Another busy week has passed. This week's blog has taken me FOREVER, I was almost done w/it a few days ago and then I pressed something and the whole FREAKIN' blog disappeared! So I started over TWICE, adding the pictures and every time I hit save it would disappear! VERY FRUSTRATING!!! This net book I'm using is very sensitive, have to be careful about which keys I'm touching! The whole blog process takes a while b/c I have to download the week's pic, sort & label them, pick the ones I like and start adding them before I can start typing the week's events. Dan wonders how I can remember all the details of the event, I don't know either, I just do, but when he asks me about something else, I have no clue...he calls it selective memory. Whatever!
I've completed my art class, Beginner's Printmaking and have made 3 different types. I will post pictures later, since I'm using them to decorate our home. I have one more, an etching to do, but my teacher said I can take my time doing that since I told her about our shipment.
We FINALLY got our shipment last Monday 10/18 after being in the port for about a month. Custom officials were back logged from the holidays. Let's hope there are no hiccups and we will actually get to sleep in our KING size Temper Pedic bed w/luxurious soft sheets before the week's over! No more scratchy 180 TC sheets!!! Come to me 300 + TC!!!
On to the week's events:
Sat, 10/2- we took them to their 1st gymnastic class after their nap. They had a fun time bouncing, rolling, climbing, flipping, jumping of a time! The class is only 30 minutes from 5:15-5:45 held at the Elementary school gym. Dan thinks it's a rip off b/c all the teacher does is show us what to do and we do it w/the kids. The facility is already provided by Aramco and she charges us a fee for the class. He said why don't I just get some moms together and go there and let the kids bounce around? Any case, kids are having fun and it's something to do with them out of the house.
Mon, 10/4- Tina and Ismael (Ismi) came over for a playdate. Tina was ready to get out the house after being homebound. We got to catch up, not that we don't already do that on the phone weekly, just different when it's in person.
Dan and I shopped at the Panda. The kids don't mind us not being here when they wake up from their nap, they've gotten used to Semira and really like her. I think she likes her alone time w/them too! I'm really glad we found someone that fits w/our family!
Tues, 10/5- Kelly and her daughter, Jaylin came over for a playdate. I briefly met Kelly when I first arrived b/c I let her borrow our travelmate. She went back to Canada and came back a couple of weeks ago. Jaylin is also 2 and I was looking for a little girl for Skyler to play with since there seems to be a lot more boys around here.
Wed, 10/6- DWG's playdate. Saw Carissa, Saadia, and Lyena. What can I say, love these adult convo!
When kids woke up from nap, we went over to Kelly's house to celebrate Jaylin's 2nd bday! It was a really nice party for the kids and adults. Our kids' dinner consisted of eggrolls, wonton crunchers, chip, dips and chocolate cake! They don't usually eat like this, but it's a party and gotta let them be kids. We saw a lot of people we already knew b/c let's face it, there're all in Exploration and that's the group Dan recruits for. We did met a few new friendly folks. It's so nice to go to parties b/c it makes you feel like you're not in Saudi (with all the restrictions).
Thurs, 10/7- took the kids to the baby pool after their nap. There was no sun by the time we came, it's get darker earlier now that Ramadan passed. I brought my camera too b/c I saw a few Saudi moms took pictures the last time we went. The kids were not into it this time, I think it's b/c they didn't feel like eating their snack before it. Only Tobin was having a good time. Skyler and Hudson were on the fence, especially Skyler after a bunch of kids joined them. She just wanted to be in Daddy's arm.
Fri, 10/8- our first outing to the Aramco beach w/the Felembans. The night before I made turkey wraps, pb&j's, and got everthing ready to go. Dan blew up their floats and packed the van. Peter and Ynoohi were nice enough to let us borrow coolers. I felt like so much like a mom getting things ready for a trip, it was a really really really good feeling! :-)
That morning, we changed the kids into their regular diapers, let them eat breakfast, and loaded them in the van. Tina and Kamal came by about 8ish but we weren't ready so they went to get ice for us. I didn't want to change them into swim diapers since we are rationing those. I don't want to run out before our December Houston trip and I can't remember if I packed more in our shipment. We made it there about 9ish. It's not very far from camp at all. You definitely feel like you're in the desert getting there since there's nothing but sand everywhere, no lush landscaping like on camp.
The beach is very nice, clean clear water not like Galveston. It was disappointing to see so much trash on the beach though, people just don't care and litter is everywhere. Dan and I spent some time picking out plastic bags and junk out of the water where we were hanging out. Kids really enjoyed it, they were not scared by the waves either. Normally there are no waves, but that morning there was a slight breeze. I'm so proud they did really well at the beach. It's pretty shallow and we never gone far enough out to where it gets deep, I woud say atleast a 100 feet or so of shallow ground. We picked a covered area by the playground so they got to go on the slide too. And they were really good kids, they knew not to wander too far off. And it was manageable! Outings like this gives us confidence to take them places we thought were too difficult. Everyone had a fun time!We left to make it home for their nap time. Didn't want to have to drive them around for their nap, better to not be on a Saudi road for that long!
Pictures of the week:
Gym class- this is at end of class, they have a parachute and the parents flap it while kids are on it
Tobin & Semira, Dan & Hudson
Hudson, he has such a nice groove!
They loved climbing up this ladder and ringing the bell
Tobin
Playing w/Ismi. They love this look and seek Backyardigan book they received for their bday from Ismi. They pretty know all the items in it.
Tobin & Hudson
Tobin, one of their favorite thing to do is bang on the walls w/all their tools. There's already a spot in the dining room wall w/all the knicks. Thank goodness it's not our forvever house. :-0)
Tina & Elena
Ismi and the baby stroller...Tina wanted a picture of this, Kamal prolly not so much
This is freakin' hilarious: they all like to follow me into the downstairs bathroom. This one time they didn't want to leave so I left and turned off the lights...I don't know why this is so fun to them.
Jaylin and Kelly came over to play.
Pool time in the Hills! this is one of the pool, there's another one for laps and the baby pool we're in.
Hudson
Hudson, Tobin & Skyler w/Daddy. Skyler didn't want to wear her bathing suit at first, took about 10 minutes of tantrum before she wore it then she wanted shorts like her bro.
Skyler in Daddy's arm after a bunch of kids came in the pool.
Tobin
He was really into "swimming".
after the pool we went and got pizzas at the snack bar, it's more of fast food place in the recreational area. The kids ran around this pole as we were waiting for our pizzas. Hudson's the one w/o a shirt.
Chowing down on pizzas. They can almost finish a whole pizza between them. Skyler likes to poke out a hole w/her teeth or finger in the middle of the pizza first before actually eating it. Boys just like to shove it in their mouths.
Maps- getting directions and giving directions in Saudi can be very "entertaining" since no one knows the street names and they all have "Faisal" or "King" in them. I think this is one to the paint store. "X" does mark the spot! :-)
one Dan got from the on-camp mechanic to get a fuse for the van's light.
I wrote in the McDonald's. :-)
Beach fun!
Ismi, Hudson & Skyler- guess they're having a discussion about who gets what shovel and pail???
Hudson, Tobin & Skyler w/Daddy. Skyler didn't want to wear her bathing suit at first, took about 10 minutes of tantrum before she wore it then she wanted shorts like her bro.
Skyler in Daddy's arm after a bunch of kids came in the pool.
Tobin
He was really into "swimming".
after the pool we went and got pizzas at the snack bar, it's more of fast food place in the recreational area. The kids ran around this pole as we were waiting for our pizzas. Hudson's the one w/o a shirt.
Chowing down on pizzas. They can almost finish a whole pizza between them. Skyler likes to poke out a hole w/her teeth or finger in the middle of the pizza first before actually eating it. Boys just like to shove it in their mouths.
Maps- getting directions and giving directions in Saudi can be very "entertaining" since no one knows the street names and they all have "Faisal" or "King" in them. I think this is one to the paint store. "X" does mark the spot! :-)
one Dan got from the on-camp mechanic to get a fuse for the van's light.
I wrote in the McDonald's. :-)
Beach fun!
Ismi, Hudson & Skyler- guess they're having a discussion about who gets what shovel and pail???
Skyler and Ismi
getting them in their swimsuits and lotioned up. Their wearing their new 2T clothes, but they are big on them.
Kamal helping us load up the van.
Tobin
more of the lush landscape...it's only on the Aramco beach, not sure if the regular beach has this and the road to the beach was pretty much all sand and undeveloped. We actually saw three abaya wearing ladies on swings at the regular beach...still don't understand how they can wear that in the heat. Guess if you've done it at an early age and this is what you're taught and have only known.
our spot on the left. Tina w/Elena. The ones on the regular beach are more enclosed, not as open.
park- it was too hot to play, the sand was hot, the metal & plastic were HOT HOT HOT!
Kamal and Elena.
Dan
Ismi, got the hand and foot right...too cute!
Ismi
Hudson
they loved playing under this dolphin too, it's a rinsing station.
Hudson, Skyler and Ismi. Tobin in the far back.
getting them in their swimsuits and lotioned up. Their wearing their new 2T clothes, but they are big on them.
Kamal helping us load up the van.
Tobin
more of the lush landscape...it's only on the Aramco beach, not sure if the regular beach has this and the road to the beach was pretty much all sand and undeveloped. We actually saw three abaya wearing ladies on swings at the regular beach...still don't understand how they can wear that in the heat. Guess if you've done it at an early age and this is what you're taught and have only known.
our spot on the left. Tina w/Elena. The ones on the regular beach are more enclosed, not as open.
park- it was too hot to play, the sand was hot, the metal & plastic were HOT HOT HOT!
Kamal and Elena.
Dan
Ismi, got the hand and foot right...too cute!
Ismi
Hudson
they loved playing under this dolphin too, it's a rinsing station.
Hudson, Skyler and Ismi. Tobin in the far back. Skyler, Tobin & Hudson
Oh weeeee, all done, this post's only taken me several weeks to do, but glad it's done! Enjoy!
Oh weeeee, all done, this post's only taken me several weeks to do, but glad it's done! Enjoy!
