Beaches in Barcelona

The day after Christmas we packed up the car and headed to Barcelona looking for some warmer temperatures. After 7 1/2 hours of driving we arrived in the rain and wondered if we had made a very good decision. Luckily, the rest of our trip was beautiful and warm (ok warm compared to Switzerland). We promised the kids that this wouldn't be a huge sightseeing trip and so we did a lot more activities that sounded fun to them. We had a great time and loved Barcelona. Our only complaint: restaurants finish serving lunch around 4:30pm and don't open for dinner until 8pm. Not too great for a family who usually eats around 6pm. Let's hear it for the States who keep their restaurants open all day!

Our first full day there was clear and beautiful so we headed to the beach. We took off our shoes, rolled up our pants and dipped our feet in the Med for the first time.

Henry and Ruby

Cheese!

Alex

Ruby

You wouldn't know it from this picture, but...

...Henry is missing his pants!
He didn't follow instructions and soaked them in the waves.

After our time at the beach we stopped for a little ice cream

photo courtesy of Alex

Santa came

Isn't Christmas the best?! This year we sat around in our pjs all day long. The rain prevented us from getting out and getting some fresh air but it was still a fabulous day. The kids took turns playing the new DS and Leapster and building Brio trains. They colored with new markers, read new books and put new puzzles together. At the end of the day Henry summed it all up by asking us, "Is it Christmas tomorrow too?"

The three amigos on the stairs waiting to see what Santa brought

Ruby excited about presents from Santa

Alex was really into the new books this year. He couldn't seem to put them down.

Henry and Ruby working on the railroad

After breakfast we were back on the couch opening presents

As usual, breakfast consisted of all of our favorite cereals

Unfortunately, we had a few stale boxes since I bought these back in August. Doesn't cereal have a really long shelf life?

Reactions to Santa's visit

Christmas Eve

Once again we had a quiet Christmas Eve at home. We had our traditional Christmas dinner which is really more of a breakfast...eggs and cheese with avocado, tomato and sour cream, sausages, homemade muffins (blueberry, banana and pumpkin), fruit smoothies. It may seem kind of random but we think it's fun. We don't have the same thing every year but it always come off the breakfast menu.

Pete (whoops!) and the kids

After dinner, the kids acted out the nativity complete with Ruby riding on top of donkey Alex. Henry was a little confused but cooperated nicely. Maybe I'll remember to take pictures next year.

Alex tracked Santa's sleigh ride around the world on the internet and finally headed off to bed when Santa reached China. All 3 were asleep by 8:30pm and Pete and I settled in for our long winter's nap.

Let it snow...Please!

After 6 months of snow last winter, it seems like the skies have finally run out. We thought our Christmas break would include lots of sledding, skiing and snow ball fights. Alas, it wasn't to be. We did get one good snow storm the weekend before Christmas which allowed for this nice snowman. Unfortunately, every day leading up to Christmas it rained and we were left with none on the 25th.

On the ice

This year we decided to take a more mellow approach to our Christmas vacation. After rushing around last year to Germany and France and freezing our booties off, we decided to take it easy and enjoy some of the things closer to home. Pete had about 10 days off which was fabulous and we used his first day with us to go ice skating. Although Pete has had lots of practice, I am definitely a novice and provided very little assistance to the kids. After an hour and a half we were all tired and sore and ready for some lunch.

Ruby started out with help...

...but quickly progressed on her own

She was feeling more confident after an hour and left her Penguin behind

Pete and Ruby

Christina and Henry taking a break and trying to warm up

Pete took Henry out without the Penguin or the Bear

I'm not sure his back was thanking him afterward

This was Alex's second time ice skating so he did pretty well on his own

He even managed to help Ruby

He did end up with a few new bruises though

Five on Ice

Henry's first time around the rink

Ruby and Alex on their own

My list

As we count down to Christmas I have found myself actually coming up with things I would like this year. I'm putting it out there, just in case anyone is looking for any last minute gift ideas.


Dear Santa Claus,

I have been good this year. Really good.
I've made lunch and dinner for my family almost every day.
(The kids come home for lunch and there's not much takeout in Switzerland)
I grocery shop 2-3 times a week AND bag my own groceries.
I don't think I'm asking for much.


1. I'd like breakfast from The Potato Shack.
A chocolate chip or blueberry pancake would be great.
I can't eat a whole order of American fries but I'd share some.
A glass of fresh OJ would be nice too.


2. I'd like lunch from In N Out Burger.
A cheeseburger without grilled onions, an order of fries
and a pink lemonade would really hit the spot.

3. I'd like dinner from Rubio's.
2 fish tacos with some chips and beans and a limeade would be delightful.

This may be asking for too much and if it is, feel free to simplify.
A round trip ticket to Southern California would suffice.
I can pay for the food myself.
Thanks in advance.

Your biggest fan,
Christina

PS-Mint chocolate chip ice cream from Baskin Robbins is really good too.

A few of my favorite things

When Pete and I were first married, we lived in Bountiful, Utah. One of my favorite places to eat was Cutler's. Their sandwiches are the best, nothing beats their homemade soups in the winter and year round their cookies are unbelievable. My two favorites are the sugar and brownie mint cookies.

Last week a package arrived from my thoughtful mother-in-law. Among the treats for the kids were 8 cookies carefully wrapped and packed with bubble wrap...from Cutler's. I was in heaven. Although I wanted to hide them for myself, this isn't the season for stingy misers. Pete and the kids and I savored every bite with cold glasses of milk. Isn't it nice when Christmas comes a little early?