More Visitors!! The Holmes Family comes to visit!

I have to say we've been really lucky this year... not only have we had a good amount of visitors (thank you thank you to all that have been or are coming to visit) but their timing has just been perfect as well.  With all our travel planned this year we have something going on almost every weekend.  And you'll hear no complaints from us!!

Our friend Billy Holmes emailed us a few months ago to say he and his family would be in France for a wedding and would love to come to Barcelona for a few days and see us.  Yes, absolutely!!  We haven't seen Billy in ages since he lives in NYC (and now that we are such "seasoned" travelers I've realized that we really do need to get out of MA more often) and we hadn't met Jen or Isabelle.  So on Friday they arrived in Barcelona and came by our place for dinner which while intending to be a cook out, ended up being cheese, bread and pizza.  Ah well, I tried. 

Their daughter Isabelle is the same age as Liam and they hit it off.  She wasn't super thrilled with Jake, whom she called a bear, but by the end of the weekend they were fast friends.  Saturday night Josh and I went out with Billy and Jen to our favorite, Specchio Magico while all three kids stayed with Maria.  It was a great night with an opportunity to do a little catching up and also have a night where we could have a complete conversation without the interruption of kids.

We had the most fun though, on Sunday, when we all went to Sitges.  The kids had a blast playing in the sand and the water (brrrrr).  Liam and Iz built sand castles while Josh, Billy and Aidan spent some time in the water.  Jen did some shopping and I did what I do best, lounge :)  We had bocadillos on the beach and Billy and Josh enjoyed some cervezas delivered to our chairs.

As we walk towards the beach Aidan HAD to have his picture taken with Mario and Yoshi

There are always cool sandcastles here

Billy and Aidan splashing around

Liam is very focused on his castle

Is she cute or what?

Josh and Aidan and yes, I see the woman in the background - I have no doubt Josh will enjoy this picture for just that reason...

Jen getting some squirt gun action!

Aidan with his squirt gun

Still focused on building

And now he has a partner in crime

Josh and Aidan looking for crabs

And they found one... look!

Ok this is a better shot of it :)

When the weather looked ominous we packed up and walked around Sitges, stopping for some much needed ice cream for all (and sorry to the kids who had to wait so long since I was soooo sure there was a good ice cream place, you know, just over that way....). 

Liam :)

Iz and Aidan

And again - so cute!

Getting a shoulder ride and making funny faces

As the day was coming to an end, Izzy seemed to be a little taken with Aidan, a much older man for her 3 1/2 years of age and kept trying to hold his hand...he wanted nothing to do with that!  I kept trying to encourage her to hold Liam's hand (who was more than willing) and she said, no I want Aidan... ah young love.  Finally it was time to say goodbye.  It was such a quick visit but we're all really glad they came and we all had such a great time. 

Julie