The Twelve days of Christmas...

Being that we are now 12 days away from Christmas, I wanted to take a moment to reflect back on these first two months in Madrid (yes, as of Dec 12th it's been two months since we arrived) and also the larger journey that began so long ago in order to arrive here. Without further ado, I present:

 The 12 months of the Martinez Family

In the 1st month of 2011, my hubby said to me, "I want to get my M-B-A"

In the 2nd month of 2011, my hubby said to me, "Look for a 2 bedroom place in Madrid, 'cause I want to get that M-B-A.."

In the 3rd month of 2011, my hubby said to me, "We'll have to take three 3 kids, squeeze them in a 2 bedroom place, so that I can get my M-B-A"

In the 4th month of 2011, my hubby said to me, "Only 4 suitcases will be allowed, 3 kids in tow, squeezed into 2 rooms, all for one wonderful M-B-A"

In the 5th month of 2011, my hubby said to me, "We need 5 stu-dent visas!" (=approx 5 billion pieces of paperwork)

In the 6th month of 2011, my hubby said to me, "Six times we'll move*, how's the paperwork coming along for the 5 student visas? Can you please buy another suitcase? Good thing Francisco doesn't pay for a plane ticket yet, have you found an apartment? Gosh, I really want that M-B-A!"
[*from the time we left our home on Auburn Grove to the time we arrived in Spain, we called 6 different places home on three different continents]

In the 7th month of 2011, my hubby said to me, "Get ready for a 7 hour flight (NY-Madrid) with Francisco, 6 moves we'll make, 5 student visas to get, 4 suitcases to pack, 3 kids to entertain, 2 bedrom place to get, and 1 lovely M-B-A."

In the 8th month of 2011, my hubby said to me, "You'll have to walk 8 times to and from the kids' school each day, 7 hour flight, 6 moves we'll make, 5 visas, 4 suitcases, 3 kids, 2 bedroms, 1 darn MBA."

In the 9th month of 2011, my hubby said to me, "Get ready for a 9 homeless days in Madrid while we look for an apartment! 8 times to and from school, 7 hour flight, 6 moves, 5 student visas, 4 suitcase, 3 kids, 2 bedroom apartment, and 1 MBA."

In the 10th month of 2011, my hubby said to me, "The Spanish dine at ten!"

In the 11th month of 2011, my hubby said to me, "11 days we won't have internet, there's no way we can dine at 10, we will wander 9 days through Madrid, 8 trips to school, 7 hour flight, 6 moves, 5 visas, 4 suitcases, 3 kids, 2 bedroom place and 1 MBA"

And in the 12 month of 2011, my hubby said to me, "Look how far we've come in 12 months: We have internet, dinner's always at 6:30, found a great place to live, the 8 walks to school are good exercise, the flight wasn't so long, 6 moves were exciting! 5 visas are done and stamped, 4 suitcases with room to spare, 3 kids gets us a discount in Spain! We got a place with 3 bedrooms not 2, And I am going to ACE that M-B-Aaaaaayyyy!!!!



Wishing all of you a very Happy Holiday Season!!
-The Martinez Bunch of Adventurers! (MBA -hahaha)