Catching Up

I know it's ridiculous that I'm just now posting again, but the thing about my blog is that when I started it, it was about "my adventure in Spain" and now... that's just my life. Unless I go traveling on a weekend or something, for the most part, it's just status quo here. Since we got back from Morocco, we have fallen into a comfortable routine, which has only been interrupted by visiters. We should travel more, but that's life. I've been prepping my kids at school for the Trinity exam (the English oral test they'll take in May) and I'm still giving private lessons after school most days, so my weeks go from being very work heavy (M-T-W) to long weekends. Joaquín started a new job in March and he's really enjoying it. 

So in February, we celebrated Carnival at school, and the whole fourth grade dressed up as Gondoliers. We were learning about Venice for Cultural week, so there was a purpose to it, I promise. 

Even I had a striped shirt on, though it was cold enough that I needed the coat (the kids came prepared with several layers underneath, I suppose). 

Then Annie (my cousin) came to visit for a day and we did a walking tour with her and her friend Michelle. They're studying in France right now. We had a great time walking around the city on the first day, and the next, we went to El Prado museum for a while. It was a fabulous weekend! 

Finally, to fully catch up my "readers," for Semana Santa, my mom, Jeff, and my sister came to visit for a week! We made sure to stay busy every day. We went to Retiro Park, on a walking tour around the city, the Palace, El Prado, and even on a day trip to Toledo. My mom and Jeff spent a day in Valladolid and went on a winery tour. While they were there, Claire and I did a lot of shopping (not to mention getting tattoos!). It was a really phenomenal visit, and I loved seeing them all again. 

(This is the view of the city from El Circulo de Las Bellas Artes)

Happy mom and daughter! 

I'll try to post more regularly from now on!