of the Medieval period (1200's). But Spain was still occupied by the Moors at that time, so the Catholic period didn't start until much later. This church was built in the 15th century. Some parts of it were never finished, because they ran out of funds. So the carvings around this door, for example, are incomplete. On the inside, there are numerous chapels dedicated to our Lady, who is always attired like a Queen. They are doing a massive restoration project, so some of the chapels have been restored to their original bright glimmers of gold, whereas other chapels are sooty from centuries of smokey candles. There are still red candles burning in most of the chapels, and we saw several locals there to make their morning prayers. The kids were very interested in the candles, and I realized we never took them to the side chapels in our parish church before, so this was their first time being in a cathedral. Danny immediately said, "Wow, this church is old!" And Sophie thought it was like a castle to Mary.




I am so glad we did our first field trip with a group, because we were the only ones with children, and everyone was extremely welcoming and helpful. Most of us were new to the area, since this was more of a "beginner level" field trip. We met a retired couple who wanted to get their grandchild fix, so they willingly pushed my strolled around most of the morning! Sophie was thrilled to have a surrogate grandmother to talk to, so they chatted away, sang songs together, and had a great time. Danny did an amazing job walking all day! I carried him on my back a few times, and he had to be watched carefully so he didn't wander off into the street, but overall he was a pretty cheery guy. Alex spent the whole trip in the baby carrier, which worked out great. He was happy, I had free hands, and I could bounce him or give him toys or snacks easily.

 Even though I felt like my kids were eating snacks the entire morning, I could tell they were starting to drag a little by 11:30. It was also starting to drizzle a little. Of course, the first day we have seen rain since we got here! But luckily, the group decided to stop at a "bar" which acts as a cafe in the mornings. The kids got to have their first taste of chocolate con churros! The hot chocolate here is extremely rich and thick--almost like hot pudding! Churros are fried dough, not thick like funnel cake, but light and crispy, like a sweet french fry. You dip the churros into the chocolate...

 and enjoy! It is delicious! They both really enjoyed it! Danny was a little upset at first that his was so hot, but once he learned to dip and then let them cool (the chocolate is so thick it doesn't drip off!) he was a happy guy.
 We walked a little farther down a pedestrian/shopping street, until we got to a large panaderia. It was a bakery called the Holy Shepherdess. The kids were enthralled by the elaborate cakes and treats on display. I got them some cookies to nibble while they walked, and some soft bread loaves for our dinner. Can't wait to try them! I certainly fell in love with Parisian bakeries, so I hope the ones in Spain will be just as good. 

 As we walked some more, our guide explained how bullfighting is such an important part of the culture. Matadors are famous and respected, just as some of our most well-known professional sports figures. There are several bars in this town run by retired matadors, and people go for the fame more than for the food or atmosphere. We also saw the courtyard of a former matador's home, which was decorated with some elaborate tile, including these pictures showing different styles of passes to make at the bull. I haven't see a bull fight yet, and I don't think it is very high on our priority list, because most Americans are completely turned off by the blood and gore. But I do realize that the Spanish see it as an art, or a professional skill.

 Towards the end of our trip (when it was starting to rain steadily), we passed the Castillo de San Marco. It's a beautiful castle, and the kids really wanted to go inside, but we didn't have time for that today, so we promised to come back later--hopefully with Daddy! It's s cool that the kids can walk down the street to a castle! I didn't get much history of this castle (I actually missed most of what the tour guide told us because, ummm, 3 kids) but I think that this is where Christopher Columbus first petitioned for money to go on his maiden voyage. He ended up living in Peurto for a little while (we passed his house!) and then in Rota, before going to the Huelva area where he finally got the money. He departed from this town though, so Columbus Day (Oct. 12) is actually a Spanish national holiday. They thought Americans celebrated it on a different day, but we explained that we just celebrate on the closest Monday. :-)

 The final stop was a bodega where the huge barrels of wine and sherry are stored. We did not do a tour or tasting today, but they are offered here. Sherry is a major product in this area, and the locals buy it by the liter in large plastic jugs which they store at home and refill when needed. Danny immediately said the barrels are like what Bilbo Baggins rode in The Hobbit when he was going down the river. Aunt Marie would be so proud! :-) He had fun trying to lift the heavy barrels. We were all getting a little wet and tired, so it was nice to get out of the rain before our last little trek to the bus!

Overall, it was a stupendous visit! It's wonderful that all of this is in the next town over, just a few minutes outside the gate! Peurto is the same town I went to lunch in the other day, but I was in a suburb called Peurto Sherry. Today we were in the downtown area. I am not sure I could find my way around alone without a map, but at least now I know what I am looking for, and we have tons of reasons to go back! Ole!

Spanish Chicken and rice

I haven't done a food post for a while because, well, I haven't cooked for a while! My kitchen supplies were all shipped out between August 1st and 15th. Since then, I have lived at my parents' house, a guest house, 2 hotels, and now this home. My kitchen is only partially stocked now, but I am happy to be cooking for my family again! Before we moved, we purchased some Spanish cookbooks to learn about the cuisine before we arrived. From the little I have experienced so far, Spanish cooking is not very complicated or fancy. In fact, their main objective (especially in the South) is to use quality local ingredients in a simple way that showcases the natural flavors of the food. This means it is really easy to learn and cheap to experiment with.

So tonight I flipped through our cookbook and found Pollo con arroz, a la Espanol. The ingredients were very basic: chicken pieces, peppers, onion, garlic, olive oil, tomatoes, and bacon. I pan-seared the chicken while sauteing the veggies with the bacon, then added them all together and let them simmer for 15 minutes while making rice. Easy... and tasty! In the States, those ingredients wouldn't have been anything special. But here, we purchased some local olive oil with a very strong rich flavor. Just a few teaspoons add a nice flavor to a whole meal. The red peppers were purchased from "The Fruit Guy," a local man who brings a large truck filled with fresh produce onto base housing every day. He literally parks around the corner from our house, so we can walk down the street, pick out fruit and veggies, pay him a few dollars, and walk home with some of the best tasting produce I have ever had! :-) Pretty cool.

I have noticed the Spanish cookbooks call for ridiculous amounts of oil, and much fattier foods than I typically cook. But I cleaned this one up by using chicken breasts, turkey bacon, and brown rice. I did have to use the olive oil so that things would actually cook, not burn, but I used much less than I used to in the States because the flavor goes so much farther. There is probably a reason the Spanish are not known for their slender figures (especially when compared to the French or Italians!) but I think we can find ways to cook like them and still be healthy. I am going to enjoy learning more about the local cuisine!

Feria de Caballos

Today we went to our first Feria! The word means Fair, and typically Feria is a one or two week celebration of dancing, drinking, and debauchery in the Spring. But, today's was a Feria de Caballos, which was all about horses. It was on base, but we are on a Spanish Naval base, so most of the crowd was still Spanish, and all the announcements were in Spanish as well. It seemed to be an exhibition from people of all ages-- literally children not much bigger than Danny!-- all the way to adults. It was a very cool opportunity to see some of the elaborate horsemanship that this region is famous for.

However, as much as I want to share this event with you, I have to resist the temptation to sugar coat our experience. It was very interesting, and could have been a lot of fun, but it was also very frustrating and challenging because I was alone with the 3 kids (Daddy was at work) and they were well into the tired/grumpy stage of the evening. So here are both the romantic and the realistic accounts of our evening:

We arrived just as the show was starting, at 6PM, with the sun setting on a beautiful Spanish day. For the first demonstration, a team of young jockeys demonstrated their control of the horses by riding white and brown steeds in tight formations throughout the ring. The kids were immediately frustrated that the sun was in their eyes. I gave them sunglasses. No good. We walked through sand to the other side of the ring. Still they couldn't see. Why oh why did they have the entire viewing area facing directly into the sunset???

Feria dresses are worn by girls and women of all ages, but at this event it was only the young girls showing them off. Sophia and I marveled at the bright colors and elaborate designs. It was fun watching the kids dance and play, and Sophia bravely introduced herself to some, in her quest to make new friends. I looked at a display and considered buying her one, since Dan and I had already discussed it... but at $100 each, I think we may have to wait until she slows down on her growing! We waited and waited in line for ice cream, only to discover that Danny can't eat Baskin Robbins without assistance??? Alex kept grabbing and became a sticky mess. I was getting tired of lugging around a baby and a diaper bag while wearing heeled sandals in sandy soil. Sophie started whining that I wouldn't let her play in the ditch with the other kids, who obviously had nicer moms. We all trooped to the bathroom for the 2nd time within 30 minutes.

 

Then came the really cool part. First, a young girl performed a dance with a fan and a shawl in the middle of the arena. Then, a man rode his horse into the ring, and they continued the dance together. Sometimes he held her shawl, sometimes she waved it in front of the horse, and at one point she even hooked it to the horse's bridle and the horse continued the steps! It was very graceful, controlled, and beautiful. Now the kids were hot and thirsty, so I got them a water bottle and tried to find some shade, but they were getting ridiculously whiny, and I was starting to lose my cool and get looks from surrounding people. 

 

Finally, they brought out horses to showcase special steps and tricks. Some of the trainers were mounted, others stood beside their animal. The horses literally do dance steps, picking up their hooves in interesting and unnatural ways. They prance sideways, backwards, and even do a bouncing step on command. Some trainers brought the horses into the center of the ring to sit down, turn on one leg, stand up, kick, and even wave a leg at the audience! It was exciting and earned lots of applause! Danny was entranced, but also interested in holding the bag of Teddy grahams and not sharing them with Sophia. This drove Sophie into a freaked out frenzy. After 3 warnings, I took away the food and was completely done. Just as I told them we were going to the car, I heard an announcement in English to get the children away from the fence because they were disturbing the horses in their performance. I think it was aimed at me. I could not get them home fast enough!

So, needless to say, we were all completely worn out by the time we got home. I think the kids really did enjoy the experience, although if you ask Danny about his favorite part, it was eating crackers. :-( However, I am hoping he will have a different response tomorrow. At any rate, I am taking lots of mental notes about traveling with the children, so I will be better prepared when we start venturing out to bigger day trips. Today's lessons: 1) things are a lot harder without Daddy, 2) bring a stroller!, 3) bring way more snacks and drinks than you think necessary, 4) Sophie and Danny will have different interest levels in different events, so compromises are going to have to be made, and 5) Mommy needs a lot more sleep, and more comfortable shoes, for such outings! (My husband has been working until midnight all week, so we are both exhausted).

All in all, I am very glad we went and I actually enjoyed the show. I probably watched more of it than the kids did! I didn't enjoy their behavior, but I can either block that part of the memory or discipline them more next time. And maybe we can all sleep in tomorrow! So there you have it, our first Feria! :-)

lunch (and beach) in Peurto

The naval base is located between 2 towns: Rota, (which I posted pictures of last week) and El Peurto de Santa Maria. Rota is right outside the base gates, and Peurto is a few miles away. Yesterday, a new friend offered to show us how to get to Peurto. My husband was on call for work, but I jumped at the chance to get out of the house for a few hours. Sidenote: being stuck in an empty house with 3 children and no car is NOT very fun. So I loaded up the kids, and off we went. Let me point out that I was driving an old Stick-shift BMW, and I learned how to drive stick precisely 5 days ago. So I was very proud that we made it to a completely new town about 20 minutes away! I did stall a couple times when I panicked at the base gate and/or got distracted by the kids in the back seat, but overall it was not too bad. And the trip was totally worth it! We went around 12:30, and I forgot that most Spanish restaurants don't open for lunch until 1PM at the earliest, but luckily my friend knew one that was open early. And what a place!

This was the view from the restaurant-- gorgeous beach, rolling waves, and an ancient crumbling wall. It looked like it could be Roman, but my friends said it was more likely Moorish-- the Spanish do not like the Moors very much, so they let their buildings crumble whereas Roman ruins are preserved for tourists. We had some delicious criossant sandwiches and "brushettas" for the kids (which were really personal pizzas). Then of course they had to go "dip their toes" in the ocean...

 It seemed like a good idea, but since I didn't realize we would be on the beach, I didn't have towels or a change of clothes. Of course, Danny immediately went in too far, got wet shorts, and wanted to take them off. My friend assured me that the Spanish often let the boys play and swim completely naked, and the little girls just wear underwear, so I though it would be ok to remove Danny's shorts before they got completely soaked...

And the next thing I know, I turn around and Sophia is completely naked! She thought it was hilarious, my friends were amused but didn't mind at all, since their baby had also soaked her diaper and was now also butt naked, but I was slightly shocked and embarrassed. My kids have never undressed in public before! So, we got everyone dressed, cleaned up, and headed back home with some slightly damp and sandy, but very happy and excited children.

(The restaurant is on top of the cliff, on the far left.)

It was a thoroughly exhausting day. The kids stayed up beyond their normal naptime, and their giddy disobedience reflected that. I was so worn out from the sun, the stress of driving, and listening to their constant noise that I couldn't wait to get them down for naps! But... at the same time, I am glad we went. It was definitely a fun time, and a memory that I will treasure for a while. I think we will tend to remember the beautiful scenes and the fun moments more than the headaches and stress. So I will have to keep that in mind whenever we go somewhere new. Yes, it is always frustrating doing anything with 3 kids. But AFTERWARDS-- that night, the next day, or years from now, we will look back and be glad we did it all. So I will try to stay relaxed and enjoy it all, so that my family can enjoy each other!

The new house!

We got to move into our new house on Monday, and let me just tell you... it is amazing! First of all, it is huge. They just finished a major renovation project on base this summer, and we are the lucky recipients of one of the newly renovated 4-bedroom houses! They took a duplex of 2 side-by-side 2-bedroom houses, knocked down some walls, and created a gorgeous 4-bedroom home. Basically, one wing has the kitchen, dining room (that used to be a living room) and living room (that used to be 2 bedrooms), while the other wing has 4 bedrooms and 2 full baths. 

 The kitchen is old cabinets, but new tile and appliances. I am standing in the former dining room, which is now basically an entry area by the backdoor and has a standing freezer and a large pantry. The window over the sink opens out to the courtyard.

  

This is one of the biggest dining rooms I have ever seen! We are so glad there will be room for our china cabinet, and that we can fully extend the table. Another amazing thing-- tile floor, not carpet like our last house! Finally, I can feed my messy family in the dining room instead of the kitchen. Actually, the ENTIRE house is tile floor, which is strange to me. The kids are going to have to adjust to the slipperiness. And I am quickly learning that an empty room with tile floor and concrete walls means LOTS OF NOISE! We need to get some rugs and curtains fast, because when all 3 kids are babbling in that room, it gives me an instant headache. 

This is one side of the great room/living room. The other side is empty right now, but will soon have our desk and bookshelves, to Dan's great delight. :-) The furniture is all temporary, loaned to us by the base until our shipment comes in a few more weeks. The rug is ours though, we just got it. It will look great with our espresso colored shelves, leather couch, and cranberry curtains. That's not a tv, btw, it's a window, and just outside it is a beautiful palm tree. :-)

And here is the courtyard, which is in the center of the house, connecting the 2 wings. The green awning can be retracted for extra sun or shade. We already have a nice patio table to put out there, with plans to grow lots of flowers and herbs too. There is a looooong hallway connecting the two wings, which you can see thorough those door and big window. The little window is to the playroom.

All 4 bedrooms are a pretty good size too! The Master has a nice bathroom and HUGE walk-in closet. Sophie's room looks pretty empty here, but we just got here a new bed and a purple area rug, so that will make it a little cozier.

 

 For now, Danny gets his room to himself, while we are getting settled. But once the other furniture gets here, we plan to put both boys' beds side by side in here. (Alex has a rail to keep him in, but he is fine in the pack-and-play for now). The kids have their own bathroom, which is quite stylish and modern, like the other bathrooms in the house! Very nice!

 

So there you have it, all you family who have been eagerly awaiting pictures! :-) So far, we love almost everything about the house. The layout is unusual, but I think it is going to work out really well for us. I love having no stairs to go up and down all the time! Honestly, we feel a little ashamed moving into a place like this, because it is big even by American standards. So if this is what the Spanish think Americans require for a family with 3 children, well, I can see how that would breed some resentment. The place is more than adequate with tons of storage (indoor and outdoor), more closets than I know what to do with, a huge fenced-in yard, and--oh yes-- automatic sprinklers. Because we live in the desert and can't be expected to water our own grass every night. And since we are on base, we are walking distance from the school, the playground, the pool, and all our future friends. Seriously, we are being really spoiled and we are so grateful to get such an amazing place. Kudos once again to my husband for getting us on the housing list early and helping us to move in so quickly!!!

One final comment: people on base have been REALLY friendly so far. It's a very small community, so I guess everyone recognizes a newcomer, and everyone has introduced themselves and offered assistance right away. A neighbor is even lending us a car for a few weeks so we don't have to pay out of pocket for the rental while we are completing paperwork to buy a car for Dan! (Our van won't be here for a few more weeks). Amazing, unexpected generosity. Moving in has been mostly ok, but it is great knowing there are people to turn to for all the challenging questions. Looking forward to the rest of our time here!!!

First weekend in Rota

This was our first weekend in Spain, and we wanted to take advantage of the fact that we are living out in town right now (in a hotel). So we started in the city center on Saturday afternoon and walked around looking for Rota's biggest landmarks: the Castle, the Cathedral, the lighthouse, and the ancient doorway. We found them all, plus lots more! First, of course, we had to check out the beach.

 There is a beautiful "boardwalk" along this wide beach on the east side of town. It's very nice, with a playground on the beach, and beautiful waves rolling in. We walked south towards the lighthouse, which is actually incredibly narrow for its height! Down by the point, the beach is much rockier.

 Then we walked up the hill into the center of the old town. The square between the castle and the cathedral was filled with 2 big events: a wedding leaving the church, and a medieval craft fair! The white horses are the famous Andlusian horses, which are bred nearby in Jerez. They were waiting for the wedding party. We had seen flyers for the medieval craft fair and wanted to check it out, but it was mostly modern jewelry and paintings, with a few booths of leatherworkers and candy.

 Then we went down he hill looking for the castle entrance. When we found it, they were just getting ready to close, so we told the kid we would come back another day. It's free, so why not??? But we did find the ancient doors that used to be the city entrance in the 8th century, I believe. If you look past the adorable children, you will see the cathedral in the background. 

So, all in all, a wonderful afternoon in Rota! Looking forward to many more, and lots of exploring with my family! :-) Oh, and if you're wondering why there are no pictures of Alex, it's because he was in the stroller the whole time. But he is having fun, too.

The kids' reactions so far

Since the kids are 4, 2, and 1, we weren't sure how they would react to the tremendous change of moving to a new country that speaks a different language. Overall, I am really proud of how they are doing so far! The first few days everyone was tired and having trouble adjusting to the time zone, but since everything happens later in Spain anyway, we seem to be easing into that very well. We eat lunch closer to 2, take naps around 3, then do an evening activity and dinner around 8, not going to bed until 9ish. I would have thought that schedule was impossible for us in the States, but we have found it necessary to wear them out so they will go to sleep, since they are all sleeping in the same room.
But in case you are wondering what moving is like to a kid, here are some quotes so far:

"This town looks just like Ted's town in the Lorax!" (Sophie's statement the first day here. It's not quite Thneedville, but the bright colors and original architecture are reminiscent of Dr. Seuss.)

"This beach has no water!" (Danny's reaction to low tide at the very shallow beach near our hotel. The beach was covered in seaweed, and the waves were almost at the horizon. There are better beaches on the other side of town.

"I love Spanish ice cream!" (Sophie and Danny both think it's amazing that there are ice cream booths scattered around town that are open at night. I ordered them some Fantasmikos, which is apparently a bag of mini popsicles, so they each got to have 3 popsicles and shared with the rest of the family. They were pretty tasty.)

"We are almost to North Carolina! I think I see Granny's house!" (Sophie's remarks after we went for a 1-hour walk in the evening along the boardwalk. We had to remind her how far we are from home and family, but it's probably good she thinks they are nearby.)

"Spain is awesome. It is even better than Granny's house!" (Sophie's comment on day 2. High praise coming from a girl whose favorite friends are Granny and her dog, Simba.)

 "This is the most beautiful dinner I ever saw." (Sophie's reaction to leftover night on our hotel patio. Spaghetti for them, paella for the parents. I guess the right surroundings mean the food doesn't matter!)

"They have playgrounds in Spain!" Sophie's reaction every time I take them to a little park or play area. I guess she was worried that playing is an American thing?)

"Hola perro!" (Danny greets every dog he sees when we go for walks, and the kind locals usually say hola back. One man even handed Danny the leash and let him walk the dog for a few moments! The locals have been friendly, and the kids have been eager to repeat any Spanish phrases I tell them.)

"I want a big bowl of mac and cheese." (Sophie's request for dinner the first night here. She was a little dismayed that Spanish restaurants don't have much pasta. But she ended up saying her rice and meatballs were "bueno!")

"We are going exploring!" This is what Danny tells us whenever we drive in the car or go for a walk. Everything is an exciting new adventure for them, so we try to keep a positive, upbeat attitude, even when we are doing mundane things like completing paperwork or going to the grocery store.)

"Wahhhhhhhh!" (Alex's reaction every time we strap him in the carseat now, since he doesn't know if he is going to be stuck in it for an epically long time. He usually ends up falling asleep after a bit of crying and fussing, though.)

So there you have it. They are having fun, making new friends, and enjoying new experiences, even though this is currently not much of a vacation. I mean, no American family would bring young children to Spain for vacation, and if they did, they wouldn't spend a week doing paperwork and preparing to move into a new house. But even so, that's not what the kids will remember. To them, this is an exciting no place with new yummy food, and adventures around every corner! So we will try to keep it that way for a while until we start to miss the U.S.

Learning to drive

My mom always said that you should learn something new everyday. But when you move to a new country, the learning curve is tremendous. You learn a ton of new things each day. Of course we are learning a lot just by looking at menus, sampling food, walking around, etc. But today I am proud to announce that I am learning something BIG: how to drive a stick shift vehicle! I only drove automatic before, but our rental car is stick shift, and that's all we are going to have for the next few weeks. Dan only works 3 miles from our house, so he could run to work, but if I want to go anywhere I can either learn to drive or take all 3 kids on a bicycle with me. So... driving sounds like a good idea. Dan let me practice with the rental car, and it actually went very well, after the first few choppy circles around the block. I drove from base to our new house and didn't stall once. :-) We are looking to buy a new car for Dan while we are here. He would use it for work, but it would also be our good gas mileage car for weekend trips, so I should know how to drive it, and most options are stick shift here. So I will keep practicing until I feel comfortable enough to drive in town, with pedestrians walking into the street, people parking in the middle of the road, traffic circles every hundred feet, and unexpected 1-way streets. Oh, and with 3 kids sitting side by side in the back seat. Yeah, might take a little more practice for that to be a safe scenario! But I am glad that after years of Dan promising me driving lessons we finally got around to it. :-)

Spain: First impressions

Well, we are here! After months of planning, packing, moving, and living out of suitcases, we have arrived in Rota, Spain! The plane landed yesterday morning at the airport on base, and we were immediately greeted by warm, sunny weather and palm trees. :-) Also, lots of gorgeous tile signs, like this one in the airport arrivals area:

The passports got stamps, and the kids hands did, too!
We have a sponsor, who is actually the guy whose job my husband will be taking, so they have been communicating for the last month or so. The sponsor, his wife, and daughter were all there to greet us, help with luggage, and check us into a hotel (since there is no housing available on base this week). The hotel is gorgeous! It's in a rustic Spanish style, with tile floors, stucco walls painted in light pastels, huge flowers blooming outside, and even a little kitchenette for our convenience. It's a little tricky trying to get all three kids to sleep in the same room while Dan and I have the sleeper sofa, but they have been so tired and off schedule that it is working ok so far, and we only have to deal with it for a few more days, since we should get keys to our house on Monday!

We spent a lot of our first day in Spain driving around base, checking into various offices and completing paperwork to get Visas, Spanish id cards, and a rental car. But by evening we had some time to drive around the city of Rota and enjoy our first Spanish meal at our hotel's restaurant. First impressions of Rota: 1. It's a small city, only a few miles in each direction, so it will be easy to find our way around. The "old town" area has several narrow, pedestrian-only streets, as well as a beautiful beach! We are actually surrounded by beaches here, since the city is built on a point, with an old lighthouse at the very tip.
2. The base is small too, but seems to have everything we need. Housing is just a few kilometers from Dan's office, so he can run or bike to work. there are parks, playgrounds, pools, and a school all within walking distance, so I can take the kids anywhere I want. The NEX (Navy Exchange/ shopping mall) is well stocked with household goods, furniture, kitchen gadgets, baby equipment, etc at reasonable prices. The commissary imports American food, with english brand names and labels, so shopping will be easy if I want it to be.
3. The surrounding area is actually a disguised desert, much like Southern California, with olive trees, shrubs, and some flowers. But there are nice gardens, carefully sprinkled lawns, and flower pots everywhere, so it looks much more lush than it is.
4. The Spanish people on base and in the hotel have all spoken English very well so far. Of course, they have to, dealing with so many Americans here. It will be different if we go to small restaurants or shops in town, or anywhere else in Spain. But so far I am pleased with my minimal Spanish and my ability to ask for things like keys, pillows, breakfast, etc. And they seem pleased with my attempts to speak Spanish instead of english, so I will definitely keep working on it.
5. Driving has been interesting. Only Dan has been driving so far, since the rental car is a stick shift, but the drivers and pedestrians have very little hesitation going right in front of you! Some of the lanes and roads change abruptly, or just end for no apparent reason, so it is certainly an adventure! I think tonight we will try walking around instead-- much safer, and less likelihood of heart attacks. :-)
6. Our house is amazing! Much more about it later, but we got to drive by it yesterday and do a walk through today, and it is ridiculous. They just finished renovating the 2-bedroom duplexes into 1 single-family home. So it has a 2-car garage in the front center, with 4 bedrooms on one wing, and a big dining/living space in the other wing. But best of all there is an open-air courtyard in the center of the house with an awning cover! It is an amazing space for the kids to run around, ride bikes, and we can relax, grow some flowers, and enjoy outdoor living in our Spanish villa!

It is amazing how much paperwork and official stuff we have done in the last 24 hours! The kids have been pretty good sports, spending a lot of time at the playground or in the car with one parent, while the other goes into an office and gets things done. But after waiting in the housing office, Danny thought this shaded bench was a great place to lay down for a few minutes. The artistic tiles are everywhere, and I just love them!

After a long day, we have pretty low-key plans tonight: take a walk, find some dinner, watch the sun set over the ocean, and then maybe sip some sangria on the hotel patio. Oh yes, I think we are going to like it here!

First plane ride!

We made it to Spain!!! Before I tell you more about this beautiful city, I know all you moms out there want to hear how our flights went with 3 children and way too much luggage in tow. Let me first say that it was not terrible, actually better than expected. Let me next say that traveling with young children is no joke. It was a LONG, exhausting day. We checked in to the Baltimore airport around 6:30am. It was a little unwieldy carrying 3 carseats and all our carry-ons through the airport, but we didn't have to go very far. At first, the kids were excited and entertained watching the planes come and go.

The first flight was very short. We were only in the air for about 30 minutes to get to Norfolk! Alex fell asleep as soon as we boarded and slept right through takeoff and the entire flight, which was amazing. The older two were excited about their first ride and enjoyed the thrill of both the takeoff and the landing, with no complaints. So far, so good.

Then we got to Norfolk, and things got a little more complicated. We landed at Norfolk Intl airport around 9:30 am. We knew we had to collect our baggage and get to the AMC terminal for our next leg. What we didn't realize is that those flights go out of the military airport on the Norfolk Naval base-- a completely different airport! We had planned to take a shuttle to a hotel near the main airport and spend the morning in the pool and the afternoon taking naps, since we didn't have to check in until 5pm for the flight to Spain. However, the shuttle that ran from the civilian airport to the military base left at 2 pm. So... we had to spend a lot of time at the Norfolk intl airport with a HUGE pile of luggage.

The saving grace to the day was the USO! There is a USO lounge in the Norfolk intl airport available to all military members and their families. We were some of the first ones there that morning, so the kids got to relax and watch a movie and eat some free snacks. They had a "quiet room" on one side for resting, so Alex and Danny got naps in the middle of the day, much to everyone's relief. The staff was all very friendly volunteers who kept offering us more candy. :-) Then, when we started getting bored there, it was time to drag all our stuff downstairs to a shuttle bus and ride over to the military base, where we unloaded everything and waited in line for security checks.

 This is the part of the day where the kids started to drag. It took at least an hour to get through the lines at the military airport. Daddy was dragging around both carts of luggage (about 300 pounds!) while I was dragging around the 3 kids (less weight, but more whining!). But FINALLY we made it through all the lines and got to eat some dinner and wait for our 8pm flight. Sophie actually laid down and fell asleep on the floor underneath the benches in the waiting area. Danny enjoyed the USO playroom with tons of toys. And Alex was fussy unless I held him and walked. So it was a relief to finally get onto the plane and get everyone into their seats!

Sophie and Danny went to sleep right away, even before dinner was served. Alex slept on and off most of the night. I was sitting beside him massaging his ears, and it seemed he would wake up every hour, cry for a moment, let me comfort him, then go back to sleep. Frustrating for me, but at least he wasn't that baby on the airplane who screams the entire flight. So, after a 7.5 hour flight, a small amount of sleep, and two in-flight meals, we arrived in Rota!!!!! We were all here together, and our luggage made it to, so even though we were a little tired, it was a GOOD day. Thank you all or your prayers, because I know that is what got us through the part of the journey I had been dreading so much. It was tiring and frustrating, yes, but I expected that, and honestly I am really proud of the kids because I think they did SO WELL putting up with so many lines and waiting periods on their first plane ride. Hooray!

Last night in America!

And we're off to Spain in the morning! The bags are packed, the kids are in bed, and we are enjoying our last night in America: steak dinner, milkshake dessert, and football on TV. Things are going to be so different from now on! But I think we're ready for it. We have said our goodbyes to family and friends, and yes it is a little sad that we are going to miss so much and be so far away from those we love. But... I think it is all going to be worth it. Yes, I am a little nervous, anxious, and afraid of our ridiculous layover and flight tomorrow... but there will be a time in just a few days where we will be sitting in a hotel just off the beach in Spain, with bellies full of sangria and paella and just loving life!
So, ignoring the crazy travel day ahead of us, here's wha I am looking forward to the most in the next few months:
1. Spanish food! My husband and I are both excited to experience new food, learn to cook it, and enjoy lots of wine and seafood.
2. Living right near the beach. Warm weather, beautiful location, we are going to love it!
3. Exploring new places as a family.
4. Making new friends. This is usually a slow challenging process for me, but rewarding once I finally get comfortable opening up to people.
5. A new church community. I really really hope to make some good Catholic friends. There will obviously be plenty of churches to check out, so I look forward to new communities.
6. Christmas in Rome!!! This is our first big trip that we are planning, and my husband and I are really looking forward to it!

So I will just keep thinking these happy thoughts as we get through our layover and 7 hour flight with the kids tomorrow. I am sure we will miss plenty of things about America, but for now I am feeling prepared. I'll see you all on the other side (of the Atlantic!)

Passport nightmare

In June we all applied for 'no-fee' passports through the military. They are free, processed through the military, and only get us into Spain. In August we still hadn't received them, so we applied for regular passports through the State department. Last week the passports started showing up - everyone's except mine. One week before our flight I still had no passport, and calls to the State department indicated a big problem : they would not issue my new passport until the old one with my maiden name had been canceled. And that one had already been surrendered to the military for the no-fee passport. Calls to the military could not locate my passport since they are processed through an independent company. They had taken 10 weeks, but apparently for the first 5 weeks it sat on someone's desk not being processed at all. Suddenly there was talk of canceling our flight for a month until I could fly.

So yesterday we drove to the passport center in Philadelphia to get it straightened out. Apparently the military only had a photocopy of our marriage license, not a certified copy. If they sent a request for more paperwork, it either went to our old address or to my husband's old unit. Either way, we never got it. So the military couldn't process it without our original marriage license, which was with the State department, and the State department couldn't process it without the old passport, which was with the military. Ahhhh, bureaucrats! After a lot of waiting and checking with supervisors, the surprisingly nice lady at the passport center told me they would overnight the regular passport to me from New Hampshire. We keep checking the tracking number, and it is on its way here right now! My stomach and nerves will feel so much better when I have a passport in hand and I can actually get on a plane with my family! We fly in 4 days, so I would like to relax and enjoy my last few days in the States.

Homelessness

In 9 days we will be leaving the country, and possibly not coming back for 3 years! It's crazy. We have been so focused on visiting family that I don't think our move has become real to me yet. I keep waiting to take our suitcases back to North Carolina, unpack, and be home. But we no longer have a home in North Carolina. We are homeless, and will be living out of suitcases for a while longer.

We just learned that even though we are already on the housing list in Rota, our house won't be ready immediately (we expected that) but there is no temporary housing available either (we didn't expect that). So it looks like we will spend next week at my parents' house, then fly to Spain and spend about one week in a hotel off base in Rota, then about one week in temporary housing on base, and then hopefully move into our actual house on base! So it's going to take a while before we have a house in Spain, and much longer to make it a home.

All the visiting and activities with family have been lots of fun and are giving us great memories, but it is also getting a little exhausting. Each time we go to a new place it takes the kids a few days to adjust, and we have been wearing them out. Mommy and Daddy aren't getting as much sleep as usual either. So after saying goodbye to the Lightfoots and Tuttles this morning, I am feeling drained and a little down. We are on our way to the annual Prosser Labor Day party for Mass and a crab feast. Maybe a day outside with good family and food will perk me up, then we need a slow quiet week at the Pennsylvania farm to get rested up for our long flight. Happy Labor Day everyone!