Nappies and Stabilizers

August 12, 2008
What do these have in common in our family?They both came off the same day. No more nappies for Asier and no more stabilizers on Gabriel’s bike this month.
 
Gabriel has begun to enjoy the freedom of cycling on 2 wheels instead of 4, practising on the long straight paths down in the garden with dad…meanwhile back at the ranch, Asier is modelling big boy pants, playing with mum, and hitting the potty or loo most of the time,  between the odd cry of " oh oh a puddle". I know, I know, before you jump to the conclusion that Jane got the short straw with the potty training, the state of sweaty Edgar yesterday, after an hour in the late afternoon sun, running alongside his enthusiastic speedy cycling son, made me realise I had done not too bad on toilet duty! 
 
I think things are progressing nicely in both camps! Gabriel is daydreaming of his first racing bike like his Uncle Norrie, while Asier, well Asier seems to be quite happy with the more immediate things of a new sticker, hugs, treats and running victory laps round the lounge, all as long as his audience are watching. Life is good.emoticon
 
Comments (0)

por fin las vacaciones!

August 10, 2008
The National Youth camp 20-27 July, officially marks the end of edgar’s working year, which began 1 Sept 2007, and therefore the beginning of family holidays.
 
As soon as the last camper left on Sunday 27th July, we set to pack and leave for valencia City where we were to enjoy our family holiday, only to be told, no need to rush away, just stay for a swim and lunch…well we snatched up that offer of beginning to relax together without having to go anywhere…swim rolled into lunch by which time we had a siesta, afternoon tea and finally left around 19.00hrs! We arrived in Valencia city in time to eat supper and settle in our flat, feed the cat etc etc.
 
La Ciudad de Artes y Las Ciencias, a Calatrava architectural gem, is quite a complex, by day or night. We spent time exploring, inside and out, day and night with the boys. Fantastic. In the oceanografic centre, we saw sharks swimming overhead as we walked through the observation tunnel -definitely one of the hi-lights for Gabriel and Asier.
 
 
 
 
 
and of course no costal holiday would be complete without a trip to the beach! What a fun holiday with the boys. We headed home at the beginning of August, to continue enjoying the school holidays till the boys go back to school on 11 September. That means being in Madrid enjoying swims, catching up with friends and neighbours and enjoying being together. Edgar will work mornings and join us for swims, trips etc in the afternoons, so as not to use up all his annual holiday leave in one fell swoop! Hope you are having a great summer. 
Comments (0)

Morning Campers

August 9, 2008
 
 
 
81 campers and 10 leaders came to the end of year youth camp in Valencia. No squabbles over sleeping arrangements this year, instead we had some difficulty getting the girls to keep the bathrooms in a " please leave it as you would like to find it" state. We were delighted to meet Anna from our home church in Scotland ( tanned beauty on the right) and Rebecca from Switzerland, who were spending 2 months at the campsite working.
 
The main morning sessions were led by probably one of the best Spanish youth speakers we have met in our 9 years since coming to Spain. A young 23 year old Valenciano, who is using his training in music to create spanish Christian music for young people, as well as challenging teenagers to meet Jesus, with his engaging bible teaching style. Very refreshing for all of us.
 
Jane and the boys had a wonderful time too, enjoying sports, swimming and meeting new people on camp, running around outside  till it was dark, cakes and biscuits for breakfast as well as huge slices of locally grown fresh fruit for lunch , falling into bed late and out for the count before 2 little heads touched their pillows. Ahhh. Childhood Bliss.

 
Comments (0)

Hormonally Challenged Teenagers

July 13, 2008
How many could you handle at one sitting? 
89?
 
This is the challenge for Edgar and the 9 strong  team leading the  GBE national end of year youth camp, 20-27 July in Valencia. A group of 13-17 year olds arriving by public transport from all across spain.
 
Jane and boys tagging along to offer moral support, hand over the destress ball, regularly check out the pool temperature,  and remind Edgar why he really loves working with teenagers, when he is still trying to sort out tantrums over dorm sleeping arrangements.
 
Apart from the amazing food, weather and pool, we have the lovely addition of seing Anna, a gap year student from our home church in Glasgow at the camp. Anna is working at the camp all summer  and we look forward to meeting her on Sunday and catching up.
 

wir   goaing   tu   valencia.   wer   going   tu camp and    play   football      .and    have           good    time     we’re   going   to     have      a     good      time.
Gabriel xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

                         My first footie boots

  Getting in some good practice in our 
                     Communal Garden Pitch.    
                

 
 
 
Comments (1)

Football Fever

June 29, 2008
Our 2 year old son seems to think mummy is an expert on the Eurocup 2008 final!! He keeps asking who is who and what is what….
 
Having moved from a definite football widow, I admit to a nervous exciement as the Spanish National team are about to kick off  in the final against Germany. After seeing Spain’s amazing play in the quarter and semi finals my usual apathy towards football this championship has changed.
 
Whatever the result, we are in for little sleep tonight….tooters and hooters sounding all around, flags dangling from neighbours balconies…it feels like they are in our lounge watching with us, the whole street is buzzing.
 
Well…have to go…. the party is starting…. I  predict a 2-1 win for Spain.
Comments (1)

Feliz Cumpleaños

June 14, 2008
Asier helps prepare the birthday cake and tries out some face painting ideas for his big brother’s 5th BIRTHDAY PARTY!
 
                   
 
 Gabriel celebrates his birthday with his nursery friends.
 
After so many rainy days, we celebrated Gabriel’s 5th birthday Spanish style in our communal garden on a beautiful warm and suuny spring afternoon.
 
We had expected 10 chums from his nursery class to join us ,making 12 in all. As the first first families arrived to drop off their kiddies, it looked like the great exodus from Egypt. People just kept arriving and I am kissing and greeting mums and kiddies  thinking, "who are all these people!" There were 19 kids in the end including  a couple of wee brothers and sisters and a baby. Some of the mums and dads stayed and helped out and we had a great time.
 
Beginning with face painting and ending with a " piñata" a paper mache type model filled with sweets and party goodies,which Edgar makes each birthday, this year a football, which the children hit with a stick to break and then collect the goodies as they fall. It was fantastic getting to chat to the mums and dads of Gabriel’s nursery school chums and to see how happy he is.
Comments (0)

Salamanca Life

May 18, 2008
                                        
Laura leads the GBE youthgroup in the beautiful university city of Salamanca. Using many creative ways of presenting and understanding their faith, the teenagers have posted several videos on Youtube. See for yourself on link: http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=d0zr-gKt61M.   
Comments (0)

General Elections

March 21, 2008

Just 2 days before commemorating the 4th anniversary of the 11th March Terrorist bombings in Madrid, the Socialist government got back into power for a second consecutive 4 year term. No easy task.

Just days before the general elections on 9th March, ETA, - the basque terrorist movement -killed at close range a former socialist MP as he was out walking with his daughter. How to move forward to finding peace needs our prayers for wisdom and perserverance. Meanwhile families continue to lose fathers, husbands and friends as ETA continue an erratic campaigne of violence and non negotiation.

Comments (0)

Get free blog up and running in minutes with Blogsome
Theme designed by Viewfinder Design