Happy Birthday Jack!

Our little Jack is two today!  He sang "Happy Birthday to Jack" to himself several times today, and he brought cookies and animal headbands to all his friends at nursery, which he was very excited about.  When I told him he had presents to open he said "Ooooh, Santa came?"

Opening a present before going to school

Jack's new big boy backpack

We are waiting to have a party until Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Steve come next week, but we had a little chocolate cake after dinner tonight...apparently Jack liked it!

(Thanks to the Dolls for the Twins cups which were put to immediate use!)

We Bought an RV: Inside the Pleasure Cruiser

Click here to view this video

Since we're homeless this summer, we bought this tricked-out pleasure cruiser.  By tricked out I mean it has a microwave.  Look for us in the parking lot of a Widespread Panic show near you! 

A Surprise Holiday

We were surprised with a three day weekend!  On Wednesday afternoon (our Friday), we were given the news that Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, who has been covering for King Abdullah in his absence, declared a national holiday on Saturday.  The King had back surgery in New York, and has been recovering in Morocco for four weeks.  He returned to Saudi Arabia this weekend and to celebrate his health, all government offices and schools were closed!  What a great idea.

The Healthy King

To celebrate the King's health, Jack and the other kids on the compound went swimming.  It is not quite warm enough, but he went in the kiddie pool for about 20 minutes.  The older kids were swimming all day. It was nice outside, but the pool water is not heated so it was chilly.

Jack with a post-swimming glow

Tomorrow we will be back to school.  We are keeping busy...besides teaching, Rob is leading the production crew for the spring play, I am brushing up on my rock climbing skills so I can start a high school climbing club, and Jack is learning to ride a tricycle.  Off to work...

Pink Turtle

Jack got a new pet today!  It is a turtle which he named "Pink Turtle."

 

I bet you are saying to yourself, "Why is the turtle pink?" Some neighbors on the compound found the turtle in their backyard, and it was painted pink and almost dead.  They nursed it back to health and were looking for a home when Jack walked by, looking like he could be suckered in to taking it.  (Or was that Rob?)

The theory is that someone had it as a pet and painted it pink, and let it go outside.  In any case, it still has quite a bit of pink paint on its shell.  All the kids on the compound were involved in finding rocks and pouring water in the tank after school today. Its name is Isabella but I think Jack gave her a more appropriate name.

I told Jack to make a "happy face" for this picture.

The weather here is warming up a bit, so we have been spending a lot of time outside.  One of the kids' favorite activities is drawing on the tennis court with sidewalk chalk, especially tracing each other.  Jack loves to play with the big kids and even lays still to be traced, as long as Bear can lay next to him.

Jack and Bear, kicking a soccer ball

Daddy and Jack on the tennis court

Jack also loves to open and close the front door of our villa

Hide and Seek

Auntie Angela requested more Jack on this blog, so here is a recent video of Jack playing hide and seek with Rob.  He's so cute...

The post about energy drinks and space travel. . .

Hey there,

Long time no blog.

One of my favorite things about Saudi Arabia are the wacky knock-offs of popular products.

Take Red Bull for example.  For those of you who have never experienced a frat party. . .

Red Bull claims to

• Increase performance
• Increase concentration and focus
• Increase reaction speed
• Improve vigilance
• Improve emotional status
• Stimulate metabolis

I also think it makes you better at doing push-ups.

It has becoming wildly popular with people who are into extreme sports (increased performance), long-haul truckers (increased focus) and security guards at shopping malls (improved vigilance).

I frequently drink Red Bull in the morning, but it's expensive so I've resorted to sampling cheaper alternatives.  

#1 Alternative:  Power Horse (http://www.power-horse.com/)

I don't know what a Power Horse is.  

I don't know if "power" is an adjective.  

I don't know why I get the meat sweats when I drink it.

But I do know it's cheap, it's tasty and it makes me feel manly.  The other day I gave Jack a  sip and he immediately tore his shirt off, grabbed a hammer and started building a garage in the back yard.  

#2 Alternative:  Bison (http://www.bison.com.sa/)

If the store is all out of "The Horse".  My backup plan is usually Bison.

Bison tastes like crushed up smarties, and makes my ears burn.  I found this on the website:

It has been said that Bison, more so than any other animal or bird, is a unique symbol of the strength and determination.

It is one of the only few animals who can face into storms and that can run thirty-five miles per hour inspite of its massive built. Typically the word Bison associated with forceful, powerful and robust - all perfect words to describe who we are and what we do at Bison Energy Drink.


#3 Pocari Sweat (www.pocarisweat.com)

Because "the amount we sweat is greater than we imagine".

 I'm not sure what a pocari is, but its sweat tastes like watered-down grape fruit juice.

In non-energy drink related news. . .

Heads up NASA!  

Al Khobar-where dreams of commercial space travel are realized!

That's all for now!
Rob

Superbowl Realization

Last week, as you know, was the Superbowl.  Every year we go to a Superbowl party, eat wings and nachos and other party foods, laugh at commercials.  Well, the game was on at 2:30am here in KSA.  Rob set his alarm but didn't get up.  I caught the last 4 minutes of the game after I got up for work.  I then woke Jack up and dressed him in the Packers outfit that Grandpa Dave bought him.

We got to school and I expected everyone to be buzzing about the game.  But guess what - only Americans care about American football.  Huh.  One of the other teachers (who is British) said, "Oh Jack, you have your green track suit on today."  I was like, "Hello, it's not just any green track suit...it's a Packers suit because the Packers won the Superbowl an hour ago" but no one cared.  She laughed, and at least knew what I was talking about, unlike most of the students and teachers around.

It's funny how I didn't care about American traditions like the Superbowl until I left America...hmmm...