Month: June 2012

loose ends

The movers come in less than two weeks, the boys have their last full day of school today, packing for Israel is happening, I’m setting aside things to take with us to Bahrain, the Jeep has been sold, Camille is still out of sorts from being sick all week (and covered in a Roseola rash — head to toe) . . . life is busy, but good things are happening. 
I finished up this wrap that I made for Lucy. The pattern is called Lazy Katy. I really like the asymmetrical shape. (Yes, it’s that way on purpose.)

Josh and I took a day off from our TO DO lists and spent the afternoon at The Chedi for lunch and a massage. We’re calling it our 15th anniversary celebration since by the time August rolls around we’ll be in the middle of getting the kids enrolled in new schools, he’ll be starting a new job, and we may not have found a babysitter yet. I know 15 years is normally celebrated with big metal chickens, but we decided to spring for a trip to the spa instead. (The link goes to a post by The Bloggess that is hilarious, but filled with profanity.)
 

Speaking of weddings, these kids had a wedding ceremony for their stingrays (newly acquired at Atlantis). Crater married Crystal and they have taken the last name of “Eagle.” I’m told they’re very happy and even have a baby, Baby Ray Jr. (spotted in the previous post).
On the way up to Atlantis, Camille was reading her book. She’s much more of a “NO!” girl than a “Yes” man. 

Atlantis wrap-up

We ended up having a fun weekend with friends, even if it the trip didn’t go as we expected. The kids enjoyed their time at the waterpark, Josh and I got to go out to dinner in the hotel while the boys babysat their sick sister, and all 6 of us actually went tubing down the rapids together before we went home. 

Eager chocolate covered faces before the waterpark opens. These two ate a power breakfast of hot chocolate and donuts — the perfect way to start the day.  

This was our Thursday. Poor girl. She was a good sport and slept a lot. 

The fully covered women fascinate me — the far one even covered the space where her eyes would show with large round sunglasses. I know I was HOT sitting out there with the baby and I was able to get wet every few minutes. I can’t imagine how uncomfortable it would be under all that material. Do they mind that the rest of the family can swim and play and not have to cover up? What do they think about the chick in the thong? Or the women who swim in burkinis? 
This was our day: Josh and I traded off being on baby duty. He’d go with the boys for a little while, then he’d hang out with her while I spent time with Caleb or Carter. I hardly saw Calvin all day — he was busy running around the park with all of his friends. Keeping Camille cool and hydrated meant every few minutes I had to pour water on her (slowly, so the cold didn’t startle her and wake her up) and then try to get her to drink a few sips of sprite or ice chips every time she opened her eyes. It wasn’t too bad, and it was way better than hanging out in a hotel room all day.   
 
The kids all fed and tucked in bed for the night — the boys took such good care of her while Josh and I had a fun dinner with friends.  

Breakfast: Day 2
I don’t know if he ate anything besides chocolate and marshmallows and gummy candies dipped in chocolate. Live it up, kid. 
 

Gummies and sweets galore

Caleb and all the girls

 
View of the Leap of Faith from our hotel room. The second day we got to the park right as it opened, ditched the kids (leaving Carter and Calvin in charge) and Josh and I rode it before anyone else. That way even if we had to sit with the baby the rest of the day, at least we got to do something together.   

In front of the huge aquarium
 

Hello, Mr. Fish
 

Day 2 Camille felt much better. She got in the water, played a little bit and even enjoyed the rough ride down the rapids (I had her in a life jacket and had a tight grip on her as we bounced around and splashed through the rough waters). 

In the “hospitality room.” We checked out of our hotel room and then went to the park. When we were ready to leave they will bring your luggage to the hospitality room where you can shower, change, have a cup of tea and relax until you’re ready to leave. It’s all those extras that make the Atlantis a really fun place to visit.   

Caleb with his new buddy: Baby Ray (a small stuffed stingray)

All tired out and ready to head home. 

We had an uneventful trip home, but Camille is still sick, days later. She has no symptoms other than a high fever (and the expected crankiness that accompanies it). She’s improved to the point that she’s only slightly warm during the day, but then her fever spikes at night. It has made me really glad that we’re not going to Israel this weekend. 

It's always something . . .

I had grand plans for this weekend. A farewell to our Year Of Fun And Travel by taking one last trip to Atlantis.

So far it has been a comedy of errors involving us at a car rental agency at the time we were supposed to already be on our way, me making my predictable “I’m not going!” ultimatum, and now sitting poolside with a pissed off, feverish baby who thinks I’m trying to kill her with sips of slushie.

I would say that I don’t have time to tell you the whole story, but it looks like I actually have all day with nothing to do but keep this kid shaded and hydrated. Thank God for iPhones and wi-fi or this would really be a tragedy.

We were originally going to go last weekend, take the kids out of school for the day, arrive early and enjoy the park for an extra day. We had to change dates because friends had a conflict that weekend — not a problem. Except josh has had a conference this week so no leaving early. Oh well.

So I have everything ready to go, bags packed, car loaded, ready to roll as soon as josh finishes. Josh walks in the door and says, “let me just check the car paperwork before we go.” (since we’re traveling over the border into UAE.)

Guess what he discovered? Our registration and insurance expired this week. We can’t go unless we rent a car. Oh good grief.

Since I’m tired of typing on my phone I’ll get to the end. Car rented, long drive, I pretended I was elsewhere as I listened to my audiobook and threw snacks in the backseat . . . Amazing, we finally made it in one piece, and I go to get baby out of the car and she feels warm. Uh oh. I specifically brought the baby Motrin as my insurance policy against anyone getting sick.

No such luck this time. And now here I am, by the pool, pouring water over her whenever she dries off– in this heat it’s about every 5 minutes. At least she’s not throwing up. . . Yet.

technology win

I’ve bragged before about how impressed I am with how the boys’ school uses technology. Whether it’s having the kids create a digital portfolio with embedded voice files, requiring students to give demonstrations using PowerPoint for core subjects like science, or building a website to show off their language arts work, they are learning things that I (who am pretty technologically literate) have no idea how to do.

The latest way that they are utilizing technology is through their use of live streaming. Before the series of Spring concerts, the parents all received a link to the website where they would be streaming the concert (and graduation) over the internet.  

http://new.livestream.com/TAISMOman

I was able to pass the link on to my family and those who were awake were able to watch right along with us. Josh’s parents were even able to text us during the concert: “I see Caleb!” or “Carter is really into those arm motions.”

At Calvin’s choir concert I was able to go with Camille to the first hour and watch him sing. Then I had to take her home and put her to bed. Instead of missing out, I pulled up the feed and watched Calvin play the saxophone with the middle school band. The camera person did a great job of zooming in on the individual kids and panning around so the people watching could see everyone. I even had Carter start the stream on my iPhone on the drive home so we didn’t have to miss any of the concert.

We are 1/2 way around the world, but the world feels a lot smaller when my mom is able to email me and say, “Calvin looks great — good choreography — reminds me of Glee.”

the sound of music

This week we had both the Elementary and Middle School concerts to attend. The events were made even more significant by the fact that the new performance hall at school was completed just in time. This venue now the second largest in Muscat, only second to the Opera House. The structure was just a shell when we arrived and it has been amazing to see it come together over this past year. It is a really beautiful addition to the school. 
 
During the ES concert. K through 5th grade all performed together in a show that featured countries from all over the world. The kids all learned 15 different songs, many in different languages: Italian, French, Spanish, a few from African countries, and more. 

I was impressed that one music teacher behind the piano could hold the attention and conduct all 340 that were on the stage at the same time. The kids really looked like they were enjoying singing all the songs. 
After the show we waited around and picked up our Middle Schooler — he’s showing off the black hole that is the suspected source of his disorganization. On the bright side, I found several of my forks and a few tupperware containers that had gone missing from the house. 

We headed to a celebratory dinner at Sliders where instead of getting their usual sliders, the boys decided to tackle The Mighty Beast. They actually ate the entire burger on their own (along with fries and onion strings). Caleb ate as much as the older two — two whole wedges. And then they still had room for dessert at Dairy Queen. I had one slider and my favorite 7 bean salad that has pomegranate seeds, mint, minced jalapeños and a citrus dressing.  


Blizzards and Arctic Freezes please!


Josh said Bahrain will have restaurants on the beach with a beautiful view like this — I’m not so sure.