Let's Go Shopping!

We just celebrated our third year of living in the Middle East.  We've learned A LOT since moving over here.  One of the things that surprised us is how truly easy (and fun) it is to shop over here.  I spent months before we moved overseas, stockpiling different food items to bring to the field with us, as I was so afraid I would not be able to find them here.  One item was this Badia fajita seasoning.  I used valuable luggage space to bring over five bottles of this stuff, (Made in FL, but couldn't even buy it in Texas!)  only to find it on the shelf at the grocery store here!

Not only that but they also had Lawry's (brought that, too!) and the entire line of Badia seasoning!  They even have Kroger brand at this store!

Of course, they also have the spice buffet, here, where you can buy your fresh ground spices by the kilo.  This aisle smells AMAZING!

  

Or, there is always the olive buffet, if you chose!

When Mema and Nana are here, we always stop and buy a cup of fresh corn when we go to the mall. You would not believe how tasty it is!

There are always fun places to stop and have your picture taken, like in a pretend Bedoin tent.

If you are not able to read Arabic, you may not really find it is a big problem, because many things are written in English. However, sometimes the spelling is a little creative, especially since there is no letter "P" in Arabic.  This makes for a good giggle and photo op, now and then.  Take this CRAB, for instance.  The arabic spelling is correct!

Or if you like, you may buy some fresh camel's milk...It's Camelicious!...

and only $11.86 in USD!!

 Sometimes, imported items can be really expensive!

These KISSES will cost you... $16.24... and the York patties... $24.99!!

I REALLY wanted these blueberries, since they don't seem to have these here,  but I am still unwilling to pay $28.24 for them.

But after shopping, you may go and buy yourself a cup of 

coffee at Starbuck's!

 If you are not a coffee drinker, you can choose from the soda aisle.  There is something for everyone!

You can have a Coke and a smile!

Or find something else that interests you!

Or maybe you want to go have a fresh fruit smoothie!  These are really popular here!

And if you are still missing the States, we know where to go get a traditional American burger!  This one is especially messy, since it has a fried egg on it.  "Ikteer zacky!!"  That means, "Very delicious!"

But watch yourself, don't get caught holding hands with your spouse at the mall... you might get thrown out on your caboose!  I don't know, as I was unwilling to test this one!

The exciting news here this Spring is the opening of the Ikea store!  It is really close to our baseball field... How CONVENIENT!!!

Our favorite place to shop is down in the old section of town, where you can find all manner of treasure...  Like these shepherd's coats...that are SO WARM and cozy when you are living in a cement building in the cold winter without central heat!!  The head covering is optional.

If you are shopping for trinkets... they've got them!  I especially like the wooden camels.  My boys always show more interest in those daggers on the wall.

You can buy your fresh spices here, too!

And the produce is fabulous!  And cheap!

I have a hard time resisting these bags every time... Especially since they only cost about $4!

So, who wants to come over and go shopping with me? I'll take you to visit my national friends and we will drink Turkish coffee together!  It will be fun!!

SNOW DAY!!

Oh, the weather outside is frightful... 

  

So a snowball fight sounds delightful!...

Since school is canceled today...

We'll just hang out and play!

It's not every day you get to see snow-covered palm trees!

When we DO have a snowstorm in our Middle Eastern town, people come out of their homes to play...Well, a few kids and families, but mostly the "shabbab," or young men.

It was quite entertaining to watch the boys play outside with their dad, engaging probably 20 different  teens and 20-somethings in a major snowball fight, many throwing snowballs from their moving cars.

See the guys across the street with their snowballs ready to launch?

"Don't shoot!  I'm unarmed!"

After about 90 minutes of fighting, they were all ready to go home.  So our neighbors came over to shake our "team's" hands, and congratulated Dad on his strong throwing arm.  All those years of baseball finally paid off!

And when it was all over, there was spiced tea and peppermint hot chocolate on the stove...

hot bagel sandwiches from the sandwich maker, and 

2 crockpots of roast beef, potatoes, and carrots, and... 

 pinto beans cooked with the leftover pieces from

this Thanksgiving ham!

And fresh homemade bread from this bread maker 

(a gift from a friend who left here a while back ago).

Now just pray that our electricity holds out!!  

Truly we are thankful today, for our family and neighbors, and the life God has given us here.  Our life is always interesting and full of surprises!  What better way than a snowstorm to help us meet our neighbors!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Good-Bye Birthday Season

If you know our family well, you know that we all have our birthdays in the summer months, beginning with Madison in June.  This year she chose a "Mixed-Up Makeover" theme, celebrating her 10th year at our house with friends in crazy face-paint and "Who-hair".  It's the only party I've ever hosted where the guests asked to have their hair and faces washed before we could cut the cake.

Following Madison is Teddy in July.  Yes, that's right, I'm talking about our cat, and yes, that's right, he had a party, too!  Teddy turned 1 this year and the kids celebrated by throwing him a party. Complete with a gift, making him a tuna fish cupcake, and inviting guests, the family who adopted Teddy's sister last year.  It was our first party ever thrown for a pet, but I'd say Teddy rather enjoyed the attention and especially his CAKE!

Mackenzie was next in August, celebrating her 7th year.  She opted for another birthday party at the park.  Instead of tuna fish, Kenzie chose 2 cakes, one strawberry and one pineapple.  Lots of friends came and games were played.  One special guest was Nana, imported from Texas to enjoy the party with us.

Dad's birthday was also in August.  He chose to skip the party, and settled for pizza and cake at home instead.

Also in August, Ethan turned 14!  We all enjoyed having Nana with us for another birthday as Ethan chose the food court at one of the nicer malls in town so he could have super-spicey hot wings for dinner and a Cinnabon for dessert, all in one place.

Here E is with Nana in front of Dad's birthday present, an Arabic painting.

Mason turned 12 in September and felt like there no other place like Chili's to spend his special day.  He had friends over to celebrate the occasion with movies and ping-pong a few days after the date.

Mom's day was in September and she chose dinner out with the family for Chinese food.  But since we have no pictures from that day, here's one from our anniversary (19 years!!) just a little bit later, where dad took her for Syrian food.

Somewhere in the midst of all the celebration, we took Nana to the beach and taught her how to snorkel and "swim with the fishes!"

Kenzie's suited up for a snorkeling lesson.

It was a sweet way to close the summer.  We are so thankful Nana could come and see us, as her visit really was the highlight of our summer.  God is so good!