Nerja Camping Trip

Over Memorial Day weekend we took a camping trip about three hours away to a town called Nerja (which became our new favorite spanish town). The camp sites here are different then the sates as their is a pool at the sites, a bar and resturant,  and fire's aren't allowed.  We really enjoy camping though and the people are always great.  Here in Spain you have about two seasons to go camping... fall and then spring as the summers are sooooo hot and the winters are a little to cool with the kiddos and no fire.  Drew and Claire had a blast and were able to get as dirty as they wanted!!!  They slept great with all of the fresh air!

As you can see with two kiddos it isn't exactly "back pack" camping!!!  Claire thought this was HilAriOus!

We had an awesome campsite with great shade! 

On our way to walk in caves!!

The world LARGEST stalactites are located here in Nerja!

This was the beach in Nerja, it was just beautiful and the water was sooo clean!

Claire couldn't take it any more and needed her siesta!

Enjoying some breakfast!

I took Claire with me to wash out some dishes and while I was gone dad was letting Drew hang from this branch.  Drew asked Andy to do it again and Andy said wait for mom to get back so we can show her.  Drew replied with, "No let's not show mom, cause she'll freak out"!!!

And Drew continued on to climb more trees.  It's such a toss up who will be our first ER visit.. Drew or Claire???

Dad and Claire having a heart to hear talk..

It was a great camping trip and look forward to the one next fall when it's not over 100*!

BiRtHdAy GiRl!!

Today we celebrated Claire turning the BIG one!!  This past year has FLOWN by and it needs to slow down!  In the past few months Claire has really grown up, and it makes me so sad!  At the end of nine months she realized the she could move SO much faster if she walked.. and that is exactly what she did (more like a run).  Andy and I always say that she skipped that grazing phase on furniture and stood up one day and started walking!  A few of Claire's favorites is the big bro Drew, playing outside (she could do this alllllll day long) climbing (she will be our first emergency room visit...), fruit, and scrEAming when she's excited!!!

Another one of Claire's and Drew's latest favorite things are laundry basket rides up and down the hall way.  I will hear Claire in the laundry room grunting trying to pick up the basket to bring it to us for a ride!  Who needs a gym with kiddos this age!

After a big birthday breakfat we took the ferry across the bay to the city of Cadiz.  Cadiz is a beautiful city with so much history and great beaches.

Kiddos sitting on top of the boat enjoying the ride!

City of Cadiz

Claire starting to fade without a nap....

And she's out...

While I soacked up a few rays of sunshine while Claire slept the boys hit the beach for some football!  This photo below is of Drew with an awesome throw to dad.  NFL potential???

To top the night off we had homemaid brownies and ice cream.  We've been working on Claire holding up her finger to say one and she MIGHT have it mastered!!

Happy Birthday Claire Bear!!!!

Kiddos Birthday Bash

On Saturday we had a combined party for the kids at a local park here on base.  My thinking is with there birthdays just two weeks apart and at a yound age, why not combine for a party. Saturday morning when we woke up I told Drew, "Today is you and Claire's birthday party"!!!!  He replied back to me, "Mom it's MY birthday party today"!!!  So maybe the combined thing won't last long....!!!

With thirteen kids there and most of them under the age on five no one sits down to eat!  So the menu consisted of peanut butter and jeally, fruit, and a trex mix! 

Drew I'[m sure telling Claire that the cupcakes are up there on the table and if she can distract mom and dad for a few he would grab them a couple to sneak...

Clarie looking as though she's cought in the act headed towards the ice chest with her cup!

One of the games consisted of a potato bag race!

We also made MuD PiEs that consisted of dirt, water, twigs, pine needles, sprinkles, and to top it off whip cream!

And at last CuP CaKe time!!!

HaPPy 3rd and 1st BiRtHdAy!!!!

Feria and Drew's 3rd Birthday!

On Sunday Drew celebrated his 3rd Birthday!  I can't believe how fast the past three years have flown by and how fun they have been.  EVERYDAY for the past few months Drew has told us or someone else that, "Today is my birthday"!  So to wake up and finally have TODAY be his real birthday was so much fun!

We started the day off with homemade pancakes and then opened birthday gifts.  One of the items was a Buzz Light!  Drew is obsessed with Toy Story and Buzz has not left his sight since this morning!

Drew went running to his room and yelled, "Dad you be buzz"!  It was sooo cute and in my mind I thought how fun this is like Barbie's when I was little!!!

Drew also recived a helmet from Papa and Mimi that talks!  Drew isn't to sure about it once dad wore it....

Drew put his water rocket pressent to the test as well today!  It has a switch that you pull and it blasts off the rocket while shooting water in the air!

Feria is Here

On Saturday we took the kiddos to Feria in Jerez about 20min from here.  Every Spring,  every local Spanish town  throws a week-long party with tons of  people that show up! La Feria  began as a cattle trading fair in 1847, and through the years it has evolved into a sexy Spanish round-the-clock spectacle of flamenco, bullfighting and  fun.

On Friday night a few of our couple friends all got baby sitters and hit feria!

Typical Spainish appetizers

This picture cracks me up!  The Spanish keep their kiddos out till wee hours in the night and have them sleep in strollers!  This little girl had her feria dress, high heal shoes, and was out!

Jerez is known for all of their horses.  Horses took couples all around

We told Drew he could pick one ride he chose the three wheelers! 

                                Claire was a hit with the local Spaniards!

Garden Is Ready

This was our first year of having more than one veggie and so far so good!  We planted tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, onions, and radishes.  This past weekend the lettuce was ready to pick.  We told Claire she needed to be the helper on the outside of the fence to avoid walking on the veggies...

We were able to pick bowls FULL of delish lettuce!

Claire managed to find the SMALLEST opening in the fence and squeeeeeezed in to also be a BIG helper!

Claire and Drew thought it ws fun to sort all of the yummy lettuce!  We have been having a lot of salads!!