Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Soccer Season

The boys are really enjoying their soccer league this season.  Nicholas played especially well last weekend and I even managed to capture a few good shots (although from a distance ... we need a better camera!)

Nicholas gets the ball out from the pack
Nicholas runs the ball down the field
Big kick and GOAL!!!
Since Nicholas' team had a few extra kids and were controlling most of the field, the coach tried to get Nicholas and his friend Jaydon to join the other team to help them out.  Neither of them wanted to switch teams, so Jaden (our Jaden) jumped in to play with the other team.  As a 1st grader on a team full of pre-school kids, Jaden quite literally ran circles around the kids.  I told him he could play but he couldn't score.  He could defend and carry the ball up the field but he had to pass if off to his team when ever possible.  He tried really hard to pass it off, but often there was no one for him to pass it too.  At first, some of the kids on Nicholas' team seemed a intimidated to play against Jaden, but not Nicholas - he used to playing against Jaden.  It was great to see them play against each other ...

Jaden joins the opposing team and runs the ball up the field ... that's Nicholas sprint to get in front of him and defend his goal


Nicholas is not afraid to get in there and get the ball away from Jaden

Brother vs. Brother

Game's over ... snack time!

Friday, February 21, 2014

Missed Opportunity

Funny story to share about a major missed opportunity at church this morning!  I just gained access to the gated lot at the church and we were parking in it for the first time.  As we were pulling in we noticed several police cars parked in the street and found it unusual.  Then we noticed several local men in their thobes and a lot of security in the parking lot.  We were most surprised to see all the Muslim men wandering around the Christian church compound, but I saw my friend heading inside and wanted to catch up with her.  We were early for church so Ken and the boys stayed in the car while I headed inside to help set up for children's church.

Once inside our helpers were all in a buzz and asked me if I saw him?  Saw who??  Prince Charles!!!  What??!!!!  Yes apparently I WALKED RIGHT PAST PRINCE CHARLES this morning!!!!  No idea why he was in Doha, but he attended the Anglican service that met right before our church service and then stuck around to shake hands with people and have pictures taken.  The one lady pulled out her cell phone and showed me the picture she snapped of Prince Charles.  I couldn't believe it!!

Since Ken was still in the car with the boys, I called and told him to keep his eyes open for Prince Charles and maybe they would see him before he left.  It took Ken a moment to realize which one was Prince Charles since he was looking for Prince William or Prince Harry, not their father!  Clearly Ken isn't into British royalty!!  But he thoughtfully grabbed his cell phone and switched it to video to take a video of Prince Charles standing in front of our church.  Wish I could share said video, but sadly Ken forgot to hit the start button.  So he videoed NOTHING!!! 

Don't you just love our clueless family??!!! 

At least I can always say I was this close to Prince Charles.  I literally walked right past him!!!

As we were leaving, I stopped to stand in the very spot Prince Charles was in when I walked past him!

Sunday, February 9, 2014

ASD Sports Day and Favorite Book Character Day

Last week was another busy week at ASD. 

On Tuesday, the boys celebrated ASD Sports Day with an full morning of fun games outside.  I surprised them and stopped by to check it out and I was so glad I did!  What an amazing and fun day!  The entire school (preK through high school) is outside or in the gym playing various games.  The music is blasting and every few minutes the loudspeaker counts down and every one rotates to a new station.  It's really well organized and so much fun!  Plus there are 1-2 volunteers from the US Military Base that help at each station.  I think they enjoy spending the day outside with the kids as much as the kids enjoy it!!  I didn't get to stay for very long but I was able to snap a few pictures ...
I walked onto campus and saw Nicholas right away.  He was playing tug o war with his class.  FUN!
Jaden was harder to find, but I finally found his class ... egg relays
Keeping track of both classes as they rotated around all the different stations was a tough job, but I managed to find Nicholas again at the 3 legged race!

This was a fun hula hoop game with music.  Everyone dances to the music and when it stops, you have to find a hula hoop to stand in.  Just like musical chairs they kept taking one away until the entire class was trying to all stand in one hula hoop!  So funny!!!

 

Nicholas' turn at the egg relay

 
The boys had a blast at ASD Sports Day and they came home and spent the entire afternoon playing soccer and street hockey outside.  It was a long day outside ... thank goodness this is the nice time of year!  :-)

It was also Reading Week at ASD and they had several special activities to encourage reading.  On Thursday, they got to dress up as their favorite book character.  I thought we did a brilliant(ly easy) job with Nicholas ... he loves the "Fly Guy" book series.  They are about a boy named Buzz who has a fly for a pet.  Nicholas just happens to have a tiny fly stuffed animal, so we found a little jar and drew a little bed to put inside (just like the books) and he wore a yellow shirt, blue shorts, and a ball cap (just like the main character always wears in the books).  It was super cute! 

Jaden couldn't decide who to go as (he doesn't ever have favorites ... he always likes everything).  So in the end he wanted to wear his karate gi.  So we decided to make him Sensei Wu from the Ninjago books and we made a hat and a beard to go with it.  He was happy.

Favorite book characters ... Sensei Wu from Ninjago and Buzz from Fly Guy

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Crazy hair day

The boys had crazy hair day at school on Thursday and since I volunteer in their classes on Thursdays, I surprised them by making my hair crazy too!  A fun day!! 

Crazy Santa hats on crazy hair day.  (Nicholas insisted his hat be on a diagonal because "that's the way Santa wears it".)

Off came the hats for the big reveal ... crazy hair!!!

Yes, I went to school like this.  Nicholas and I even went out to lunch afterwards. 
This coming week, the boys have Sports Day (outside games all day at school), screen free day (entire family encouraged to give up all screens - TV, computer, video games, ipads, etc for the entire day) and Favorite Book Character Day (dress up like your favorite book character).  It's going to be a busy week!!! 

Another Adventure Begins!

Before we even get settled into our new routine with me working, we have added to the family!  Welcome Maps! 




This adorable little kitten was found in one of the backyards on our compound and some friends of ours have been caring for her while looking for a permanent home.  They approached Ken at church last Friday to see if we were interested in adopting her.  We met her the following day and brought her home the day after that.  She really is the cutest and sweetest little thing!  All black with just a bit of white on her chest and belly.  She can be crazy playful which the boys love, although we need to trim her claws!  We've had a blast playing with her and getting to know her this week!  Jaden and Nicholas are trying to teach her how to sit on command.  Love it! 

I'm not really certain why our friends gave her the name Maps, but the boys don't seem interested in changing her name, so Maps it is!  It works for our map loving family!  :-)