- my husband and I will have known each other for 13 years, almost half our lives!
- our children will turn 5, 4, and 2
- we will celebrate our 6th wedding anniversary :-)
- with the exception of short 'business trips' we will spend the whole year together, deployment free- for the first time in 4 years
- we will spend the whole year in Spain, but have family visits in may, July, September, and possibly December, seeing almost our our siblings and parents!
- Sophie and Danny will both be able to attend Spanish school in the fall... If we want them to
- I will continue to follow a healthy lifestyle, explore new foods, track with Weight watchers, and exercise regularly
- I will keep growing in faith by praying the rosary regularly with my catholic friends, attending Bible study at the base chapel, and attending church with my family.
- I will already have my bachelors and masters degrees, but I will keep learning new things every day, and save money for our children to earn their education
- I hope to read a lot more books, and listen to more audiobooks
- we will travel a bit in southern Spain, hopefully catch some fun local events, and probably take one big family vacation, not sure where!
- we will keep our family fiscally responsible and debt free
- I will continue blogging about our adventures, partially to maintain memories of our time here, and partially to help me keep a positive attitude about traveling with our children. Also, because I like writing and photography. ;-)
- I will miss my North Carolina friends, my Quantico friends, my college friends, and even some of my high school friends. But I will make new Rota friends and enjoy the time I can share with them
- I will continue to study Spanish, and hopefully work up the courage to make some Spanish friends and practice and improve my speaking skills with them
- help support the families of my husband's unit by volunteering as their Ombudsman to assist in event planning, communication, and crisis situations
- try to write more and keep in better touch with my family in the States and around the world
Some of these are resolutions, but most of them are things I already do, and just want to consciously pursue or improve in the coming year. I believe in constant improvement in all areas of life, but if you don't have goals and routines it is easy to get lazy or simply forget about certain things. I think if I had to choose one thing as a resolution it would be to learn more Spanish because I have actually been neglecting that. But if I had to choose one priority for the year, it would be to enjoy the time with my family and grow more in love with all of them. How do you want to grow or change in 2013?
Monday, December 31, 2012
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Traveling with children
Some people with 3 very young children would never consider traveling to another country. We are brave (or crazy) enough to try everything at least once. And boy did we learn a lot on this vacation from Spain to Portugal! Traveling with children is certainly not ideal, but if you are physically and mentally prepared it can make things a lot more enjoyable for everyone. First, with very young children you have to be prepared for a very light itinerary. Even the 'kid friendly' ideas in the guide books were too ambitious for us. So we only planned a 5 day visit, instead of a week. We used a baby backpack to carry the infant, which worked out very well, but the other 2 had to walk, and they can only do 1-2 hours of walking total per day. Streets in Europe are not very stroller-friendly because of all the cobblestones, and most sidewalks are very narrow. Luckily, public transportation like the metro or trolleys are very exciting to them and let you navigate the city without exhausting everyone. The oldest really enjoyed counting metro stops on her fingers, and the younger ones even snoozed on the train. Unfortunately, with children you won't be able to do or see as much as you would with adults, because you just need to walk slower, and make frequent stops for snacks, bathrooms, and nose wiping. But the positive side is that children under 5 get free admission to most sites, and travel for free on public transportation, so there is not much harm in trying something for a little while to see if they like it. Of course children get bored just looking at old buildings or artwork, so we took them to castles, churches, and the aquarium. And we made up games for them, like letting them pretend to be knights, princesses, or adventurers. I learned a lot of facts and history from my guidebooks, and enjoyed translating them to kid-friendly stories and sharing those during dull moments.
Another important consideration is what will be your home base for your visit. We knew we could not all share a hotel room for 5 nights, so we found a fully-furnished apartment we could rent for the same price as a hotel room. It was in a quiet historic neighborhood near the castle (where you won't find any modern hotels), had a kitchen to prepare meals, and allowed the kids to sleep in separate bedrooms to get better sleep. Ours was awesome because it was very kid-friendly and had a fully-stocked playroom. The kids loved exploring the new toys and books (which I had to pretend to read to them since they were in Portuguese!) so they were entertained whenever we were home. Our American movies were not compatible with their DVD player, but we played a movie on the computer for them as a special treat once or twice to give the parents a break. Only downsides of renting an apartment is that you will not get typical American standard quality of appliances that you would in a hotel. Biggest difference: no central heating. Portuguese and Spanish winters are mild enough to get by with space heaters in the bedrooms, but it was still quite chilly by our standards. We made a fire and gave the kids lots of blankets, but they did get a little sick, and Danny in particular got a fever which required us to stay home for a while. Also, the bathtubs had a hand held sprayer for a shower. The washing machine was tiny, and we dried things on a clothes line outside. The kitchen oven was tiny too. But everything worked, including the hot water, so I didn't mind the few inconveniences.
Another thing to consider when traveling with children: know when to quit. If you start a trip with your mind set on certain destinations, you may get frustrated or disappointed that the children are interfering. You have to keep an open mind, be flexible, and remember that a family trip is about journeying together, not necessarily getting to destinations. We did not see as much as I wanted to in Lisbon, but we did learn that my husband and I are a good team, and we tried to avoid dragging people around and making them miserable. When Danny got feverish, we had to scratch a day trip to Fatima-a religious pilgrimage I was looking forward to. But it was over an hour away, and he needed to spend a day resting. So instead of creating negative memories and making him sicker, we hunkered down and spent a relaxing and surprisingly fun day at the apartment. A few days later, we thought the kids were feeling better, and attempted a train ride to Sintra, the "essential day trip" 30 minutes outside the city. The kids enjoyed the train ride, but by the time we got there they were obviously exhausted. So, instead of spending an afternoon dragging them around and yelling at them, we swallowed our disappointment, enjoyed lunch in Sintra, and then got back on the train and went home without seeing any castles. But it made it easier to leave the city for good e next day, because we knew we couldn't vacation any longer. I think 4-5 days is the max trip for our family.
A final bit of advice: if you drive, you can bring many more comforts with you. I brought food from home, so we could always offer familiar snacks or alternatives if they didn't like the local offerings. Also, be sure to bring a 1st aid kit and children medicine since it may be difficult to find that in a foreign country. I was so glad we had a thermometer and Tylenol when Danny got feverish. We brought several pieces of baby equipment, including diapers, strollers and backpack carrier, so we would have options. Now we know that the backpack works best! Our apartment provided us with a high chair and crib, so luckily we didn't need those. We even brought some christmas resents for them to open. But we would have had to travel much lighter if we went by plane, so we were not quite ready to try that. However, there are lots of hidden costs of driving: gas is twice as expensive in Europe, there are numerous tolls on the roads (and if you have a large car like a minivan, you will pay class 2 tolls, which are double the class 1 rates.), and you will have to pay for parking during your stay. So in many cases, the costs of driving will be comparable to train or air travel.
So, I wouldn't say every moment of our vacation was successful. There was sickness, bed wetting, whining, and general frustration. But overall, we had a good time and we are glad we came! I have wonderful memories of cobblestones, rich food, an indoor fireplace, christmas lights, quiet down time, and laughter. i will treasure those memories, and hope my family will too. We learned a lot, and hope that our next adventure will go even more smoothly.
Another important consideration is what will be your home base for your visit. We knew we could not all share a hotel room for 5 nights, so we found a fully-furnished apartment we could rent for the same price as a hotel room. It was in a quiet historic neighborhood near the castle (where you won't find any modern hotels), had a kitchen to prepare meals, and allowed the kids to sleep in separate bedrooms to get better sleep. Ours was awesome because it was very kid-friendly and had a fully-stocked playroom. The kids loved exploring the new toys and books (which I had to pretend to read to them since they were in Portuguese!) so they were entertained whenever we were home. Our American movies were not compatible with their DVD player, but we played a movie on the computer for them as a special treat once or twice to give the parents a break. Only downsides of renting an apartment is that you will not get typical American standard quality of appliances that you would in a hotel. Biggest difference: no central heating. Portuguese and Spanish winters are mild enough to get by with space heaters in the bedrooms, but it was still quite chilly by our standards. We made a fire and gave the kids lots of blankets, but they did get a little sick, and Danny in particular got a fever which required us to stay home for a while. Also, the bathtubs had a hand held sprayer for a shower. The washing machine was tiny, and we dried things on a clothes line outside. The kitchen oven was tiny too. But everything worked, including the hot water, so I didn't mind the few inconveniences.
Another thing to consider when traveling with children: know when to quit. If you start a trip with your mind set on certain destinations, you may get frustrated or disappointed that the children are interfering. You have to keep an open mind, be flexible, and remember that a family trip is about journeying together, not necessarily getting to destinations. We did not see as much as I wanted to in Lisbon, but we did learn that my husband and I are a good team, and we tried to avoid dragging people around and making them miserable. When Danny got feverish, we had to scratch a day trip to Fatima-a religious pilgrimage I was looking forward to. But it was over an hour away, and he needed to spend a day resting. So instead of creating negative memories and making him sicker, we hunkered down and spent a relaxing and surprisingly fun day at the apartment. A few days later, we thought the kids were feeling better, and attempted a train ride to Sintra, the "essential day trip" 30 minutes outside the city. The kids enjoyed the train ride, but by the time we got there they were obviously exhausted. So, instead of spending an afternoon dragging them around and yelling at them, we swallowed our disappointment, enjoyed lunch in Sintra, and then got back on the train and went home without seeing any castles. But it made it easier to leave the city for good e next day, because we knew we couldn't vacation any longer. I think 4-5 days is the max trip for our family.
A final bit of advice: if you drive, you can bring many more comforts with you. I brought food from home, so we could always offer familiar snacks or alternatives if they didn't like the local offerings. Also, be sure to bring a 1st aid kit and children medicine since it may be difficult to find that in a foreign country. I was so glad we had a thermometer and Tylenol when Danny got feverish. We brought several pieces of baby equipment, including diapers, strollers and backpack carrier, so we would have options. Now we know that the backpack works best! Our apartment provided us with a high chair and crib, so luckily we didn't need those. We even brought some christmas resents for them to open. But we would have had to travel much lighter if we went by plane, so we were not quite ready to try that. However, there are lots of hidden costs of driving: gas is twice as expensive in Europe, there are numerous tolls on the roads (and if you have a large car like a minivan, you will pay class 2 tolls, which are double the class 1 rates.), and you will have to pay for parking during your stay. So in many cases, the costs of driving will be comparable to train or air travel.
So, I wouldn't say every moment of our vacation was successful. There was sickness, bed wetting, whining, and general frustration. But overall, we had a good time and we are glad we came! I have wonderful memories of cobblestones, rich food, an indoor fireplace, christmas lights, quiet down time, and laughter. i will treasure those memories, and hope my family will too. We learned a lot, and hope that our next adventure will go even more smoothly.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Portuguese food
One thing we were excited about experiencing in Portugal was their food, and we were not disappointed! I some ways, the cuisine is similar to Spain- lots of seafood and pork, typically grilled or lightly fried. Olive oil is used in everything. Potatoes are served with most meals, either boiled, fried, or mashed into a casserole. There is also plenty of flavorful sausage for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. But Portugal is different from Spain in several distinct ways. Partially because of portugal's exploration of the oceans, their cuisine is influenced by Brazilian food, as well as dishes from Africa and India. First, different wines. Of course, Portugal is where they make port, and we learned that it comes in white, red, or tawny varieties. The white is very rich, sweet, and smooth. Portugal also makes something called green wine, made from a particular variety of grapes in the north. It is very pale in color, closer to yellow than green, but noticeably different from white wine. It is crisp and light, with flavors similar to Chardonnay. Dan and I both liked it, which is unusual, since I prefer sweet and light wine, while he prefers richer full-bodied whites. A second distinction between the Portuguese and the Spanish is how much the Portuguese love pastries! Spanish breakfast is not very exciting, but the Portuguese have all kinds of chocolate, cream and carb-filled delicacies to enjoy in the morning or with a coffee at mid-day. The kids and I enjoyed sampling as many as we could. :-) we also enjoyed some different cheeses: there is hard aged cheese, and also a soft mild cheese called flamenco which is much like gouda. Finally, we noticed that Portuguese bread is much denser, darker, and more crusty than Spanish bread. I did not get a chance to try piri piri chicken, which is made with a particular pepper from North Africa, but I would like to someday.
We had to make several dinners at our apartment, not only for financial reasons, but also out if necessity since most restaurants are closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Luckily, there was a grocery store at the bottom if our street, so I could explore typical food easily and cheaply. I didn't feel comfortable cooking raw seafood or pork in our tiny apartment oven, but I learned that rotisserie chicken, fresh bread, and cheese make an excellent dinner. For our Christmas meal, we had a leg of pork (with the hoof still attached!), boiled potatoes with olive oil and sea salt, and grilled asparagus with a red wine glaze. And for dessert, a christmas log layered cream cake. Don't worry, pictures are coming! Dining in Portugal is a delicious experience. And the Portuguese make excellent, friendly hosts, speaking English in most restaurants, so I would recommend it to anyone!
We had to make several dinners at our apartment, not only for financial reasons, but also out if necessity since most restaurants are closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Luckily, there was a grocery store at the bottom if our street, so I could explore typical food easily and cheaply. I didn't feel comfortable cooking raw seafood or pork in our tiny apartment oven, but I learned that rotisserie chicken, fresh bread, and cheese make an excellent dinner. For our Christmas meal, we had a leg of pork (with the hoof still attached!), boiled potatoes with olive oil and sea salt, and grilled asparagus with a red wine glaze. And for dessert, a christmas log layered cream cake. Don't worry, pictures are coming! Dining in Portugal is a delicious experience. And the Portuguese make excellent, friendly hosts, speaking English in most restaurants, so I would recommend it to anyone!
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Lisbon's cathedral and Christmas carnival
Today we woke up ready to explore Lisbon! But first, there was a tremendous learning curve. First, Lisbon is one hour earlier than Spain so even though the kids slept in... They didn't really. Next, had to figure out how to use the washing machine since Danny soiled his bed. I think it dries too, but I am currently using the clothes lines outdoors to be safe. We also learned that even with an adapter, if you plug 110 speakers into a 220 outlet... you can fry them. :-(
But, once we dealt with all that, we were off to explore! First we walked up the hill to the old castle, which is literally just behind our street. But the hill is so steep here that the houses of several stories are built into the hill, and the next road behind them is 5 stories higher than the road in front! The kids enjoyed climbing the castle battlements, peeking through strategic shooting holes, and surveying the city.
Then we walked down the hill to the cathedral, stopping at some good vantage points along the way, and watching the bright yellow trolley cars that navigate the hillsides. The cathedral, called the Se, is a Romanesque building with arching stone ceilings, stained glass rosette windows, and huge paintings. We were just in time for Mass, which was convenient since it was the 4th Sunday of Advent. Of course it was in Portuguese, but the great part about being Catholic is that the Mass is the same everywhere in the world, so we still knew the responses and exactly what was going on. It was the first time the kids had been in a Cathedral or heard organ music (Danny liked it, Sophie plugged her ears!) so that was a cool experience for them. Funny story: as soon as they saw the priest standing on the top of the Cathedral steps in his robes, Sophie said, "Look, it's Grandpa!" (My dad is a deacon and the kids have been to his Masses before). He DID actually look a little like my dad, and we all had some pangs of homesickness as he started Mass in Portuguese.
A few words about the Portuguese language: it is NOT at all like Spanish, even though many words look very similar. Apparently it developed separately from the Romance languages, with Moorish (arabic) influence. But it actually sounds very slavic, closer to Russian than anything else. So I can read some of it because it looks like French or Spanish, but I can't speak it, and it is difficult to understand. Luckily, almost everyone speaks some English, especially here in the capital. The Portuguese are very friendly and outgoing, so we have not had any problems so far.
After Mass, it was definitely time for lunch. These hills are no joke, and everyone was getting tired. Daddy was the one carrying Alex in the baby backpack, which worked really well, but I felt like I was dragging the other 2 up the hill. We found a delightful tiny restaurant with DELICIOUS chicken and sausage dishes, hearty bread (with cheese and beet spread??) and good wine. Then it was home for some well deserved naps!
As evening fell, the lights came on in the city, and we could hear the music from the Christmas festivals in the squares below us. So we had an early dinner in our apartment, then wandered downhill to Rossio, the main village square. There was a Christmas carnival with several kiddie rides, and lots of vendors. Sophie was most excited about the Ferris wheel actually, which is funny because I don't think she has ever been on one. Danny was thrilled about the carousel, which we out Alex on for the first time. Everyone loved it! Their eyes and smiles got so big, and Alex did not want to let go of his horse! We also got to play and take pictures in an enormous Christmas ball made out if thousands of red lights. We could walk inside it and look up at it, which Sophie basically thought was the most amazing thing ever. It was a long, but very rewarding day, and a great start to our vacation!
But, once we dealt with all that, we were off to explore! First we walked up the hill to the old castle, which is literally just behind our street. But the hill is so steep here that the houses of several stories are built into the hill, and the next road behind them is 5 stories higher than the road in front! The kids enjoyed climbing the castle battlements, peeking through strategic shooting holes, and surveying the city.
Then we walked down the hill to the cathedral, stopping at some good vantage points along the way, and watching the bright yellow trolley cars that navigate the hillsides. The cathedral, called the Se, is a Romanesque building with arching stone ceilings, stained glass rosette windows, and huge paintings. We were just in time for Mass, which was convenient since it was the 4th Sunday of Advent. Of course it was in Portuguese, but the great part about being Catholic is that the Mass is the same everywhere in the world, so we still knew the responses and exactly what was going on. It was the first time the kids had been in a Cathedral or heard organ music (Danny liked it, Sophie plugged her ears!) so that was a cool experience for them. Funny story: as soon as they saw the priest standing on the top of the Cathedral steps in his robes, Sophie said, "Look, it's Grandpa!" (My dad is a deacon and the kids have been to his Masses before). He DID actually look a little like my dad, and we all had some pangs of homesickness as he started Mass in Portuguese.
A few words about the Portuguese language: it is NOT at all like Spanish, even though many words look very similar. Apparently it developed separately from the Romance languages, with Moorish (arabic) influence. But it actually sounds very slavic, closer to Russian than anything else. So I can read some of it because it looks like French or Spanish, but I can't speak it, and it is difficult to understand. Luckily, almost everyone speaks some English, especially here in the capital. The Portuguese are very friendly and outgoing, so we have not had any problems so far.
After Mass, it was definitely time for lunch. These hills are no joke, and everyone was getting tired. Daddy was the one carrying Alex in the baby backpack, which worked really well, but I felt like I was dragging the other 2 up the hill. We found a delightful tiny restaurant with DELICIOUS chicken and sausage dishes, hearty bread (with cheese and beet spread??) and good wine. Then it was home for some well deserved naps!
As evening fell, the lights came on in the city, and we could hear the music from the Christmas festivals in the squares below us. So we had an early dinner in our apartment, then wandered downhill to Rossio, the main village square. There was a Christmas carnival with several kiddie rides, and lots of vendors. Sophie was most excited about the Ferris wheel actually, which is funny because I don't think she has ever been on one. Danny was thrilled about the carousel, which we out Alex on for the first time. Everyone loved it! Their eyes and smiles got so big, and Alex did not want to let go of his horse! We also got to play and take pictures in an enormous Christmas ball made out if thousands of red lights. We could walk inside it and look up at it, which Sophie basically thought was the most amazing thing ever. It was a long, but very rewarding day, and a great start to our vacation!
Driving to Lisbon
Our family vacation started today, and has already been a busy, eventful day of travel. The drive through the countryside was beautiful: olive trees, orange and lemon orchards, and fields of grazing cows, sheep and horses. Danny enjoyed looking for livestock, I enjoyed watching the hills and mountains, Sophie enjoyed reading a book most of the time, and Alex just sat there and smiled at me in his big boy car seat! Probably one of our best car rides ever! Except for the tolls: first surprise of the vacation was the 35 euro total in tolls to get here. second surprise: 50 euro got us half a tank of gas! On base we can fill it for $70, so apparently it is twice as much out here.
When we got to Lisbon, it was much bigger-and hillier-than we expected. Dan did amazingly navigating the congested and steep roads. We met up pretty easily with our apartment host, and she helped us unload our stuff and then get to a nearby parking garage. Next surprise: parking is 20 euro per day. Our vacation budget is clearly going to need an update! But once all those challenges were aside, it was time to feed our hungry family some Portuguese dinner. A small wine bar/ restaurant at the bottom of our street provided good wine, hearty bread, tasty fish, and even some good pasta for the kids. I was impressed that Sophie popped the heads right off her shrimp and knew just what to do with them! The owner and waiters were super friendly to the kids, which seems to be popular here.
Then it was home to our beds, and some time enjoying our gorgeous night view of the city (and the church bells that go off every 15 minutes.) A good first day, and lots to look forward to this week!
When we got to Lisbon, it was much bigger-and hillier-than we expected. Dan did amazingly navigating the congested and steep roads. We met up pretty easily with our apartment host, and she helped us unload our stuff and then get to a nearby parking garage. Next surprise: parking is 20 euro per day. Our vacation budget is clearly going to need an update! But once all those challenges were aside, it was time to feed our hungry family some Portuguese dinner. A small wine bar/ restaurant at the bottom of our street provided good wine, hearty bread, tasty fish, and even some good pasta for the kids. I was impressed that Sophie popped the heads right off her shrimp and knew just what to do with them! The owner and waiters were super friendly to the kids, which seems to be popular here.
Then it was home to our beds, and some time enjoying our gorgeous night view of the city (and the church bells that go off every 15 minutes.) A good first day, and lots to look forward to this week!
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Preschool Field Trip
The first week that Danny and Sophie were in the same class happened to contain their first class field trip! The children went into Rota to visit the castle, the Cathedral, and visited several Nativity scenes. The parents were invited to attend, so I put Alex in childcare for a few hours and joined them!
In Spain, the Nativity scenes are a big part of Christmas. Of course all the churches have a display, but I was surprised that the main town square had a huge structure built. Danny said it looked like a barn, and Sophie called it "the farm where Jesus was born."
The views from the top of the castle are awesome! You can see the lighthouse, the cathedral, and the whole town! It's very cool.
Next we went into the Cathedral, which the kids have been in before. Each chapel is sponsored by a different brotherhood with a different particular devotion to Mary. Each one has different depictions of Mary and Jesus. During Holy Week, the large statues from each chapel are paraded through the streets. There is a museum next to the church where they house all the costumes and crowns, which the kids actually thought were really beautiful and amazing.
The museum also had a very elaborate miniature Nativity scene. It was designed to look like the courtyard of Rota's own castle, complete with numerous figures and animals. It even rained inside the diorama! That was Danny's favorite part of the day, I think.
We also went into the former convent building to see their Nativity scene. Theirs was a recreation of Bethlehem, with beautifully intricate buildings and figures.
Finally, we went to the beach to have brown bag lunches while watching the waves. The kids definitely loved this part, since they had been asking to eat for an hour or so. Sophie actually said to the teacher that we had walked 100 miles. :-) The kids had a great time watching the waves break and eating their lunches.. and running around like crazy people. It was an exhausting trip, and I don't know for sure if I would go on the next trip, but we did have fun and it was nice to spend the day out in town with the kids.
In Spain, the Nativity scenes are a big part of Christmas. Of course all the churches have a display, but I was surprised that the main town square had a huge structure built. Danny said it looked like a barn, and Sophie called it "the farm where Jesus was born."
We went into the castle first, which Danny was super excited about. Sophie was intent on holding hands with the other younger kids in the class so they wouldn't wander away. :-) It was the first time we toured the whole castle, and the kids loved being up on the battlements. I told Danny the knights used to shoot arrows from the spaces in between each pillar, and he had fun peeking out and saying, "pow pow pow!"
The views from the top of the castle are awesome! You can see the lighthouse, the cathedral, and the whole town! It's very cool.
Next we went into the Cathedral, which the kids have been in before. Each chapel is sponsored by a different brotherhood with a different particular devotion to Mary. Each one has different depictions of Mary and Jesus. During Holy Week, the large statues from each chapel are paraded through the streets. There is a museum next to the church where they house all the costumes and crowns, which the kids actually thought were really beautiful and amazing.
We also went into the former convent building to see their Nativity scene. Theirs was a recreation of Bethlehem, with beautifully intricate buildings and figures.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Danny's 1st day of school
Danny just turned 3, so now he is eligible to attend the same Spanish Immersion class that Sophie attends. The 3-5 year olds meet in the same classroom and do all their activities together, so the kids will be together all day. Danny has been coming with us to drop her off ad pick her up for 2 months now, so he is familiar with the classroom, and pretty excited about staying at school with her. He was so cute with his little backpack. But when I asked him to hold up 3 fingers and show me how old he was, well, he held up all 10! :-)
They went into the classroom together, , and Danny immediately started taking off his jacket and settling in. He went right to Sophie's cubby and put his things inside! Sophie was proud to tell everyone that it was Danny's first day, and she wanted to introduce him to all her friends.
The children always start the day by washing their hands, and then sitting down to write their name. Danny had seen Sophie do that every morning while I signed her in, so he was very quick to wash his hands and then settle down at the table to write. Sophia has gotten very good at writing her name, and can write it legibly even without guidelines. Danny of course has barely held a pencil before. But they let all the kids do the activities at their own pace and skill level, so of course they don't expect as much from the 3-year-olds. It was wonderful to see them both sitting at the same table learning together and sharing the same friends.
The teacher showed Danny the correct way to hold a pencil, and then gave him his name to trace. I think he only traced the first letter before he announced "I'm done!" and got up to go play. At the end of the day, he was thrilled to see me and came running up, telling me all about the painting project they did. I think lunch is his favorite part of the day. :-) He is a smart little boy, and he is going to do great in school. He will probably pick up the Spanish more slowly than Sophia, but at least he will be exposed to it, so if we want to send him to Spanish school next year he will be able to adjust.
Of course with both of them in school, that means I just have Alex all morning. And since he still takes a morning nap, it was a quiet and glorious morning! We went to the bank, had a Christmas party planning meeting at Daddy's work, came home and cleaned, did laundry, got dinner in the crockpot, and made lunch! That left the afternoon naptime period free for me to workout! I am really looking forward to having more free time, and being able to go running in the mornings with just Alex. It will also be amazing to go to the grocery store with just 1 child! I guess I haven't had to take care of just 1 child at a time for 3 years now (since Danny was born), so this feels like a whole new lifestyle. In some ways, I will miss the Mommy-Danny time we had in the mornings, playing Candy Land and reading books... but I will also admit that sometimes he wasn't interested in the fun things I suggested and only wanted to watch movies. And of course many times I was just dragging him around to run errands and go to the doctor. So, while I think he was enjoying our time together and his occasional playdates, I know school will be great for his development, and that he will do so much with his teachers and classmates that I wouldn't do with him. So this is the beginning of Danny's illustrious educational career!
The children always start the day by washing their hands, and then sitting down to write their name. Danny had seen Sophie do that every morning while I signed her in, so he was very quick to wash his hands and then settle down at the table to write. Sophia has gotten very good at writing her name, and can write it legibly even without guidelines. Danny of course has barely held a pencil before. But they let all the kids do the activities at their own pace and skill level, so of course they don't expect as much from the 3-year-olds. It was wonderful to see them both sitting at the same table learning together and sharing the same friends.
The teacher showed Danny the correct way to hold a pencil, and then gave him his name to trace. I think he only traced the first letter before he announced "I'm done!" and got up to go play. At the end of the day, he was thrilled to see me and came running up, telling me all about the painting project they did. I think lunch is his favorite part of the day. :-) He is a smart little boy, and he is going to do great in school. He will probably pick up the Spanish more slowly than Sophia, but at least he will be exposed to it, so if we want to send him to Spanish school next year he will be able to adjust.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Christmas traditions on base
Since December 1st, there have been plenty of Christmas traditions happening here on base. First was the base Tree Lighting Ceremony last Saturday. I don't know how Santa arrives on base at other installations, but here the tradition is that he arrives by helicopter! Elves (Marines) fast-rope out of the chopper and set up a security perimeter. The bird lands, and then Santa disembarks into a fire truck, which drives him to the NEX parking lot! I couldn't get very detailed pictures of the event because the kids were going crazy and were SO excited about Santa that I was concerned about losing them in the crowd!
Once Santa landed, the festivities in front of the NEX continued for another hour before the tree lighting. There were dancers and Christmas music, as well as free candy canes, cookies and hot chocolate being given out. Of course my children thought that as amazing! So they enjoyed their treats while we greeted many neighbors and friends. 
Then we headed closer to the tree to await the lighting. I was surprised we were able to get a front-row spot! Danny said it was the biggest tree he ever saw. The kids danced around, spinning to the music, and helping with the countdown.
Then, with a giant lever, Santa and the base commander lit up the tree! It was beautiful! The kids loved it! Now every time we drive by they talk about it.
On Tuesday, I was happy to be able to attend the annual Tables for Ten dinner. This is an event organized by the Protestant Women of the Chapel (PWOC), but it is open to any ladies, American or Spanish, in the Rota community. The chapel common room is filled with tables, and each one has a different theme, Christmas-y or otherwise. Each table had a chance to present their theme, some with funny dances, others with poems. Each table enjoys dinner, then the room reads the Christmas story in English and Spanish, and sings Christmas carols together.
It was an evening full of fun! My table's theme was 'fake fast food." The hosts looked up recipes from all kinds of food chains in the US that we obviously don't have here, and they did a great job of re-creating foods like Olive Garden salad, Red Lobster biscuits, Chick-fil-a nuggets, and Boston market mac and cheese. It was delicious! They even got hats from What-a-burger and centerpieces from Jack-in-the-Box. We finished it off with Cheesecake Factory cheesecake. Such a fun and festive evening. I had a great time!
Wednesday there was a 5K run to benefit the Toys for Tots. This is a great charity program organized by the Marine Corps. People donate unwrapped toys, and the Marines distribute them to needy families. You can find them in almost any city in the US, so it was wonderful to find it here too. It was the first time Dan and I ran together, pushing both strollers. Of course he had to jog leisurely to match my pace, but it was fun being together, and we actually finished in 33 minutes, which is my best time with a stroller! The kids got cookies afterwards, and I actually won a large pizza in the drawing afterwards! That feels a little counter-productive, because there is no way a 3 mile run equals a large pizza. But hey, I'm sure we will find a time to enjoy that during this busy season. There are more Christmas events planned on base and out in town, so stay tuned! :-)
Tapas for Dinner
Now that I have finally found a Spanish grocery store with a parking lot and a seafood counter, it is time to start exploring some more Spanish recipes! Yesterday we invited some friends over for dinner. Dan wanted to put some whole fish on his smoker, and since I was going to the store anyway, I figured I should look up some tapas recipes and make it a meal to remember. It was all so good, so I will share the recipes with you!
First, Dan's fish. They only had 1 kind of whole fish at the seafood counter, and that was Dorada (gilthead bream). Apparently it is the traditional fish eaten at Spanish Christmas dinner, but of course it is typically baked or fried. We just rubbed it with oil, salt, and pepper, made a mop (marinade) of butter, wine, and various seasonings, and then smoked it for 2 hours. It was delicious! Dan felt very biblical as we set out the loaves and the fishes. :-) But he is getting good at peeling and deboning the fish once they are cooked, so when we actually served them it was just fillets-- no tails or heads staring back at you!
Now for the tapas. First, the word tapas means 'lid' and there are several explanations for how the name came about. The most likely is that bar owners started placing pieces of bread on top of beer, to deter the flies (which are numerous and persistent in Spain). Gradually, bars started using these little lids of bread to hold bites of local meats, cheeses, and produce. Now tapas bars are widely available throughout Spain, and they serve small plates or even napkins with tiny servings of food, often eaten with toothpicks. The idea is that you order a little tapas to go with your drink, then after eating it, you want one more drink, and then one more tapas to go with it... etc. Traditional tapas use minimal seasoning and showcase local ingredients, but modern tapas have developed new flavors and presentations with American or even Asian influence. The following recipes are from the book, New Tapas, (Dunlop, Fiona. Thunder Bay Press. 2002). It shares the favorite tapas recipes of famous chefs throughout Spain.
The first recipe that caught my eye was Mushrooms in parsley sauce (Champinones en salsa verde) because Dan loves mushrooms. First, mix up the sauce:
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 bunch Italian parsley, chopped
1/2 cup white wine
Salt and pepper to taste
Set that aside, wash 2 lbs. of small white mushrooms, and slice them in half. Saute them in oil with 6 cloves minced garlic and 1/2 red chili pepper, plus salt and pepper to taste. Allow to simmer on a high heat for about 10 minutes. Then sprinkle 1 Tbls. of flour over the mushrooms, add the parsley sauce, and simmer, stirring, for 5 more minutes until the sauce is thick and flavorful. Very tasty, and a good winter dish since these ingredients are always available.
Next, my favorite: Pork, Pepper, and Melted Cheese toasts (Montadito). I liked these because there was almost no cooking, and I could prep them in advance ad just pop them in the oven when guests arrived.
First, thinly slice half a red pepper, and saute in oil, with salt ad pepper, just a few minutes until it is soft.
Next, slice several pieces of fresh bread. Top each with a thin slice of jamon (cured ham), two slices of the cooked pepper, and a small wedge of soft cheese (I used Camembert). Place under a hot broiler for about 1 minute, until the cheese melts and the bread becomes crispy. Serve hot. The blend of textures and flavors is delightful!
Finally, Shrimp and cheese tartlets. These sounded intimidating at first, but I'm glad I gave them a try, because they were actually pretty easy and really delicious. First, make the pastry shells:
In a food processor, blend 1/2 cup flour, a pinch of salt, and 3 Tbsp of softened butter. Then add 1 egg yolk, and about 1/2 tsp of cold water, just enough to make the pastry stick together in a ball. Wrap in plastic, and place in the fridge for half an hour. Then roll out between 2 sheets of plastic wrap dusted with flour (I have learned this makes clean-up easier). Use a drinking glass to cut circles from the pastry, and place then in 6 muffin tins. Prick the bottoms with a fork, then bake at 400 degrees for 12 minutes.
Meanwhile, saute 2 cloves of minced garlic in 2 Tbls. butter, with salt to taste. Add 1/2 cup of white wine, bring to a boil, and cook until almost all liquid is gone. Add 1/2 cup of heavy cream and 10 jumbo shrimp (which are cooked, pealed, and chopped). Cook for 3 minutes, stirring. Then place shrimp mixture in the pastry shells, top with grated aged cheddar cheese, and broil for 2 minutes until the cheese is golden. Serve immediately. Very rich, creamy, and perfect with a glass of white wine.
So, I haven't done a Spanish food post for a little while, but I hope this makes up for it! :-)
First, Dan's fish. They only had 1 kind of whole fish at the seafood counter, and that was Dorada (gilthead bream). Apparently it is the traditional fish eaten at Spanish Christmas dinner, but of course it is typically baked or fried. We just rubbed it with oil, salt, and pepper, made a mop (marinade) of butter, wine, and various seasonings, and then smoked it for 2 hours. It was delicious! Dan felt very biblical as we set out the loaves and the fishes. :-) But he is getting good at peeling and deboning the fish once they are cooked, so when we actually served them it was just fillets-- no tails or heads staring back at you!
Now for the tapas. First, the word tapas means 'lid' and there are several explanations for how the name came about. The most likely is that bar owners started placing pieces of bread on top of beer, to deter the flies (which are numerous and persistent in Spain). Gradually, bars started using these little lids of bread to hold bites of local meats, cheeses, and produce. Now tapas bars are widely available throughout Spain, and they serve small plates or even napkins with tiny servings of food, often eaten with toothpicks. The idea is that you order a little tapas to go with your drink, then after eating it, you want one more drink, and then one more tapas to go with it... etc. Traditional tapas use minimal seasoning and showcase local ingredients, but modern tapas have developed new flavors and presentations with American or even Asian influence. The following recipes are from the book, New Tapas, (Dunlop, Fiona. Thunder Bay Press. 2002). It shares the favorite tapas recipes of famous chefs throughout Spain.
The first recipe that caught my eye was Mushrooms in parsley sauce (Champinones en salsa verde) because Dan loves mushrooms. First, mix up the sauce:
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 bunch Italian parsley, chopped
1/2 cup white wine
Salt and pepper to taste
Set that aside, wash 2 lbs. of small white mushrooms, and slice them in half. Saute them in oil with 6 cloves minced garlic and 1/2 red chili pepper, plus salt and pepper to taste. Allow to simmer on a high heat for about 10 minutes. Then sprinkle 1 Tbls. of flour over the mushrooms, add the parsley sauce, and simmer, stirring, for 5 more minutes until the sauce is thick and flavorful. Very tasty, and a good winter dish since these ingredients are always available.
Next, my favorite: Pork, Pepper, and Melted Cheese toasts (Montadito). I liked these because there was almost no cooking, and I could prep them in advance ad just pop them in the oven when guests arrived.
First, thinly slice half a red pepper, and saute in oil, with salt ad pepper, just a few minutes until it is soft.
Next, slice several pieces of fresh bread. Top each with a thin slice of jamon (cured ham), two slices of the cooked pepper, and a small wedge of soft cheese (I used Camembert). Place under a hot broiler for about 1 minute, until the cheese melts and the bread becomes crispy. Serve hot. The blend of textures and flavors is delightful!
Finally, Shrimp and cheese tartlets. These sounded intimidating at first, but I'm glad I gave them a try, because they were actually pretty easy and really delicious. First, make the pastry shells:
In a food processor, blend 1/2 cup flour, a pinch of salt, and 3 Tbsp of softened butter. Then add 1 egg yolk, and about 1/2 tsp of cold water, just enough to make the pastry stick together in a ball. Wrap in plastic, and place in the fridge for half an hour. Then roll out between 2 sheets of plastic wrap dusted with flour (I have learned this makes clean-up easier). Use a drinking glass to cut circles from the pastry, and place then in 6 muffin tins. Prick the bottoms with a fork, then bake at 400 degrees for 12 minutes.
Meanwhile, saute 2 cloves of minced garlic in 2 Tbls. butter, with salt to taste. Add 1/2 cup of white wine, bring to a boil, and cook until almost all liquid is gone. Add 1/2 cup of heavy cream and 10 jumbo shrimp (which are cooked, pealed, and chopped). Cook for 3 minutes, stirring. Then place shrimp mixture in the pastry shells, top with grated aged cheddar cheese, and broil for 2 minutes until the cheese is golden. Serve immediately. Very rich, creamy, and perfect with a glass of white wine.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Danny's 3rd Birthday
Our Danny-man is THREE now! Wow, it seems hard to believe, because he has grown up so quickly. He has been talking and interacting like a child older than his age for a while now, so I have gotten used to him being a smart, expressive 2-year-old. But 3 will be a whole new adventure! Since we are still getting settled into our house and meeting people here, he doesn't have many friends yet. But thankfully, family sent tons of great presents and cards, so we felt surrounded by love. We had a quiet day, and enjoyed one of his favorite dinners (spaghetti and meatballs) with cupcakes. He remembered that he had fire truck cupcakes last year, but he decided he wanted knights and horses this year. :-)
First, he got a hilarious card in the mail from Aunt Brigid. We spent the whole afternoon listening to it sing the "hamburger birthday song" in a ridiculous voice. Danny said it deserved a thumbs-up!
His first present was from Granny Prosser: a lego set with a pirate ship, a cannon that actually shoots, and a SpongeBob pirate figure! He loves it! Of course we had to give Daddy a few minutes to put it together, but he played with it all afternoon, and wanted to take it to bed with him too!
Then it was time to blow out the candles on the cupcakes! He couldn't get them at first, but once he got a little closer, he blew them all out in one big puff. He was so proud!
Danny loved eating his cupcakes! But his little brother loved them even more. Alex clutched the cupcake in both hands, then shoved as much chocolate icing into his tiny mouth as he could handle.
Soon it was time for more presents. Grandma Cindy sent a cool racecar card. At first Danny was so excited by it that he didn't even want to hold her present. But then... he opened it up and exclaimed, "I have two huge balls!"
But when he opened up the rest of the present, he found a little tennis racket, the perfect size for him! He knew exactly what to do with it, as he has been talking about tennis for a little while now. The soft oversized tennis balls were safe for indoors, so we let him swing away!
He had great form! His hand-eye coordination is a little slow, but he really loves playing, and will even throw up the ball for himself and try to hit it. Grandma Cindy loves tennis, so maybe someday he will get to play with her. :-)
The final gift was from Dylan and Zoe. It was another perfect choice: a set of Lego knights and horses with a prison carriage! He has been carrying the knights and horse around all day, and they were the first thing he asked for when he woke up this morning. :-) Thank you everyone for making his birthday so great! He would love to thank you all in person, but he sends lots of hugs and kisses to all of you. I love our big 3 year old!
First, he got a hilarious card in the mail from Aunt Brigid. We spent the whole afternoon listening to it sing the "hamburger birthday song" in a ridiculous voice. Danny said it deserved a thumbs-up!
His first present was from Granny Prosser: a lego set with a pirate ship, a cannon that actually shoots, and a SpongeBob pirate figure! He loves it! Of course we had to give Daddy a few minutes to put it together, but he played with it all afternoon, and wanted to take it to bed with him too!
Then it was time to blow out the candles on the cupcakes! He couldn't get them at first, but once he got a little closer, he blew them all out in one big puff. He was so proud!
Danny loved eating his cupcakes! But his little brother loved them even more. Alex clutched the cupcake in both hands, then shoved as much chocolate icing into his tiny mouth as he could handle. 
Soon it was time for more presents. Grandma Cindy sent a cool racecar card. At first Danny was so excited by it that he didn't even want to hold her present. But then... he opened it up and exclaimed, "I have two huge balls!"
He had great form! His hand-eye coordination is a little slow, but he really loves playing, and will even throw up the ball for himself and try to hit it. Grandma Cindy loves tennis, so maybe someday he will get to play with her. :-)
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