My cute baby

Al Khobar: more craziness

So this past weekend we decided to take a trip to Al Khobar, an Eastern province of Saudi Arabia. There are a couple of towns located there along the gulf coast so it is a nice break from in-land Riyadh. Our first morning there was spent hunting for this "Thursday morning Market" I think only the expats all it that because the locals had no idea what we were talking about. The first place we found was the vegetable and fish market (Felicity loved it Rory hated it). Soon after we realized we were in the wrong place we hunted again and then found it. Well worth the search the girls made their way through the crowd to see the baby rainbow chicks. So cute but I'm sure they were slightly damaged from all that bright dye. While they were playing with the baby chicks and bunnies I tried to haggle with an antique vendor for some of his goods, but he didn't want to play my game (I think he did not like me). Oh well. I found the basket ladies who were more than willing to play. I got some great baskets for $75.

Next we followed some local lds folks to their "private private" beach and played the rest of the afternoon in the water and flying kites, it was bliss. I found it interesting that even on a private beach we were surrounded by Saudis who covered there picninc spot with a half tent for privacy. It's like a stretch of fabric that is unrolled around their picninc tables to keep anyone from viewing the wife who was only showing her eyes anyway.

Friday we hooked up with the Lockyers for lunch and then went to church in the Aramco compound, it was awesome!!!!!!! The lesson focused on 3 Nephi 17 when Christ visits the Nephites.

Saturday was our last day and I had a mission to find the local scene. So we headed off into the sunset to find out what else was so cool about Khobar. Sure enough we found a slew of beaches and even a fair-ish area where they sell goods and give camel rides, four wheeling, cotton candy etc. very cool. Unfortunately we were a little late to join in the fun since we had to get back to Riyadh that night. Earlier we did get to catch some splashes, after having bought full length bathing suits for me and the girls (sorry no pics). Pretty interesting though, mine was very bright so I wore my abaya over top and snorkeled anyways.

to catch up

A few things to catch up on. First; can I just say "What a Crazy country this is that I'm living in!" (not meant to offend anyone) I mean, wow! Last month we finally ventured out for a weekend trip, which took weeks of planning with drivers and permission forms and so on. So we go to Bahrain, supposedly the peaceful sweet vacation spot for Saudis and expats. Drinking, bathing suits, you name it. Soon after we are on our way we catch word that it is now blowing up in protests. But we decide to just get there and see how it goes. It was nice we went to this wonderful museum where we learned a lot about the Arab culture and bedouin life. The girls bought a little souvenere etc. The next morning we hear of a few deaths from the police's early morning raid on the protestors camps (children mothers Fathers and all were forced out of the square). So we decide to get serious about checking around to see just how seriousely we should respond. So Rich calls the local Mckinsey office who is surprised we are there and offers to get us the first flight out. Enough reason for us to get out of dodge, so we book our driver to take us back and we headed out. However we could not resist stopping by a craft mart to buy some baskets, the basket maker made the girls these cute little animals and bracelets. And we found a camel farm that we visited as well. They had the cutest baby camels.

Sexy ankles

Rich and I took our first date night out and went to Al Deira Souk. We had a blast wandering around the alley like roads wandering in and out of shops. The shopkeepers were so nice, we spent quite a bit of time just visiting with them. Everyone wants to tell us all about their antiques, crafts, rugs, and scarves. We got a few business cards and plan to go back for purchaces. Getting a little hungry we decided to ask someone for a good place to get a bite. Mohammad (the cousin of Mohammad the antique dealer Rich ran into a few months ago) sweetly offered to fetch us the best shawarma in town, but we insisted on walking. So he walked us to this little hole in the wall (no where to even sit) restaurant with the yummiest chicken shawarma.
Later we caught a picture of a man making Igal's on a machine. These are the black ropes that Saudi men wear atop of the scarf on their head. It was cool to watch him wind them. The rest of our last half hour was spent walking around looking for the Mosque where we were to meet our driver Mushtaq. This was perhaps the most awkward half hour I have ever had in my life. We were out closer to the main street and the wind was picking up, however I hadn't realized that I wore a knee length skirt and leggings with sandals. Not to mention that my abaya did not button down any lower than my waist so as to reveal my calves and ankles when ever it caught the wind. I think all the men thought I was a prostitute or something because they were drilling holes in me left and right with strange intense looks. I could do little about it though because I had the baby strapped to me in front and couldn't really hold my abbaya shut. To put the icing on the cake, my head scarf would not stay on either. Argh!!! Oh well I guess they're all gonna have to be shocked, I thought. Rich just chuckled and commented about how sexy my ankles are.
Later I was talking with my friend about it and she said thats where the Mutawa headquarters are. I would have been so freeked out to have been approached by one of them (they would have yelled at me and made me leave). I'm sure it will happen to me some time while I'm here in Saudi.

It's raining in Riyadh

Homeschooling the neighborhood

Maia and Brooke

Rory's name in Egyptian Hieroglyphics

Felicity enjoying homeschool

Felicity and Quinn

Kingdom Tower in Riyadh

Felicity in her Abbaya in front of our Compound

We are just having a blast here in Riyadh Saudi Arabia. Our transition has been smooth sailing so far. I feel like I've been living in th stone age without a phone or internet. Now we're just awating our air shippment and then life can really begin. It's got Important stuff like rollerblades, jonny jump up for Pyper, art supplies, oh yeah and the girl's school curriculem!!! What did I get myself into? Homeschooling for the rest of the semester! No Fear, the internet is finally here (with a borrowed McKinsey computer to save me). But I think it really has been good so far, especially having had nothing to go on. It's a good challenge for me.

Some friends in our compound got to skip school because it flooded yesterday (yeah, can you believ it? RAIN in the desert) so they all came over to our place and did homeschool with us. It was great, we are making a big group effort timeline and it's strung around our school room. The kids put stuff on like: when underware was invented, guns, chocolate, sissors, bowling balls, chalk etc. I guess we'll get to the important stuff too, but its sure fun for them to drive a little.

Our little sand piper

I have really enjoyed getting to know our newest little addition. Pyper Maeve is about two and a half months old now and such a sweet ball of sunshine. She has a beautiful head of brownish red hair and little eyes just like her Grandpa. I'm convinced he sprinkled his happy personality on her before she left him in Heaven. I miss him.

Rory and City enjoy playing with Pyper as soon as they get home from school each day, helping to get her jammies on and snuggling with her before bed. She is cooing and sucking on her fingers all the time now. I cant believe she is already growing so fast. It seems faster for Rich because he has only been able to come home every few weeks or so. I know its been real hard for him so I try to keep pics updated on the web for him to see, and of course web camming when we can.

I am happy to have my body back to normal, now my battles are just making sure I keep a full supply of milk and washing bright yellow poopy diapers. I am so lucky to be able to stay home and be with my children, whom I enjoy every second with. They are definitely the best girls in the world (sorry to be byest). I guess I'm pretty much saying I have it good, no Great! Thanks for spoiling me Rich, I love you.

Getting ready for Baby

Well we are super excited for this next adventure, especially Rory and City. They cant believe they're going to be a big sister soon. They have been playing soccer all week, and the people teaching them are high school girls. I told Rory that maybe when she's in high school she can teach her baby sister soccer too. She grinned from ear to ear.

We are all on track at this point, car seats, stroller, crib etc, Only thing left is Daddy. Hopefully he comes home next Wednesday. I came home with reusable diapers and showed Rory how to use them. She got so excited about this amazing process, and immediately declared that she would be the first to change the baby! Sweet, if I can keep that enthusiasm for a couple months I will have really accomplished a miracle. Now we just need to spread it to daddy.