A fairytale holiday….

Have you ever had one of those moments where you have to have to keep pinching yourself because you feel like you might be dreaming?  Let's just say there might be some bruising on my arm from all the pinching I had to do on this amazing holiday I went on.  Even as I get ready to write this I can't help but smile remembering all the moments….each better then the last.  Oh, I guess before I tell you the story I should at least give you a brief introduction to what I am about to describe…in short this adventure includes football (not american) skiing, after ski partys, bogganing (I will explain later) and a dog.  It began with a early morning plane flight to Munich with 3

Flying into Germany

amazing children and their wonderful mom.  All I have to say is thank God for these 3 fantastic little travelers.  They had packed their trunki's with games and books the night before, woke up early, had breakfast with out a fuss and we all headed out the door on time with everything we needed for a week of skiing.  In my book that was a huge success, also if it was any indication of how the day would go I was ready for it….bring on the travel.  Check in was easy, flight was a bit delayed but these creative kids had no problem finding games to play, or things to look at to keep themselves happy.  There was some serious games of Sequence played...thank you Torres family for introducing me to this game.  Once we were on the plane it was

Proper football match…Go 1860!!!

smooth sailing.  Arrival and luggage was a breeze and Michael and his parents were there to pick us up.  We all piled in the car and headed off for the first part of the trip which I was super excited about….My first proper football match!  Michael had tickets to the game so we all went and got to watch 1860 (the team of choice in this household) play.  It was such a good time.  The stadium was huge and the fans were great.  It was quite fun watching.  I love anything live and football is no exception.  I am amazed at the footwork this guys have.  Pinch number one for me….something I have wanted to do since my first time over here

View from my room…just like page in a storybook. 

finally checked off the list.  After the match we all piled in the car and took off for the ski resort in Austria.  Another first for me since I have never been to Austria.  The drive was beautiful.  Winding our way through little villages felt like flipping the pages of storybooks.  When we finally arrived at our hotel I was just in awe.  All I could do was smile and say "Are you kidding me…is this place for real?"  The kids were laughing and saying "What Sara…this is skiing?"  Totally just a normal sight for them but completely amazing for me.  Pinch me again because there is no way I am really getting to do this!  We checked into the hotel and

Early risers checking out the morning view.

settled into our rooms.  The kids and I had an amazing room with a beautiful view…and lets not forget to mention the jacuzzi tub in my bedroom.  Heaven on Earth.  Let the holiday begin!  The first morning all three kiddos woke early very excited.  The came into my room, pulled back the curtains and said "Were going skiing there!"  There morning was a blur of breakfast, bindings and babies (or little kids) on skis.  Mimi was off like a pro with her parents, Luis headed to ski school and Olivia very cautiously attended her first ski class.  I dropped her off and she  seemed ok but then she wasn't.  When I came back to get her she had fallen asleep in a big inter tube…I guess it's hard work just

Ski baby…first time!

  wearing all the ski clothing and trying to walk in the boots. We got her to go to the class and try again the next day but the group lessons just were not her thing.  She loved trying out her skis with us though.  The most amazing part about our hotel was the ski in ski out factor.  We could basically skip up to the gate of our hotel, pop our skis off and go inside.  It was amazing.  This also made it easy for us to use the small hill in front of the hotel to practice with Olivia.  The second best part was that it was a kinder hotel.  That means kinder care all day.  Amazing!!!  Once Olivia chose not to ski in ski school she went in Kinder care and I got to rent some skis and throw myself down the hill.  Just to clarify here…I have not been on skis in at least 20 years if not more.  I have attempted snowboarding over the last few years (painful and embarrassing memories) but not skiing.  I wasn't sure if it would come right back but was hoping it would.  Michael and Maxime took me on the slope the first time and were excellent teachers.  After my first couple of runs I felt like I was getting it back and it would be great.  I spent one whole day (after dropping kiddos at their classes) just doing

Proof I was back on skis….loved every minute.

run after run after run until I felt like I was finally comfortable on my skis.  Everytime I was up at the top was a pinch me moment…couldn't believe this was what I was getting to do.  Never would have done it on my own but now that I have can't wait to do it again. I also had some time on the other days to ski with Michael, Diana, and Maxime (once I got a bit better).  I loved skiing with Mimi (Maxime) and letting her be my teacher.  She was really great at it.  I would really crack up when I would hear my words that I say to her all the time coming back at my while she was teaching me.  I think my favorite was " Come on little

After Ski Party…like nothing I have experienced!

monkey you can do it!"  She was so patient with me though and really did a great job explaining what I needed to do and why.  Between her explanations and Michaels exercises I had to practice I was improving minute by minute and really starting to fall in love with the slopes.  Now as the day on the slopes draws to a close the time in the after ski area begins.  I have heard about these ski parties but never experienced them.  Man have I been missing out for all these years.  You basically ski up, pop of your skis, grab a stool if you can find one, get a drink and the ski party begins.  There is a DJ playing music (all sorts of different

It's hard work building a snowman

   languages...dutch, german etc…) and people are just having a great time.  The ski instructors are the best to watch.  These 20 somethings are here to teach during the day and party all night.  They were literally still in ski boots, pushing tables together, hopping on top of them and dancing like no one was watching.  Oh to be 20  again…just kidding…no thank you!  The evenings were just as fun as the days.  I have to say one of my favorite comments of the week was by Luis.  One afternoon after I had picked him up from ski school he grabbed my hand, looked up at me and said " Sara, let's go get a drink!"  Yes please Luis…have I mentioned that I adore this kid.  He just cracks me up.  We proceeded to go meet his parents where he got a hot chocolate, I got a Gluhwein (amazing by the way)  and we did some dance moves together.  Pinch me again…this can't be real.  The trip flew by way to fast.  We skied, built snowmen, went bogganing (luis's version of tobogganing) , drank wine, took in amazing views, met some new friends and just enjoyed every minute.  I seriously could go on and on about every tiny detail about everyday of this

Early ski morning = pure joy!

trip but I will leave you with one last story.  Above I mentioned a dog and here is the story to go with it.  The hotel we were in had a lovely dog called Hexi who was kinda like the hotel mascot.  All the kids loved Hexi and would pet her and love her.  Well all except Luis. He has a bit of a fear of dogs and will run miles out of the way to not be near them so this dog who was right in his path to get to the stairs to get to his room was a problem.  Upon our arrival and realizing there was this dog Luis and I had a chat about it and he told me "Sara, I will pet Hexi at the end of the week." Each day he seemed to get a bit more comfortable with this dog being closer and closer into his space.  There were no more tears if it was close and just a small hop out of the way.  On the morning we were checking out Maxime and Olivia were saying good by to Hexi and the next thing I knew Luis was walking over to the dog and petting her on the back.  Diana and I were floored and started snapping photos and videos.  Such a huge moment!  Hexi was the turing point for Luis with dogs and he now isn't really bothered by them.  He still doesn't want to hang out with them but there isn't that fear there.  Thank you Hexi!  And on that note I will leave you…the most amazing holiday….can't wait for next year!

Spain has begun….

After 24 hours (literally no exaggeration) of travel I land back on the island of Mallorca and hit the ground running.  School run to pick up the kids, with some help from a friendly driver since after basically no sleep in 2 days I was not fit to drive, and back home to hang out.  It was great to be reunited with this lovely family and dive right back into life here.  At this point I will pause for a moment of truth about the passing of 2 months between my blog posts.  Since returning I have felt at home but also unsure of how to really communicate the feeling in a way that makes sense.  It has been the hardest of all the blogs to write.  Today I literally had to force myself to sit down and just type to see what came out.  I believe there are a few factors that are playing into my difficulties and confusion, first I have been trying to integrate into life here and come up with a schedule and routine.  That has been happening

Flying away to a new start

slowly and I love all the parts of it but getting into a routine of everyday life is very different then the life I have been living for the past couple of years.  The reality of that lead me to be a bit disappointed thinking that my days as a jet setter were behind me and I would no longer have amazing and interesting things to write.  The domino effect of these thoughts continued and the blog got left to the side until I could work it all out.  I am not saying that by writing this blog I have figured it all out but, I am realizing that I was allowing myself to close my eyes to what was around me by putting on the daily life blinders.  The last weeks or so the blinders are slowly pulling back and I am pushing to find the experiences in everyday life that will continue to make this journey a true adventure still.  In a way I suppose this is a new start to my incredible new life over here in beautiful Spain.  With all that said let me try and catch you up on what has been going on around this place.  Like I mentioned travel was great…thanks for all the prayers!  We were all excited to see each other.  Papa noel left a gift for me which the kids were very excited to pass along.  It was the perfect thing for

Good fun or a law suit waiting to happen?

me too…a new padel bag so I now look legit when I show up for my games each day.  I passed along some little things to the kiddos also…Christmas in January is always fun.
Now remember how I was saying I wanted to try and find bits of adventure in everyday life…well here is one.  Large mobile stuffed animals that kids can ride and drive.  I have never been more anxious and scared for the well being of everyone in a 15ft radios in all my life. Here is how it works…you place your small child on top of the animal of their choice, pop in a couple of euros and they are off when they press the gas pedal.  Yep that's right there is a gas pedal.  Let me tell you these things can move too.  I had to do a very quick walk/run to keep up.  Forget about being able to warn un suspecting shoppers that a pink donkey is about to run them down…just pray your kid can release the pedal in time.  Parents..how many of your kids would be able to do that?  It was like nothing I had ever seen before.  I was laughing and

My 90 minutes of hot sweaty bliss.

crying and shouting warnings the entire time.  10 minutes felt like an eternity and I was grateful the only casualty when it was over was my heel being slammed into by a short stop of the pink donkey.  Everyday life adventure…not the same as a tour of a castle but man it was funny.
One really great thing about being back here also is my lifestyle.  The family here is super sporty which I love and we encourage each other to stay fit and try new stuff.  I have gotten back into my yoga routine here which has been amazing for me.  I know it sounds silly but it really just brings me peace.  I talked Diana and Michel into trying it too.  Diana went with me the other day.  It is so fun to have people to share the things I love with.  I am still heavy into the padel playing. It has got a bit competitive here in the household too.  We have a chart where we have to write down our wins

My little skipper

and losses each day.  Nothing like a little accountability to make you concentrate more.  The kids also do their fare share of sport but the most recent one to really get going in the house is a bit of rope skipping.  Most of you know all about my passion for the sport so I am passing it on.  Maxime has really taken to it.  She is the same age I was when I started jumping.  It is such fun watching her get better and better right before my eyes.  We have started the same competition that my Dad did with me when I started. He stuck a 5 dollar bill up on our cork board and said when you can do 500 jumps in a row it's yours.  I am doing the same with Maxime (except euros of course)  So far she is up to 79 but is determined.  In just one weekend she went from only being able to do double bounces to getting over 50 single bounces in a row.  Those of you who jump or have attempted it know that is a big deal.  I am so proud of her and her determination.  She is such a little super star.  Can't wait till we can start doing our work outs together.  I have a feeling it won't be long.
In the midst of all this getting fit and running down

Relaxing and studying/sketching

shoppers in the mall I am also trying to learn languages.  Yep that's right I said languages.  There are 2 additional ones spoken here in the house besides english.  The first on my priority list is Spanish.  I have enrolled in a class at the kids school.  Don't worry it's an adult one I am not crashing the kindergarden spanish course, although that wouldn't be such a bad plan either. It is going to be really helpful plus Maxime has now declared one day a week spanish only day.  We shall see how that works out.  I am also attempting to learn as much German as I can since they also speak that.  Now German is going to be really tricky to speak however I am starting to understand.   It is actually kinda scary how the brain works.  With out me even realizing my brain is understanding.  I have found my self answering questions that are being asked in German.  I answer in English of course but I truly don't know how I understood.  I guess I am proof that just being immersed in a language can provide understanding without much effort.  Of course I am going to really have to put work in to get to a true working level with the language but I think I am off to a good start.  In between

Love, innocence, pure joy….Life!

 languages I also have begun to form a concept for a small collection of designs and the sketching has begun.  I am excited to spend a bit more time on it this coming month and maybe get a few pieces completed.
All in all life is good.  I am happy, healthy and enjoying all that has been placed before me.  I am learning how to create an new life here while pulling pieces from my old life back in to create a balanced level of comfort and challenge.
Next to my bed I have my favorite childhood photo of my brother and I.  I look at it each night when I turn out my light and it makes me smile.  My little piece of home and a great reminder of love, innocence and pure joy.  All things I strive to maintain but can be lost when we put our blinders on.