Camp Luke comes to Wild Oak!

Back in April we had a 5th birthday bash for Luke, and I was delighted when the birthday boy requested a camping theme.

After the girly pinks of Eleanor’s butterfly party, it was fun to go all-outdoorsy in greens and oranges. My favorite piece of party décor were the hand-painted signs. Months before I’d spied a gallon of green paint on the oops markdown table at Home Depot and just knew we’d find a use for it (though Erik had his doubts). You can imagine my satisfaction when it was the perfect shade for the party! Erik cut some scrap wood pieces, Luke did a champion job coating them in green, and I did the lettering in white. There was a campfire arrow pointing up the hill to the fire ring we set up, an outhouse arrow pointing inside, and a canteen sign on the food table.

Erik skillfully cut a handsome arrow for the archery sign, plus a few more for the backyard, including a strict bear prohibition. Despite the no-nonsense signage, during the party we happened upon some pranks that we believe to have been performed by a mischievous bear. ;)

Other than the signs our decorations were pretty simple. We set up three tents around the campfire ring for the kids to play in and draped the food table in an oatmeal colored drop cloth. After that, Albuquerque’s rugged mountains set the stage pretty well on their own.

The swing set was a Craig’s List find that Erik repaired and set up just in time for the party. Somehow he managed to load the entire structure on our station wagon and carry it into the backyard with only Luke’s assistance – party adrenaline I tell you!

I bought this editable invitation/signage package on Etsy and printed the adorable tent invitations and some other tags and signs. They were easy to personalize and the immediate download was perfect for someone like me who leaves things to the last-minute. I hope to be back tomorrow with a rundown of the party activities and food, just in case baby #3 requests his own camp some day or any of you are thinking of hosting an afternoon camp-out this summer!

One last day in Spain

There’s so much to see in Andalucia that we could have easily spent our last day exploring Malaga, spelunking through sea caves, or returning to Granada. But the guidebook’s review of Sevilla was so enthralling that we decided to make the longer drive to and from this historic city. Also, I was pretty sick with a bronchitis type bug, so Erik enjoyed the scenic countryside while I napped. When we arrived, we instantly fell in love with the city’s easy-going grandeur and soaked in a few of its most renowned destinations.

We started out at the Alcázar, another royal palace with Moorish roots followed by Christian renovations. Like the Alhambra, it was constructed around serene courtyards, stunning tile work, water features, and gracious gardens.

 

The massive Cathedral of St. Mary was our next stop.

Its gargantuan proportions reduced us tourists to tiny ants along the floor.

I could have sat in its charming orange grove courtyard all afternoon (plus I had a fever) and the tower views were spectacular!

Then we meandered through the university to the lovely Plaza de España. Despite its grand expanse, it welcomed us with a relaxed family atmosphere as kids played and paddle boats plodded by.

Then we walked along the river, enjoyed a peaceful dinner,

Had a déjà vu sculpture moment, and suddenly it was time to drive back to Malaga for our flight home.

There was still so much to see, but truly, the treasures of Andalucia could never compete with these two little wonders. What a joy to return home to their sweetness! And what fun it would be to bring them along to explore more of Spain one day.

Splendid Spain, part 2

I’m back to continue the tale of our February trip to Andalucia. After Colleen and Ryan’s exquisite wedding, we spent a relaxing day exploring the nearby Mediterranean beach towns.

Our first stop was Nerja, an upscale vacation town known for its “Balcon de Europa”. The expanse of blue-green seas, rugged cliffs topped by white-washed homes, and tropical vegetation were just as impressive as their delectable ice cream!

Then we followed the coastal road east past the occasional ancient fortification or tile-roofed beach house.

We soon arrived at Almuñecar, where more gorgeous coastline mixed with Roman, Moorish, and Christian ruins from the town’s colorful history.

Our final coastal stop was Salobreña and we arrived just as the setting sun bathed the stone walls in a golden glow and tinted the distant Sierras purple.

I loved the narrow cobbled streets that wound up to the castle, though their compatibility with modern transportation is questionable. We were grateful for Aunt Marian’s legendary driving skills, she just folded in the mirrors and forged ahead as the ‘street’ got narrower and narrower until we reached the top!

The next morning we bid farewell to the Palacete, (where we stayed for the week and the wedding was held) but not without taking a few more pics and a  video to document the rustic mountain road that takes you there. Minimal medieval-era guardrails separate traffic from steep drop-offs and you never know when a group of goats or bicycles might be hiding around the next hairpin turn. But when you finally arrive, the location is well worth a few heart palpitations. The Palacete dates back to 1492 and is set atop terraces of avocado trees,

Overlooking the sleepy town of Otivar.

And don’t get me started on the sumptuously grand yet comfortable interior, and the picture-perfect grounds! To have the private run of such a paradise felt like an extended daydream of a royal family vacationing at their country chateau.

I’ll be back soon with the final Spain installment, our whirlwind tour of Sevilla!.

Skipping off to Spain (back in February)

On our own, I don’t think we would have ever decided to leave the kids for 9 days and jet off for Europe. But when my sister announced that her wedding would be a European destination event, of course we were going. And once you travel so far, shouldn’t you stay a day or two to take in the sights? So that left us with an extended trip to Southern Spain, highlighted by Colleen and Ryan’s beautiful wedding!

Our first day we toured the Alhambra, an enchanting palace unlike any other royal dwelling I’d seen. The Moorish architecture was bright and white-washed, welcoming nature inside with reflecting pools, gardens, and bright inner courtyards resplendent in lacy white and gold tile. Despite their grandeur, when you actually consider living inside them, other European castles tend toward gloomy and confining, but the Alhambra felt dreamily idyllic, albeit on a grand scale. Even the chilly damp day couldn’t make it dreary.

The next day we drove out to Ronda, a darling town stunningly situated on either side of a plunging gorge. Terraced buildings, winding cobbled streets, and glorious views over the peaceful countryside punctuated every turn. We ate lunch at a restaurant looking across the fields, ancient bridge, and waterfall. Never have I dined with such a captivating vista and there was such a surreal magic to the almost-empty, spotless town that I felt as if we were walking from set to set of a Disney fairytale.

Day 3 was spent back at our home base near Otivar in the giddy excitement of wedding preparations! We selected flowers at a local market,

Enjoyed a joyfully anticipatory rehearsal dinner, and prepared the grounds for the big day.

All the guests stayed at the exquisite Palacete de Cazules, and the wedding was held in the private yellow-stuccoed chapel on its grounds. It was the perfect size for the gathering and so authentically Spanish-countryside-destination-wedding inside.

Colleen did a gorgeous job crafting her own bouquet,

And I loved the way she and my parents and brothers displayed local fruits amidst flowers on the table for the reception in the main house of the Palacete.

Then we retired to the regal bedrooms to dress for the occasion.

Finally, we simply walked across the courtyard to the romantic chapel for the lovely ceremony, reverently performed by an Anglican priest.

The tropical grounds were lush even in February with a brilliant overlook of the valley toward the town of Otivar. Perfect for photos and appetizers!

Dinner was delicious, followed by dancing, the requisite Ferry family serenade, a touching slideshow, and other spectacles!

So much gracious glamour and simple elegance, just right for my beautiful sister who epitomizes both! We’re so happy for you Colleen and Ryan and wish you endless joy and blessings in your new marriage!!

{I’ll be back soon with part 2 of our Spain trip, where we visit the Andalucian coast, Sevilla, and say goodbye to the Palacete! Until then you can find all our wedding week pics here.}

Snapshots of L & E

It’s been far too long since I’ve updated this blog but maybe, just maybe, a string of updates is on its way. Why not start with some current tidbits on our fierce knight and regal princess, spotted here at a Renaissance Faire.

Luke

Favorite book: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Favorite food: Luke’s a pretty pleasant eater. Often he tells me it’s whatever I’m serving for dinner. Such a sweet-talker!

Learning milestones: His reading is leaping forward these days and he’s much more confident breezing through easy beginner readers. Math remains his forte though, with double-digit addition and multiplication being his favorite challenges right now. He also just learned to swim from one end of the pool to the other, hurray!

Signature statement: He likes to put both thumbs up to answer yes to questions.

Most amusing negative behavior: He can take chivalry a little too far. So if we’re out and I really want him to eat a snack to counteract looming grumpy fits, he’ll resist me insisting that Eleanor and I share the food while he goes without. I appreciate the generous sentiment, but of course eating the snack would align better with my meltdown avoidance agenda!

Typical prayer:  “Thank you for everything in the world. Thank you for Grandma & Grandpa, Nika & Papi, Mommy, Daddy & Eleanor, the Chans, the Hamburgers, the Headleys, the Lavins, Aunts & Uncles, animals….” This goes on for quite a while.

Other favorites: Making books and gifts, putting on circuses and shops, bikes and BMX, Legos.

Luke thrives on achievement and exceeding goals. It’s exciting to see him soar!

Eleanor

Favorite book: Limu the Blue Turtle. What else would you expect from Eleanor the Pink & Purple Turtle?

Favorite food: Cheese and Macaroni & Cheese

Learning milestones: She’s doing much better these days with writing her letters. Probably because I finally figured out that she’s a lefty! Several months ago she started riding her pedal bike without training wheels and now she can make it all the way around our 2-mile loop with only a couple pushes from Daddy to help her up the really steep hills. She loves to zoom and keep up with Luke!

Signature statement: “Awk, eek!” followed by turtle kisses for her mommy turtle. She’s always loved to imitate animal noises and has created her own for the strangely silent turtle species.

Most amusing negative behavior: She’s still stuck on hyperbole when feeling displeased with the state of things. “Can I get you something, Eleanor?” Her reply: “Nothing! Never!”

Typical prayer: “Dear Jesus, I love you and trust you. Amen.”

Other favorites: baths, blankets, friends, gymnastics, and swimming.

Eleanor loves to help and lights up and rushes in when I invite her to join me in an activity. She’s always looking to have fun, be silly, and is still delighted to be our baby and cuddle in her mommy turtle’s arms. She impresses us with her sensitivity to Luke on many things, playing a bit of a gentle mommy role sometimes and keeping the peace. Still, she’s far from a pushover when something comes up that she feels strongly about. The other day she rushed in from outside, fuming and indignant, to proclaim, “Luke say he marry me but he CAN’T!! Because he not a PRINCE!!!” Some things just aren’t open to compromise.

In other news, these two won’t have first dibs on the stroller seat indefinitely…

 

We’ll welcome another one-of-a-kind Nielsen to our family this fall, a baby boy due in November! The kids are so eager to meet him that they ask me daily how many more weeks until he’s here. Luke gives me discounts at “Terrific Ice Cream” his make-believe creamery in our back yard because of the baby in my tummy (meaning that I pay 1 cent for a cone and Erik pays $300. If only I could get that type of treatment to catch on more widely!). Eleanor can’t wait to help take care of the baby, especially now that she’s gotten over her initial disappointment that he isn’t a she. Erik and I love to hear them ask about “our baby” and think this little boy will be a lucky kiddo indeed to have the two of them for siblings!