Campeones!!!!!

After Spain made it's first major win in 44 years, the streets went crazy. Jesse headed out with the video camera and captured the action. This is just a very small taste of what life was like at the city center and elsewhere.

When In Rome . . .

We are back yet again. It seems our first 2 months here we have hardly lived HERE! But now our traveling days are over for awhile and we can finish getting settled and unpacked, start really learning the language and culture and just start living! We have been in Rome for the past week and I have lots of pictures to share.

However, tonight is the Euro Cup FINAL and Spain is in it!!! Last Sunday, Spain beat Italy for the first time in 88 years!!!! So it was a big deal. The game starts in less than an hour and horns have been honking for the last few. Spain plays Germany (unfortunately, L&K), which as our taxi driver told me today, "They aren't bad, but they aren't the team they were when I was young . . ." So we'll just have to wait and see. The plus side about Spain winning is obvious; We get to puff up with pride for the country we reside in. The down side if they win is we will most likely get to listen to car horns and fireworks well into the night. There is a plaza somewhat nearby where fans gather to watch the game and it's been full since yesterday afternoon. They are serious about their soccer! We get into it because it is pretty fun here. I'm off to bake some old fashioned chocolate chip cookies, drink some coke, and watch the game! Check back later for pictures of our trip!

!!!Viva España!!!!

Spain defeated Italy!

Now who will we stomp on next L and K??

Churros!!!

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE churros? It was a good day today. We wandered down to the park near us, hoping to find some kind of Festival de San Juan celebration. We were in luck. There was a live band playing, a Spanish comedian (we didn't find him very funny . . .) lots of people in their 70's and up and CHURROS! At the other side of the amphitheater, there were 4 men making a huge batch of churros. And they were free! So we sat, listened to the comedian, and waited. It was fun to see how they make the churros for such a large group of people. If you're interested in making a really large batch of churros, see below! If you want to make some for yourself, click here. ¡Buen provecho!

Mix dry ingredients.

Add hot water.

Mix and mix and mix and mix. (Get big muscles first.)

Make hot chocolate!

Push dough through huge machinery, and let drop into really hot oil.

Wait in line for your own racion.

Eat the churros dipped in chocolate!!

And share with your daughter.

Enjoy the people who came with you!

WALK home to burn off fat gained from eating fried dough dipped in chocolate.

***Notice the Spanish flag hanging from the window? We saw a few of those on the way home. Why? Because Spain is playing Italy in the Euro cup right now!!! Go Spain!

B-town Beauties

We're back! We are tired but we really enjoyed our time in Barcelona. These past two weeks have been just what we needed. We learned a lot, and put lots of things into practice. Now here are some pictures of our free time!



Ow ow!!



We had fun playing 'around-the-world' with some of the seminary students.



At the statue of Christopher Columbus.



What a way to see the sights!



Taking a dip in the Mediterranean . . .



. . . And taking a nap on Daddy's shoulder.



Seriously, having a beach so close by was awesome.



And back in Barcelona . . .



Hey! Haven't we been here before?

Quick story-a few hears ago, Jesse and I were traveling from Caceres, Spain (Where I was student teaching) to Lyon, France where Jesse's brother and sister-in-law live. We ended up having a 9 hour lay over in Barcelona so we decided to take advantage of seeing a new city. We stored our luggage, and headed out. I'd learned about La Sagrada Familia in one of my Spanish classes, but didn't remember much about it. I just knew it was a famous landmark. So we went to see the old cathedral. We paid our 8 euros, went in and found that we happened to be visiting La Sagrada Familia at a time when they were doing renovations! Bummer! There was scaffolding everywhere, and there just wasn't much to see on the inside. So after about 20 minutes, we said, "Oh well. Maybe someday when we are here again we can see it when renovations aren't taking place." Later that day, we were on a train headed to France. I was reading the brochure about La Sagrada Familia and read this:

Originally designed by Antoni Gaudi, (1852 – 1926), who worked on the project for over 40 years, devoting the last 15 years of his life entirely to the endeavor, the project is scheduled to be completed in 2026.

That's right folks. 2026. We were in a world famous place and spent a mere 20 minutes inside, then left because we thought it was being renovated! It's not being renovated, it's being finished! How smart are we?

So if you are wondering, we did NOT go in this time, but checked out the progress since we last left La Sagrada Familia 3 years ago. I would say it's coming along. But will it make it's 2026 completion date? I'm thinking no.

Happy Father's Day!

Daddy,
Thank you for being the best Dad
You know how to be,
And for always trying to be the
VERY BEST
Daddy YOU want to be.
I am so in love with you.
You have my heart in your hand,
Always and forever.
Love, Renae

Beach Baby, Beach Baby, There in the Sand . . .

Although it may not look like we are busy . . .

I promise we are. In our free time however, this is what we've been doing to relax.

First dip in the sea!

Not sure if I like it or not . . .

Nope! Not so much.

Love it.

At the Beach in Barcelona . . .

Trip to Chicago-Part 3

Sunday was our last day with Nana and Grandpy and Grandma. We went to a park and enjoyed being in the sunshine!



















"I sure do love my Grandpy!"



















I had to get the hind view of Renae crawling away . . .















My favorite Mom and Mom-in-law.






















Renae gave Grandma a big kiss. (One was for Grandpa too!)















If you know Penni, you know why I had to take this picture. :)





















Monday we were all alone. :( So to kill time, Renae and I went into Downtown Chicago and hung out on the Navy Pier.















The long arm/timed shot doesn't work as well with a 9 month old . . .















But this long arm shot did!
















Renae's bed on the way home. MUCH better!

Trip to Chicago-Part 2

Lake Michigan was so nice to visit on this sunny day.


















A visit to the Field House Museum of Natural History isn't complete without a picture in front of "Sue."















And these pictures were taken only because I saw this view and said, "Aww, Trey and Kari would love this exhibit."


















Can you read all of that?















Relaxing at the pool that night.

Trip to Chicago-Part 1

Renae asleep on the plane. We had an entire row to ourselves!


















Please forgive the fact that my 9 month old is "watching" T.V. But come on! We had 10 hours to fill! You can only read, play peek-a-boo, sleep and climb on Mom so much . . .


















See? She did read during the flight.



















Renae is ready to take her first dip in the pool with Grandpy!














This girl is NOT afraid of water . . . thank goodness!