Feeling like a hypocrite

I've been silently chastising everyone for posting late on the blog. Well, I'm just a day off, and we've got a good excuse - Grandma and Grandpa kept us pretty occupied yesterday.

We've got tons to report (and so does everyone else - how can you possibly imagine that nothing has happened in your life in the 7 weeks since you posted last?):

We have two new American family friends. This is amazing! When we moved here over a year ago, we were sure there must be a number of young American LDS families working and living in Madrid. Well, we were dead wrong. At least if there are any, they don't live anywhere near downtown. But within the space of a few weeks, a newly-married couple moved here from D.C. and just this past week another couple from Arizona moved into the area. They have two kids the same ages as Isaac and Stella, and in a bizarre coincidence are really good friends with Jon and Ashley (our really good friends from BYU/Westchester/My law firm). Eryka has been having tons of fun spending time with them, hanging out at the parks, shopping at Ikea and just having someone to talk about girl/mom/kids/life stuff.

We blessed Joaquin yesterday. I really questioned whether Mom and Dad would make it after learning their flight was getting in on Sunday instead of Saturday. Sure, the flight was scheduled to land at 9:20, but I don't think their particular flight has ever landed before 10:00, and our church meetings are supposed to start at 12:00. Well, thankfully, church services in Spain are like air traffic in Spain: always late. We made it to the church about a quarter to 12:00 and got everyone cleaned up and dressed up in time for when the meeting actually started at 12:15. We had a nice blessing with Grandpa participating along with my favorite three Luis's. This is really funny, and was a total coincidence, but the three guys I invited to participate in the circle are all named Luis. One is my 2nd counselor, the other my secretary, and the other our home teacher.

The kids were super excited to have Grandma and Grandpa come. While I waited near the exit doors to try and pick them out of the crowds of passengers exiting baggage claim, they regalled Eryka with all the special hugs and kisses they would plant on Grandma and Grandpa when they came through the doors. When the moment arrived, they got shy and forgot about the hugs and kisses, but it didn't take them long to warm up. Stella was playing on Grandpa's lap during church and getting special backrubs from him.

Isaac spent sacrament meeting on the stand. It was the primary program and Isaac performed fabulously. The poor kid doesn't really know the songs because (1) we don't sing primary songs in Spanish at home and (2) we don't sing primary songs in English at home. He compensated by copying with exactness the facial expressions of the excessively emotive primary president as she contorted her face in all sorts of shapes and sizes while mouthing the words to the kids. It was so funny it had Eryka and I in tears (I wish I could say we were moved upon by the Spirit, but that wouldn't be true). However, the closing song was very moving as my 2nd counselor Luis, an accomplished violinist, played a beautiful accompaniment to the children and congregation.

So as soon as we got Grandma and Grandpa here, I sent them off to Barcelona on their own. I wanted to put them up in the best hotel I've ever stayed at and the 12th (today) was the only night with vacancy at the special corporate rate that we get (or at all, actually). I think they're really enjoying some alone time in a beautiful city at a fantastic hotel. Of course, I'm sure they're anxious to see the grandkids again. I know the kids miss them already.