Spring Break 2017 - Spain

Day 1: We flew into Madrid and stayed the first night with Beatriz's family

Jack, Ainsley, Javier, & Kara

Day 2: We took the AVE train from Madrid to Barcelona

Atoche station in Madrid

Atoche station in Madrid

Atoche station in Madrid

On the high-speed train from Madrid to Barcelona

First evening Barcelona...

Paella!

Paella!

Day 3: Day in Barcelona

Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Familia

Jamon! (& Barcelona Duckie)

Our favorite store!

Beach time!

Beach time!

Beach time!

Beach time!

Day 4: Last day in Barcelona 

Park Guell

Park Guell

Park Guell

Park Guell

Park Guell

Leaving the park, looking for a lunch spot

Our good friends in Atlanta helped us get some tickets to a Barcelona futbol game.

On the [very crowded] bus, on the way to the game

At Camp Nou! We were surprised with excellent seats in the stadium

Ainsley and Jack in two or our seats (we are two rows behind them)

Enjoying the game, right before it started pouring rain

The pitch!

That is Messi. We were crazy close.

After the game we walked in the rain to a nearby restaurant, enjoyed traditional tapas, watched more soccer on the TV and waited out the rain before taking an Uber back to our Air BnB

Day 5: We took the high-speed train from Barcelona to Sevilla

Mom and Kara on the boat tour

Boat tour

Jack on the boat tour

Ainsley and Kara on the boat tour

Senor Jack!

Senora Kara!

Senora Ainsley!

Streets of Sevilla

Day 6: More Sevilla!

Swaggin' Jack

Loving Sevilla!

The horse that pulled our carriage

Kara and her sensitive skin needed a hat (it is very sunny and hot in Sevilla)

We spent a lot of time in Spain doing this...

and this...

And then we went to a Flamenco show. Wow. Just wow...

Day 7: Back to Madrid

We were so grateful for the hospitality that Beatriz's family showed to us. They were generous hosts, great company, and perfect tour guides. The kids were so happy to spend time with Bea, we were so excited to know Bea's family, and so so grateful they showed us around their city.

First Stop: Churros at Chocolateria San Gines (very popular and old Churros spot in Madrid, from the 1800's)

Around the city of Madrid...

Beatriz, Ainsley, Jack, Kara

Dinner with our entire crew:

Ainsley, Kara, Alicia, Mati, Javier, Beatriz, Juan Lu, Jack, Matt

Jacks gigantic burger!

Day 8: Tour of the Royal Palace in Madrid

Ainsley & Kara in front of the palace

The fam :-)

Ainsley chillin'

Back at Beatriz's house...

Kara & Matt outside Bea's house

The kids with Bea on our last night!

Kara, Bea, Ainsley, Jack

So grateful for friendships that cross continents and an amazing vacation to a beautiful country. (My favorite vacation to date!)

Spring

Kara ready for her first Brownie meeting :-)

St. Patrick's Day! 

We walked down to the Oakhurst Square for a party at Steinbecks

Atlanta United game with friends

(Jessica, Kim, Addy, Ainsley, Baylea, Kara, Brian)

Decatur High School soccer game with friends

(Nia, Abby, Ainsley)

Community Circle at Winnona Park

(Jack in the middle)

Atlanta United

Atlanta's new MLS team -- Atlanta United! We went to the first game -- SO much fun. The first few games were at the Bobby Dodd Stadium at GA Tech (new stadium not ready until the fall).

Christmas 2016

Ready for the magical Christmas season...

This year the Holiday Husky met an untimely death, after a passerby tackled him. Our dear neighbors, Sheila and Terri, surprised us and the kids by ordering a new husky just in time for Christmas. The kids were SO happy!

Grandma's famous Christmas buckeyes! 

Sugar cookie time!

Christmas Eve candlelight service at Decatur Methodist:

After church: sninner!

Making homemade cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning...

Christmas morning!

Christmas #2 with Emma:

Snow Mountain!

Family trivia game:

Ainsley's Birthday Party

Ainsley turned 10 years old!

On her actual birthday she was at a soccer tournament, so we did her party the following week. She and her friend Nia combined parties, at Stars and Strikes in Stone Mountain. Bowling, laser tag, bumper cars, and arcade games!

Nia & Ainsley