Holiday time is near...

Once again I can't believe how quickly time flies by.  Halloween has come and gone.  Thanksgiving passed and I missed my moms amazing turkey and gravy and Dads home made rolls.  My stomach growls just thinking about it.  Now christmas is literally a blink away and I hardly feel prepared.  I have been enjoying my time here with the kids and as always we have been busy just living daily life.  Each day is filled with big and small moments that make me laugh, cry (most of the time from laughing too hard) and then laugh again even harder.  These kiddos are growing up right before my eyes and becoming such beautiful independent little people.  I feel lucky to be apart of this journey with them and grateful that they let me be a part of all these special moments and make some wonderful memories.  Here is a update on what we have been up to….

Just one of hundreds she has done…plus she can write her name now!

Olivia as you know is in proper school now and loves it.  She is also very into drawing or as she calls it "painting"  She creates such lovely detailed drawings now.  It's fun watching her just blossom and become a little girl and not a baby anymore.  She is happy to let you know how grown up she is too.  She is such a spunky fun little girl you just can't help but be drawn into her delightful world and be charmed by her cheeky smile.  One of my favorite comments from her lately is after she has picked out an outfit and put it on she stands back from me runs her hands down the outfit and proceeds to say "I look nice Sara?"  I can't help but

Witch hat and princess dress = perfect outfit! 

smile…a true little princess.  She also tends to get quite creative with her outfits and accessories.  Lately there has been a witch hat that tends to be worn quite often.  I know all stages of childhood are fun and I love them but I really hope she stays in this one for a while.  She is starting to get more independent but still wants to hold your hand or grab you and give you a cuddle for no reason at all. I just love it!  Now my favorite little boy Luis is staring to turn into a big boy.  He has grown leaps and bounds physically and emotionally.  He is definitely getting to be more "boy" everyday.  Lately it seems as though there is something wrong with our washing machine because all of his pants are getting so short!  I suppose maybe he is just growing but sometimes it seems to happen over night.  His confidence is absolutely amazing and he is always trying to make people smile or laugh.  He hasn't quite worked out how to tell a joke properly…punchline usually ends up being given away during the telling but the kid has mastered funny faces.  He is getting to be an amazing football player…his footwork and power kicks are super.  He always tell me "Sara, I wish I could just play all day!"  I really think he would if given the chance.

Why stand and wait when you can RUN!

Even though he is getting to be such a big boy he still loves to give me a hug and a kiss when I drop him off anywhere and holds my hand for no reason.  He is just becoming the perfect balance of a gentle heart and a strong independent boy.  As these kids get older another thing that I am so proud of them for is they are still being kids.  They have not lost their creativity and inventiveness in all moments.  So many kids nowadays if they have to wait for more then a minute start asking for an electronic device to play on.  Not these kids….they come up with some sort or game.  While waiting for a birthday party to start Olivia and Luis discovered some ball shaped dividers that looked like fun so they proceeded to zig zag running through them.  They invented a race where they had to do it a certain way one way then another on the way back.  This is the kind of thing that happens all the time.  Also all the games they come up with

Happy Birthday!!

are appropriate for the area and respectful of other people around them.  Usually children their age are fully self involved but not these kids.  They are so thoughtful and aware of others.  So speaking of Luis getting bigger he is also turing one year older!  His actual birthday is December 24 but we celebrated it early with all of his friends.  It was a fantastic day with huge jumpy houses, football matches and cake! The party was at a beautiful old finca (farmhouse) in Palma.  It was one of the most beautiful places I have seen.  Maxime and I wandered around the whole thing and found beautiful treasures everywhere.  There was a huge pond, a huge main house (Maxime said it looked like a hotel), another smaller house in the courtyard where the party was and a small orchard with oranges, mandarins, and lemons.  I kinda fell in love with it and wanted to live there.  Only bad bit was it was right near the motor way now which I am sure wasn't there when it was built.  All in all it was a fantastic day.  Luis had a blast

This is how we feel about cake…kinda excited!

which is all that really mattered.  December also brought about thoughts of Christmas.  This holiday would definitely be a different one for me considering it will be my first one away from my family and also we are going skiing so it will be spent in a hotel.  It shall be exciting I am sure however lets start with the holiday bit at home.  We all got in the Christmas spirit to start with by bringing in the Christmas music.  Since I am not in the states and there is no Thanksgiving I could start the Christmas music as early as I wanted.  Truth be told I started it before Thanksgiving!  There were many car rides to and from school with me and 3 kids singing jingle bells at the top of our lungs.  I feel as though we had it going basically anytime we

Christmas decorating!!!

could and were enjoying every minute of it.  Since we were not going to be in town for the holiday we didn't get a proper tree but we still decorated the house a bit and decorated a palm tree outside.  The kids and I did some fun crafts with wine corks creating christmas trees and wreaths.  We also made the classic paper chain with a count down.  Our count down was to our skiing trip though not to Christmas.  December also brought christmas shows at the kids schools.  With 3 kids and multiple activities this made for quite a few shows.  All were fun and the kids were so excited about each one.  Maxime and I even made here a cute skirt for one of hers.  She was quite proud to be wearing a one of a kind outfit for her show.  Along with the kids shows I ventured into downtown Palma a few nights for some christmas fun of my own.  I was able to attend the Nutcracker which I have never seen before and it was absolutely amazing.  It was even more special because one of my friends was playing in the orchestra.  I also just wandered around taking in all of the beautiful lights

Maxime in her Christmas show. 

that they have all over the downtown area.  They were really beautiful.  One evening the kids and I headed out on a christmas adventure.  It began with a bus ride into downtown which they love.  Next stop was dinner out which is also always a treat.  Final stop of the evening was a theater show…A Christmas Carol.  We got our tickets and took our seats.  The kiddos were so excited and ready for it to start however they had a bit of a shock when it did.  Olivia was fine but Luis had a bit of a fright with how loud it was.  There was a lot of discussions during it to make sure all were clear that it was pretend and the grumpy man wasn't really grumpy he was just pretending.  Olivia explained to Luis at one point that the big skeleton looking guy was just halloween so he didn't need to be scared.  I seriously love how these kids brains work.  By the end all was ok and Luis ended up loving it.  It was his first experience with the theater which I am sure can be a bit overwhelming for a little guy but I think he likes it now.  All in all the build up to the christmas holiday

has been great and.  We are preparing to head out to Austria for our skiing holiday which will be very a new experience for me but thats what all these adventures are for right!  Next time you hear from me I will be in the Austrian Alps having a very non-traditional christmas.
Much love and happy holidays to all of you near and far!

Have you missed me….

In case you forgot what I look like...

I know it has been months and I have left you all stranded with no new information on where my life has been going.  To be honest I feel like someone hit the fast forward button on life and just sped me through.  I am finally feeling like I have a few moments to breath.  After all the go go go I just want to stop, relax and just be for a while.  Since my life was in fast forward I will hit rewind for you then fast forward through it all so you can enjoy it the way I did…I will take you through it all as best as I can with as many photos as this thing will hold.  Even though it was quick it was all wonderful…Happy to have been there and happy to be where I am now.
And fast forward has been pushed…

It started back In London…One of my favorite views in Richmond

Spent some time on the SouthBank enjoying the sun...

And had dinner with Polly and Sel…such amazing friends!

Took a Jack the Ripper tour which was relatively boring except for the Rainbow

The Chard…up close…cool!

No trip is complete with out a selfie with this little man.

My birthday at Windsor Castle…felt like a queen!

Back to this San Diego view…Ladies night in my old hood!

Best Date…Doughnuts and these 2 little dudes!

Loved getting to see G play football like a champion!  Lucky to share in these moments!

Sunday night bike ride..Lee minus training wheels…growing up too fast!

Afternoon with this amazing lady…I'm so blessed!!!

Sac-town…a night and day of fun!

I was told by the little one who took this photo to give it some more crazy…hope I did ok!

Selfie time with these little cuties

Love these Girls…Amber, Becca and Julia (not pictured)  wonderful night…so grateful for you all!

Hometown Camping = Fun…Please note "Peggy" on the tree...

Because she got a make over…check out those lips!

Made a promise to help my parents to clean out the garage….led to an epic yard sale! 

Mum and I got to play some doubles together….coordinated outfits were a coincidence :)  

Just by chance I was in Redding for a wedding for my good friend…got to be fancy and...

...Silly with these beautiful ladies….can't believe how lucky I am to get do life with them!

Next stop…tourist in San Fran!

Walt Disney Museum…a must see for any disney fans!

Beer with Dad in Aliotos…So cool that my mom and g-pa used to come here when she was small.

A quick trip back to London…the poppies at the tower of London…Phenomenal!

Handmade and ceramic….beautiful!

Ad so that is where the holiday ended and I hopped a plane to head back to Mallorca.  I have been here  a few weeks now and am just starting to feel like a real person again.  This next chapter is going to be another exciting adventure and I am looking forward to seeing where it leads.  You can all look forward to hearing from me a bit more regularly now that I am in one spot for a bit.

Munich…history, a mad king, and beer

MarienPlatz and the glockenspiel

There is never enough time in any place I end up…I always leave wanting more.  I guess that's why I just have to keep going back.  After our week in Austria we headed back into Munich to hang out for a few days.  The kiddos went to stay with grandma and grandpa and Michael, Diana and I stayed in Michaels flat downtown.  I was basically on holiday since grandma and grandpa had the kids so I started planning a few things to do to tick off some more boxes on my "to do in Munich list"  Our first night I just needed a regroup night…did some washing, skyped with the family and just planned out the next few days.  One thing I have gone back and forth on doing is visiting a concentration camp.  I always have been torn on whether or not it would be a good thing for me to do but this time I finally decided that it was something a person can't fully grasp unless they experience it.  With the decision made I booked my self in on a tour for the next morning.  Michaels flat is in a prime location and I was able to walk to just about anywhere I needed.  I headed out towards MarienPlatz and met up with the tour group.  Now before I get into the actual tour I just have to say going on the tour made me really miss my new

Portrayal of death on the electric fence.  

place every few days travel time.  All the people on the tour were talking about all the places they had just come from and where they would be going next.  How many weeks they would be traveling for and how much they didn't want to go home.  Everyone was from different places and we all instantly started taking because that's just what you do when you are in that traveling mindset.  Especially if you are traveling alone.  It took me a few minutes to get back into that but I got there and it was great fun chatting with everyone.  Ok…back to the tour.  So it took some walking a train and a bus ride to get to Dachau concentration camp.  Upon our arrival I knew it would be a bit intense and when our guide started to talk I felt my self trying to really connect in to what it must have been like.  As he explained all the horrific stories and experiences these people had been through it just made me feel felt horrible.  Now Dachau was not a death camp technically.  It was more of a training camp for the SS and also a work camp however they did have a gas chamber and crematorium.  It is said it was used but not regularly and they have no idea how many people were actually killed in it.  Writing about it now and thinking that I walked in

Crematorium in Dachau

the same spot these poor people walked.  Placed my feet in the same room where they were tragically killed makes my heart ache.  The worst part about it for me is how open the Germans were about all these work camps and that people accepted that this is what they were.  Everything is the camps was run so orderly and intelligently.  Even from the way the death shower buildings were laid out.  Changing room where they were handed soap, next room gas chamber which had shower heads so people walked into their death voluntarily next room with outward opening doors (because if they were inward opening they couldn't get them open because of the dead bodies of all the people trying to escape) next room crematorium for immediate disposal.  Other people in the camp would have no idea what was going on.  It is such a truly sad part of history that you can't wrap your mind around with out experiencing.  I also learned on this tour that the German government has been talking about destroying all of the remaining camps.  I can understand their desire to wipe the slate clean so to speak and get rid of all evidence that this ever happened but I don't agree with it.  I have heard people argue that maintaining them is

Roll call At Dachau painted by a someone who was there

supporting what happened.  I understand where people are coming from with that but completely disagree.  What we learn in history books can not even compare to what you learn when you experience this horrific piece of history.  Destroying it would be taking a teaching tool away from people.  I know after seeing this combined with my experience in Nuremberg and Anne Franks house I will never be the same and have a new level of understanding and pain for what these people went through.  I also think about how hard it must be for Germans who are living with the fact that this is a part of their history but we

Drink big beers…it's just what you do in Germany

all have black marks on our chart…every country…none of us are perfect and we just have to learn from the past and not repeat it.
Now remember how I told you I was on the tour with a bunch or travelers well there happened to be a group of OC girls who I got on with and we ended up doing dinner and drinks that night.  Ended up being a super fun night involving a lot of really big beers and some random people from Arizona.  There were also some really big pretzels…not quite as big as the ones Kelsey and I had while we were there, which were the size of our face literally, but still good. It was a super fun night out and much needed.  The next day was a lazy day hanging out with Diana and going to a few towns in the area and also I was missing the kiddos a little so went with her to visit them which was nice.  In the evening I joined Michael and Diana for dinner with a few of their friends.  It was a really nice evening.  Tons of languages happening at the table though.  We were at a french restaurant so there was some french happening along with the German and English.  It was all I could do to keep up.  I truly enjoy it all though.  I love being surrounded by it all.  I have gotten so

A foggy day just added to the mystery of this castle

used to sitting at a table and just taking in all the conversations and working out what is being said.  I know eventually I will be joining in the conversations…baby steps.  My next tour I decided to take was ticking another box on my to do list.  I took a visit to the Neuschwanstein castle… or fairy tale castle as it is also known.  Unfortunately it was a rainy foggy day but it was still impressive.  Before I get to the castle bit I again had a cool experience with one of the people on the tour.  I ended up sitting on the train with a girl who was just out of the Peace Core.  I mean literally just out a few weeks.

Felt a little like I was at Disneyland

She had been living in Mozabique Africa with no running water, closest shop was 70 miles away and she was the only one who spoke english in her small town.  Gave me a whole new perspective on feeling lonely.  I know everyones situations are different and all our feelings are valid but I could not imagine what the last 2 years had been like for her and then to be thrown back into mainstream culture.  I know I went through culture shock my first time back to the states because I felt like a different person…she will have it times 100.  Anyway, it was a cool meeting and fun to let her talk all about everything she had been through because I don't think she had been able to do that and be really honest about how she was

Yep…walked on that bridge…crazy high!

feeling.  We kinda buddied up and cruised through the castle together.  It was such fun. Ok…back to the castle…So the story goes that mad King Ludwig had this castle designed in a very theatrical style and wanted it very elaborate however he had no intention of sharing it with anyone.  He was a bit of a recluse and lived only in the front bit of the castle.  He would not even let his servants look at him in the eyes.  We did get to walk through the castle which unfortunately was only 1/3 finished because Ludwig died before it was completed.  everything was beautiful and eclectic but made sense.  The room that got me the most was his theater.  He had a banquet style room made with a stage at one end which was gorgeous however we were told that he had no intention of ever putting on a play there.  He just wanted a stage.  I personally thing he would go in there and put on his own plays for himself but that's just my thoughts.  After we finished out walk through the castle we headed up to the view point bridge.  This bridge was crazy high and the planks were wobbly.  Well worth it for the view I got.  Even though it was rainy and foggy it was still beautiful.  So the castle was my last stop on my Munich adventure..

View from the crazy high bridge

The next morning we packed up.  Diana was taking the kids to her parents house for a visit and I was headed off to my next stop on my adventure…London here I come!  Stay tuned for my crazy times in London in the next post.  

Austria…a little slice of heaven and a lot of cows

So the green book isn't traveling with me this time.  I have left it safe and sound back in our new home in Spain.  Yes you heard that correctly we have a new house in Spain.  I will back up the story a bit so you can get the full bit of how this holiday began.    Due to a bunch of stuff I will not go into we ended up needing to move house in 2 weeks.  No big deal…at least for me since I had done the shut down your current life, pack it all up and move out in 2 weeks once before so I was ready for it.  It meant some extra time with the kids so Diana could look at houses but I wasn't bothered.  We ended up finding something and had it all situated and

House in the hills…and a couple of hammocks.

moved into the day before we left on holiday.  Good thing we did because our holiday started out a bit rocky.  I will give you the short version…Arrive at the airport (3 kids, 2 adults, 3 checked backs and 5 carry ons) Check in and proceed to the boarding area.  10 minute flight delay…no big deal.  Flight cancelled…really big deal!  Running around the airport trying to rebook but doesn't work.  In the end so grateful we moved in to our new house.  We got a flight for the next morning so we had to head back to our new home.  Nothing was set up so we slept on mattresses on the floor but, we had enough food in the fridge to create

Water straight from the earth…amazing!!!

 a dinner and a bottle of good red wine so we made it through.  Luckily everything went great with our flight the next morning and we arrived in Munich and got picked up by grandma and grandpa.  There was one other thing that had started…I was feeling a bit ill but didn't really know what was going on.  I explained it to Diana and she said oh dear….Now this might be too much info for some of you but I feel I need to add it for you all to understand how rough the start to our holiday was….What I had explained to her was a horrible bladder infection.  Anyone who has had one knows that the worst thing you could have to do is

The flowers and mountains were gorgeous

travel long amounts of time in a car.  Thank goodness for German pharmacies with amazing over the counter meds.  They did the trick and we were on our way…well for a bit we were on our way.  We stopped quickly for Luis to use the toilet and when I got out of the car the tire was smoking and smelled horrible.  All Diana and I could do was laugh.  The smoking tire led to another hour of waiting for the repair guy and figuring out rental cars.  We finally got back on the road at about 10pm.  Thankfully that was the last issue and we arrived at the house in the Alps and went straight to bed.  All of us slept in and the next day.  Waking up and walking out into the gorgeous sunshine in this amazing setting all was forgotten about how we got there.  We were all so joyful!  This place is exactly how you would imagine a mountain house to be.  There are 2 houses right next to each other which are rustic and cozy.  Inside there are low ceilings with huge wooden beams with dates carved into them.  It has been decorated in the perfect eclectic manner and is so charming.  I fell in love with it immediately.  Beate and Tomi are the most amazing hosts also.  I felt immediately at home and relaxed.  We worked out

Laying out by the lake while the cows roam around us.

sleeping arrangements which was Oliva and I sharing a bed and Luis and Maxime sharing having an adjoining door with us.  I had been promising Oliva she could have a sleep over with me for a while so I guess we have that crossed off the wish list now.  After rooms were situated the kids started to get a feel for the area and were really enjoying it.  The beauty of this place is that they can explore with out any worry.  It was nice to just be able to let them run, jump, play and just do as they pleased….with in reason of course.  Let's be honest I still need a bit of structure and boundaries.  It was just really nice watching them not worry about

Gondola up the slopes…no skiing but lots of fun still

 anything and just be kids.  Another treat about this trip was our friends who had come to visit us in Mallorca were joining us.  Yep that's right there would be a total of 6 kids and 7 adults.  In my mind not a bad ratio…it's rare lately that the adults out number the kids.  When they arrived it was like no time had passed.  The kids picked up right where they left off.  They just paired off and started playing.  One of our days we took off and went to a local lake.  It was quite an experience.  I have never been to a lake where you lay out and there are cows just wandering around next to you.  Warning…watch where you lay your towel

Hiking to find treasure

out..cow pies everywhere!  It really was crazy.  They were so close I could stroke them (if I chose to which I did not) as I walked by them.  It was a nice sunny day and we all lazed around on the shore or in the water till the kiddos got hungry and we went to lunch.  At lunch there was a lovely treat of a yodeler…I felt a bit like I was on a Ricola commercial.  It was fun to experience though. One of our other adventures was a bit of a drive away but worth it.  We went to visit one of Diana's friends who was also holidaying over here with her family.  We met them at the top of the mountain after a lovely gondola ride.  The views everywhere we go are so beautiful.  I really just could't stop looking around and taking photos.  At the top of the hill we had quick lunch during a rain storm but the clouds parted and the sun came out once we were finished with lunch.  Then it was off on an adventure treasure hunt.  The top of the mountain was set up like an adventure land for kids.  The hike we went on had loads of little activities and questions along the way that the kids had to get the right answer to or complete to move on to the next one.  As we walked there were amazing views every step of the way.  We had such fun.  At the

Just having a good time.

end of the hike there was this cool obstacle course that the kids played on for quite a long time.  Along the way there also were such fun little things for us to stop at.  The ladies posed in a boat as green men for me.  My favorite thing was this really cool chair carved on the top of a tree stump.  It was actually still connected to the tree stump and carved out of the top bit.  It was the perfect size for Olivia and she loved sitting in it.  After our mountain adventure we had dinner with our friends at their place.  When we showed up at the place I thought the house had a very interesting shape with a big rounded top floor that stuck out in a

A chair in the woods…just her size.

 way I wouldn't have thought that a house would be made.  I just figured that some architect had got super creative.  Turns out that it actually used to be the ski chair house.  The place where the ski chairs would pick up and drop people off at.  When I heard that I was so impressed.  How great that someone would save such a great building and turn it into an interesting unique house.  We had a lovely day and a late drive home but it was all worth it.  While there we did a few hikes which were also spectacular.  The first we literally could have left straight from the house to walk up the hill but with the kiddos felt like we should drive the first bit.  I was so impressed with all the kids.  They were troopers and even Olivia at 3 years old was making it up the hill.  She was making it up bits that even I stumbled on a bit.  My favorite hike we did was a glacier hike.  Well not ice glacier but the stones had been shaped when the glacier moved through.  As we climbed higher and higher the view just got better and better.  I couldn't believe it.  I kept stopping and taking photos all the way up.  Here are couple of them..

Playing some football on a glacier rock before the hike.

The crew starting out on the hike

Vaca Lola alone on the hill

Just a little show

Now no trip with these kids would ever be complete with out some sort of performance.  They created this whole choreographed production and even served drinks and snacks after the show.  It was really sweet.  At the setting for the show wasn't too bad either.  This is just one example of how this kids played together.  They were constantly either making up games, playing in the water trough or fountain, sweeping away slugs or swinging in the 2 hammocks (3 kids per hammock of course).  It was such fun to watch.  It was such a great time but flew by too quickly.  I was so sad when sunday came and we had to leave.  I was so grateful for an amazing trip with wonderful people.  I miss the great adult evenings with some phenomenal food and great conversation.  Walking barefoot through a meadow to find huge wild mushrooms and hiking through the forest.  I only hope I will get to experience this lovely spot again.  I was looking forward to the next stop on the holiday though…Munich.  So excited to get to spend more time there then I did last time.  Munich blog to come…stay tuned.