5 weeks later.....

And so I've had quite an absence from my blog. I, once again, vow to do better.

The family is well. We are getting more and more infused into our new world and it seems to go by quickly! We've been here 4 months now, which means we have 20 months left of this adventure before we start a new one (don't even ask what that may be - I have NO clue!). Paige is still hilarious, independant and a little Dara Torres in the making. The kid is a master in the pool. She can work her floaties like no other. It shocks people when they see her go. She is also telling us when she poo poos so I am afraid potty training will come soon. Potty training is not my forte` and I dread it.

Maggie Magpie is getting taller and more grown up every day. I can't believe our first baby is already 4 1/2. I wanna cry just thinking about her going off to Kindergarten next year. Maybe that's why I am keeping her home with me this year and having "Home Preschool." 1 day under our belt and no one was crying, whining or yelling so I consider it a success. We will see. We are also starting her daily "To Do" list for her allowance. So far, so good because she really wants to earn money to "buy something cool" at Disneyland next month. I guess I've given in to bribes. So be it. She also had a little friend sleep over the other night (our first non-cousin sleepover). The girls had so much fun playing Barbies until I forced them to go to bed. Small world - this family is from Medford, Oklahoma originally and now calling Saudi home.

Wiley and I are planning out our European vacation next month. So much to see and do and trying to plan it around 2 kids and a mammoth stroller is a bit daunting. I am sure we will all be exhausted but that's what vacation with kids is all about, right?!?! Wiley is still enjoying his job and we are so glad to be in Bahrain and able to see him every single night. I just finished up teaching 1st - 3rd grade VBS on base last week and had a great time. Now, I am working on lesson planning for Maggie's homeschool all while being stuck indoors with 2 fighting children. It's a good thing I think they are cute.....

As you may know, Ramadan has been going on since Aug. 11th and will continue thru Sept 10th (I think). As a non-Muslim, we are still prohibited from eating and drinking in public during daylight (even in our cars). Of course, half the time I forget and can be seen chugging my water bottle or coffee cup flying down the road as my girls eat snacks in the back seat. Such rebels we are. We are also supposed to dress more conservatively than normal - pants and sleeves past our elbows. I do adhere this rule :-)
As for the temps - OMG it is HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 115-120 with nasty humidity. I've never sweat so much in my life. Just getting the girls down to the car brings on a whole new meaning of sweat. I've ran outside at night (still 100 degrees) and seriously thought my insides were boiling. I have been hot since we stepped off that stinkin' rotator in May and I can't wait for cooler temps.