Last Day in Madrid

 We spent a last day in Madrid as we were flying out of there very early.  We were able to go to the Reina Sophia Museum to go see the original Guernica by Picaso.  (I sadly forgot my camera so no pictures of that adventure)

We found a missionary we had some connections to at church:)  Always great to be with the members of The Church of Jesus Christ.

End of Course Party and our Final Goodbyes

 We left one week before classes ended in Spain (not on purpose) and they moved thier end of year party up a week just for us.  (SOOOOO Nice of them) Each class learned and dances a choreographed dance to perform.  It really was so cute and fun.

 This was our very last night in town so it was a little bitter sweet as we celebrated the end and said goodbye to so many wonderful people.  We have made so many wonderful friends in Chucena and will miss then desperately.

Makenna's class pulled her aside and gave a a huge goodbye hug and gave her a shirt with all of their names on it as a goodbye gift.  During class that day all the classes said their last goodbyes and Miranda's class also gave her a gift (a really beautiful watch and a new binder)

After we got home from the party a large hoard of young girls came to the door bawling and wanting to say one last goodbye to Jacob.  It was an emotional night for all of us and we will miss Chucena a lot.

 Makenna's class

 Our last dinner with Julio, Concuelo, and family.

Bawling girls saying goodbye to Jacob.

Makenna's 5th Birthday

 Makenna turned 5 years old on the 13th.  Makenna is a sassy little girl that think that everyone should do just what she wants.  She is a lady that knows what she wants and we love to listen to her talk and answer questions.  She has a mind that figures things out and we love to ask her questions just to see what she will say.

She had a wonderful celebration in Spain with a fun party at school, a family party for lunch and then another impromptu party with friends.

Because it was only days before we went home we were trying to get rid of things not acquire items but when a friend brings you a giant unicorn for your birthday you get excited.

Movie Theater in Spain

 We went and say Aladdin in the movie theater.  We loved it so much and each child left saying, "Now we have to see it in English"  HAHAHA

Before the movie we had one last goodbye dinner with our Friend Laura and her son Mateo.  Love them!!

Cumpleaños De Makenna

 With only a few days left in the country we celebrated Makenna´s 5th birthday.  It was intertwined with lots of goodbye visits and in impromptu second birthday cake at our last goodbye stop of the day. Makenna is so sweet and yet so sassy all at the same time.  She has this amazing ability to draw everyone to her and make them all want o be her friend and then when she is not in the mood she can be so ornery to everyone around her.   I can just hope and pray that as she grows up she learns to use those powers for good and not bad:)

We do love her so much and we are so grateful to have her be apart of our family.

Saying Goodbye to Our Church Family

Church Family

 Our amazing Church Family gave us a wonderful send off this week as it was out last week of church with them.  After church was over we had an amazing meal and celebration to spend out last time with them.  We will miss them dearly!!  We have gotten to know some of them better and others but they have all been wonderful to us.

What an amazing blessing it is to be able to to go anywhere in the world and find a church family that is willing to love us and take care of us.  These people have taken time to show us around the area, introduce us to new food and friends, and welcome us into their homes and hearts.  We will forever be grateful!!

 Elders Quorum Pres Juan Manuel and his wife

 With Modesto and Cinta Rodriguez

 The Casado Family,  Javier in the back with his wife by Miranda and their two teenage daughters. Mirian (oldest second to the left) and Lucia (Miranda's age standing in between her parents) Laura on the far left and her son Mateo in front and center.  Mama Casado on the far right.

The Bishop of the ward Juan Romero

Steven'a Trip to Barcelona

 When you attend professional conferences on a regular basis you learn pretty quickly that it is always more fun to go with a friend than it is so go alone.  So here we have Steven with Todd Mack and Dale Pratt.  (Todd and Steven did their Masters at the same time at BYU and Dale was one of their wonderful professors)

Steven attended a Spanish conference in Barcelona last week,  we missed him but I was so happy he was able to go and have some fun.  Traveling with kids is so fun but it is also different than traveling with just adults so I was especially grateful Steven got to experience a lot more of Barcelona and have friends to do it with.  When I can get him to I might get Steven to get on the blog and really explain what all of these pictures are but lets just say they had tone of fun,  they ate tons of great food, and saw a lot of amazing sights (especially the Goudi Sights)

When our family was there last month we did not go inside the Sagrada Familia Cathedral put he was able to go inside on this trip and said it was amazing!!!  Enjoy the Pictures!

Comino De Rocio

 Sometimes when I am writing about the events and celebrations that happen here in Chucena it can be hard to fully describe exactly the feeling that comes from these events.

 Imagine that over half of your town goes on a camping trip together, but instead of driving in your car, everyone either walks or rides on a trailer pulled by horse or tractor.  All family groups bring their own tent trailer (also pulled by tractor) and packs lots of food and drink.  During the entire trek everyone is dressing up in festive clothing.  If you are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ like I am this reminded me a lot of youth groups leaving to go on pioneer trek except it would be an entire Stake doing it all at the same time.

The celebration of The Virgen of Rocio (Another name for the Virgen Mary)  is a Camino or Pilgrimage to the town of Rocio to celebrate the Virgen Mary.  From what I can get from it it really is just one HUGE party.  Rocio the town is usually population 23,000.  During this time over a million people come and stay.  Almost all of them walk or ride on carts and they come from all over the place.  Our small Town of Chucena is pretty close to Rocio (about a half hour drive in the car)  so it only takes a day and a half to walk their.  For other groups that come they walk for 12 or 13 days to get to there.

Anyway,  most our friends and neighbors went so the town was sort of a ghost town all weekend.  It just so happened that Steven was not here for the event because he was in Barcelona all week attending a conference for work.  A lot of people asked if we were going to go to Rocio but there was no way I was going to take our 6 children by myself to Rocio so we just watched and supported our friends on their way out.

As you can see in the pictures there was just a huge line up of carts and campers, trailers and buggies.  It was so much fun to see!