Madrid/Casablanca Day 5 (the Journey)

After four fabulous days in Madrid it was finally time to head to Casablanca. Our apartment in Madrid was awesome...taking the the Metro everywhere was great! I love public transportation. One thing Caleb wasn't so fond of...PDA is everywhere and apparently totally acceptable... so if you every have the desire to make out in public go to Madrid...the city of love and PDA.

El Mojito-the bar literally across the street- Scott & Caleb's nightly hangout. Scott actually went in his PJ's one night. 

All of our luggage. Oh my...

The first picture of us as a group...someone's normally the odd man out taking the pic. This time we paid our cab driver to do it. Notice the Volkswagen Eurovan...nice. As a wiseman once said, "Life's too short to drive a minivan" but not a Eurovan. Hook me up!

All of us at the airport...we used the timer on the camera.

Ella pays Caleb to "Shut up!"

Charlotte gets ready to board our Easy Jet to Casablanca, Morocco.

Uncle Scott tries to console Charlotte who recently converted to the Hindi sect of Veggie Puffs.

Arrived in Casa safely...all luggage is carefully loaded to head to the apartment.

Charlotte and Beckett play while we unload the luggage.

Charlotte attempts to eat her first piece of Moroccan grass. Aunt Diana saves her. Notice the tiny piece of grass in her hand.

Najet (Diana & Scott's sweet lady that helps them around the house) made Safa...so delicious. Safa is like a sweet and sour chicken and pasta dish...it has cinnamon in it which sounds gross, but it was awesome.

Madrid Day 4

Another exciting and crazy day in Madrid. Started it off with our fav- Dunkin Donuts.

Charlotte & Ella love on each other after donuts.

Now for my fav- a double decker bus circling Madrid. Oh, and Scott pretending to eat Beckett.

The Douglass Casa.

My personal heaven- a double decker bus. Ever since I did it in London...I've got to do it wherever I go.

Another shot from the double decker. Oh, and remember my read hat...got a story about it later.

The crew minus Caleb taking the pic.

Ella & Scott are pooped after the bus ride. Also when Ella's beloved blanket was left at the park. P.S. She has not realized that she left it in the park yet. Amazingly she has not asked for it. I will let you know how it turned out.

Diana's first Starbucks drink in 4 1/2 months! Followed by girls only shopping at Springfield and H&M. Nice!

Dinner @ Burger King- hey, they don't have these in Morocco and Diana & Scott were craving it.

Beckett has learned to feed others and Ella plays with Homer Simpson...how can Homer come as a toy in a kid meal? What kid that would eat a ids meal is watching the Simpson's?

Ella is cute as a button.

Christmas tree pic.

You may not believe it in this picture but this was at the end of a hike up a hill, to wait for a bus that didn't come, to hike back down a hill, to take a metro to go to Plaza Mayor, to wait for another bus that didn't come. Ella, you earned that ice cream. Only to be followed by the Carruths traveling to H&M to find my missing hat (that Caleb got me for Christmas) only to find that it wasn't there...nobody found it. But, what can I complain about? We are in Madrid for crying out loud. I will miss that hat though.

This is how it ended.

Quotes of the day:

1. "Can someone take that knife out of Beckett's hands?"

2. Caleb, "Ella, how do I look?" Ella, "You look smart Cub Cub."

3. Can't think of the last one...will post later:)

Now we are tired and packed and heading to Morocco tomorrow. Until then... Hasta luego!

Madrid Day 3

Today began with our daily ritual- Dunkin Donuts and cafe con leche. Yum. Yum.

Scott begins with his daily ritual- a sweet potato.

Extreme close-up.

Reina Sofia Museum of Modern Art.

On our way downtown to Plaza Mayor.

Plaza Mayor.

The bad part was that we didn't eat since breakfast and waled around for a LONG time trying to find something good and not crowded. The good part, it made our pizza taste even better. Hungry tourists are not happy tourists.

Happy and full people.

More Plaza Mayor.

Uh-oh...we saw you Pooh and Tigger. Such a sad choice.

Charlotte & bizarro Mickey Mouse. Everything is just slightly different in other countries.

Ella and her hero, Shrek. She kept asking him "Where's Fiona?"

Scott & mini-Scott.

WWF kid style.

Sidenote: Our stroller was successfully found by British Airways and the patience of Scott & Caleb. Thank you God!

Carruth Christmas Vacation: Day 1 & 2

Caleb and I got the best gift ever! We get to go visit my sister Diana and her family in Casablanca, Morocco. We have not seen them for 4 1/2 long months (and in baby time...so much can happen in 4 1/2 months). We left Dallas on December 25th @ 5:00 p.m. to London-to go to Madrid-to spend 4 days there with them- and then togther, fly to Casa and spend time in their home. Here are some pics of our adventure so far...

Day 1

Travel to London on a 777. We got a seat with a bassinet and each of us had our own screen to watch the movie(s) of our choice. I was so excited I couldn't even sleep so I watched several movies including but not limited to: Ghost Town, Wall-E, Dark Knight, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (which I turned off, and Mamma Mia (which I also turned off). Charlotte was awesome and we are happy to be in the motherland and my favorite place- London, England.

Charlotte waiting in the London airport. Our flight to Madrid was delayed 9 hours and 4 of those were waiting on the plane. Charlotte was a champ though and everyone said that she should be the British Airways Customer of the Year.

Charlotte and Daddy.

Charlotte gets her own seat.

Charlotte entertains the sweet Spaniard sitting behind us. Other than British Airways losing our stroller, we are in Madrid and counting our many blessings. One side note, the cab drivers (we had to take 2 because we had so much luggage) could not find the apartment we were renting. Just when Caleb said, "Let's just get a hotel for tonight"... Scott and Diana magically appeared from the apartment. I was so happy I double kissed the cab driver...now that is embarassing.

Day 2

Diana & Scott scored big on securing a 3 bedroom apartment for us...fit to help all the babies go to sleep and let the adults play afterwards. Not to mention there are little stores, restaurants, and bars within 100 feet.

Christmas 1 day later...we brought goodies from grandparents & friends from the states. 

Dunkin Donuts!

Dunkin Donuts and matching sweaters...does it get better?

Art Museum that we will return to when admission in free (Sundays).

Street view of our apartment neighborhood.

Douglasses take the Metro.

Carruths take the Metro.

First celebratory drink together.

Downtown Madrid.

Beautiful Christmas lights.

More amazing lights and buildings.

Time to go home...

Babies in PJ's and tutus...love it!

You'll have to excuse the super long entry and future entries...we are sharing pics with the fam through our blog.