Halloween 2012

We had our compound Halloween party last night.  The kids all gathered for pizza, and then went trick or treating to all the other teachers' houses.  Rob set up an adult trick-or-treating station with food, drinks, and a showing of Treehouse of Horrors on a screen outside.

Jack wore the penguin costume that Grandma Karin made, and he said "waddle waddle" the whole time he walked.  At the end of the night, Jack declared that he loves trick or treating and candy is his favorite thing.  He was covered in chocolate.  Cora tried to eat her tutu and was covered in glitter.  A great night had by all!

Summer Fun

Here are some more photos from our summer in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

With Grandma Karin and Cora's namesake, Great Grandma Ruth

Napping with Auntie Baba

Children's Museum with cousins Ben and Olivia

The little angel

A visit from Amy & Luca

A trip to Wildwood Zoo with cousins Jake, Barrett, Addy, and Stella

A visit from honorary grandparents Paul & Sylvia

With Grandpa Steve

First day of school

Jack had a great first day of school, and Rob had lots of first day meetings.  Cora and I spent the day  hanging out with the neighbor kids who are home.  School hasn't actually started yet, so the older children of teachers sometimes stay home rather than going to the school-provided day care.

Full disclosure: this is actually Jack's second-day-of-school picture.  Below is the first day pic, which I took outside, forgetting how the crazy humidity and heat affects my camera!

Cora has been smiling a lot!  She is a really good baby, and has had plenty of attention from our neighbors!

We're Back!

Sorry it has been soooooo long since the last post!  We are now back in Saudi Arabia for the 3rd year, this time with a new addition...

Cora Ruth!

Cora was born July 17th, 6 lbs 6oz, in Wisconsin.  She was a full week late, which means I am still on maternity leave for another week!  Amazingly we got her birth certificate, passport, and Saudi visa in 3 weeks and were able to come back all together.

Here are some of Cora's passport photo options:

Jack and Cora were great on the plane ride - they both slept much of the time.  We are now working on getting over our jet lag and adjusting to the new time zone.  It's been super hot (of course) so we have been going for night swims in the warm pool, which Jack thinks is hilarious.

Teachers start on Saturday (except me) and students on Sept 1, so we will be in a routine soon enough.  So far we have stocked the fridge with groceries, put away the clothes we brought, and orders shwarmas and hummous.  We've been busy with visitors coming over to meet Cora, also!

Here are a few summer shots...more to come!

Jack and his animals babysitting Cora

Helping Grandpa make a sandbox by the new playhouse

Hanging out with Luca

Getting ready for a campfire

 

The Countdown...

We are getting to the time of year when we start counting down to summer break!  This is a little early for most, considering school here ends June 25th.  But Jack and I will be going back early to get ready for the baby to come!

In two weeks, Nancy and Steve will be here to visit!  Then two weeks later Jack and I will fly back with them to go to MN and WI.  We wish Rob was coming too, but he has to finish out the school year.  He will travel June 25th, and the baby is due July 10th. 

In the meantime, we are keeping busy.  Jack is in beginners swimming lessons twice a week, and Rob and I are busy at school with Student Council and general school stuff.  It's been in the hundreds lately so we spend most of our free time in the pool.

I have some more pictures to share from our visit to Jordan:

Jack hanging out with the Jordanian soldiers at the marathon

Walking in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia

Checking out the Roman ruins in Jerash

It only took 22 months. . .

but I adjusted the settings and now anyone can leave comments.  

More Pics from Jordan and One from Budapest

Outside the Treasury

Therapeutic Mud Treatments at the Dead Sea

Just Chillin'  at Wadi Rum.

Running Partner and Friend Sean Odell enjoying a frosty Petra  Beer.
"It makes me a better runner and better man"

Desert (check)  Horse With No Name (check)

Jack Climbing the Dunes in Wadi Rum.

The South Theater at Jerash.
(Jack and I are waaaay at the top.)

Future Archaeologist at the Amman Children's Museum

 After we got back from Jordan I left for Budapest with a group of students attending a MUN conference.  It was really cool experience as a teacher and a tourist.  I'll post some more photos soon.

Heroes' Square in Budapest  

Happy Easter

Just got back from Jordan.  We'll put up a post of Petra, Jerash, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea soon!  Hope everyone had a Happy Easter!

Kivelas' Visit

This is a post I wrote after my parents were here but forgot to put up...

Here are some more highlights from my parents' visit.   One day we went to downtown Khobar to do some souvenir shopping, and stopped at Latif Pastry for its famous cheesebread.  I thought I'd share some of the foods we had while they visited.

Hummus with vegetable garnishes

Arabic Bread with Labnah (sort of like cream cheese) and Honey

Zatar Bread - a mixture of crushed rosemary and sesame seeds

 And of course, we spent lots of time just having grandparent time at home.  This was the best part of their visit :)

Reading with Grandpa

Making grape juice jigglers with Grandma

Fingerpainting a "Welcome Home Daddy" sign

We had a wonderful time with Grandma and Grandpa.  Jack is now eagerly awaiting his birthday party, Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Steve's arrival, time to go to Wisconsin, and time for the baby to come out.  Every day he asks me which of those is going to happen first (his birthday of course!)

 The baby girl is doing crazy acrobatics these days, healthy and growing.  We are currently in the midst of the great name debate!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Jack!

Jack turned 3!  Here are some photos from his birthday party. We had a Cars cake and cake pops (thanks Grandma Nancy for the cake pops mold!) 

Camo t-shirt from Grandpa Dave, of course

The kids enjoyed a bouncy slide, followed by a water balloon fight.

The party wrapped up by breaking a pinata.  It is amazing how the anticipation of candy and toys can capture children of all ages!

Rob was afraid of Vika's swing :)

Happy birthday to our wonderful boy!

Saudi Wildlife

Last weekend, Rob and his friend Sean were out running along the Corniche, which is the road that runs along the Arabian Sea.  They are training for the upcoming Dead Sea Marathon, which is in Jordan next week.

The only wildlife we see around here is ferral cats, so they were excited when they spotted some flamingos in the water!  After they finished the run, showered, and rested, we went back to see if we could spot them again.  All photo credits go to our friend Sean O'Dell.

In the first two pictures, the green slimy sewage along the coast in this part is highlighted - it smelled as good as it looks.  In the third, they are taking flight near an old oil rig, and in the last they are in front of the King Fahd Causeway which leads to Bahrain.