Up to God and Back: October 2015

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Al Zubarah Adventure

The kids didn't have school today (teacher workday) so we gathered up some friends and went on a cross country adventure!!! We loaded up the car and took off for Al Zubarah, Qatar, in the northwest corner of the country. It took an hour to get there. We toured a fort and learned a bit about the history of Qatar. Then we tried to tour the archeological dig site just outside the fort, but apparently it was closed?? The sign said it was open, but the gate was clearly all locked up and we couldn't find anyone to help us. So we decided to set off for a beach to have a picnic lunch. Unfortunately there was a fence blocking the immediate beach access, so we drove a bit farther north to Al Ruwais, Qatar ... thinking we would find a beach somewhere on the tip of the Qatar Peninsula. Unfortunately that part of Qatar has a really long tidal zone where the beach extends FOREVER before you finally get to any water!!! We found a park to each lunch and set out to touch the water. It seemed like you could walk all the way to Iran it was so flat for so long! We finally made it to the water and then headed back. It was a fun day in the sun! We'll have to do it again, but next time, we'll have to go to one of the beaches that are easier to access. :-)

Climbing the sloped sign upon arrival

Liam, Ben, Jaden, Savannah, Nicholas, and Vivian at Al Zubarah Fort

Jaden succeeds in climbing the sign. Al Zubarah Fort is a UNESCO Heritage Site

In front of the cannon

Entering the fort

part of the exhibit .. Jaden and Savannah behind bars

And the family clowns ... Nicholas and Vivian

Boys in front of the fort

Photo op with camels

A great day with the kids! And a great picture too!!!

Next stop ... beach:

view of "beach" from the park where we had lunch ... clearly low tide!

Off we go, in search of water at the beach

beached dhow off the coast

Looking back at the park where we started. We still hadn't reached water at this point.

We finally found some water! And look how shallow it still is!! I really think you could walk to Iran or Bahrain from here!! Shallow as far as the eye can see!!! Water temp was great though! A lovely day in the sun!!

Savannah found some great sea shells!!!

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Nicholas says good bye to Jaydon

Today was an especially sad day for Nicholas ... he had to say good bye to his best friend Jaydon. They met playing soccer 2 years ago, but became best buds last year in Kindergarten. They really are 2 peas in a pod. Quiet, smart little boys with an incredibly silly side once you get to know them. Jaydon and his family are moving back to Malaysia this weekend and we will miss them terribly!!!

We'll have to go visit them in Kuala Lumpur some day!!!

Nicholas' 7th Birthday

What a joy to celebrate Nicholas' 7th birthday last week!! Not sure where the years have gone ... I remember his birth like it was yesterday. It was the night of the Vice Presidential debate between Sarah Palin and Joe Biden and I wanted to watch. I went to the doctor for my 37 week well visit and found out that I was leaking amniotic fluid so they sent me straight to the hospital to be induced. The hospital was across the street, so I called Ken as I walked over to check myself in. My Doctor had a conference to attend that night but said she would be around until 6pm. By 5pm I was having contractions, but was in no pain thanks to the epidural. Around 5:30pm, I felt a shift in my abdomen, the nurse checked and Nicholas had crowned. They hurried to get ready for me to push right as my doctor strolled in before heading off to her conference. I pushed 2, maybe 3 times, and out he came! He was born at 5:55pm. We cuddled in the hospital and watched the debate on TV! :-)

Seven years later, we celebrate the young man God is calling him to be! Such a silly, sweet, smart little man!!! Nicholas brings much joy and personality to our otherwise boring family. :-)

Happy Birthday Nicholas!!!

Nicholas wanted vanilla cupcakes to share with his class for his birthday

Nicholas' class sings Happy Birthday

Selfie with the birthday boy!!

For his birthday party, Nicholas invited his friends to play soccer (at the tennis courts in our compound). It was still 100degrees outside, so we had several water breaks and when we were sufficiently hot and sweaty, we handed out water guns for an epic water gun battle! The kids LOVED it!!! Unfortunately I was too busy with the refill stations to get an pictures of the water gun action.