Mommy and I sincerely apologize that this birthday post is a little late, as we JUST only finished cleaning up after your ‘GRAN FIESTA’ last weekend. More than 75 people arrived at our little home in the campo to celebrate you on your special day. Aside from the seventeen little boys and girls from your class, it seemed as if the entire pueblo was in attendance; there were moms and dads, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, cousins, and even a scattering of grandparents. Not that we were the least bit surprised… you are loved and admired up and down the streets of El Gastor.
But really, has another year already passed us by? It feels like yesterday that we were celebrating your 3rd birthday in Madrid and your 2nd in Bordeaux. How long we’ve been on this adventure together! And while we have been able to see so many amazingly beautiful things together, what I have enjoyed the most is watching you grow.
Every night when we pray I look into your eyes and I am reminded of just how lucky I am. I cherish the time right before you fall asleep when I put your nose to mine and we say together:
- Our big girl no longer needs to use diapers to make it through the night.
- An even more significant milestone…you finally quit sucking your two fingers!
The last time we’ll see this! - The new addition of Argi, our beloved Bernese Mountain Dog and Cortijero, our Andalusian horse who loves to take little kids for trail rides.
- You and Ollie learning to speak Spanish like real ‘Andaluces’ (although, with that accent, half the time, neither Mommy nor I have any idea what you’re talking about).
- Watching movies with you on my lap and realizing that you are no longer my ‘baby’.
- Your beautiful dress at Feria in Seville, Spain.
- Celebrating Halloween at the American Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia.
- A bittersweet moment: Being robbed in Rome and having all your toys stolen. Despite this, I am so proud that you pray for the people that took your toys every single night and that you have forgiven them.
- Hiking the heavenly mountains of Durmitor National Park, Montenegro.
- Exploring the beautiful waters of Croatia and Corfu, Greece.
- Watching in awe as you took down an entire pan bagnat in Nice that was as large as your face.
- Our first Spanish ‘Easter egg hunt’ with our dear friends Andres, Ingrid, Nora, Cloe, and Elsa.
- Making wildflower crowns with you in the mountains of Switzerland and Austria.
- Watching you snuggle the baby in Mommy’s tummy, while informing him ever so kindly that your toys are COMPLETELY OFF-LIMITS.
- Biting your cheeks and having you retaliate by punching me in the nose (you are just like your Mommy).
- Holding your little finger in my hand as we visited over 12 countries last year.
- Grandma sending you an Elsa dress and you demanding to wear it everyday for at least a month (don’t forget the gloves, crown and more)
- Watching you become a blossoming artist (albeit one that prefers painting ‘au naturel’)
Kendley’s 4th Birthday Interview
- How old are you today? Uno, dos, tres, QUATRO! FOUR in ‘Panish! (Note to readers, Kendley STILL cannot pronounce the letter ‘S’.)
- Where are we celebrating this year? In El Gastor! In the campo.
- Do you remember where we were last year? Yes, Yes! We were in…in… no, I can’t remember. We celebrated in Madrid. Iker went to Madrid, y también Francisco. Ellos son mis amigos!!!
- What did we do differently this year? I had a HUGE fiesta! Indeed. There were 75 people at our house on Sunday. I am exhausted just thinking about it. I wanna do it again!
- Tell me all about this birthday party. I played in the pool with my friends and I rode our horse, Cortijero. And I ate a million cupcakes. My tummy hurt after.
- I’ll bet. Now that we have a home, do you miss traveling? Yes, sometimes. Why do you miss it? I dunno. Because I get to sleep late and eat lots of gelato.
- What’s your favorite thing to do these days? I love to jump in the pool and eat birthday cake. I like to dress up as a fairy. I LOOOOVE Peppa Pig.
- What’s your favorite color? I love the color purple. I have a purple and green vestido. (That’s a dress).
- Tell me about school. It’s brand new for you, right? Do you like it? Yes!! I do a lot of things in cole. I dance and sing songs in ‘Panish. I paint flowers and I write my name. That part is hard, and sometimes I want to take a nap.
- Tell me about some of the new friends you’ve made in the pueblo. Yoli and Brenda and Virginia and Mercedes and the big and little Antonios, and Nayara, and Claudia and Santiago and Ainhoa and Martina and….Whoa, whoa, whoa! You are quite the social butterfly!
- What are you most excited for this year? Opening my presents!!!!! Well, let’s get to it!!
