mas España

Okay, all the pics are up on Flickr (you know the drill, click the link over there in the left sidebar), but most of them don't have descriptions yet.

Two more notable things...I thought Pittsburgh streets & alleys were narrow -until we were driving in Valencia.

And what Spanish did the littles learn last week? "Bob Esponja, Bob Esponja, Bob Esponja...Bob E-sponja"!

These were taken in Valencia

España

I put up the Madrid pix the other day on Flickr.

I think what piece of my heart that I didn´t leave in San Fransicso, I left in Spain. Seriously. Well, Valencia anyway. Madrid I liked well enough. I didn´t get to take as many pictures as I would have liked b/c my camera battery wouldn't charge properly & died two days in a row :(

I was blown away by the marvelous, historical buildings. And you know me with my obsession for doors, doorways, wrought iron anything, architecture, little things that most people don't notice. PLENTY of that in Madrid. BUT what I noticed was that most of the people I passed didn't smile. They looked unhappy? (?!?!?!) and/or "unfriendly". It kind of bummed me out. Especially since there's so much beauty in Madrid. And -at least the district where we were staying- folks seemed really judgmental; as they passed, they eyeballed you up & down as if to judge what you were wearing. Wow. I don't think I've experienced that before -even in Paris. It was bizarre.

BUT BUT BUT! Valencia! OMG!!! From the moment we entered the city limits -actually even a couple miles out- I could tell it was going to be overwhelmingly fabulously beautiful. And I was not disappointed! It was like San Francisco -but older & European. EVERYWHERE I looked was something different & beautiful. And, well, I don't know what else to say about it. We only drove into the city to have lunch the first day & I so badly wanted to stay longer. We spent only 1 day in Valencia -and even that was only about 4 hours. Soooooooooo not enough time! I could have stayed forever. Yes. I enjoyed it that much. See -like San Francisco, that much. It was worlds different than Madrid. And the people were way friendlier -well, except for the two old ladies who asked me directions -en Español- & I couldn't help them.

And the food. I was sad to come back to the US for all of the above AND the food. I ask you, how can I be expected to eat this American cuisine after I have eaten in Spain? It's just not fair, I tell you. I tasted some of the most delicious food I've ever eaten. Ever. Now I need a Spanish cookbook to re-do our whole menu. Unfortunately -oh how unfortunate- I can't get the seafood in Colorado, maybe not anywhere in the US. I_Can't_Stand_It.

Can I go back already? Please?

Bourbon Madrid - cafe across from Westin Palace Hotel - pizza song

Bourbon Madrid - cafe across from Westin Palace Hotel - pizza song

and later that same day...the 5th grade continuation

freshly dyed hair especially for the event is easy to pick out of the crowd :)

She was one of 6 fifth grade students who won the "Bradley Eagle Feather" award for portraying all PYP (Primary Years Programme) attributes and attitudes of the IB (International Baccalaureate) Learner Profile. But being her normal 'tween self around the fam -i.e. moody AND modest, she wouldn't pose for pictures with the award.





















That's her good friend C, whom she's known since 1st grade. They had 1st & part of 2nd grade together. Ended up in the same school again this year. Yay! Sadly, they won't be in the same middle school next year. But, we live close enough that they can hang out whenever they want...I just hope it doesn't turn into one of those youthful romances & then the friendship ends, ya know what I mean?

good day for a Kinder bridging over ceremony

(I used to be able to caption each photo, but then Blogger changed the format & I don't feel like messing with the HTML right now to sort it out. I guess I'll just put captions at the top & bottom of each post for now)

The bridging ceremony was so cute. Miss Dale called each child's name & he/she climbed up the stairs, paused on the bridge for a photo op & then went down the slide to receive his/her "diploma". It was timed just right so that as one child received the diploma, another child was paused on the bridge. Don't know if it was purposeful or if it just worked out like that, but with the timing each child got applause twice :)

Pictures of the new 1st grader with each of her sisters. Little sister looks unhappy...maybe because she's not the center of attention? And there's Jamey, aka Jermany, Nikki's BF.

Mr Lerner was the class Para. He's retiring this year; Fi is sad that she won't see him anymore & Lib won't get to have him in class next year.

Miss Dale is Fi's beloved teacher & inspiration for her current "what I want to be when I grow up". Lucky Lib will have her next year :)

There was a picnic & games & face painting after the ceremony. AND a special trip for the littles to the Nature & Science Museum with Snick & Jamey before heading back out for Mad's Continuation that evening.

FYI

"The last road team to win Game 7 of the championship round in any major league was the 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates." Put that in your pipe & toke it, ya naysayers....

p.s. my heart is still pounding & my hands are still shaking & I still have a euphoric perma-a-grin; someone pinch me. Squeeeeeee!!!!! We won The Cup! It's sorta like a dreamy dream. Yes, it continues to be the best year ever :)

We are the Champions, my friend

and we'll keep on fighting 'til the end!

Congrats to the Penguins on a freaking awesome Stanley Cup run! They made it look easy, even when it was challenging. And Lord Stanley comes home to the 'burgh once again.

Yay Pittsburgh! City of Champions! (c'mon Buccos! Get on board!)














What an incredible feeling!