So here is a picture overload of our 2nd day in Madrid. We had a great time with all of the beautiful buildings and interesting "acts" all around the city. In the streets and plazas, people would dress up in very interesting costumes to make some extra money. We saw disney characters handing out balloons, a couple covering themselves with clay, people would be painted like they were statues and stand there and not even blink, and much much more. I can't describe them all. If you stop and look you are sort of obligated to put some coins in their cans. We learned the hard way and even had one swear at us and give us a, not so nice, American gesture because we didn't pay up after stopping and taking a picture.
This is the guy below that got mad. He's sitting in a chair under the red plaid part and using his arms to play.
We are so lucky to have had our friends, Javier and Beatriz visiting their family in Madrid the same week we went. They were so helpful and we got to have a lot of fun with them too. The first day we were there, they took all of the boys for us so Nick and I could go to the Madrid temple. As always it was absolutely beautiful and we could really feel the spirit.
Nick is going to kill me for putting this picture in but I couldn't resist. He has a history of putting out his arms like that in many of his pictures (unconsciously) showing his love for where he is. I pointed it out to him a while ago and since he's made an effort to not do it. I didn't mean for him to stop- it's one of those great things about him. It shows his passionate personality. So here he was joking and I snapped it quick. Sorry, Nick, but I love it.
After the temple, we went back to Beatriz's brother's house where our boys were playing with their daughter Lucia and her cousins, Paula and David. Then we all headed into the city to this beautiful park. It's kind of like their Central Park. We fed the pigeons, played on the swings, and went on a boat ride around the lake.
This is how the long drive to Madrid worked for us. I sat in the back to break up the boys and to be able to attend to the babies. It was probably why we made it at all. I could hand out the food, set up the movies, and sing the silly songs.
This is how Tanner started out and I thought we were in for it for the whole time. It didn't last long and both babies did a great job.
This is the view from where we stopped to eat and give them a break to run around. The drive was beautiful with the green hills and random castle ruins. I think I counted around ten castles on the way.
Caden and Max ordered hamburgers. They got this baguette bread with a piece of ham on it. Interesting. We do love the bread. One of our favorite things we've found here in the Spanish restaurants, are bocadillos or montaditos (sandwiches). They are on this fresh baguette bread with yummy ham and cheese. But, Hamburgers?
It took us 7 hours but the city was worth it. That's coming up in the next post.
We made it! It was an awesome city and the kids did their very best to make it a successful trip. It did feel like a juggling act with the babies but they put up with a lot and we are glad we did it. They are troopers. Lots more pictures and videos to come but here's a start.
We are going on our first long road trip with our five boys. Tomorrow we are headed up to MADRID! I am really excited to see such a cool city but am dreading the seven hour drive with the crew. It could get very interesting. This is a very much needed vacation. We have all been so sick. And since twins share everything, both babies got it. Tanner first, then Spencer. Cough, fever, snotty noses, and both got ear infections. Jake and I both had it too. So, we are ready to get out and see something other than our sick infested house. I need to go pack now so please wish us luck and we'll let you know all about it when we return.
Random pictures:
Jake loves to use his imagination and doesn't care what he looks like while doing it. I don't know what he was playing but he parted his hair down the middle, put on Harry Potter glasses, ran around in his jeans and no shirt while shooting a storm trooper gun. I love this kid.
This is proof of the misery we've been going through. Poor Spencer. I was constantly wiping and sucking out his nose but I couldn't keep up with it. That's a mosquito bite. They love his cheeks as much as I do.
Here are a couple of videos we hadn't gotten around to putting up. The first one is about 2 minutes long and the others are less than a minute (we know you're in a hurry). Enjoy.
This first one is a clip of Carnaval. The kids had the opportunity to participate in the "cabalgata" with their school. It was like Mardi Gras for kids. Big party and big fun. I tried to capture the excitement in the video but of course it could never do it justice. Ironically enough, you'll see Jake falls asleep while riding on the float. He leads a rough life and it must be tiring.
Spencer loves to spend his time in his bouncy chair. He gets so excited that it seems like he is going to launch himself out of it. Also, his footwork is pretty impressive.
Max was absolutely determined to take out his tooth (because the neighbor lost his). I tried to get it out but told him that it wasn't quite ready. What do I know? He was determined...and proud. Jake thought it was pretty sweet too.
Finally, for those who care to experience the little moments in the twins lives, you witness Spencer's first roll-over below.
My first baby boy turned 10! He has a two digit number for his age. Oh, we love this kid so much. We couldn't ask for a better boy to be the oldest of five. He is so much fun and helps us with so many, many things.
Caden LOVES:
his brothers
to eat, eat, and eat some more
NBA.com
basketball
soccer
baseball
football
kickball
(basically anything involves a ball and running)
star wars
Harry Potter
computers
watching movies
speaking spanish with his dad, brothers, and friends at his spanish school
playing secret spy and having "wars" with the neighbor boys
to read ( he's on the third Harry Potter in spanish)
and did I mention he likes to eat?
Caden wanted a "Foosball" cake.
This is the best I could do. We had a small group over for pizza, cake and a movie. He got a lot of Legos which is perfect. They are way into that right now. He also got a storm trooper blaster gun, Harry Potter costume, secret spy kit brief case full of gear for a secret mission, and a kids world atlas book. He was so excited and grateful for it all.
Why do they have to grow up so fast? I love these babies and all of the cute things they are doing.
Spencer:
He's always smiling and giggling at everyone.
He loves to bounce in the bouncy all day.
He loves to grab his feet and suck his toes.
He spits all day long. Like real spitting. Big, loud, and wet. The boys nicknamed him "Spitzer"
He swings one arm like he's doing the "Sprinkler Dance"
So good and only makes a little peep when he needs something.
Tanner:
Has a great belly laugh when tickled.
Uses both hands to grab my face and suck my cheek.
Loves to roll to his tummy, to back, then tummy again.
Loves to play with the play table. He get so excited to see the toys.
Smiles while I sing him songs. ( Ignores my voice )
His eyes are so big that he always looks surprised.
The sleeping situation is getting much better. I have gotten them on a schedule together and everyone is much more happy now. I only have to get up 3 times at night compared to the 6-8. Next hurdle is to get both of them to sleep all night long. Hopefully soon!
Our house is pretty crazy. I've reached that delirious stage I've always gotten to with all of my boys. I've gone almost 10 months with hardly any sleep between being pregnant with the twins and since they've been born. So during the day, I feel like a walking zombie.
Confession: In all of the twin books it says when one baby wakes up to eat, you need to wake up the other one too. The purpose of course being so they will be on the same schedule, making life a little easier, getting up only half of the time. Well, easier said than done. I have tried but I HATE waking a sleeping baby. They are usually on the same schedule during the day, but at night, they like to trade off. That means I get up 3-4 times with each baby making it a total of 6-8. It usually works out that once I get one down it's a matter of 30 to 40 minutes later, that the other one wakes up. I know everyone will think I'm crazy but it really is harder than you would think. Those of you that have twins and have succeeded, I'm proud and jealous. Anyway, that's what I have been doing. But being a zombie all day isn't very fun so I'm going for it. I am going to change our sleeping patterns around here. I'll keep you posted.
Of course that's just one part of our crazy lives. With the older boys, its school, homework, sports, chores, etc. Don't worry, I won't bore you with that for now. Enough of that, here's the fun stuff we are experiencing.
The name of my street where I grew up is called "Sunset Drive". From my parents house you could see the most beautiful sunsets around. Hence the name. I have always loved seeing the colors in the sky and have been lucky to live in beautiful places to see them over mountains and at the beaches. This is a picture of a Spanish sunrise from our top balcony . My boys probably get sick of me always telling them to look at the sky but it's just one of my things.
This is our Jake. He couldn't be more of a typical 4 year old boy. Most of the time, his attitude is cute but he can definitely be more of a stinker than he should. Anyway, this is a little clip of our conversation the other day.
We know we put a lot of videos on here and that some of you might be bored with them. But we want to share some of these moments with family and friends that are so far away from us.
This is a video of Tanner rolling over. Spencer seemed like he would be the one to roll first, but Tanner sort of did it out to the blue. We didn't even see his first one since he did it when we weren't in the room. But later that day we captured this one.
Finally, a clip of a brewing sibling rivalry.
Jake: "Mom!! I don't want this tortilla because it has brown on it and brown is the color of coffee and I don't like coffee. Its disgusting."
We're well into the new year and have much to catch up on. So this is a random post of the latest month or so.
Christmas was so much fun with the ages our boys are at. They were thrilled to receive their gifts of course, but they also were excited about the gifts to each other and taking treats around to friends. I appreciate my boys and how much they love doing things for other people. It was fun to have our new babies this Christmas too. Our line of stockings increased by two. I love it.
This year for New Years, Nick and Caden were the brave ones. I stayed back with the other four boys while Nick and Caden walked in to the city center to celebrate with the Spanish. Here during the last 12 seconds of the year, with each chime of the the church bell, you're supposed to try to eat 12 lucky grapes.
The big holiday here in January is "Three Kings" day. The parade was hilarious. They don't just toss some candy out, they throw it out in full force. Jake had to hide behind me because he didn't like getting decked in the head over and over. People just held out their umbrellas upside down and let the candy fall in. Also when the floats would end, everyone would hurry to another part of the city and have it come by again. We followed it twice but most people kept going.
The babies are now five months. They are growing too fast. Each stage is bitter sweet. It's fun to see them develop and get their personalities but that means they'll never be this little again. As much work as they bring, we wouldn't want it any other way. They bring us all so much joy. The older boys are so in love with them. They probably get a little too much love but that's what happens to the babies of the family. I remember smothering my baby sister Emme so I know how they feel. Anyway, that's the latest with us. Babies are calling!
This slideshow contains some of the latest pics of the twins.
Below are a few video clips from our lives here. Might be interesting to some...
We are the Petersons. We are from Utah, then Ohio, Okinawa Japan, and are now living in Rota, Spain. Nick is a Navy dentist and Rebecca is a busy mother of 5 boys, Caden, Max, Jake, and the twins Spencer and Tanner. We have enjoyed all of the adventures of traveling and living in different places. Nick continues to speak only Spanish with the boys. They have thrived in Spain making Spanish friends and attending public Spanish school. Peruse our blog posts to see videos, pics, and regular updates on our lives. And please, leave a comment so we know who cares!
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