2 Friends...2 Birthdays..2 Much Fun!

Molly's birthday is today, February 19th..Jenn West hosted a great lunch for a group of Molly fans.  We had good laughs..fabulous food and great company.  Molly has improved all of our lives in one way or another.  I have to pay tribute to her for helping me to LOVE spinning.  I had done it before but NOBODY teaches or motivates like Molly does.  She is my dear friend, my inspiration in the gym and I aspire to learn to bake like she does!  Making the dessert for her luncheon today was as intimidating as teaching a spin class to the same people who are used to Molly's instruction, DAUNTING!

Dana's birthday was earlier in the month.  We had a day at the spa getting mani's and pedi's then had a great lunch at the mall.  It was so much fun to fill up the entire salon with friends.  I owe my peace of mind to Dana.  After moving here less than 2 years ago between her two children she has experienced 3 broken bones.  When Charlie broke his leg I knew Dana would be a great source of information and suggestions.  Thanks Dana.

I didn't even notice it at the time but this pic shows Ross from Friends even phoned in a Birthday wish to Dana as she enjoyed her latte.

100 Days of School

Pancake Wishes and Maple Syrup Dreams...

A family favorite is pancakes with homemade maple syrup.  The pancakes we all love are easily made with Red Rose Flour.  The difficult part is getting the flour.  It comes from my home town of Logan, Utah.  Even when we lived in Utah we would have to remember to ask Bobbi to bring some to us in Provo whenever we were running low.  A tradition whenever we stay at Bobbi's house is to have wonderful buttermilk pancakes for breakfast in the mornings.  Living here makes getting the flour nearly impossible.  I always bring back one bag after each summer so we really use it sparingly...I have to admit, I even forget about it.

The other day Jack asked if we could have pancakes for breakfast the next morning.  When I said we could if I had time to make them he suggested I just make them while I am still in my jammies because that's what Bobbi does.  He made it sound so easy I thought I would even wear my jammies that remind him of Bobbi and make sure I woke early enough to make his pancake wishes come true.  He was thrilled..and he even noticed I had my "Bobbi jammies" on.

Sam even included his Commander Cody in the pancake breakfast..I think he looooved the special breakfast too.

Valentine's Day 2009

Field Day at ACS

6 Weeks to Recovery

6 weeks after his accident Charlie finally got his cast removed.  He still walks with quite a limp but we are hoping all is normal and he will soon be running around again.  He got the cast off the same day as field day at school so he didn't really participate but had lots of fun watching the other kids.

It felt so good for him to get into a bath and get his leg scrubbed.  He has never been so excited to get into the tub.

100 Days and Counting

Tomorrow is the 100th day of this school year at ACS. It is hard to believe the kids have helped pack their lunches and backpacks, brushed their teeth and spiked their hair 100 times since summer ended. They have laughed, argued and listened to their favorite songs in Big Red as we have made our way across the island we call home: Abu Dhabi.
The school will celebrate by having the kids enter the gate through a big 100 with one of the "0's" serving as the opening. The kids are each supposed to bring 100 pieces of something to class. This is a BIG DEAL.
Cairo is taking 100 m&m's and Jack and Charlie are each taking 100 Craisins. Sam's 4th grade class must have outgrown the 100 items thing because he isn't taking anything but his spaghetti sandwich (his lunch everyday) and his homework, like always.
I've been slacking on the blog lately in spite of the many things that have happened in our lives since the last post on February 1st..Charlie's cast is off. He is wearing his Heely's (without the wheels for two more weeks!). The kids had field day at school. It is held in February here, before the weather gets too hot. We had a great Valentine's day dinner as a family and I received the best gift I could ask for from my valentine, a love letter. All is good here...The camels are training for the big final races that begin on the 22nd of March..Come one, come all. This day will be one to remember...AND that same week...ColdPlay, in concert at the Emirate's Palace outside on the beach..We do lead a great life. I'm happy everyday and couldn't ask for more fun, better friends or a more incredible family..

Oh, AND SHARI IS FINALLY BACK FROM HER CHRISTMAS BREAK.  (What month is it???)

Just kidding, she has been freezing in Montana, taking care of her ailing mother.  We are so happy she was able to come back and spend some time in the sun, having fun with us!

Salalah

Brad returned with some great photos and good memories of Salalah, Oman.  

Charlie Graduates to a Short Cast

Charlie's leg is getting better all the time.  We went 2 weeks between appointments this time and the bones had made progress.  He had too.  Charlie had nearly worn holes in the bottom of his cast because he was walking all over the place in that thigh-high green monster.  Two weeks was pushing the limit on foot odor for a cast so we were happy to get it off, have and x-ray and move into a shorter, walking cast.  They also threw in a boot to protect the bottom of the cast this time.

Jack has been such a great helper for Charlie.  He is anxious to help push him around the school in the borrowed stroller that takes him from building to building.  As a celebration for the new walking cast we went to the mall and got Charlie the Heely's he has been longing for.  He still cannot wear them but he can now look and them and dream of weeks to come.  He has returned Jack's kindness by allowing Jack to wear the NEW Heely's, even before he gets to break them in.  What a generous guy!  He wins the award in the family this week for being SELFLESS.

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR

The Chinese are brilliant! I love it that I have another chance to resolve my resolutions. Perhaps if I put them out publicly I will have a greater resolve and commitment to seeing them through.

• Be a more responsible, discriminating custodian of material goods. Sounds kind of cerebral, huh? Anyway, in my native tongue I would say: I want to accumulate less STUFF. The STUFF I do accumulate I have be willing to care for. Simplify all the little THINGS that find their way into my world and clutter it up leading to more to launder, more to clean, more to store, etc...The kids don't realize this will have an effect on their lives to. Hopefully, through my example they will learn to take less STUFF into their/our lives. And, the STUFF we do have will be better cared for, see more love and attention and will be disposed of responsibly when it has served it's purpose. MINIMIZE
• Expect the best of people and assume that's what you get from them. I don't really have a problem with "Expecting the best" but sometimes I have a problem with feeling disappointed or hurt when I get from people less than I think they are capable of. I don't even have a good example of this but I just want to remember that people are good and are doing the best they can and to focus on doing MY BEST for others.

That's it. There is always the details of living a healthier life and getting into better shape and cooking healthier meals and being more conscious of our carbon footprint..Those are ongoing and probably fall somewhere under the umbrella of the above mentioned. I'm exposed..feel free to help out if you notice me straying.