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Saturday, December 31, 2011

Christmas in Barcelona

In this second year, our family is trying to take advantage of how centrally located France is to so many cool places in Southern Europe.  Last year, we didn't venture out much, and we never stayed overnight anywhere.  This year, we decided, needed to be different or we will always regret it.  So, despite the inconvenience, cost, and any other excuse we might have had, we headed to Barcelona to spend Christmas in Spain.  Getting ready for a 4-day family trip is always a pain, but I have to say: this turned out to be the best family vacation we have ever had together.  Barcelona has lots of culture, a laid-back atmosphere, tons to see and do, but mostly, it was just fun, for both us and the kids.

Like all major European cities, Barcelona has an incredibly efficient and convenient subway system.  The girls are pros on subways by now, and they did very well with all the walking, escalators, and crowds. Just as a test run, we ventured out the first evening to see the Magic Fountains of Montjuic (set to Christmas music) and the giant commercial mall converted from the bull-fighting arena.

After I die, if I ever get to choose a day to relive on Earth, it will probably by Christmas Day, 2011 in Barcelona.  It was such a perfect day, and I hope my children will always remember it.

We woke up early and immediately headed to the Sagrada Familia cathedral, which is an incredibly original and unusual cathedral designed by Antonio Gaudi.  I have been to lots of European cathedrals, and though I think they are all a little dark and cold (tomb-like), they are still awe-inspiring and beautiful, and I appreciate their purpose.  This one, however, is a marvel of architecture in a way that's hard to describe.  It is so different than any other I have seen, and I was just blown away by it.  I won't go into too much detail here, but I'll just mention that Gaudi felt closest to God in nature, so he designed this cathedral to feel like a forest.  The columns are not straight up and down--they curve and then branch at the top like trees.  Also, there are hundreds of round skylights with stained glass at the top than make it seem like light is filtering down through a canopy to the forest floor.  It was an unbelievably cool effect and made the cathedral seem much warmer and brighter than any other one I've ever seen.

The girls loved finding so many interesting things carved into the outside of the building (we played "I Spy" on all the sculptures).  They liked the outside as well as the inside!  We appreicated seeing the many scenes from the nativity and life of the Savior on Christmas Day even more than we normally would have.





This cathedral is a work of astonishing architechural grandeur.  Jason saw it last year at this same time with Matt and Chris, and I was so grateful he insisted that I be able to see it too.






This tank held only the most poisonous fish in the world.
Jason and the kids were searching for a stonefish.

The rest of the day was so relaxing and delightful.  We visited the Barcelona Aquarium, which was more than just your run-of-the-mill aquarium.  It was world class, and it entertained my kids for three hours.  I couldn't get them to look at me for many pictures--they were captivated by the interesting sea life inside the many tanks and displays at the aqaurium.






Maisy in front of a display of lobsters

This was one of several activities for kids on the boardwalk



As if this day couldn't get any bettter, we then walked along the Barcelona boardwalk, enjoyed a little carnival with activities for kids, saw a 3-D IMAX movie with popcorn, and then headed to a Flamenco show in Poble Espanyol at Tablao de Carmen with drinks and tapas.  Honestly, a PERFECT day.


Jason works so hard and needed some rest and relaxation on this trip. 
I was thrilled for his sake the weather was so nice--sunny and about 60 degrees.
It so easily could have been rainy and cold, and Jason really enjoyed himself. 


These bumper boats were a huge hit with the kids

La Pedrera,
an apartment bulding designed by Gaudi




We did a lot of other fun things the rest of our trip as well.  We saw another cool building designed by Gaudi called "La Pedrera," went to the Barcelona Zoo (or "thoo", as they pronounce it), which was truly an excellent zoo as far as zoos go, and ended our trip by seeing the famous Picasso museum.

On the roof of La Pedrera where the kids were posing for us and lots of others, including Japanese tourists.

Maisy took this picture of us!



Like always, Jocelyn was fascinated by the peacocks (called Royal Turkeys in Spanish). 
She actually tried to pull a feather out of one of the many birds walking freely through the zoo.

Maisy loved the giant tortoise

Jeni with one of the zoo's three brown bears
I'm not one to click my own castanets, but I had a great idea to entertain the kids in the museum, and maybe someone reading this blog might want to do the same thing.  I was worried the kids would be bored in the Picasso museum, so before we left, I printed a page with 20 thumbnail pictures of paintings from the museum's permanent collection.  I then told the girls that if they could find a painting in the museum from their paper and write its name by its picture, I would give them .20 Euro cents for each title they could find.  Maisy just had to find it and check a box.  It was magic!  The girls were captivated by fnding the paintings, as if it were a treasure hunt.  And it gave Jason and me time to actually look at Picasso's art.  We found 16 of the 20, and at the end, the girls said, "Please, Mom, let us go back and try to find the last four!  We need to find them all!"  Jason and I were actually ready to leave before they were.  The best part was that when I asked them their favorite painting, they could actually repeat back to me the titles of the ones they liked. The girls running around and looking for paintings created some attention from the guards, the other visitors, and several people asked us where they could get a similar sheet for themselves or their kids.

Also, I take back anything negative I have ever thought or said about Picasso.  The man was a genius.  He was well-trained and could make beautiful still life paintings, landscapes, portraits, large murals, anything you could imagine.  It was only later (after his time with all the Bohemians in Paris) that he wanted to push himself, experimenting with cubism in a sort of strange style all his own.  I liked it all, and I was mesmerized by his talent.  Our local Picasso museum in Antibes is a waste of time compared to this one. Many of the paintings from the Barcelona museum were done while Picasso lived in Cannes and Mougins, France (where the kids go to school).

So, my girls and I really enjoyed our first trip to Spain.  Jason, as always, was an excellent guide even driving around the city without GPS at times, and his Spanish-speaking ability rocks.  I loved being able to understand the locals better than I do in France, but I found I was really shy to speak Spanish back to them.  I kept greeting people with "Bonjour," instead of "Hola."  I'm so messed up, and now I realize I don't know either language very well.  (Oh well; at least English was widely spoken and understood in Barcelona, and I'll have to keep practicing my French.)

Feliz Navidad and Happy New Year to you all!  We hope you had a wonderful holiday with your loved ones.  We think of you often, and we wish you all the best in 2012!

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Our Christmas Celebration

Upon special request to the big guy, Santa came a little early to our house this year, since we needed to leave town on Christmas Eve morning.  So we officially celebrated and opened our presents on the 23rd, giving the girls a chance to finish off their chocolate Advent calendars early (they did not argue on this point...).  The night before was our traditional Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas family program.  Jocelyn was given the assignment of decorating the Christmas Eve dinner table, and she took the job VERY seriously.  She chose a festive tablecloth, and cut decorative placemats out of green wrapping paper.  Though you can't tell, she also cut our napkins into creative Christmas shapes, like candy canes and snowmen.  We enjoyed a simple dinner of tacos and key lime pie for dessert.
Maisy shows off her new pjs
and her new haircut!


After dinner, the girls got to open their new Christmas pjs.  Then, we followed a Black Family tradition where each child performs a talent of some kind.  Maisy sang a song called "When Santa Got Stuck in the Chimney," then Jeni and Joss each sang a song while they accompanied themselves on the piano. We then watched "The Nativity" and talked about why we celebrate Christmas and why we exchange gifts at this special time of year.  Then we looked at our Christmas scrapbook with pictures of every Christmas our family has had together.  Finally, the girls set out cookies and milk for Santa.
Jenica shows appreciation for her new pajamas.
Jocelyn sang and played "Jingle Bells" on the piano. In French, Jingle Bells translates as "Live the Wind, Live the Wind, Live the Wind of Winter! I guess that's....something."

These will be full of yummy treats tomorrow!

The girls love to see all our past Christmas memories

Can't forget the carrots and lettuce for the reindeer!

"Christmas" morning--(on December 23rd)

Jeni couldn't believe she got FOUR Kinder eggs in her stocking!

Maisy watiting patiently to open her stocking.  She loved seeing her name written in Santa's fancy red writing.

Jocelyn was so excited about all the zhu-zhu pet accessories she got so she could
keep building their New Hamsterdam city.
Friends and Family-we also thought of all of you! 
You are in our hearts just as much as you are on our door. 
Thanks for the pictures and the well wishes.


Merry Christmas Everyone!! We love you!


Christmas Market in Monaco

One of our favorite things to do around Christmas time is to visit the market in Monaco, which we did about a week before Christmas.  We wrote about this same event last year, so I'll keep this post brief.  There were some better rides and activities for the kids this year, and there were still all the fun little shops to look at.  Plus we would have gone again just to get more churros with chocolate sauce!  We couldn't have asked for nicer weather, and we had a great time together.
Jason, Jeni, Tess (remember her from our London post?) and Maisy on Santa's roller coaster in Monaco 
Tiffany and Jocelyn
The kids also dug these "hamster balls."  They got to roll them through water and thought it was so fun.  This  is Maisy and Jenica.




Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Jocelyn's New 'do

Joci has been begging me for weeks to cut her hair to a chin-length bob.  I have been putting it off because first, I am unskilled at cutting hair, but also because I liked her hair long--it was easy to put in a ponytail, easy to style long and straight, easy to put in braids or pigtails with ribbons and bows, and I thought she looked so cute with long hair.  I also worried short hair would make her face look overly round.  So silly--I think I have read too many fashion magazines!  Anyway, it took me an hour, but here's the finished product.  I think she looks adorable.  I absolutely love Jocelyn with short hair, much more than I thought I would.
BEFORE--this was taken the first of September, so her hair was even a little longer than this.

AFTER-I think she looks great!



You may wonder why I didn't just take her to a salon to get it cut rather than do it myself.  I promise I have good reasons.  Not only is it super expensive for just a simple cut in the salons here, but they also try to sell you a gazillion hair products too, even if they have to insult you and your hair to do it.  Usually, I am kind of a sucker and buy way more than I should, then I have buyer's remorse along with a complex about my hair.  It's not a pretty picture.  Most people I have talked to have had similar experiences.  So, overall, it's much easier and cheaper to just do it myself.  If she had wanted a complicated style, that would have been different. 




I love you Joci girl! I'll listen to you right away next time.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Our New Favorite Sport


Jenica and Jocelyn have been taking tennis lessons since June.  Their coach is from Morocco (Casablanca), and his name is Franck, but he has been living in France since he was 10 years old.  My girls really like him; he's very patient.  They have enjoyed a group approach to tennis where they have a 90 minute lesson with 2-4 other kids.  I have noticed a marked improvement in their playing ability even though it's just been 6 months.  They still aren't quite able to rally with one another across the net, but they'll get there. I have decided this is a really good sport for my girls, and I will keep them involved in tennis for as long as I can, even when we come back to the U.S.  where there are a lot of other options for them.  I just hope they continue to enjoy it as much as I enjoy watching them play!