Rock On!

We're parents. And we're hip again! When I first heard of SonarKids music festival and the 18 euro price tag to enter, I definitely thought people were crazy to pay that much, especially during these hard economic times. But my friend Sophie showed me a cool little video of last year's event, and I was sold!

SonarKids is an annual music festival for funky kids and parents who can't go to the senior version of the three-day international affair in Barcelona. Its primary focus are the music concerts and DJ sessions, but it also has range of creative activities like skateboarding workshops, street dancing classes, art workshops, and other cool stuff. The event takes place at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Barcelona (MACBA) and the Center of Contemporary Culture of Barcelona (CCCB). The upside to having it here is that you can enter in the museums for free while you're there. If only it weren't just a one-day gig!

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Well, looky here...straight from Orange County, it's Paul Frank. They had some screen printing, some games, and coloring activities for the lil ones.

First concert -- indie pop band from Valencia, Spain, called Polock. From their lyrics in English, I swore they were Brits.

The line to get in the event seemed never-ending. Parents and kids came to get down to the live music.

Fernando screams to the singer, "Take off your shirt!"

Paloma gets her groove on.

Totally in the zone. I even found myself dancing with my eyes shut at some point and craving that beer, which I should have had.! It felt really good to be at a concert.

On a stage in the museum, some Catalan rappers showing the kids how to break beats, yo.

If you can't learn how to dance funky on the rough streets of Barcelona, you can learn right here.

Paloma blends into the Chupa Chups store.

Skateboarding workshops too...this is all beginning to feel very California-esque for me.

One day, Paloma, one day. We'll be making some kirigami and pop-up cards like these older kids.

We took advantage and roamed around the minimalistic museum.

From the third floor, we enjoyed watching the crowds below in the play area.

Paloma makes a show of appreciation with her little smile.

Engineering sounds. Future DJs can experiment with and record new sounds with this fun equipment.

Back at the Paul Frank booth to take a break and have some water.There were lots of lounging areas for kids and parents to relax.
Paloma says, why not just go for it? First concert, first...tattoo!

Julius the Monkey etched in her arm...for a week.

Last concert - electronic dance music project from Portugal, Buraka Som Sistema. Super energetic and so much fun. They invited a few kids to dance onstage. How cool are they!

With so much going on, Paloma hadn't taken a nap allllllll daaaaaay. Sleepy time.

Getting funky with her buddy Leone. Party time again!

We can't wait 'til next year!

Rainbow Party

It's a rainbow party! I LOVE color, and I'm not afraid to use it! On Saturday, we had an intimate gathering at our flat to celebrate Paloma's beloved second birthday. It was really fun and special.

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This took awhile to do, and the streamers are still hanging in our living room. I don't want to take it down yet. It brightens my day!

I haven't worn a party hat in ages.

Which color of the rainbow is missing?

I had lots of leftover crepe paper for the gifts. Color, I love you.

Pin the tail on the donkey? No! It's pin the flower on Paloma. And the winner is Katya!

I think I found my go-to recipe for chocolate cake. In case you're wondering, it's Barefoot Contessa's recipe.

Paloma realizes she's at a crossroads in her life. The big DOS!

Paloma was really stuck on those pom-poms.
Now let the toddler fun begin!

A quick refueling before they get back to business.

My friend's son, Leone, tries on some extra large sunglasses.

Pau's turn!

Dress-up kind of scares Paloma (for now). She contemplates posing with the Hitler 'stache.

We made Paloma's room into a photobooth. Someone needs to get their overbite checked by a dentist.

Dali?

My friend Sophie sports the 'fro.

Laura can't avoid the sunglasses either.

Who's under there?

Which Ruiz brother is which?

Sisters-in-law unite!

A loving, romantic moment.
And yet another one.

Thanks for coming, friends and fam!

Happy 24 months! Paloma 2.0 has arrived!

Eeks! I feel like I haven't posted in forever! Not that our lives are more important that anyone else's, but we've got lots to share! I guess I'm talking out of the fact that I'm finished with my classes for the school year (in hopes to get some summer classes starting in July), but at least I have about a week and a half to not worry about work. So a little more time to organize/blog/clean up/enjoy the hot sun during these first days of the glorious summer. And....

...the new and improved version 2.0 has arrived, folks! Forget about the archaic 1.5, Paloma is a bigger, better and much sleeker little girl. It's getting exciting to watch her grow into her own little personality, even though she copies everything we do. She can communicate very well now, and sometimes says things that surprise us like, "'cuse me, Mommy" or "Mommy, help". My favorite is "Awefome!" We really have to be more conscious of our adult language because she will repeat it. Oops!

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Taking a picture with an old ink cartridge, which I guess resembles our DSL camera? "'mile!" she says.

I'll admit it. I was a bit nervous when Paloma and her cousin Pau mounted their first ride. No seatbelts! That's the pre-cautious Californian in me!

They had a blast. Ding! Ding!

Running, climbing, higher and higher things while Mommy says, "Careful!" 500 times.

Driving these mini-cars are always fun until we have to peel her away and go home.

A few family portraits with Baby and Elmo.

Variation #2.

Now a family squeeze!

She loves couscous. She likes to eat it, but also likes to serve us and leave lots of grains everywhere! Parents of toddlers must have some sort of tolerance for a mess. I think mine is pretty high!

Improving her writing skills. I think she switches between her left hand and right hand. I'm kind of hoping for right since it's a right-hand man's world.

Audible gasp! Yes, that is permanent red marker on the walls. I was in the kitchen, and I came back and there was this. Mama was not happy! I found out that toothpaste of all things can take it out on certain surfaces, and also rubbing alcohol, which I'll have to work on soon!

Sad news! Her best buddy Jack and his mommy/my good friend Marie, are moving to Stockholm! As such is the expatriate life for me. Time to find more friends. We'll miss Jack soooo much!

My favorite ultimate photo this year so far! Someone tell me how I was able to capture two toddlers hugging each other, position their bodies and smile at the camera at the same time?

They fell down, laughed, then got up, hugged, fell down again, laughed, got up, hugged, fell down, laughed...
Paloma wanted to dress like her Baby one day. I realized it was the only way she'd let me put pigtails on her.
Party pics next!