Some Sight Seeing (mostly for eating)

We're really enjoying our surroundings.  Friday night, Ryan and I went out on a 'date night' with some friends.  We went to the city to the Hard Rock Cafe.  The Spanish have a little bit to learn about reservations.  Our reservations were for 8:40 and we didn't get seated at our table until after 10:00!  At least we had some good company while we were waiting.  The girls were excited because they got to spend the evening playing with Malene, their sitter.  Malene is a very sweet girl of about 15 years old.  She is the daughter of one of Ryan's co-workers and she lives right behind us.  Of  course, Kaylee always wants her to spend the night when she comes over!  They always have fun! 
Saturday, we decided to go back to the city and try a Japanese restaurant called Kibuka.  It was located just off of Avinguda Diagonal - a major thoroughfare in Barcelona with tons of popular shops.  We parked in a parking garage and hoofed it to the restaurant which is a common occurence here.  I like walking though, even if we had to do some of it in the rain.  We were also in search of a Starbucks close by because the coffee you can buy at the supermarket here is not much to our liking.  But luckily, Google informed me that there was indeed a Starbucks close by and we bought some different blends and had them grind it for us as well.  We also had to get some drinks while we were there...Of course we did!  But we stopped at a toy store called Imaginarium as well.  Walking around on the streets of Barcelona this weekend really gave me the feeling of being in Europe for the first time since we've been here.  It was quite nice!  Here are some pictures from our fun on Saturday:

I wish I had found out what monument this was.

Alexis and her Frappucino de Crema...Caramel of course!

Kaylee testing the temperature of her Hot Chocolate con Caramel.

This picture is just too sweet.  I think somebody is very happy to have his girls with him again!

Shopping at the Imaginarium

The store had three levels and two entrances...a big door and a little door :)

Today we went to St. George's for church again.  I love that the church is so laid back that even the Chaplain wears sandals!  He also seems to have a different perspective on all the Bible studies that we have been doing every Sunday.  I'm definitely learning and expanding!  After church we came home and relaxed a bit and then headed to the beach.  We brought the girls scooters down to the beach and they rode them on the walking path on the beach.  We stopped at a chiringuito - which is a little restaurant right on the beach that pops up seasonally.  The girls had some ice cream and Ryan and I had some cervesa con limon.  Mmmmm!  Then the girls decided they wanted to play in the sand and water so we headed in to the coast for that.  We've just been relaxing ever since!

School Pictures

I'm just posting some pictures with captions today.

Kaylee's ready to go!

So is Alexis!

Sweet girls

Kaylee's playground at school (girls are on the left)

"Now we're going to my playground," said Alexis.

"We love the monkey bars."

Swinging like a monkey

Kaylee's getting "Man Hands" too.

She's getting the hang of it.

Almost there!

"I made it!"

Good Weekend & Beginning the Routine

We had a fun-filled weekend!  I continued my adventures in cooking here with a new marinade recipe for chicken - Pollo Asada.  When Ryan got home from work, he stuck the chicken on the grill while I made some 'spanish' rice.  The rice had black beans, salsa, onions and cumin in it.  The recipe was definitely a keeper! 
Saturday we were invited to an end of the summer pool party at the home of one of Ryan's co-workers.  The girls had a great time swimming and playing with friends and Ryan and I had a good time visiting with his co-workers.  Unfortunately, I had to play the 'bad guy' and make everyone leave "Just as the party was getting good" according to Alexis.  But I was determined to get this family to church on Sunday.  I was starving for worship with fellow believers!  And I knew it would be good for the rest of them too!  So we left the party around 7:30pm got the girls bathed and sent them to bed.
The next morning was still a little difficult to get everyone into the idea of getting to church, but they eventually got moving.  We arrived at the church a little early and visited with some of the members.  We found out that the girls would get to leave the sanctuary after the first part of the service for Sunday school.  And we also learned that there was going to be a baptism that day.  The whole time we were there, I felt like God was telling me "This is the place for you while you're here."  The first song in the service that was sang was "How Great Thou Art"  I had a difficult time singing at times because I got so choked up.  I could just hear Grandma playing the piano in my mind.  It was a very touching moment.  Another thing that was interesting was that the two little boys who were being baptized that day were named Max and Jack, just like the girls buddies at home!  Toward the end of the service they brought the kids back in to show what they had learned in Sunday school.  Their lesson was on Moses and the Manna and Quail that God provided.  That happened to be a story we've talked about and learned about lately.  The teachers asked the kids several questions and our kids stole the show and answered all the questions.  They make me so proud!  So yes, church was wonderful and we will definitely go back there!
Later on in the afternoon, the girls were swimming and Kaylee kept talking about her loose tooth.  I've been trying to get her to pull it for about a week, but honestly, it wasn't quite ready.  She wiggled it for me out by the pool and I could see underneath her tooth when she wiggled it.  So, I don't remember how, but we convinced her to pull it out herself.  She was so scared, but was able to muster up enough courage to do it.  In her words, "I kept pulling on it but I couldn't feel anything and when I looked in my hand, there was my tooth!"  I'm glad she got it out before the first day of school. 

There was actually more root left on the tooth than I thought there would be.  She's a tough cookie!  So, after the tooth, we took her out for some ice cream to celebrate. 

This morning was the first day of school.  The girls surprisingly fell asleep quite easily last night.  And this morning they were doing pretty well up until we got in line at the school for their classes.  Ryan went with us today since it was the first day of school and we had to split up once the girls had to get in their lines.  Ryan went with Kaylee and I went with Alexis.  I purposely worked it out that way.  Alexis was a little teary, but her teacher came to her several times to talk to her and give her hugs.  I'm sure she's doing fine now that school has actually started.  Ryan said that Kaylee had a difficult time.  He said he had to keep pushing her back in line with the other kids.  I'm glad he handled her, I think I would have been a wreck!  I kept it together pretty well while the girls were walking into the building...luckily I didn't see Kaylee.  I even made it home all by myself.  Ryan caught a ride to work with some co-workers.  Now that I'm home though....it's so quiet.  It's really going to take some getting used to.  Luckily when I got home I found a kitty that really wanted to snuggle.  It's great how intuitive animals are!  Anyway, I'll leave off with the girls '1st day of school' pictures:

Man I miss my beautiful girls!