Umbrellas, Architecture and Bells

Hola!
It has been quite a rainy Monday! But it gave me the chance to go through some of our Spain photos... if you click on the photos, btw, you can see them bigger.

About a month ago, we spent April vacation in Spain. (Public schools get a week off in April.) It seems like a long time ago now, but no, it was really about a month. Just a beautiful trip. I'll just show you one place at a time, since as usual, we took a ridiculous number of photos.

Plaza de Espana

Kara following pigeons in the square...
they are kind of funny to watch

Staircase, with tiled railings--beautiful, ornate
tiling all around the plaza

SEVILLA. We ended the trip in Seville, or Sevilla if you are using the Spanish pronunciation. (I'm taking you through the trip backwards...)

Frank served his mission in southern Spain, which actually prompted the trip. For 25 years he has been saying, "Oh, we'll go back to Spain and I'll show you some of the areas where I served." We decided this was a good year for it :)

This is a cool poster for Frank -- he actually has a tshirt with
this logo on it! He served until 1990, when they were preparing for this '92Expo,
and now they are celebrating the 25th year anniversary of it! 

Horse Show poster, w/Kara behind

He did, actually, serve in Sevilla! I'll show you pictures.

We rented a car and drove during this trip, as well as taking the train on the last stretch from Sevilla back to Madrid. So some of the pics are the countryside. They also had big, black bull silhouettes along the highway. I have a picture of one of those, too.

marketplace by the Plaza de Espana

The Plaza de Espana is so pretty, and the architecture is interesting and ornate. It was very busy, with horse-drawn carriages and pedestrian tourists everywhere.

Sidewalk vendors and marketplaces were also a common sight.

CITY VIEWS. We also toured the biggest cathedral in Sevilla, and climbed the bell tower. Pretty amazing views from the top!

REAL ALCAZAR. We also toured the royal palace. Here are some pics of the gardens and wonderful architecture there.

flooring tile detail

ceiling detail

view from the bell tower of the cathedral

in the gardens of Real Alcazar

had to stay out of here today, since the government
officials were actually using it today...

from the bell tower of the cathedral

Well my allotted blog time is up :)
Stay tuned for more installments, and have a great week!

Kari

Christopher Columbus monument--
he is buried here

Family Time and Baby Bunnies

Hola--

This is one of those times when it seems like a lot is going on, so I get distracted. We returned from our Spain trip, (which was fabulous and beautiful!!) coming back early Sunday morning. Then 3 days after that David and Teresa came home from BYU!

(**If you click on the pictures, you can see them bigger.)

EXAMS OVER. They finished finals and came home exactly one week ago, on Wednesday night. I think they are extremely happy to be finished with tests, and finished with the semester.

MISSION PREP. Teresa is now getting ready to leave on her mission to Roseville, California (northern CA...where the state becomes a rectangle at the top? That's her mission). She's going through lists, ordering clothes, checking off boxes that are "required" for her to bring or do before she leaves.

TEMPLE DAY. Grandma Kay came for the weekend, and Teresa went to the temple for the first time on Saturday. It's such a peaceful place! And so nice to have some family members and friends together, to do that.

Sunday Teresa gave a talk in church. That is a traditional thing to do in a congregation when one of its members is embarking on a mission. She had a few friends there that she hadn't seen for awhile, and teachers and advisors she has had over the years. It was a good day.

She will get "set apart" on Monday night, and leave early Wednesday morning. To get "set apart" is to be given a blessing, to begin dedicating time and energy to the Lord as a representative of Christ. This officially "starts" the mission. Usually it would be the night before she flies away, but our Stake President had a conflict and will do it one day early. Then she's off to the MTC in Provo. She'll be there for 3 weeks, then off to California.

SPRING SPORTS. Kara is playing tennis again this season, for the school team. When the weather cooperates, it is fun to watch her! One or 2 matches have been cancelled due to rain. She's still in the thick of the semester, so she still juggles tests and homework. Hang in there, Kara! :) :) :)

SUMMER JOB. David is waiting on an internship to come through (dates are still questionable), so he'll work at the local grocery store until that solidifies.

Here is a family pic from Sunday.

BABY BUNNIES. And here are some sweetie bunnies that David found when he was mowing the front yard! The sound of the mower startled them, and they froze. He moved them out of the way, but not before Teresa posed with them and I snapped a few photos.

Have a good week! :) :) :)
Kari

Scared stiff but so, so cute!