Curry

The kids want to eat it every day!!!!!!!!!

Cousin Brandon Visits

It took him only 2 hours to get to Sitges without a train ticket.  But our cousin Brandon finally arrived and we were very happy to see a familiar face.  He's like all grown up and stuff.  The kids adore him.  We all hung out in Valpineda and had dinner, while trying to dodge the mosquitos.  We can't wait to have him back!

Watermelon is in season

Conjugating verbs

Today was our second Spanish class. We are taking lesson for 1.5 hours Monday through Friday from a wonderful native Spanish speaker named Loli. I did not eat chips in class today like someone who was sitting beside me. For everyone who knows Wally you can celebrate the fact someone called him out on his sometimes 'relaxed' views on eating.
Anyway, I was instantly transported to eighth grade Spanish class with Mrs. Eaton when we started conjugating verbs in the present tense. Mrs. Eaton tried to tell me how important conjugating verbs was going to be for my future. Little did I know that 20 years later I would be sitting in a classroom in Spain again conjugating verbs. Learning Spanish at 36 years old is a daunting task, but I keep telling myself it is an attainable goal. If nothing else the next time I am in Stigler I hope to see Mrs. Eaton and tell her she was right.

Green Apple

As most of you know finding good childcare anywhere can be tough, but imagine coming to a country where you don't speak either of the languages (Spanish or Catalan). Before coming to Sitges I researched and found a wonderful 'la guarderia' called Green Apple. Roxanna and her staff are an amazing group of people and you can tell they really love children. Today was field trip day and we went to visit the bomberos (firemen) at their firestation. Roman and JonCarlo were most excited to get inside a real fire truck. It was an enjoyable morning for the kids as well as the adults. Thanks to Roxanna and all of the brave bomberos!

Etiquette

Got the smack down today.  Not from my wife or our neighbors, but from my Spanish teacher. Why? Because I ate chips in class!  I embarrassed myself, my family, and my country (not Iraq).  The only more egregious act would have been to eat the chips with my shoeless feet, as Americans are also known for being barefoot off the beach, eating while walking, and being excessively loud.  In my defense, I was starving.  I will do better next time. I promise.

Brotherly Love

Something happened today that made mom and dad very happy! And mind you, this was not coerced.

Villanova Beach Picnic

White sand and blue water.  Still a little too cold.  Janet and I showed up in jeans and shirts. So lame.  Next time we'll be prepared.  Paul said he would lend me a speedo.

Roman is eating a "bikini" which is a grilled ham and cheese.

Street signs are very confusing here.

Olive groves behind the house.  Beyond these are endless vineyards.

Bayern v Chelsea FC

Champions League Final! Geographically, closest I've ever been.

Chelsea wins?

Janet eats the same thing every day...and she loves it.

BTW, the food here is really inexpensive. The best bottle of Cava, the regional white wine at the local mercat is 5 euro!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Villanova

We spent Saturday in Villanova where our friends Jen and Paul live.  By bus it is only 15 minutes and the bus stop is right down the street.  Finn and Roman operate at the same frequency...and cannot be modulated. 

They scared off all the Catalan kids at the Statue of Francesc Masia at the bottom of La Rambla.

The washer is a Bosch, pero la ropa se seca por la brisa del mar.

Made it to Sitges Town.  Walking is easy and mostly down hill.  Had to go down to the small beach near church of Sant Bartomeu.  The picture of the sand was a large detailed sandcastle 5 minutes before the picture was taken and before Roman arrived.

Finally sat down with the kids for some tapas.  El restaurante era encantador y la comida era excelente:  braves, pescaditos, y truith patates.

On arrival home, the Burke family was sitting outside the house. Paul, Jen, Finn, and Charlie.  Roman and JonCarlo very happy to have playmates.

Intensive Spanish classes begin monday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We made it!!!!!
Everything is going good so far, but our internet is a little bit slow so that is why we have been a little delayed in posting. We just got back from taking our first walk around Sitges. Everyone was sitting in the outdoor cafes enjoying people watching.
So far so good. The kids are adjusting. People keep staring at our stroller. Apparently too many hanging objects added with water bottles tags as Americano.
Wally is trying out his elementary Spanish out on everyone from the taxi cab driver to the lady at the grocery store. He asked a women this morning at the grocery store if he could buy a chair.
That is it for now. Pictures to follow soon.

Hugs and kisses to everyone.

Lift-off...

Here we go....

Nothing better than ice cream in the park

Packing

I think Little Cat is trying to tell us something.