Sunday, June 17, 2012

Check out Miss Snaggle-Tooth!


Yesterday K lost her first tooth!  Before I could even get her picture snapped, she lost another one!  Here she is.. all grins!  

She's been watching her brothers and sister getting paid the big bucks for those pearly whites for all of her 5 years.  I think that grin says, "Show me the money!" 

One more...


Here are a few pics from M's school program.  It was about healthy living...I think.  All songs and speaking in Arabic, of course!


There was singing...

And dancing.

M with some of his buddies after the show.

Thursday, May 31, 2012

A Fun Photo Op...

This is Jessica.  She came to visit us recently on her adventures traveling around the world.  She is a great photographer and here are some more of her fab photos!  The girls and I took her to visit an ancient amphitheater.





Boy, these stairs were steep!







Grandmas, don't look at the girls next to that ledge!


Love those sweet smiles!



Momma's gotta get a picture with her girls!


Spring Programs

With 4 kids the opportunities to go see end of year programs and "Show & Tell" presentations has been plentiful.  Many of them have had patriotic themes.  We've heard them sing many songs in Arabic and do lots of traditional dances.

E had a special part in his and did a unique dance.  His program had an "Arab Wedding" theme.



 M got to wear a traditional Arab dress for hers.


Here she is with a friend from her class.


 K was a flower...


and a strawberry!
She nailed her line, "A little bit sour, a little bit sweet.  All kids love me as a treat!"

I've been waiting my whole life for this...

We all hope our waiting skills improve with age and experience at having to wait.  The fact is, we are always waiting on something.  When you are a child, you can't wait for school break, for vacation, for your birthday, for graduation, or to grow up.  As a young adult we eagerly await marriage, our first job, our first house, our first child.  As our kids grow, start school and activities, the pace of life gets faster and faster, so much that the years seem to fly by.  And yet, we hear ourselves say, "I can't wait until the kids graduate from school, and are on their own two feet.  Then I can slow down."  We "can't wait" for retirement, so we can stop working and relax.  And in our last days on earth, as aging bodies, pain and illness encumber us, we may even long for death, when it is time, at last, for our appointment with our Creator.  When it comes right down to it,  we are all in the waiting room.  We all have an appointment with God.  What are you waiting for???

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Picture a walk downtown!

We have a friend visiting from the States.  She takes great pictures.  Here are a few from our latest walk downtown...

Souvenirs anyone?

Or some bunny rabbits?


Piles of pretty bags?



Of course you must stop for lunch... falafel, pita bread, hummus, fool (beans), tomatoes,  and hot tea.  We've decided this is our favorite place to eat downtown.  All for about 2.50 a head!

Lamps?

Lanterns?



Spices?


Not sure what to call that?
                      
                Or a hubbly-bubbly pipe?


Bread is considered "Life" here.  So you don't dare throw it in the trash.  Instead people leave it out for someone else, or perhaps, for the animals.  So there's bread lying around everywhere.  Even in the Roman ruins.

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Camping anyone?

Our family has had some opportunities to go camping recently.  It has helped us to enjoy yet another side of living in the Middle East.  
































 




Really beautiful here!  But I wouldn't want to wander through this wilderness for 40 years...


We slept on mattresses in the little white tents and shared our meals at the Bedouin style tent in the middle.
This place actually had nice, clean, indoor bathrooms with a shower.  This is the kind of camping Mom enjoys!


Be sure to check your sleeping bag for these BEFORE you climb in..."Deathstalker" Scorpions!

The boys took another trip with some friends.  No ladies' room in this joint...
Don't you just hate it when sheep come strolling through your campsite like they own the place?

Ready for a hike...  Loving life!