PLANTING SEEDS.....

The way I am learning to speak spanish, is total immersion.  The teacher has explained that at first we don't understand, and then over time when we revisit something she has taught us, we will be familar.  It is the "plant the the seed, and and it will grow" theory.  Once you learn it, it is in your brain and then it will start to crop up when you least expect it. I am seeing this theory work in our lives here in Barcelona.  Here are some examples of things that keep cropping up.....


MINI STUFF


Remember Luke and the MINI bathtub?

Last summer the "MINI" seed was planted in a bathroom in Paris that had MINI toilets.

How early would you have to be potty trained to fit on this super MINI toilet?

Once that mini seed was planted, we now find MINI stuff cropping up everywhere....

No Holden is not 10 feet tall, the truck is just super MINI.

Faith eating a MINI ice-cream Drumstick

Now that I am talking about MINI stuff, you too will start noticing MINI stuff in your life.  Have you seen a Smart car lately?  How about a Fiat?  All around town here there are MINI cars.

This is a super cute super MINI car that I saw the other day.

GYPSY PANTS

Remember how I wrote that gypsy pants to Spaniards are like jeans are to Americans?  I think I noticed gypsy pants so easily because the GYSPY PANT seed had been planted in my life years ago.

This picture of me and my friends in Canada like 20 something years ago popped up on Facebook this week.   Look, I am the one wearing GYPSY pants. EEEK.

UH OH, now Faith is wearing GYPSY pants.

Faith in her own comfy GYPSY pants this week on the streets of Barcelona

So the bottom line is be careful what seeds you sow, because they are somewhere in your brain and will crop up when you least expect it.  Now if only the spanish language seeds planted in class this past month will hurry up and start growing......

LA SAGRADA FAMILIA


Remember how when I wanted to go see this church, and the whole family vetoed me.  Well we finally went.  Check out the pictures....

This church was started in the late 1800's and is still being built, it is expected to be open for services in 2030.  While several Architects have worked on it over the past 100+years, Antonio Gaudi is the name most notable Architect for the unique design.  This massive church is one of Barcelona's most famous sights to see.

Ricky, Luke, Cambrie and Faith look with awe at the details.

A closer look .....

And even closer.....BEAUTIFUL!

Behind Luke you can see the newer parts that are still being worked on....

AFRICA

Ricky and Luke are now in South Africa for 2 weeks....can't wait to see pictures of their trip next week.

CROPPING UP FRIENDSHIPS....

With the boys gone, I take advantage of getting to know some new friends better. One of the unexpected joys of living here has been meeting interesting and amazing new friends.  Here are some pictures of some of the fun times with friends we have had with friends recently.

The girls walking to the city bus after school.

The girls on the bus with their school friends.

Isabel my neighbor, and I walking home from the bus.

Cambrie and Faith with friends from school and horseback riding.

We (the Mom's) were not that excited to have our picture taken after a long day of running around.

These are some fun friends of mine from school.

Fun times with my good friend Anke in her little red porche in Tamariu (South of Spain)

A whole bunch of families from school met in Costa Brava for the weekend.

Here the girls are having lunch with a big group of their friends from school.

More socializing with new friends in Costa Brava

Randomly the guy in the blue shirts sister delivered Holden, Luke and Cambrie years ago in Colorado.

Faith and her buddies at the park by our house.

I miss the boys in Africa and am thankful that we have made friends which make our time here more enjoyable. They have given me a boost as I struggle with day to day life in a foreign country and the challenges of full time language school. So in closing just want to say that remember to plant good seeds, as they will grow and never underestimate the gift of friendship.

Love to all....

Andrea