Spencer's SEVEN

When I planned my trip, I had to be sure I would be back this past week, because my we had a BIRTHDAY!!! And around here, birthdays are a REALLY BIG DEAL. For this kid, they are an especially, big deal. I told him the day before his birthday that I wouldn't let him get older than six, so he could turn five or he could stay six. He cried. I'm mean, I know. When we went to get his doughnuts for his class, the lady asked him how old he was, and he hesitantly told her seven as he looked at me, wondering what I would say or do. I just smiled. He was relieved.

 

Spencer had many things that he wanted to do for his birthday. (As the youngest, he takes pretty good notes). We kind of had a week long celebration, I couldn't handle the thought of one day busier than busy. So, on Monday, we went to Red Robin. For some reason, my boys all love eating here on their birthdays. Good thing we don't show them the finer things in life, or we would have to cancel the family dinner :).

 

On Thursday, his actual birthday, we had to hit Krispy Kreme for doughnuts for his entire class. We also had to have some for home, because we roll like that. Joe's BBQ was on the list of can't miss, lunch with mom is always good. One of his brothers had a HUGE root beer float from here and he couldn't miss out on it!!! His cake had to be an ICE CREAM cake with Mint chip, and for dinner he wanted Chili, but settled for a Taco Soup. He is still waiting for his birthday gift. . .

 

Seven things we love about Spencer:
He is ENTHUSIASTIC!!!
He is ENERGETIC!!

 

He is SINCERE.
He wants to make everyone feel COMFORTABLE and at home. He is so thoughtful to all guests at our house, whether it is one of my friends or a stranger, he will do all he can to make them feel at home.

 

He is HAPPY!!!
He has a GREAT imagination!

 

He is a great traveler!!! I miss him being out of school so we could sneak in trips just the two of us. If I have to fly with any of my boys, even now, he is pretty good, I guess it comes from his life of travel.

 

We love our Spencer D and we are so glad that he is in our family!!!!

And Finally my last day in Spain

My last day in Spain was kind of fun. We met up with this American kid that was doing an internship in Barcelona, who had explored the city extensively, he also spoke very good Spanish. So, he was able to show us the older part of the city, and was able to communicate with this expert on Barcelona antiquities -- I guess he was an expert, he showed us several things that were really interesting that Kyle didn't know and he had gone to the museums around the cathedral and in the castle. . .anyway.
He took us to this beautiful plaza that was just intimate -- we even had our picture taken here, at Plaza Royale. :)

 

This was the church where Columbus reported to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. It was also where the Indians were presented to them. Interesting fact, the people of this area call their region Catalonya, they don't really like being a part of Spain. They have their own language and write a lot of their documents n Catalonian. . ., but they believe that Columbus was really Catalonian, they just can't prove it. Needless to say, there is a lot about Columbus in Barcelona, including a HUGE statue that I didnt post looking toward the new world.

 

There are some Roman ruins in Barcelona. This is an old temple ruin that they have in a quiet building near an old castle in downtown Barcelona. . .this is where we met the expert. . .

 

Who took us outside and showed us many inscriptions on the sides of the cathedral and castle. He showed us where the markings for tradesmen were on the cathedral and how each trade had a window of sorts that when their leader, of the trade, would die they would be buried (kind of open the window and put the body in then close it again). He showed us where the Castle and the Cathedral had once a place where the Royalty was able to go undetected across to the temple. He also showed us where Napoleon's army sharpened their swords (see below) on the cathedral wall. We also saw on the castle walls where the Jewish settlement that was destroyed by the Christians, was recycled and put in the walls of the castle (there are Jewish markings on the castle walls). It was really fascinating, and my parents and Kyle both had no idea about any of that information.

 

Park Guell

To continue with Gaudi, we went to Park Guell after La Pedrera. It was amazing. I was so impressed by the terraces that he had created that were supported by beams. I also thought it was quite impressive the way he mixed nature into his project. . .the beams are not straight, trees aren't straight, so the beams he used weren't straight (even though they look straight in my pictures). The colored glass and materials are all recycled. The view was amazing.

 

 

 

 

 

La Pedrera

On Thursday we went touring some more of Gaudi's work. The first stop was La Pedrera. It was built in the early 1900's, and was an apartment complex. After researching it on the internet, aparently Gaudi wanted neighbors to know one another, so he designed the elevators stops on every other floor. On the roof the most common picture on tour books of Barcelona, is found.

 

The picture above and below are from the roof line. It was a bit random, there are stairs all over the roof line -- leading to these strange structures.

 

In the attic there was a display of different things that Gaudi had done. I think his ceilings and arches are so fascinating!

 

They also had a floor set with an apartment set up for the time period. I thought the details on the ceiling were amazing! I was also quite impressed how spacious the rooms were. Although, I wasn't crazy about the outside of his house, the interior is beautiful and the way that he uses light is amazing. He designed the building with two courtyards in the middle, and each apartment was set to include light in each room. The laundry and kitchen were set to include the interior portion (they would look into the courtyard) and the bedrooms would look out onto thestreet. The ceilings were exquisite in design as well -- I loved the flower on this ceiling!

 

Montserrat

On Wednesday, my dad and I took the train an hour out of town to a famous basilica, Montserrat. Apparently, it is a monastary, that was started in 880 when some children heard some angels and music. They told their parents and they also witnessed it, they found a likeness of the virgin Mary. Later they built a monastary near the location, and have the only black Virgin Mary housed their. Apparently, she will bring you luck if you touch her, and maybe something else, can't remember. I looked and took a picture -- maybe I should have touched her for luck :).

The view was spectacular, it was a bit foggy, but I couldn't imagine hauling the necessary tools UP the mountain to build the monastary!! They did have a cogstooth railroad and fundicular to take things up and down now, probably the cogstooth railroad has been there for a while. . .but in the medevial times. . .wow! Truly amazing!

 

 

 

 

 

Mt. Juic Castle

Jake left on Tuesday morning REALLY early. After I got up for the day we went touring. We went down to see Mt. Juic. The fortress or Castle was AMAZING. You could just feel the history oozing from the walls and gunner stations. The view of the city was incredible.

 

 

 

 

 

I saw the Olympic stadium, and the diving and swimming pool that they used for the Olympics. The views were amazing. (see below) I couldn't believe how many stands they had for the competition -- I can imagine -- but seeing it in person, it was stunning!

 

La Famillia Sagrada

I have always heard the term "gaudy" -- I tend to be a bit too simple for "guadiness". On Monday, after visiting the consulate; -- too bad I couldn't have a camera, I LOVED visiting with all of the people I met while waiting for my passport. They were all so friendly and such a treat to have people to speak English too. We met up with my dad who had gone down to save us a place in line at La Famillia Sagrada. It was buildt by Gaudi -- yep, the man who "gaudy" is named after. It was "gaudy" on the outside -- a little too much in the name of exterior decor. But, the interior -- AHHMAZING. LOVED the interior. Loved it.

 

Gaudi was focused on the light and incorporating nature into his designs. I loved his exercise in light. I wish I could have truly captured the stained glass reflections -- so beautiful.

 

The interior of the baslilica is done. The exterior is still being built. it is spectacular.

 

 

 

I think I like "gaudy" at least inside. Beautiful.

The Mediteranean Sea

Now, I already blogged that I don't have any pictures of my trip to Italy -- jerk Spaniard -- Jake and I got to spend a couple of days in Spain with my parents. Barcelona, is amazing. I really thought the weather was pretty good. Sunday was kind of cold. In fact, except of Saturday's rain, and Sunday's rain it was perfect. We took advantage of the rainy weather and kind of cooler temps, to see the vacant Mediterranean sea (I guess nudist like to frequent the beach at times). Seeing the Med was amazing, Sunday it wasn't as blue as I had heard, but I saw the blue the days after.

 

I loved having Jake vacation with me. We both agreed that we need to go away by ourselves more often.

 

I think we need to go to beaches more often, they are so relaxing. Loved it.

 

 

Halloween 2011

We had a great Halloween this year -- I was kind of sad that we had to not hold our traditional Halloween party this year -- I was so glad too. Too many things going on and one crazy mom was all I didn't need. Our old renters moved out and we spent the day cleaning and getting ready for the new renters. Ugggh. Halloween happened though. We had a blast -- we went to our friends and had soup and then went trick or treating with our friends the Cowarts -- my boys are getting too old. They didn't want to stop. We went for almost two hours.

 

This year, Ryan didn't like the options I gave him for Halloween. So he came up with his own costume. I was kind of bummed that he didn't do one that he designed a few weeks earlier but he was cute -- I think it ended up being a hobo.

 

Spencer LOVED his costume this year. Loved, loved, loved. He really enjoyed being an FBI agent. I was quite surprised that he went with this choice, it was my favorite but not what I thought he would go with.

 

We had some pictures taken for our Chirstmas card, and I had my friend take pics of the boys in their costumes (at least Jacob and Spencer) and Jacob went into character of ninja and climbed the shed.