I feel like tomorrow is Good Friday and Easter all rolled up in one day. I'm not really sure how to celebrate Easter weekend with the boys here in Qatar. Being a Muslim nation, Easter is not a recognized holiday - Ken will have to work on Easter Sunday. Friday is the day for worship and the day we always attend church. So it's a bit like having Easter Sunday on Friday, but really it's Good Friday.
To add even more holiday confusion, we were also invited to a Holi party for tomorrow afternoon!! Holi is a Hindu holiday celebrating spring ... something about colors and water. I'll have to take pictures and post them. I have no idea what we're getting ourselves into, but I was told to bring water guns, towels, swim suits, and ice cream (I am ever so grateful I wasn't asked to bring any of the traditional Indian dishes and sweets as I wouldn't know where to begin!) I figure any party where you're told to bring water guns will be a good party! It should be a fun weekend!
On another note ... thought I'd post a picture of me and Ken. I'm always taking pictures of the boys, but rarely pictures of us. This was from last weekend when we went to a Jazz Club at the St. Regis Hotel. It was a great night out with a huge group of friends!
The boys had a great time playing basketball with the neighbor kids tonight. I tried to take some pictures, but I definitely need a better camera! I was proud of them for playing with the "big" kids and not giving up. Darcy is a great kid - he is older than our boys (8 yrs old) but he always wants to be on Jaden and Nicholas' team and he always passes the ball to them so they can try to shoot.
Nicholas dribbling
Jaden shoots and scores!
After Nicholas got his plaster splint off, he was able to start swimming lessons again. We switched to a new swim club and the boys are really enjoying their new classes! Yeah!! Can't wait to see their progress!!
Nicholas working on his kicks
Apparently the boys forgot about the firetruck playground in the compound. They rediscovered it this week and have been having fun pretending to be fire fighters. They even gave me a lesson in "Stop, Drop, and Roll."
On Tuesdays, Nicholas and I meet up with some friends at different parks around town. Last week, we went to a new park with a great view of Doha. The park was rather small, but the sea breezes and views were fabulous!
I haven't posted in a while ... there hasn't been much to report. After a week with a plaster splint, Nicholas had mixed emotions when it came off. He was so excited to have it taken off, but as soon as the splint was removed, he realized that his elbow still hurt and he wanted the splint back!! Poor kid!! It took longer than I expected for him to use his arm again. He still doesn't have full range of motion back, but it gets a little better each day, so I guess all is well.
The day after he had his cast removed, Jaden came home sick from school. Turned out to be scarlet fever! :-( We were trapped inside for 6 days!! As soon as he got on antibiotics, the rash and fever all disappeared, but the doctor wanted us to stay inside until he was rash free for 48 hrs! Good thing my kids are both home bodies. They really handled it all in stride ... I was the one going stir crazy!! But we all survived. Everyone is back at school and regular activities.
This past Saturday, Jaden's school hosted a "Just Tri It" Triathlon for kids of all ages. It was ridiculously well organized and a TON of fun!!! Jaden swam one time across the pool (Jaden was the only one to do backstroke), rode his bike 500m, and ran for 500m. It was super cute. Nothing was timed and everyone got a certificate. He did a great job!
Finishing his lap on the bike
Running around the field ... on his way to the finish line!
Getting his certificate
At the finish line
After the race, we celebrated with burgers and fries at Johnny Rockets with Jaden's friend Ruhaan. (Yes Nicholas wore his Power Ranger costume all day.)
Victory celebration with Ruhaan
Later that evening, we decided to check out a new restaurant (new to us anyway). It was called Wagamama ... delicious Japanese food at the base of ZigZag Towers. The courtyard was really very pretty ... too bad it was FREEZING that night (I think the 60s).
Zig zag tower
Boys being their typical silly selves before dinner
