Fiestas and Farewells

I am sitting on the kids' step stool, typing on a computer that rests on a cardboard box...a super nice couple new to Barcelona just came to pick through our mish mash of "housewares" for grabs, and we have a handful of people due to arrive in another hour to pick up our bed, air conditioner, and the baby stuff.  We ate bocodillos for lunch sitting on a blow up mattress on the wide open empty floor.  Molly is somewhere over the Atlantic completing the second leg of her two flight journey home.  Safe to say we're nearing the end here.

Although this week was incredibly fun, it was exhausting.  Packing, coordination, and trying to get in last minute nights out with friends.  Lots of coffee.  Lots of Ibuprofen.

While I don't have a ton of time or energy to write a long, involved post right now, I wanted to remember some great moments from this week...

Easter BBQ and Egg Hunt

A super fun afternoon spent with our friends here in Poblenou, drinking cava, grillin' meat on their roof deck, and enjoying the unexpected break of sun in the afternoon, while the kids raced to find chocolate eggs in the neighboring park. (A big thanks to A & D for hosting and for all the great pics!)

Sant Jordi Day!  

Sort of the Valentine's Day of Barcelona, this is a truly charming holiday to celebrate the patron saint of Catalunya, Sant Jordi.  In celebration, the men buy women a single rose with a sprig of wheat for prosperity, and the women buy the men a book.  This day obviously had special meaning, as it was Jordi's first Saint Day!  We celebrated with some special Sant Jordi cookie treats, visited the local dragon display, and exchanged books and roses once Daddy came home.

Last but certainly not least...

The Farewell Party

Honestly, I might have had more fun last night than at my own wedding.  It was incredible to have everyone close to us together in the same room for the night.  Laughing and remembering how we all met...what it was like those first few months.  It felt like a graduation party of sorts, and although the overall tone of the night was complete joy and happiness...for the first time, I had real moments of sadness about having to leave...the city...the people...all of it.  Saying goodbye was much harder than I anticipated it would be.  I'm having a hard time even typing this, so I'm going to stop.  

All week people have been asking me if I'm sad to leave, or happy we are going home.  For me, it's kind of like asking someone if they are sad their dessert is gone when they are done eating it.  Me?  I enjoyed every last bite, and am completely satisfied.  These last two years were a gift.  An incredible gift, that came, began, and ended exactly when it was meant to happen.  

I'm getting too deep, and I think I hear a knock on the door...more to come...Three more days...