Museo Del Prado and El Gran Gatsby

So yesterday, we toured our neighborhood and enjoyed a Madrid tradition of drinking Vermouth. It's infused with fruit and spices and is served over ice...delicious!

sweet vermouth

But as for today...it was wonderful, well, as wonderful as taking your kids to an incredible art museum can be.

Ryan, at the entrance of the Prado

We, as a team, headed to Museo Del Prado to view some of the world's great masterpieces and it did not disappoint. Goya, El Greco, Velazquez, Rubens, etc were all on display and quite amazing to behold. So much of Spain's history is recorded through its artists and their work and it was a wonderful way to experience and understand the culture of the world we are in. 

However, when you take your small children to a place like this what you really come to understand are where all the bathrooms are and where the snack bar is...

Let's see...what did I hear the most today at the Prado...

"I have to go potty"

"I'm thirsty"

"I'm hungry"

"I want my sunglasses"

"I'm hungry"

"Where's daddy?"

"Jesus has a boo boo"

"I'm hungry"

"Where can we see the Jesus on the Cross?"

"Where is the Jesus tomb?"

"I'm hungry"

"Jesus has a big boo boo"

"Jesus got a band-aid"

(we saw A LOT of Crucifixion images)

"I'm hungry"

"I don't like this"

It was just a real treat:)

Clearly, I came to Spain with the expectation that my kids would suddenly be incredibly sophisticated. In reality though kids don't change much, even when you take them to Europe. 

But get a load of this walk to the museum...stunning!

 
 
 
 *I would love to be able to tell you what all of these buildings are...but i cant yet;)

So after our visit to the Prado we sat down to comida, the huge lunch that Spaniards enjoy, it was great. I mean, I think the kids liked it

seriously...

just trying to do our best to represent Alabama and the rest of  "Amurica"

 *Tonight the team is hosting the first event for university students. They have invited students to go see the Great Gatsby. I know our team was nervous that no one will show up, so please be praying that folks are there and good connections are made, but also be praying that for this team of students that they would trust that the Lord is faithful, that regardless of their successes or failures here God's kingdom is advancing and they cant do anything to stop that!

Real life is about to get started here in Madrid for the Moores and I feel so upside down! Like, I am about to have to go to the store and start cooking again, I am going to have to get my kids on some sort of schedule...and much to their chagrin everyday is not going to hold some grand adventure, well it probably will, cause lets face it, a trip to the store here is exciting and involves bringing mama close to a nervous breakdown the minute we step outside.

We have had some incredible days here this past week and I am sort of sad to see this 'honeymoon' phase come to an end. The team starts classes next week and their work schedule will really pick up. It will be interesting to see the dynamics of our team start to play out as, they too, realize we are not going home, but are here for another 7 weeks. Please pray that they would continue to love each other well...you can probably add Ryan and I to that list as well:) 

Lot of love from Madrid, 

Ada