Say Something in Spanish

I get this phrase a lot when we go home to the States.  I hate when people say this to me.  It feels like a challenge -- an unsolicited assessment of my ability and progress.  It reminds me of when I was younger, and people found out I could play the piano -- "play something", would be the inevitable response, and it never felt like the person really wanted to hear piano music, but rather just wanted to see if you were any good.  

I'm having issues learning Spanish, in case the defensive rant above didn't tip you off.  

I started off the year here with a lot of enthusiasm.  I had absolutely no background in Spanish, so after we arrived in Barcelona I decided to just dive right in and enroll in a beginners class twice weekly.  I assumed that by living in a country that spoke the language, and taking a class, I would be  "conversational" level in no time.  Now, I'm not the most chatty, outgoing person to begin with, and these classes were akin to going on an awkward first date with someone who doesn't speak your language -- even worse, you could only speak in a third language that neither of you spoke.  It.  Was.  Brutal.  Always pairing off to have these contrived brain numbing little chats about what you would pack on a beach vacation.  I get it.  I know what it was meant to achieve, but honestly after the 21 year-old German au pair and I ran out of Spanish words in 30 seconds, it didn't feel like I was getting any closer to speaking Spanish.  It really just felt like a social experiment gone horribly awry.  Plus the class was a 40 minute metro ride away, and this was during the time period when our entire family was half dead with the Catalan Plague of 2012.  I made it six weeks and quit. 

After limping along with Rosetta Stone and the powers of osmosis for a few months, I decided get back on the horse in September and use a private tutor once a week since Chris was having such great success with his.  I figured this would suit my personality and I could actually make some progress with my conversational Spanish with some good one-on-one, sin awkward pair offs....yet another strike out.  The main issue I had with the tutoring was the amount of material she threw at me.  It was dizzying.  Every week was a new tense when I barely had a handle on the one we just learned, and she would assign what I consider to be a lot of homework.  Inevitably, I wouldn't be able to finish it all, and we would meet the following week only for it to be brutally obvious I hadn't worked on what I was supposed to.  I wanted to be good at it.  To pick it up quickly.  To impress the teacher.  And instead I just mumbled and bumbled through our conversations feeling like a complete idiot, ultimately coming to the realization that I will never, ever speak Spanish.  I stopped tutoring because I felt like a big fat failure. 

Excuses, excuses, excuses. 

In my head, I had my reasons.  I tell myself, I don't have time for this shit.  Make no mistake, my children are my heart and soul, but it doesn't change the fact that staying home with them full time can suck the life out of me some (most) days.  There have been many well written articles and blog posts about the trials and tribulations of what I describe, I won't bore you with more, but will just say that when my children are finally asleep in their beds, the house is picked up, and my entire being has sunk into the couch like a lead balloon at 8pm -- sitting down to an hour of learning Spanish verb conjugations is not high on my list of things I want to do.  It isn't actually anywhere on my list of things I want to do.  Add to this the whole "I'm-living-in-a-foreign-country-and-have-no-idea-what-I'm-doing" look I've been sporting for the past year, and you start to get an idea why my brain has essentially been an impenetrable cement block. 

Excuses, excuses, excuses. 

So around Christmastime, I completely gave up.  I decided to just keep on with the osmosis method -- picking up what I can by listening, and looking up what I need to know when I need to know it.  My comprehension, I'd like to think, is pretty good.  I get what people are saying to me, most of the time, and can function perfectly fine in stores, markets, restaurants, and dealing with little household stuff at the bank or post office.  I can get by fine, which has also contributed to my complacency.

But this week, something inside me changed.   I realized "getting by" isn't good enough for me anymore.  For me, it is simply unacceptable to come home in a year and have a less than basic level of Spanish.   I think a lot of this renewed vigor for learning comes from the fact that life in general is pretty calm and relaxed now...I'm not on sensory overload just walking out the door, and I've also realized that I am able to do this I just have to SPEAK. I have to open my mouth and just try, and keep trying.  You can't learn a language if you are afraid to speak it.  My tutor would often say to me that I worry too much about making sure my grammar is perfect, when really I should just keep talking regardless of whether or not it is right or wrong. 

I made some steps in the right direction yesterday -- I contacted my old tutor, and asked to start up our weekly hour together.  I asked our babysitter, who comes over to watch the kids once a week in the morning, to speak only in Spanish with me from now on.  I fired up good old Rosetta Stone, and bought an easy reader book in Spanish to start reading. 

It's time to get serious, and put in the effort.  Exhaustion or not, I can devote at least 30 minutes a day to Spanish studying.  It can be done, and I owe it to myself to at least try.  My hope and goal is to be proficient enough when we come home next year, that I would actually be able to see Spanish speaking patients, and use what I've learned at work...maybe even work on brushing up my French as well. 

So go ahead... ask me to say something in Spanish.  Next time, I'll be ready. 

Smile Worthy Moments

Things I'm loving in Barcelona this week...

Old folks playing Pétanque (what I thought was Bocce)

While my mother was visiting last summer, she remarked on how many older men and women were out and about in our neighborhood. Dressed to the nines, grocery cart squeaking along in front of them, the grandmas and the grandpas don't collect dust around here.  They have a shockingly active social life. Perhaps it is the close proximity to one another, and how closely integrated families seem to be here. Or maybe they just don't want to miss all the fun. Whatever it is, I notice old people seem pretty involved in the community. Specifically, there is a group of old men playing pétanque in the park that, for some reason, makes my heart smile every time I see them. Huge packs of men, in their 60's, 70's, 80's, and maybe even 90's gathered around like school boys playing ball together, religiously, every morning. What a great morning. What a great life. They have each other, they have a sport, they have an organic way to connect that does involve an expensive retirement home or a fancy country club membership. They aren't stuck at home, or at the mercy of someone to drive them or entertain them. They are out there enjoying their lives, and while they may be bickering in Catalan for all I can understand, they seem happy. That makes me happy to see.  I haven't yet been able to remember to bring my camera to catch them in action (and worry a bit about looking like a weirdo taking their picture while they play), but hope to do this during the coming week and will edit to add a photo if I get it. 

Homemade French Desserts...and Boqueria Domination

Some wonderful friends of ours came over for dinner Friday, which was certainly one of the highlights of the week.  And in preparation for our dinner this night, I had a little beef tenderloin adventure that actually had a happy ending.  Finding good quality cuts of beef in Barcelona is no small feat.  There is enough pork and fish to feed three continents around here, but the beef...not so easy to find.  Deciphering the equivalent cuts you want in both Spanish and Catalan is near impossible, and then trying to determine if it is good quality/humanely raised/grass-fed...forget it.  This week I decided to run with the heavy hitters at La Boqueria -- one of the biggest and perhaps one of the most famous fresh markets in Europe --  and actually came home victorious.  This may not seem like a big deal, but this place is like the New York Stock Exchange for food...in a foreign language.  I practically skipped out of there, loin in hand, having a "F-yeah I got this" moment.  I love those.

And God bless the lovely Delphine and her amazing French abilities in the kitchen...arriving at our home with a homemade lemon meringue pie that would have brought my mother to tears.  C'était parfait.  The whole night was, actually.  When you get an Italian man and a French woman who speak Spanish to each other in the home of two English-speaking Americans, there is entertainment just in the way we all communicate with each other.  Love these two. 

 

Super Hero Capes

Super Evan

Evan has started going to a little drop-off playgroup of about 8 children ages 3-6 in El Born -- one of the neighborhoods downtown Barcelona.  They meet two mornings a week from 10-1, and they are a mix of Spanish and English speakers so they hold the group in both languages.  The group is run by a fantastic young woman from South Africa who has an amazing way with children.  The kids have a blast together -- there is a little boy from the UK that Evan especially loves, who I think has reinforced Evan's new found British accent.  Very odd thing.  My child moved to Spain, hasn't started speaking Spanish yet but now has a British accent.  You do the math.  Anyway, Evan is loving it.  Obsessed with it, actually.  It is actually borderline embarrassing when your child starts yelling, "No!  No! Just a little longer!" the second he sees you coming to pick him up.  *Sigh*  Anyway, last week was super hero week.  Homemade magic capes, magic wands, masks...adorable.  He brought his cape home, and wore it around town all week. Oh, and the rando guy in the purple tights and green undies is apparently Super Bello Man, a local comedian/personality who came in to teach the kids how to use super powers to help people without using violence.  Also smile worthy.

Evan is sitting on the teacher's lap

2nd Trimester Baby Bumps

....and little baby flutters.  :)

And now, if you will excuse me, there is some leftover lemon meringue pie in the fridge that is calling my name.

Traveling with Kids

 

 

A while back, a friend of mine asked me to share with her some tips for traveling with children.  I am no expert by any means (let's be honest, our restaurant lunches out have been known to involve at least one tantrum and broken glass, I still bring stuff we don't need, forget the stuff we do need, and utter the words “this is BRUTAL” at least once or twice during vacation).  HOWEVER, I wanted to share our experiences because I think when children burst into our world, we assume our days of adventure and travel are over, at least for the foreseeable future.  Strollers, pack and plays, toys, diapers, bottles, tantrums, naps, bedtimes...none of these are exactly conducive to a relaxing vacation. And it's true – traveling with children is a wild ride. The successes are sweet, and the fails are often epic.  

 

But it IS possible, and even enjoyable, to do it.  In the past year we have managed to see some incredible places with our children. Chris and I always say -- no matter how difficult it was to make the trip happen, we have never once regretted the decision to go. Bottom line is, we are always happy we did it.  And, like childbirth, you often forget the bad parts and only remember the good.  Call it unrealistic, or optimistic, but I kind of like it that way.
 

 

 

So.  While it hasn't exactly been convenient to have two toddlers along for this European adventure of ours, it has really helped us become more realistic, lighthearted, and simplistic in our approach to parenting and traveling.  Big deals, aren't so big anymore...and previously thought "necessities" are not so important.  It isn't my intention to sugar coat it -  children will never be my #1 choice for travel companions -- but it is important that we share our experiences and show that it IS possible to live a travel and adventure filled life with the small people we love so much in tow.  And it doesn't have to mean only going to Disney World, Lego Land, or some other equally expensive kid-friendly destination. 

What follows are some tips, tricks, and points-of-view that have helped me along the way. 

1.  For breastfeeding mothers -- nurse in public!   Europe is MUCH more supportive and accepting of public nursing, so it really isn't an issue here like it often is in the States.  It has really opened my eyes and helped me realize feeding your baby in public is no big deal.  I know in the US you practically have to hide under a comforter in a dark corner of the room lest you be deemed an inappropriate exhibitionist.  There were times I was lugging pumps, bottles, sanitizing bags -- the whole nine-- on vacation with me just so I would be able to pump bottles to feed my baby if we would be out in public.  What is the point?!  Who cares if anyone is looking, don't mess with bottles and pumps on vacation if you don't have to.   It will make packing and planning so much easier to just nurse when you gotta nurse.  The world will get over it, and you will be helping to normalize something that should be normal to begin with. 

 

2.  When possible, we stay in a place that has at least two rooms - like a suite/adjoining room, apartment, or house -- so once the kids are in bed (which is often much earlier than you want to be in bed) we have a place to hang out, drink wine, and/or watch movies without having to be quiet because we are sharing a room with sleeping children.   There are deals to be found if you look, so it doesn't always have to mean double the money, and I find it very, very necessary especially once you have two.  We've had great luck with finding inexpensive apartments and suites by traveling off season, which have been a lifesaver with the kids.  Having a kitchen is fantastic to avoid having to eat in a restaurant three times a day -- we have a leisurely breakfast at home, and usually cook dinner at home one or two nights also.  Feels like you actually have a home base.  Even better when there is laundry on site -- you can bring 1/2 the amount of clothes you need, and just wash mid-vacation!  Love that. 

 

3.  Travel days are fun days.  In my humble opinion, airports and planes are no place to teach moral values, partake in only educational activities, or get a balanced meal.  My motto is, keep 'em happy, keep 'em quiet, and we all win.  Lollipops are my special airport treat --- they know they only get them when we travel, and when they are getting their hair cut (crucial keep happy/quiet moments).  I keep a bag of lollipops in my purse and whip them out when things get hairy, and they immediately clam up. I let Evan watch the ipad until he goes blind, and let Mia drink juice until she explodes. Whatever keeps them happy and quiet on the plane, works for me . Oh, and I never bring a huge bag of toys. They just get lost, are heavy to carry, and only keep them occupied for a few minutes anyway. I just bring a pad of paper, some crayons, 1-2 books, and some movies on the ipad. And food.  Lots of food.  Works for us like a charm.  The nice part is, they more they fly, the more they know what to expect and the better behaved they become.  You just have to dive in.

 

 

 

4.  Along the same lines -- always have food on you.  I like PB&J that won't go bad, kids are always hungry and usually the only thing readily available while traveling is fast food and you can't do that all day everyday.

 

5.  Bring the stroller.  I repeat -- BRING THE STROLLER.  It's a rolling suitcase, crib, and full body restraint system all in one.  My children are 2 and 4, and I still can't imagine traveling without our beloved double City Mini.  Most airlines let you check if free right at the gate, but here in Europe the cheap budget airline makes you pay for a double stroller.   We don't care, we still bring it.  Bring a stroller with you that is easy for the kids sleep in so they can nap if they need to while you are out doing stuff .  We are lucky, Evan can go without a nap now if he needs to, but Mia still needs a daily nap to avoid turning into monster baby.  I'm an admitted sleep-psycho and am somewhat neurotic making sure my kids get enough sleep, nap on time, and go to bed early.  I have become MUCH more relaxed with this since we've started traveling more, and on our recent trip to the UK Mia did most of her napping in the stroller and car seat and managed fine. I used to worry that I would "ruin the routine" if I didn't stick to the exact schedule during vacation, but that isn't the case. A few days of short naps and late bedtimes doesn't hurt anyone or anything, and if you notice it is making them overly cranky and impossible to handle, then just make the next day a day a "sleep day" and work in a nap and earlier bedtime. Nothing wrong with relaxing with a book on vacation for a few hours while they recharge their batteries.

 

6.  Be flexible.  We have a loose plan, but we also work around them and what they are able to do/see.  We aren't afraid to do what we want to do, but we try to be flexible when we have to be -- pushing them past their limit is never worth it in the long run.  Ultimately, we are never able to see everything we want to see.  We don't have long leisurely lunches and dinners. There are some tantrums, meltdowns, and fights. But like Chris and I always say, we are always glad we did it, and always leave with the best memories.  For us, it gets easier with each trip. The kids get used to it too, and know what to expect and what is expected of them.

 

7.  I liked to bring my own portable crib with us for a baby (the hotel ones creep me out) but when possible we rent car seats when we get where we are going rather than bring our own on the plane.  We also buy a bunch of diapers once we get there rather then packing diapers for a week, and avoid bringing things like bumbo seats, high chairs, satchels of toys, feeding paraphernalia, etc.  Minimize the packing, and it makes traveling a lot less daunting.  Europe doesn't do high chairs, booster seats, kiddie cups, or kiddie menus and we've realized that you really don't need it.  It is a "nice to have" kind of thing, but for me, traveling light is paramount to having "all the right stuff" with us at all times.  We can go 4 days without sippie cups and bibs without the world coming to an end.
 

 

 

So, that's been our experience so far...Cheers to traveling with kids! May we pack light, laugh often, and for God's sake, always have snacks. :)

Home Again

My mother and I -- first hug in 6 months

There are moments when it is hard to be away from family...and moments when it is impossible to be away from family. I had one of those impossible moments a few weeks back, after a conversation with my mother about the declining health of my grandmother.  Although her condition was not unexpected, it didn't make it any easier to accept that I was 3000 miles away during a time when our family needed to be together. It had been six months since I had seen family, and I felt every piece of myself longing to be home. A week later, Evan and I had a flight booked to Boston to do just that. To be with family. To recharge our batteries. To say goodbye to Grandma. I knew it was going to be an exhausting week, and it was. We had about 5 full days to see our immediate families spread across the outer reaches of the state, but I knew it was important to do it. And although it was short...and I wish Chris and Mia were there with us...and wish we had time to see more family and more friends...I'm so very glad we went.
 

The trip did have a bumpy start.  To begin with -- our flight to Boston was scheduled for Blizzard Friday, excellent timing, I must say.  We pushed it back to Monday, which made for a very crowded flight, but regardless, we made it to the US in time for all the snow chaos to have cleared.   

Chris had to stay behind for work, and we decided that it would be best for Mia to hang back in Barcelona as well.  She is more sensitive to the jet lag, and tends to get exhausted quickly while traveling.  Evan has always been a very easy going traveler, and I knew he would really appreciate and understand this time home to see family.  Plus -- his 4th birthday was coming up, so it was a special treat for everyone to be able to celebrate with him in person!

The best part about going home is realizing that we can always pick up where we left off. I say it everytime we are home... “I feel like I never left”. As a family we sit around the kitchen talking, we make breakfast together, we lay in our Pjs. It is easy, not forced, and it doesn't feel like anything has changed...even though just about everything in my life has. 
 

 

An especially nice part of this trip was watching Evan with his older cousins. My sisters' combined four children are 4-8 years older than Evan, yet all seem to love taking him under their wing to show him their toys and games. And this isn't a “ain't life wonderful, let's sugar coat the world” kind of statement.. they really are kind of nauseatingly sweet to each other. My heart swells to see that kind of bond between them. Like the best kind of brothers and sisters. The kind you are always happy to see. Even better, I was a free woman! It was the first time I was able to visit with my sisters, and have Evan off running around with the rest of the kids while I sipped coffee and relaxed. I'm usually changing diapers, soothing a crying baby, putting someone down for a nap, or making sure someone is not going to fall down the stairs. I was loving this big kid time...for Evan and Mama.

Jake and Cam greeted Evan with hugs and cookies :)

Cuddle time

 

Grammie and Evan

Why yes.  That IS me screaming for joy in front of Target. 

My sister and I

My niece Addie made this amazing cake!!!

4 years old!

 

I got rub the beautiful baby bump that is my future nephew...my gorgeous sister-in-law looking adorable and happy at about 6 months along.

She models her new gift from Lynne aka "Meemah"

Uncle Jay helping Evan build his new train set



A very happy Nannie and Evan

More Uncle Jay time

And there was Grandma.

Grandma and I two months before we left for Barcelona

Family, in general, I find to be a fascinating dynamic.  I wholeheartedly believe the most interesting people you meet in your life will be the people in your own family. You are entrusted with their imperfections, and privileged (or burdened...) with their opinions. You see them when vulnerable and you are holding them at their highest during moments of greatness.  Yet, after all this time together, and with all this knowledge...we don't always understand the people in our family. There are those dynamic family members in every family that always keep you guessing.  We've all got 'em.  I used to think I had to have everyone figured out.  Mold relationships into what I thought it should be according to the Bible of Acceptable Family Relationships. But the truth is, sometimes you just have to step back and acknowledge the person and the relationship for exactly what is is. Because although we are tied together as family, we are all really just individuals on our own path, searching for our own meaning...however different from each other as it may be. And it is often different.  As family we share space, and we are privy to each other's paths, but it doesn't mean we have to be on the same one.  We are there to support each other, to influence each other...to open each other's eyes to new perspectives, other lifestyles, and help stretch our understanding of generational differences. And sometimes...we are just there to observe.  To choose to remember and take in the best of what the other person has to offer, and shrug off what we don't yet understand.

As a first generation American who grew up during the time of the depression, Grandma always had a big personality. Growing up in that generation, I personally think that is just who you had to be...focused and determined to survive. Eyes straight ahead. One foot in front of the other. I came to know my Grandmother as a regimented, stylish, self-disciplined woman who places great value on hard work. She loves to entertain, has a generous heart, and loves her family. She isn't the quiet Grandma in the kitchen baking cookies...she is the Grandma refinishing the deck and hanging dry wall. :)

 

During our visit, Grandma asked me, "Is this how your children will remember me?  Sick in bed?"
 

I held her hand as I spoke. I told her my memories of going to her house for holidays as a child...the beautifully decorated tables, the food and the traditions.   I will remember her awesome fried chicken, and potato salad with eggs...when she insisted I drink warm orange juice as a child to “coat the throat” and rid the sickness, and the little animal figurines she would save for me from her Red Rose tea boxes. I will remember her beautifully curled blonde hair, the string of bright beads around her neck that always matched her shoes, and her attention to detail. I choose to remember a Grandma with a bold personality and accessories to match.   I assured her, that is how my children will remember her too.  I said goodbye, and told her I loved her.

It wasn't an easy week...certainly more emotionally charged and physically exhausting than our two week vacation to the US in August. But, it was necessary.

A Year in Review

February 15th marks our one year anniversary living here in Spain.  

 

The two nights before we left -- February 13th, 2012

 

This year has been such a wild ride.  I think initially planning this move, we assumed it would be two years of pure culture and adventure.  Having both happily lived abroad previously, I think we underestimated what the adjustment period would look like here in Spain.  I had no idea what kind of challenges this move would involve, and that the initial period of difficulty and frustration, as we tried to integrate our little family into this Spanish life, would throw us a bit for a loop.  Because it did.   I think it was one of the most emotionally exhausting years of my life -- intense highs, intense lows, questioning who you are and what is important.  This kind of lifestyle has a way of stripping our skin off to the bone, and exposing  insecurities and fears you didn't even know existed.  There are times you feel judged...for not knowing the language well enough, for no longer being a "career woman", for not rolling with the punches as easily as you hoped, or for not wandering around in an eternal state of bliss and thankfulness...and of course, the hardest part of it all, was being away from our families.  Not having the kids around their relatives, and missing those random Friday afternoon phone calls to my sister in the car.  The guilt about being away can be intense at times, even though everyone has always been, and continues to be, so supportive of our decision to move here.  Regardless, I know, ultimately, we made it out on the other side of this year a stronger family.  We've learned things about ourselves, and each other, we never would have learned without going through this experience together.  

 

And with these struggles, were victories.  For starters, I got to spend all day, every day with my children.  I know this is something to be incredibly thankful for, as this would not have been the case if we were still living in the US.  I was there with them through it all -- the cuddles, the fights, the stories, and the tears.  I was there.  It's time I will be forever grateful for looking back on this experience.  

 

 

I learned how to slow down -- mentally.  I haven't perfected it, and often have to remind myself to do it, but I'm trying to be more present in my life.  To be fully aware of each moment, and not constantly be thinking ahead to the next hour, day, or year.  Life is not a to-do list.  And happiness is a decision.  Be the person you want to be, and live the life you want to have.  You don't need anyone to tell you what kind of person you are.  There will always be times when the negativity takes over...and that's OK too.  Acknowledge it, feel it, then let it go and move on.  Keep trying to be the best version of yourself.  

I also learned that my husband has an incredible ability to rise to the occasion. I am so proud of what he has achieved this year.  He came into his first management role, and knocked it out of the park.  Not only this, but I truly do admire his effort to learn the language and how has fully embraced everything about Spanish living (almost to an obnoxious degree -- we joked early on he was having a Catalan identity crisis and he truly believed he was now Catalan).  He has always been a very friendly, outgoing person, but he managed to come into a work environment -- a team almost entirely made up of local Catalans and other Europeans speaking mostly in their native language among themselves -- and win them over.  He is a strong man, who has shouldered the burdens and stresses of a new work role and environment, and managed to come home and be emotionally supportive to me and the children as well.  I'm very, very proud.

 

 

 

We met some new, fantastic friends. Some through Chris's work, some from our town, and it has been a very new experience for me to be pushing past those initial getting-to-know-you stages, and moving right into the trusted friend stage. Some friends have since left Barcelona, some are still here...some friendships are just beginning. But I'm especially thankful to my close group of friends that picked me up during my first few months of struggles, dusted me off, and opened my eyes to the beauty of life here in Barcelona.  Whether it was with a day laying under a cabana in Sitges, early morning "venting" coffee, trips to Rome, Sunday lunches, or midnight birthday whiskey shots -- they brought me back to life, and I will be forever grateful and bonded to some of the amazing friends I've made here.

 

 

 

 

And then, of course, there is the travel.  The incredible places we've seen this year...that has always been some of our happiest times.  We learned we travel really well as a family.  Chris and I feed off of seeing a place for the first time.  Getting into a rental car, and driving down an unfamiliar highway to a place we've never been...for us, there is nothing better.  Here are some highlights from our travel this year:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If I could sum up our first year, it would be mostly a period of adjustment.  Learning to let go of rules and expectations, and live more freely with a lighter heart.   I can fairly confidently say we have hit our stride here.  It feels like home, and we always have this happy feeling when we arrive back in the Barcelona airport...it's hard to explain, but it just feels good to be here.  The sun is always shining, the life is slow and purposeful, and the real value is in spending time as a family. 

I'm excited to see what is in store for us in year two...my hope is that we continue to push ourselves and focus on the small victories along the way.  I hope we continue to try and integrate ourselves in this community and lifestyle.  We will always be Americans, and will always miss some of the comforts of home, but my hope is that we can be fully present this year as we suck the marrow out of what this experience has to offer.  I don't want to let what is "easy" or "convenient" dictate what we do or where we go...I want to dive in, head first, and live the hell out of this year.  It's a beautiful world, and I will always be forever grateful for this two year reminder of just what is out there beyond our comfort zone.

The English Countryside -- Cotswolds

We always have a rough draft of a "places we'd like to see" list in the works...We've started the list several times, added, removed, and (happily!) checked some off over the past year.  The English countryside was on the list from day one.  Chris had visions, I had visions (which may or may not have come from a certain Cameron Diaz and Jude Law flick  ), and Evan wanted to see the land of steam trains and Peppa Pig....really, it was a must see for all of us.  We just weren't sure when and where exactly it would all go down. 

I regularly peruse the discount flight websites to see what deals are out there, and when I came across a Ryanair flight direct from Barcelona to London for 15 € each way -- we jumped on it.  We weren't sure where and what we would see at the time we got the flights, but at that price, I was sure we'd figure it out and be glad we went. 

Were we ever. 

Ultimately, after chatting with some folks and getting some tips, we decided on The Cotswolds .  An incredibly picturesque cluster of medieval towns about 2 hours west of London.  After some poking around on various accommodation websites, I came across an incredible deal for a cottage...exactly what we were looking for.  The cottage itself was located adjacent to the main street of Stow-on-the-Wold (one of the Cotswold towns), and complete with its own little yard, kitchen, wood burning fireplace, and two bedrooms.  Since this cottage was new to the market, and offered off-season, the price to stay for a long weekend was less than what we've paid to stay at a Days Inn in Virginia.  I freaking love a bargain, and this was the steal of my lifetime.  It was absolutely gorgeous, decorated as the cheeriest of quaint cottages, and the perfect combination of cozy and roomy enough for the four of us.

The Primrose Cottage

I have to say, the flight with the kids from Barcelona to London was our best yet.  Typically, traveling with children can be a combination of brain numbing tests of patience along with moments of sharing "look how cute and amazing our kids are" glances with Chris during a (often short-lived) quiet moment.  The airport can be tricky to say the least...children who want to run in opposite directions in a crowded airport is not conducive to getting from point A to point B relatively quickly.  Usually, we bring our double stroller so they can be restrained--er, I mean strapped in --  while we get checked in, get through security, and get to our gate.  This time around, we opted to just check the stroller to start, and let them walk.  At ages 3 1/2 and 2, they are finally at an age where they understand what you are telling them, stand in line for a relatively short period of time, and can walk with the group.  Ok, so Mia still ran ahead through the security machine sending me chasing her, and the TSA guard getting all stern with me for crossing "the line" before they were ready.  But we made it through the airport without any meltdowns or lost children.  Score one for us. 

Ryanair is a budget airline and the tickets are the price of lunch for a reason.  There is no assigned seating, no free drinks, no free snacks, and you are only allowed one teeny tiny carry-on (they count a diaper bag or purse as a carry on).  They DO however, give you the option of reserving a seat in the first few rows for an extra 10 € -- and even better, if you reserve your seat ahead of time, you don't have to wait in line to board, allowing you to board first.  Usually, if traveling alone or with another adult, I would suck it up and sit wherever I found a seat, but with kids -- we sprung the extra 10 € a piece for priority seating, and it was more than worth it.  After completing three transatlantic flights with these guys, this 2hr flight was a breeze.  Evan has always been a pretty good traveler -- give him a juice box and an ipad, and he can sit still for hours.  Mia was always the wild card, and without fail, would wail bloody murder as we were waiting to take off...I swear kids that age sense every one's anxiety about taking off, and it makes them crazy too.  However, for this trip, Mia was finally old enough so that she was not a constant wiggle worm on the plane.  She was happy with lots of snacks and her coloring books.  It's all about food with these two.  If they are able to eat constantly over the period of 2 hours, they are happy. 

It was a challenge packing for 4 people for 4 days in 4 tiny carry-ons...but it really helped knowing we were heading to a place that had a washer dryer, so really, we just needed two outfits a piece, enough entertainment for the plane, and our camera.  It was kind of liberating to travel so lightly!  We did also bring the double stroller, which has now been halfway around the world and back.  We bring that thing everywhere.  City Mini double stroller, folks.  If you have two kids, it will be your best friend.

After landing in London, we grabbed our rental car -- Chris was the brave soul who volunteered to drive standard on the left side of the street.  I don't know that I could have gotten the hand mechanics down to be able to use my left hand to shift, while simultaneously remembering to stay on the left side and look for signs.  A little crazy.  But Chris did great...it helped that we had rented his old car, the beloved Golf TDI, so it was a mini-reunion of sorts for him. 

So...we LOVED the UK.  It was kind of like visiting a one stop shop that housed all the things you miss about home.  Quaint villages, hearty comfort food, farm side bakeries, fireplaces and great (big) glasses of beer...It felt like we were home for the weekend.  Life was simple and easy again.  Not to mention, the people living there were insanely nice.  Everywhere we went people were practically tripping over themselves to help you, or offer advice.  It was interesting after living in Spain for a year, I've kind of become accustomed to certain social norms here in Spain.  One of those happens to be that people in Spain rarely apologize to you for anything.  Not because they are mean, or rude, but it just isn't part of their culture to be very apologetic (from what I've experienced).  For the first few months in Spain I felt like an idiot constantly saying "lo siento" every time I bumped into someone by accident, and never hearing it back...so I just stopped saying it.  In England, it was the total opposite.  I bumped into someone in the grocery store day one, and my instinct now is to just keep walking...I felt like a total jerk when I ignored her, and the woman gave me a look of total concern saying, "Excuse me, so so sorry!!!"   Oops.

Also interesting to note is the difference in the way children are perceived in the UK vs. Spain.  I've said it before, and I'll say it again.  Spain is obsessed with children.  Here, children are king.  They go everywhere and are included in everything.  They are out all hours of the night, and can be seen in the fanciest of restaurants having dinner just like everyone else.  I didn't quite get that vibe in the UK.  We stopped for lunch in Oxford on the way from London to the Cotswolds, excited to have our first pub lunch by the fire...and as soon as we walked in with two small children in tow, it was as if the record stopped.  The staff were all very kind, but were quick to direct us to the "family room" downstairs.  We walked passed the warm inviting dining room, past the fireplace, and down the stairs into the unheated basement area (aka "family room") that was cold and empty.  The waiter was very nice, and offered to bring in a space heater, and turn some cartoons on the big screen TV, but still...we weren't in Spain anymore.  Regardless, lunch was delicious, and we could care less if we were alone.  It was actually kind of better that way, as we didn't worry about the kids disturbing anyone.

I felt this again the day we were walking through the city center in Stow-on-the-Wold.  An incredibly kind woman stopped her car when she saw us taking pictures to ask if we wanted a picture of all four of us.  After she took our picture we all started chatting about things to do and see in the Cotswolds.  As she was talking to us, Mia decided she had enough of the small talk, and decided trying to run across the parking lot was a much better idea...as I held her hand to keep her close, the terrible-two-tantrum was unleashed, and Mia started screaming.  In mid-sentence, the woman who had been helping us, looks down at Mia, gives a frown of disapproval and says, "Oh, dear." in her fancy-pants British accent.  It was classic (Chris and I laughed about this for days).  Had we been in Spain during a Mia meltdown, at least four people would have stopped on the street to practically do a puppet show for her until she smiled.  Usually, it is the parents who get the dirty looks while a child is sad in Spain, as if to say, "How could you let this beautiful creature be sad!!!" 

None of this detracted for our experience in any way...and certainly some places were, indeed, very child friendly.  It was interesting to me to see some of the cultural differences among the places we visit. 

Anyway, I'll let the pictures do the rest of the explaining.

We arrived at our cottage early evening to find the owner had baked us a homemade strawberry jam and cream cake, which was waiting for us in the kitchen.  This scored big points with the kids, and Evan declared he loved this "holiday house".

I had my slice with my first cup of real English Breakfast Tea...perfection.

We had gone grocery shopping at the local Tesco prior to arriving at the cottage, and stocked up on some familiar favorites...Cheerios, PB&J, cupcakes, granola bars, etc.... Amazing how many more American foods there are in the UK vs. Spain.  One of my favorite parts of visiting England was drinking the milk.  For some reason the milk in Spain tastes very different from the US, and for the most part, is shelf-stable and not fresh (you CAN find fresh, it is just not as abundant).  I am weird about milk, so I rarely drink it in Spain.  The milk in England was DELICIOUS, and I had my first bowl of cereal in a year. 

Breakfast on Day 1

Our adorable cottage

Trying to cheer up the little man with some kisses

Happy again, and all bundled up for our first day of exploring

One of the few times they agreed to wear gloves

The first day we actually ended up driving out to Worcester -- a town about an hour away -- to pick up a lens replacement for our camera.  We had been limping along with a broken lens for about two months, and were unable to find the lens we needed in Spain.  Chris located a store close to where we were staying in the UK, and we agreed we needed to get the replacement so we could truly capture how beautiful this place was.  After scoring the lens, we headed back to the Cotswolds region, stopping at Chipping Camden for lunch.  This time we ate right in the pub, fireside and all :) 

Loving the home baked bread

...and local ale.

Outside the restaurant in Chipping Camden

Window Shopping in Chipping Camden

Chipping Camden

After finishing lunch and walking around a bit, we headed back home to light a fire, pour some wine, snuggle up, and....do absolutely nothing.  It was fabulous.

Fire master getting us all set up...

Success!

Actually reading a book!

Before bed that night, I had promised the kiddos we could make cupcakes...a box of Muddy Puddle Peppa Pig cupcakes had magically found its way into our food cart at the grocery store.  So together, we whipped them up.  Miss Mia especially enjoyed this...

 

Playing some games they found in the "goodie closet"

Day 2 dawned, and we had plans to head out and explore more of the town we were staying in, Stow-on-the-Wold.  

 

 

View from our bedroom window at sunrise

Miss Mia and I ready to explore

Heading out of the cottage

The light in this place was absolute magic.  It was like a fairytale...

Mia in the Magic light

Heading through the little path beside our house that connects to the main street...yes, we made them hold hands because it was too cute not to!

Peeping through

It was Sunday, so some of the stores were closed, and the town was pretty sleepy at 10am...we wandered through the Main Streets, snapping pictures, and looking at the architecture.


Stow-on-the-Wold

 

 

After getting our big tip about The Farm from the woman I mentioned previously (the "Oh dear woman"), we jumped into our car, and headed out to find the famed farm and farm store.  When we pulled in, we were speechless.  This wasn't just a farm.  This was the most beautiful piece of property I'd ever seen...huge stone homes clustered together alongside perfectly manicured farm land.  The cars parked at the store to this place were pure craziness...SUV porches, BMWs...a family got out of a Range Rover that looked like they were there for a Ralph Lauren photo shoot.  I looked down at my 10€ converse sneakers and cringed a bit. 

The Farm

Homemade organic soups inside the farm store

Organic produce...it was so beautiful it looked fake

Cured meats

Pheasant!

Inside the stinky cheese room

Seriously on the verge of a happiness meltdown. 

I was trying to play it cool in front of all the fancy locals, but we were snapping pictures like lunatics and yelling, "OH MY GOD THEY HAVE POTATO SOUP! HONEY! LOOK AT THIS QUICHE! THE PASTRIES! DID YOU SEE THESE PASTRIES?!"  Kind of not so cool.  I couldn't help myself.

Inside the beautiful farm gift shop...we scored some homemade lavender candles and a real wool XMAS ornament

The farm grounds also had a spa with treatments and yoga/pilates classes.  Seriously, this was the life.

Exploring the farm

It was freezing outside, so after we had enough walking, we loaded our farm goodies in the car, and headed home to have some lunch and let the kids take a nap. 

A lunch of homemade bread, beef stew, meat pate, vegetable quiche, olive tempenade, cherry tomatoes, and real Gloucester cheddar cheese.  And English tea of course. 

And wine of course.

Sharing a room was way too fun...after giggling under the covers for 45 minutes, down they paraded, VERY proud of the fact they were not napping that day.

Haha!  No nap!

Let's PLAY!

After the non-nap time, we regrouped and decided to head back out to explore another of the Cotswolds towns -- Bourton-on-the-Water.  This town was described at the "Venice of the Cotswolds", as it was built around a network of little streams and rivers.  Yet again, another picturesque town, full of beauty and friendly folks.  .

 

We mostly just wandered until we found a Railroad store that was set up with a huge model train display. Evan is positively obsessed with trains, and was more than excited to have found not only a toy train store, but a huge exposition of model trains. He sat inside staring at the model trains, and used the little controls to make them start and stop. We stayed inside close to an hour, and then had to practically peel him away...He likely could have spend the entire afternoon in there.

We stopped on the way home to snap a few pictures of the countryside...I never did get any good shots of the sheep that were everywhere. 

Our final day we woke up to a light covering of snow!  It was the grand finale to this magical weekend.  I was very sad to leave...often while traveling, 4 days is plenty of time before we all feel ready to get home and get back into our routine.  But this place felt so comfortable.  It felt like we were home, it was very hard to leave.  I recommend this area to anyone looking to visit the UK, it was well worth the visit, and a vacation we will most certainly always remember fondly.