Ice.

Ice Castles and ice holes (the fishing kind), we visited them both this week--trying to keep busy this winter.  The ice castles moved to the city center this year--we missed having them next door, but this location is bigger.  We went at night and had fun trying to keep warm while we explored the tunnels, caves, and icicles.  With the illumination these castles look pretty neat at night--perfect for my princesses.

Ice fishing on the lake looks pretty cold and boring to me, but we decided to check it out on a sunny day.  The girls loved throwing snow and chunks of ice into the holes.  The ice was about a foot thick but it still made me nervous.  Stella could have easily fit into a hole--but in the end it was Presley who made the mistake of turning around and stepping right into one!  Chris and I were inches from her and puller her right up--soaked from her toes to her bottom on the right side--brrrrr.  A good lesson for all in paying attention.

Dancer.

There is NO question that Presley is a dancer. She dances everywhere--even on the soccer field. So, this semester she is signed up for Preparatory Ballet. I am sure she will fit right in!  Loving the pink tights, pink leather ballet slippers, and pink leotard--we have lots of pink.

Do you think she is excited??

Cabin Fever.

Ugg, January.  This means four to five more months of cold, snowy, winter ahead . . . we might make it.  Especially if we have our fun friends take us to their cabin in the woods (even though we live in those woods, we don't have all the fun things or cool people to play with).


Presley on the mini-snowmobile.  Thanks for all the rides Caitlyn!

Stella sledding--not sure if she likes going too fast yet.

So much fun--kids sleeping on the floor all piled together, warm fires, good food, sleds, snowmobiles, and lots of snow!  Thanks!

Brrrrr, photoshoot.

I had to get a photoshoot in with my sister while she was in town--too bad it had to be 12 degrees outside with 4 feet of fresh snow. I should have splurged on fancy winter coats for the girls.

I love them--what a talented, wonderful sister--and cute kids to0!

Holidays.

Lots of family, lots of Santa, too much food (sweets mostly) . . . . and I didn't take enough pictures! Perhaps my sister will send me a few, please?





What a fun season with all my mom and dad, sisters and brothers, their kids, my all in-laws too--thank you for everything!

Gingerbread.

Presley's preschool class made a gingerbread house for the local Children's Justice Center fundraiser. People submit all kinds (and skill levels) of gingerbread houses and on-lookers get to bid on purchasing them. There are awards for different categories--and Presley's class won second place in the children's category!



Presley was so excited to make the gingerbread house and show me all parts she helped decorate. This weekend we are going to attempt a gingerbread house of our own . . .

Madrid, Spain.

Back in Madrid and we still had so much to do and see. The palace, museums, plazas, shopping . . . we definitely kept busy.


My photos did not do justice to the hotel we stayed at in Madrid. Hotel Silken Puerta America. This hotel has 13 floors, each designed by a different designer from around the world. Our room was pretty nice and sleek compared to some of the more crazy designs (think mirrored surfaces, lit floors, crazy colors, and wild angles).


Chris outside the Reina Sofia (Spain's modern art museum). It was a Sunday morning and they were offering free tickets to get in--and we were lucky to be there early (the line was sooooo long by the time we came out). Works by modern Spanish artists Dali, Picasso, and Miro are the main attractions--most visited is probably Picasso's Guernica, definitely impressive!


As we left the museum and after we got a quick bite to eat we happened to run into a parade of farm animals and dancers coming down the main street from the Plaza del Sol.


Last but not least--my most favorite thing to eat in Spain. NAPOLITANAS de CHOCOLATE. The best were from La Mallorquina at Plaza del Sol, however I had plenty of yummy napolitanas from small shops at the train station or around town. Mmmmmmm, thank goodness for all the walking around the city, I seriously had at least two a day.

Segovia, Spain.

Brrrr! Yes, now it is freezing and I was unprepared. It even snowed in the mountains north of Madrid outside of Segovia. When we got into town the first order of business was buying me a pair of suitable boots to keep me warm and dry. The wind and cold temperatures made for a wet, soggy day.


Chris at the aquaduct built by the Romans nearly 2,000 years ago while they occupied Spain.


More of the aquaduct.


The Cathedral in Segovia was built in the 16th century. Though all these places are set up as tourist destinations it is nice to know that the locals get to use it (as they have for centuries) as their place of worship.


This door is inside the Alcazar de Segovia, a fortress built in the 1300's. Inside were several full knight and horse armour on display. And the view from the top is fantastic (just look below)!


This view from the top of the fortress looks on to the Cathedral, city, and mountains beyond. Kind of pretty, despite the cold and snow!

Toledo, Spain.

Toledo is a small town south of Madrid and the old city is up on a hill and reminded me quite a bit of Venice, Italy--minus the water canals. We had our best meal of Spanish tortilla (eggs, potatoes, and onions) and chorizo here in a small, one-man cafe.


Just a view of the city streets as we walked around.


Just on the other side of this Cathedral we a beautiful couple getting married. The bride was on a balcony with her family getting photos with the tower in the back ground.


I have a thing for old, heavy, detailed doors in old places. I love the old steps leading to the door with the grass growing through out the stones.


Me at the city wall. You can't see it but way below me is a big river.


Chris at the city wall.

Barcelona, Spain.

After a hop, skip, and a jump (two planes, one train), we ended up in Barcelona for the first part of our trip. The weather was sunny and crisp--cooler than I would have wanted, but better than the weather for the rest of the trip.


The plaza at Las Ramblas. I love all the mini city centers located in each "neighborhood". I cannot even begin to tell you the number of tourists everywhere, even this late in the fall.


A cathedral just off the main street at Las Ramblas. This was a courtyard--beautiful with the ducks and fountain.


The Summer 1992 Olympic Games were hosted in Barcelona. This is the tower built to broadcast the televised games. It represents an athlete holding the Olympic torch.


A part of the Palace at la Plaza de Espana. We stayed in the plaza at the Hotel de Catalonia and this along with the Barcelona Olympic facilities, a botanical gardens, and other sites were within walking distance.


La Sagrada Familia. Such a visually interesting building--so many styles including Vegas-style signage on one side--a work in progress.


The Fall of Christ facade at La Sagrada Familia. This cathedral is still under construction and is not finished, even though the project started in the early 1880's with Antoni Gaudi--the Pope visited the weekend after we were there. We also stopped to see a few other works that Gaudi had created around Barcelona--wild stuff.


Torre Agbar. This is a business tower built by a French architect. You should see it lit up at night--blue and red glowing LED. It looks out of place to me, but I am no architect or designer!