Ashleigh Visit's Spain

Two weeks ago my AWESOME friend since first grade came to Spain to visit us!  Hat's off to Ashleigh as has visited the Olsen's at every duty station so far, INCLUDING ICELAND!!!  I had to fight for her attention though as Drew and Claire loved her!

One of the nights we went to a bull fight in Puerto

Our seats were great and right next to the judges.  Sitting in the seats that we had, the matador was always facing us!

Drew showing his muscles as we were at the top of Gibraltar!

I took Ash to my favorite salon, where she had her hair done!

Ashleigh was able to spend close to two weeks with us here!  Andy and I said how relaxing it was to have a guest that long as we were able to have down days as well.  It truly was awesome to have Ashleigh here and never a dull moment!

Missing Brian

Today in the car Drew, Claire, and I were talking about how their will be a hurricane near Brian’s house this weekend.  Drew says, “Mom, I miss Brain.  Do you know what I do though.. I close my eyes and I can see him.”  I then looked in my mirror and he had his eyes shut really tight in his car seat.  Drew then says with his eyes closed, “Look theirs Brian and he’s throwing a frisbee to Jack (Brain’s dog)”.  Drew has always just been in love with uncle Brain and this melted my heart!

Pool Days

The Naval base here in Rota, has a lot of great features one of them being the awesome pool and we've  taken advantage of it!  Drew now can swim alone and of course Claire seeing Drew in the big pool is now also finished with the "baby" pool. 

Kiddos and friends making silly faces and jumping in

Drew and Claire LOVE holding hands and then jumping.  Everytime they come up from the water their both laughing so hard!  SO cute!

Claire we have to say really does amaze us with her swimming ability for just turning two!  Claire can now swim ALONE  for a good distance in the pool!!

El Palmar Beach

Over the weekend we went with our fun friends on a beach surfing outing.  Both Andy and our friend Jeff are big surfers, so they were in heaven. Maureen and I were in heaven as the kiddos played all day so well just running in the waves and playing in the sand.  I'm not sure how many times I've said it this summer.. beach days are getting easier  (with two small kiddos) and actually RELAXING!!!!  I heart summer!

Claire loves her pirate table and has learned it's so much easier and cooler to sit in the ship!

I don't even need to write anything for this....

So I seriously went outside for two seconds to grab something out of the car.  When I came in I heard Drew yelling.. "MOM come look at Claire".  Claire had reached the sunscreen (which she loves to help put on..) and nicely applied it all over her face and then the floor.  This was one of the moments when the parent has to be "serious" and then I turned my head to laugh!

Zahara de la Sierra‏

Last Sunday we traveld to Zahara de la Sierra a beautiful white washed mountain town a few hours away.  At the top of the village was an awesome castle.  The kiddos did AWESOME and hiked more than three miles UP HILL!  Drew and Claire do a great job hanging tough with our outdoor activites and really enjoy them.

Claire is now in UNDERWEAR!!!  Here in Europe toilets are sometimes hard to find.  So we've been traveling with one!  She picked a great view to do her buisness!

We reached the top of the Moorish castle! 

The view from the castle

Inside the caslte

We told the kiddos to stay close as their were some openings in the castle.  Thisis how they looked the entire time!

And a potty break on the way home. This one took a bit longer as she had sticks and rocks to play with as she sat there....

Sizzzzzzling Summer!!!

Where has the summer gone????  One more week and August will already be here!  Our summer has been a blast filled with visitors and play dates!  The first week of Augsut my great friend since frist grade will be here for two weeks!!!  Then we're off to Portugal and then summer is over:(  Luckly living in Spain every day is a holiday!  Here are a few photos from the past few weeks.

Tub time is never dull....Claire usually starts to undress during dinner as she so excited for what comes next!

I can officially say that our life is getting easier at the pool!  Claire and Drew both LOVE the water!!  Claire is an animal in the pool and probably should be in level two for swim lessons already!

Drew can now swim on his own!  He can swim the entire length of the pool and swim in the 11ft (above photo).

Drew swimming across the deep end

And what makes this year a blast, he goes off the board.  We're always with him in the deep end, however he does it all alone!

With the perfect weather we've had a lot of BBQ's.  The other night the kiddos were "cheersing" on their own!  I guess they also want to recongize a good time!

Um... so while the adults were outside we noticed it was quiet inside.  Andy went in to check on Drew and Rorey and Drew said they were playing doctor.  He said, "Dad I'm a family doctor".  How could one argue with that!

Daddies with the little ones on the swings

This is how we found Claire in her room about ten minutes after we put her to bed...

The book was straight up and she was out!

Okay.. so this photo cracks me up...Drew's cute friend Peter and him were having a blast.  I told them to put their arms around each other and Peter rapped his arms around Drew!  I love both of their expressions in the photo!

A little popsicle time!

Drew and Dominic