April was a great month and not just because it is my birthday month. I have always loved April because I love spring with its blossoming trees and flowers, nicer weather and longer days. I love the Easter holiday and the sense of rebirth after the long winter. The only bummer of course are the allergies. This April was even more special because we got to spend lots of time together as a family. Here in Spain the fathers have a right to take paternity leave and since Leo did not take the time off when Avery was born he took the time off in April. The first 20 days of April were spent either running around getting things done before our big move or spending time together as a family in the house or at the park. With Leo´s job and recent promotion and with his classes for his MBA plus the time spent being bishop there are some months that we don´t see very much of ,so it was nice to have this time together as a family.
On April 5th we took the train to Madrid in order to go to the US Embassy the next day because we had an appointment to get Charlie´s passport renewed and report Avery´s birth and apply for her passport and social security card. We thought since it was mid week we wouln´t have any problems with train and hotel occupancy so we waited until the last minute to make our reservations. Well, unfortunately the train was so full we were not able to sit all together and it was very difficult to find a hotel for a good price. The boys of course travelled pretty well but Avery was not a big fan of the train ride so I had to stand up with her and hang out in the space between the cars to make her go to sleep. It was not until we got to Madrid that we found out that there was a League of Champions Soccer game as well as a Justin Beiber concert so that is why everything was so booked. The hotel where we stayed was actually quite nice as it was a suite and in the room there were even robes and slippers for us to use. The boys took a bath in the jet tub and in the morning Clark said he didn´t want to leave because it was all his "todo mio". We had to leave early to catch the subway to the embassy. The subway system is very nice in Madrid but it is still an adventure to travel with 3 kids. Luckily, overall the people are nice and would give preference to the kids to sit down on the seats and all the older ladies oohed and aahhed over Avery.
Every thing went well at the embassy but we were there about 2 hours as there is a lot of paperwork we have to fill out and turn in so that a child born outside of the US can claim American citizenship. In order to take advantage of the long trip to Madrid after the embassy we took the subway to the Madrid zoo. Charlie has been to the zoo before but Clark had not. We rented a golf cart and we spent several hours exploring the zoo. We then took the subway once again to the train station in order to catch the train back to Cartagena. Once again the train seemed to be packed and Avery was quite fussy so I went to find a not so full car. Avery and I took a nap in one part of the train and Leo and the boys took a nap in another part. Since kids 4 and under are free we only bought three tickets but since the train was pretty full that also meant that we only had 3 seats for 5 bodies. It was pretty uncomfortable since Clark wanted his own seat. I am thinking next time we will have to buy the extra ticket to make the traveling a bit more comfortable. We didn´t get back to Cartagena until after midnight but luckily Grandma Yolanda came to meet us to help carry the kids and luggage to our house.
I am happy to announce that Avery is now an American citizen and we have received Charlie´s and Avery´s passport as well as her SS# so all the paperwork is ready for our big move. During Leo´s time off we also had to renew his Spanish passport and we applied for Clark´s and Avery´s Spanish identification card plus Leo renewed his Spanish driver´s licence.
This year I turned the big 33. For my birthday the kids and Leo made me breakfast and then Leo took me to a hair salon to get my hair cut and styled. I am ashamed to admit that I hadn´t got me hair cut for a year and a half so it definitely need a good trim. (There is only one hair dresser I trust and she live too far way). After getting my hair done we went out to lunch and then in the evening we had a meeting in the church. Overall it was a very nice birthday however, for some reason turning 33 made me think I was getting old so I started applying all these different creams on my face in the hopes of stopping time. It was a slight mid life crisis I think. I still can´t believe I am closer to 40 than to 20. It will be 15 years this June that I graduated from High School and 10 years since I finished my mission so I think everything started to catch up with me and I had a mild crisis but I am doing better now but I still apply my daily sunscreen to make sure the wrinkles stay away as long as possible.
Easter is a week long celebration here in Spain. The kids are out of school and the Holy Week is full of parades depicting different aspects of the life and death of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary. It is definitely a cultural experience living in Spain during Holy Week. My children still have not experienced an American Easter with all the corresponding traditions but we did take the kids to the park on Saturday to play soccer and then the Easter bunny came and hid some chocolates for the boys to find. I am looking forward to next year so that the boys can dye eggs and go on an easter egg hunt.
The kids are great. Of course we have our challenging days but they are the joy of my life. There isn´t a day that goes by that I don´t laugh. Charlie is still doing great at school and has improved a lot with his reading. He loves playing basketball so we go to the nearby court as much as possible. From my point of view he does quite well for his age. It must be his teacher! Clark still loves superheroes but more than anything he loves balls. Everyone comments how well he kicks for his age. We have quite the soccer games in our long hallway as all three boys (Leo, Clark and Charlie) are very competitive. GOOOOOAAAAALLL!.
On April 5th we took the train to Madrid in order to go to the US Embassy the next day because we had an appointment to get Charlie´s passport renewed and report Avery´s birth and apply for her passport and social security card. We thought since it was mid week we wouln´t have any problems with train and hotel occupancy so we waited until the last minute to make our reservations. Well, unfortunately the train was so full we were not able to sit all together and it was very difficult to find a hotel for a good price. The boys of course travelled pretty well but Avery was not a big fan of the train ride so I had to stand up with her and hang out in the space between the cars to make her go to sleep. It was not until we got to Madrid that we found out that there was a League of Champions Soccer game as well as a Justin Beiber concert so that is why everything was so booked. The hotel where we stayed was actually quite nice as it was a suite and in the room there were even robes and slippers for us to use. The boys took a bath in the jet tub and in the morning Clark said he didn´t want to leave because it was all his "todo mio". We had to leave early to catch the subway to the embassy. The subway system is very nice in Madrid but it is still an adventure to travel with 3 kids. Luckily, overall the people are nice and would give preference to the kids to sit down on the seats and all the older ladies oohed and aahhed over Avery.
Every thing went well at the embassy but we were there about 2 hours as there is a lot of paperwork we have to fill out and turn in so that a child born outside of the US can claim American citizenship. In order to take advantage of the long trip to Madrid after the embassy we took the subway to the Madrid zoo. Charlie has been to the zoo before but Clark had not. We rented a golf cart and we spent several hours exploring the zoo. We then took the subway once again to the train station in order to catch the train back to Cartagena. Once again the train seemed to be packed and Avery was quite fussy so I went to find a not so full car. Avery and I took a nap in one part of the train and Leo and the boys took a nap in another part. Since kids 4 and under are free we only bought three tickets but since the train was pretty full that also meant that we only had 3 seats for 5 bodies. It was pretty uncomfortable since Clark wanted his own seat. I am thinking next time we will have to buy the extra ticket to make the traveling a bit more comfortable. We didn´t get back to Cartagena until after midnight but luckily Grandma Yolanda came to meet us to help carry the kids and luggage to our house.
I am happy to announce that Avery is now an American citizen and we have received Charlie´s and Avery´s passport as well as her SS# so all the paperwork is ready for our big move. During Leo´s time off we also had to renew his Spanish passport and we applied for Clark´s and Avery´s Spanish identification card plus Leo renewed his Spanish driver´s licence.
This year I turned the big 33. For my birthday the kids and Leo made me breakfast and then Leo took me to a hair salon to get my hair cut and styled. I am ashamed to admit that I hadn´t got me hair cut for a year and a half so it definitely need a good trim. (There is only one hair dresser I trust and she live too far way). After getting my hair done we went out to lunch and then in the evening we had a meeting in the church. Overall it was a very nice birthday however, for some reason turning 33 made me think I was getting old so I started applying all these different creams on my face in the hopes of stopping time. It was a slight mid life crisis I think. I still can´t believe I am closer to 40 than to 20. It will be 15 years this June that I graduated from High School and 10 years since I finished my mission so I think everything started to catch up with me and I had a mild crisis but I am doing better now but I still apply my daily sunscreen to make sure the wrinkles stay away as long as possible.
Easter is a week long celebration here in Spain. The kids are out of school and the Holy Week is full of parades depicting different aspects of the life and death of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary. It is definitely a cultural experience living in Spain during Holy Week. My children still have not experienced an American Easter with all the corresponding traditions but we did take the kids to the park on Saturday to play soccer and then the Easter bunny came and hid some chocolates for the boys to find. I am looking forward to next year so that the boys can dye eggs and go on an easter egg hunt.
The kids are great. Of course we have our challenging days but they are the joy of my life. There isn´t a day that goes by that I don´t laugh. Charlie is still doing great at school and has improved a lot with his reading. He loves playing basketball so we go to the nearby court as much as possible. From my point of view he does quite well for his age. It must be his teacher! Clark still loves superheroes but more than anything he loves balls. Everyone comments how well he kicks for his age. We have quite the soccer games in our long hallway as all three boys (Leo, Clark and Charlie) are very competitive. GOOOOOAAAAALLL!.
Clark has turned into a parrot and repites everything anyone says whether it is Spanish or English. He counts to 12 or 13 in both languages and does well with his colors as well. Avery is growing like a weed. Even her doctor is amazed how big she is considering I only breastfeed her. She is in the 100% range of the growth curve. She is sleeping better and only wakes up one time during the night which I am greatful for but sometimes I still feel like I am playing musical beds at night because Clark still wakes up sometimes so I start out in my bed but then I go and feed Avery then I go back to my bed then I sometimes go to Clarks bed and then back to mine. Oh, the blessings of being a mother.
I pulled back the covers of Clark´s bed and this is what I found.
Clark usually keeps all his balls in his Spiderman backpack but sometimes he pulls them all out to admire them I guess.
Or sometimes I find them through out the house. There isn´t a day that goes by that I don´t pick up at least 10 balls and when I sweep underneath the furniture I find even more.
On an overpass in Madrid on our way to the subway from the hotel.
At the Madird zoo with the golf cart. The boys were very excited to drive around in the cart and it certainly helped to keep the sun off the baby and me.
Some very hungry bears we saw at the zoo.
The boys cute as ever.
Avery at 4 months.
The next Pau Gasol.
The next Cristiano Ronaldo.
Avery cheering on her brothers at the park.
The boys at the park.
On one of our family adventures in Cartagena trying out the new escalators to a newly built viewpoint of the city.
The boys playing soccer the Saturday before Easter.
Avery at the park.
The boys on the easter candy hunt.
Checking out their loot.
The boys love playing with Leo.
Just another fun day at the park.
