First Days of Salamanca

Here are some photos of beloved boys from three families we had to leave in the U.S.A.

 We love these bowlers and

paleontologists.

 We had a great time with my brother and his family over New Year's.

 If we could hear Peyton spin tales every night, we would sleep with these boys all of the time.

After two flight cancellations, driving rather than flying to Philly, and waiting in the airplane for three hours before embarking for Madrid, we arrived in España.

Salamanca was beautifully decorated with lights for the Christmas season.

The Three Kings' Day parade was spectacular! Both times we saw it, kind adults allowed Micah and Paul to go to the front to have a good view.

My cute husband held this jet-lagged boy for hours to see the parade.

These women were dancing on stilts, with wings attached to their arms -- impressive.

We enjoyed the variety of lights on each street.

The theme so far in Salamanca has been, "look up!" There are so many beautiful architectural details above our heads.

During the parade, this enchanted face was what I saw when I looked up.

We can't guess how many people were in the Plaza Mayor with us watching the parade and the three king's announcement that they would bring toys to good little girls and boys.

The boys like this building, just blocks from our apartment.

It wouldn't be three kings' day without a Roscon de Reyes. We've celebrated this day in New Orleans and Colima, but Salamanca's king's cakes are the best we have ever had.

While the children of Spain had two days off of school to play with the toys the kings brought them, we enjoyed the parks in the rain.

Do you recognize the Plaza Mayor during the daytime without the parade crowds?

Uncrowded pedestrian walkways are a dream for Sam, who loves to sing in his own little world while walking.

Look up in the library!

My best efforts at art history photography

often include a request from Paul to please be in the picture.

While we waited for the boys to be assigned to a school, we mostly waited by the land-line for a promised call we never did receive. We did "escape all of that waiting and staying to find the bright places where Boom-Bands are playing" (Dr. Seuss -- Oh, the Places You'll Go) from time to time.

I wonder what keeps U.S. parks from having ziplines? Ingenious.

The beautiful exterior of Anthony's J.M.U. office

continues inside.

This office is where Anthony will be spending time with students most days.

Thanks to Christmas money from family members, the boys each chose a toy or game. This photo shows our lovely, modern apartment. 

Finally, the boys were approved to go to Sagrada Familia Siervas de San José for school. It is pretty and the teachers and students seem very happy. The down-side is that we have to walk 3/4 of a mile each way, which is tough sometimes with a sleepy, occasionally reluctant four-year-old.

How can we complain, when our walk is this beautiful?

Paul and Sam wear these "babis" almost all day at school. What do you think?

Sweet P makes the most of anything.

We had a rainy walk on our way to their first day of school

This time of year, the sun doesn't come up until they are at school.

Our family history includes such a variety of "first day of school" pictures! The boys seem to be doing a great job of making friends in their first few days.