Dan's visit

We were very lucky to have Dan visit for Thanksgiving, a piano recital and three soccer matches of the boys.
Thursday November 24, 2011
Dan arrived on the afternoon of Thanksgiving November 24th. The boys were sad that they had to go to school but were happy to see both parents pick them up. Then we all got on the bus for soccer practice, before coming home to celebrate.

Thanksgiving with a difference.

Charley with dessert

Harry enjoying a selection

Saturday November 26, 2011
The boys' soccer game was home and early afternoon which meant we could have brunch with some of our soccer friends.

Brunch at VIPS with the Maxwells:
Florence, Fiona, Harry, Bernardo (goalkeeper), Gabby, Ian, Billy, Charley, Dan and Jerry (the triplets grandfather)

November 26, 2011 soccer match at home. Half time.

Sunday November 27, 2011
We went into Madrid to visit the Prado museum.

Madrid, El Sol.

Billy, Charley and Harry outside the Prado with the statue of Goya behind.

 We did see one Picaso. The boys liked the Goya war scenes but they loved the halls with the statues of the Greek gods.

Madrid, outside the Ritz Hotel, November 27, 2011

Wednesday November 30, 2011
The Piano recital was straight after school at Colegio Alarcón, where I work.

Billy playing "Morning"

Harry playing "Surfboard Boogie"

Charley playing "Arabescos"

Charley taking a bow.

Saturday December 3, 2011
The second soccer match was an interclub match during one of their practices and then on Saturday  December 3, the game was an away match in the north of Madrid. It was an early start and extremely (well its all relative) cold but soon warmed up when the sun came out - very typical December day in Madrid.

Before the game the parents have coffee or just warm up. It is typical for a cafe to be serving in the soccer grounds.

Stretching before the game with the snow covered mountains in the background.

Warming up before the game Ian passing to Billy.

Kick-off.

Half-time - very often the coach talks to them in the locker rooms.

After the game the whole family visited Cien Montaditos. Dan and I had visited every day that week at 3pm (after I finished work). It was lovely having the time to talk with Dan. It started with our wedding anniversary on the Monday and then we just kept going.

The two of us visited everyday from Monday - Friday and brought the boys on Saturday.

Harry and Dan's favourite montadito is tuna, Charley's is cream cheese, Billy's is burger and mine is cream cheese and salmon - yummy!



December 4, 2011
Dan was not with us for his birthday, but we made sure we celebrated it with him before he left.

An early celebration of Dan's birthday before he left the next day.