Fun-filled January
This month felt busy. The usual start-up of school and enrichment activities plus some time with friends and a mini getaway for me it was a good busy and not too overwhelming. Let's hope all months feel like this in 2019. ;-)
Those who follow me on Instagram or Facebook know that Olivia re-cut her chin (first time in February, then again in December). Well on holiday in Sri Lanka, just a couple days after she'd gotten the bandages off she cut it again. No joke. It was less-than-ideal while overseas and after running away from the hospital when they started using words like "stitches" and "plastics surgeon", we began texting a couple nurse friends and ended up re-bandaging ourselves with steri-strips (using cuticle cutters to cut them since we didn't have scissors!) and praying for the best. We took her to the hospital when we returned to Doha and are happy to report its completely healed - woohoo!
We took advantage of the time off and sales to take our girls and their friends to Build-a-Bear. They had a blast picking and making their animals and re-discovering all the clothes we already owned for them at home -ha!
We started 2019 correctly with our usual New Year's Day Meal of ham, black eyed peas, and cornbread. I'd never actually known why except that you just did growing up so here's the history for each of those dishes.
- New Year's Day meal!
- Flying kites in Al Bidda Park.
- Battling the post-holiday depression with waffle spread.
- First day back at school car ride - so excited and giggly!
- Love those laughter faces. :-)
- Bible study started back up and I brought this delish baked brie.
- Putting the girls to work cutting vegetables for our salads, hehe.
- The delicious end result.
- Gymnastics started back up and the twins were thrilled to be old enough to join "Madi's class"
When I heard there was a coffee festival closely in Katara I knew I needed that in my life. I ended up taking the girls with me after school and we all enjoyed a treat - the best hot chocolate ever for them and a super delicious rose latte for me!
- Delicious dumplings made by my friend Cherish when she learned I have a love/slight obsession with basically all Asian food.
- Camel crossing outside the souq.
- The girls started up swimming lessons and earned ice cream at the end of the week as a treat.
- The first two months of school have an International focus before they'll conclude with an International parade and potluck. For sharing day the girls brought these neat facts to share along with the map in the next picture.
- This framed poster is actually a workbook I was gifted with flag stickers for each country. The girls are adding the flags to the countries as they visit them so they can see how they've travelled the world.
- Delicious pot roast and potatoes in the instant pot.
- Survived another sandstorm and loved this warning sign.
- We finally brought our pizza stone to Doha last September...and then promptly busted the bread machine after without getting to use it. We finally found a bread machine here and were excited to get to use the pizza stone and back to making fresh bread weekly.
- More ice cream fun, but with friends after a playdate!
I loved the popular first and recent Facebook picture challenge many were doing. I joined Facebook back in 2005 when it was first offered at University (and only offered to students), but my picture wasn't that old. However, I think March 2007 versus November 2018 is still pretty good.
The last and most fun (for me!) event this month was a fun evening away with some friends form church. We stayed at a hotel for a mini mom-cation and enjoyed massages, delicious food, lots of laughter and tears, and some much-needed rest and fellowship with these beautiful women. I am thankful for the church community we have found here and how supportive they are! Thank you Jason for giving me the gift of an evening out!
