Tuesday, May 26

We miss you Grandma Millie!  It was one year ago today when Grandma Millie passed away.  I miss her so much!  I picture calling her and telling her about all that we're experiencing, especially as so much of it reminds me of her many many years in Brooklyn.  I'm so lucky to have known her for so many years of my life and for Scott to have had a chance to see her so many times, and for our kids to have many memories of her.  She was quite the lady, and I can often picture what she'd have to say about so much of this.  At least that makes me smile while I miss her.

Tuesday was the day when we went as a family with Scott to his work at the Morón Air Base.

Right now, this is part of what he sees on his 45-minute drive, blooming sunflowers.  There are also rolling hills and farmland and mountains in the distance.

A sign for Morón.

Even though Scott had paperwork for all of us to go on the base with him, it still took a phone call and both the security guard and Scott talking to someone to allow us to enter the base.  I had to wear a visitor's badge the whole time I was there.

Scott started out by driving us around the housing.  Here'a picture of some of the military housing.  There isn't much of it.  Besides the driveways and carports, it reminded me so much of Kwaj.  While most of you probably think this looks unwelcoming, to me it brings back AMAZING and HAPPY and FOND memories.  Hello Kwaj Kids!

There's a fabulous playground on the base.  Scott dropped us off here to play while he had meetings.

Cody trying to learn how to use monkey bars.

Rosa on the move.

All 3 kids in action.

Devon on a bench.

Three kids at the bottom of a slide.  

A pavilion.  So Kwaj-like.

After Scott's morning meetings, he picked us up and we went to the police office to have our passports stamped with visas allowing us to stay longer than the 3 month maximum that the Spanish tourist visa allows.  This is good since we're planning to stay for 5 months.

Then Scott drove us around some more and showed us the school on base, the post office, the base store (which has all sorts of goodies from home) and the 4 choices on base where Scott can eat lunch.

Scott mailing our mail-in ballots at the US Post Office on base.

On the drive home, we saw more sunflowers in full bloom.  Gorgeous!

Sheep and 2 shepherds near the town of Utrera.

After the base and a drive back via Utrera and Dos Hermanas, we ate lunch at the apartment and Scott worked a little bit more.  The kids had a blast being able to run around for a bit at home.  Then Scott walked the kids back to school and I met him for a date.  We tried to go to 2 different restaurants for lunch, but learned the hard way that they're not open for lunch on Tuesdays.  So we ate at a restaurant where I'd been before that's by the "throwing shoes" playground.  After our lunch, we walked around a bit.  It's always fun to explore the neighborhoods.

We both picked up the kids from school, and Scott and Rosa went on a date (which included drinks and dinner out) and I went with the boys and a number of their classmates to the closest McDonald's for a classmate's birthday party.  The party was on the 2nd floor and the parents were asked to leave.  It was wonderful.  It was the first time that the boys didn't cling to me and beg me to stay.  When I returned 1.5 hours later, they were smiling from ear to ear, like the rest of their friends, and they were actively participating in all of the birthday party games.  While they were at the party, the parents went around the corner and had coffees outside.  I ended up sitting by the Spanish-speaking parents, and for the first time, I was able to follow most of the conversation.  I'm so glad that my Spanish continue to improve, little by little.

At the end of the party, the kids were lined up, with balloons, for pictures.  There was no way to keep them still.  In this picture, Cody is in the back row on the left and his head is tilted backwards.  And Devon is in the back row on the right with a hand up.

Here's a better picture of Devon amongst his friends.

That night Scott had his weekly Tuesday call with Alaska and I had a very cranky Cody to contend with.  Evenutally everyone fell asleep.

Wednesday, May 27

Wednesday morning started with a walk with Kathering and her daughter.  We wandered up the Alameda and she showed me her gym.  It has an indoor pool and it's a place I want to try out for both the kids and myself.  From there, we stopped for coffee at a place that reminded me of American coffee shops, which I love.  And then we walked over to the mushrooms market where she showed me the best fishmonger.  And then we walked into the pedestrian area where she showed me her favorite bakery and the breads that she enjoys.  It was wonderful having a local of 15 years share her favorites.

From there, I met the kids for lunch.  It was Devon's day to choose and he chose Bushi.

Rosa ordered 2 eggs.  She loves the way it looks like a ray.

Serious Rosa.

Happy Rosa.

Cute Cody with his kid's menu item of a burger, fries, and drink (Fanta limon).

Devon with his kid's meal.  

That afternoon I went to another pilates class and really enjoyed it.

After school, we stopped by the multilungal book fair taking place at the main school patio.  I treated the kids to 2 books each in English.

Rosa showed me this piece of artwork.  All of the students were asked to color a mandala and then to ask their parents to "buy" them with the money going towards education for Nepali children.  We really like the school here, and one aspect of the school is that they promote giving to people in need.  In this case, there's a call to support Nepal not only at the school but at other places throughout Sevilla.
Proud mama loved all of the colors Rosa chose.  

At home we saw this banner on the window below our apartment.  It's for the Sevilla soccer team Sevilla Futbol Club.  There was a championship game for the Europe League on Wednesday night, and while it was played outside of Spain, there were people throughout the city all day wearing their Futbol gear and chanting songs.

Scott watched part of the game at home, and every time Sevilla scored, our courtyard would erupt in cheers.  Eventually Scott decided to join the crowds and he headed over to Alameda to an area with 2 big screen tvs.  Here is a peek at what the crowds there were doing.  

Sevilla won.

Loads of enthusiasm.

Not sure why Wisconsin is on this sign.  Looking at the Website, we've learned that there's a gay pride day in late June.  

Monday, May 25

While it was Memorial Day in the states, it was just a regular day here in Sevilla.  One thing that is very rare here are barbecues.  Scott loves to grill, and this holiday had Scott reminiscing and missing his grill back home.

We'd seen a family in our courtyard, and on Monday morning we confirmed that their 5th grade daughter does indeed attend the same school as our kids.  And, the family is originally from Vancouver, Canada, so they're English-speakers.  We look forward to seeing more of them.

Another small world story is that the kids and I ran into one of my pilates instructors on the way to school.

A couple of weeks earlier, all of the students were asked to bring in plastic bottlecaps.  With them, this art installation was made in the main school courtyard.

A couple of weeks earlier, all of the students were asked to bring in plastic bottlecap (tapones). 

 With them, this art installation was made in the main school courtyard.  

These pictures were positioned around the corners.

It was Rosa's turn to decide where to go for lunch, and she chose the Indian restaurant again.  We learned that the owner and the other workers are actually Pakistani.  They've been working in many Indian restaurants and now own this one.

Happy Devon at lunch.

Silly Rosa at lunch.

Hiding Cody at lunch.

This is one of the buildings in the nearby "Mushrooms" plaza.  I love all of the plants and colors.

And another pretty building in the same plaza (Plaza de la Encarnacion).

The kids had fun playing for a few minutes upstairs at the "mushroom" playground before returning to school for afternoon classes.

I had pilates that afternoon and really enjoyed all of the leg work we did.

After school we headed straight home to snack up before Spanish class.  Unfortunately Scott was delayed at a meeting that took longer than expected and he missed most of class.  But, the kids had a blast and we all learned a ton.  They played a game where the teacher (Antonio) would say touch something in a certain color and the first person to do so would win a prize.  They did it over and over again in Spanish and they weren't allowed to repeat items.

Then, Scott went over to Mail Boxes Etc. to pick up the package that Tracy had mailed (thank you Tracy!).  We're hoping that this is the last package we receive while here.  We're starting to think about the amount of stuff we need to eventually get back to Denver, and the load is daunting.

In it were the ballots for Jolon's run-off election.  We've voted and fingers crossed our ballots will arrive in time to be counted.  Wishing Jolon success!

Sunday, May 24

While the kids are usually well-behaved, they were a bit monstruous on the drive back on Saturday.  And, their consequence was that they lost the chance to go to Magic Island on Sunday, a place they've been looking forward to visit.

Instead, we headed across the street to the pirate ship playground.  Scott and the boys went ahead.

I did Rosa's hair in an Elsa 'do.

Scott went along the river in search of renting a city bicycle, and on the way he popped into the rowing club and learned that he could rent a bike there for a whole lot less money and a bike that rides a bit better.  

He was super excited to take off for a bike ride.  And we're planning to get a sitter one of these days so that we can go on a biking date.

While he was exploring, he checked out Parque del Alamillo, a park that has been recommended to us from numerous people.  

While there, he saw this train circling the park.  The kids would love riding on it.

Meanwhile, as the kids were playing at the pirate ship playground, we ventured farther into the park and realized that there's a tree there with pacifiers hanging from it.  It's called El Arbol de los Chupetes.  Apparently, this tree, and others around Andaucia with the same purpose, are a right of passage tree for children to become big girls and boys.  Children can hang their pacifiers there or, if they don't use pacis, they can just go there to say that they're now big kids.  

Rosa checking out a pacifier hanging from the tree.

All 3 kids checking out the tree.

After play time, we headed to the apartment and all of us did our Spanish homework and the kids did their school homework.  Next it was time for a Spanish lunch.  We headed out around 2:30pm.

After 2 restaurants the previous day where we'd had poor service, we did some research and decided to check out this top 5 rated restaurant, Mechela, near our apartment.  Wow!  We loved it!

Here's their menu posted outside (Spanish on the left and English on the right).

This dish Cody loved.  It was fideua, a thin and crispy noodle, with squid and black ink sauce.   

After lunch Cody had fun snuggling wish Scott.

And Scott had fun snuggling with Cody.

Rosa tried hiding from the camera.  She and I had both worn blue and white dresses that day.  One of the menus was folded into a paper airplane by Rosa.

Devon was all smiles.  

The kids were so well-behaved and tried so many different dishes (there was no kids menu there) that the waitress complimented them by saying it was as if 5 adults vs. 2 adults and 3 children had eaten there.  

When all was eaten and drunk (5 drinks total), our bill came to ~ 50euros.  Not bad, especially considering that the quality of the food and service was fantastic and that the price mirrored meals at cafeteria/bars that we've been to.

After the meal, we caught a picture of Scott "in jail" sticking his hand out the bathroom window.

On our way home, Devon was the first to get a piggy back ride from Scott.  

He'd brought his blanket with him to lunch (even though it was in the 80s) and at this point he had it wrapped around his neck.

Later Cody had a turn on Scott's back.  Rosa had a turn on the way to the restaurant.

A picture of a pretty church we usually see from a different angle.

After lunch, as we were wandering back to our apartment, we ran into Rosa's Spanish teacher and had the chance to meet her husband.  Again, small world in Sevilla.

I typically do one load of laundry per day, to keep up with it.  On Sunday, I did 3 loads to include sheets and towels.  But, I only have enough room to hang one load of laundry outside our kitchen.  And so, the boys were overly eager to go onto the roof with me to hang the additional laundry.  I felt so European.  The roof is the 4th floor per Spanish counting, but the 5th floor per American counting.  The main floor is considered floor 0 here and thus the 1st floor is one floor up.  After hanging the clothes on the 4th floor, we walked along the roof of the entire building to find stairs to take us up to the 5th floor and even more spectacular views.