Luau 2008

Next stop on Thursday was the compound organised Luau - kindof end of year function at the main pool. It started at 2pm, so when Andre and the girls left me at school they went straight there and I joined them after work.

There were organised games, the inflatable island, wonderful food and well just relaxing by the pool. An altogether fun-packed afternoon. The evening events were adults only but we did not attend so I can't comment on how that went ;)

Aimee and Andre competed in the island dash, Aimee made it to the end but not in a winning time. Sadly Andre fell off the side - kids were allowed to throw wet spounges and bounce the island while the dads tried to race. Andre also competed in the raft race at the request of his daughters - after a very sinking start, he managed to finish 4 out of 6 :) And then also at the request of the girls, we all took part in the mixed doubles raft race - Aimee and I paired together and Andre and Lucy paired together. Wow the length of a pool is long ! We didn't win but Aimee and I did manage to beat Andre and Lucy, and that was a win for us !

Al Hada - Home !

We live on Al Hada which is a smaller compound on the larger compound. Oasis bought the compound last May and there have been some changes. Notably the name of the larger compound is now Oasis Gardens, not Al Bustan anymore.

We have also had some changes to the gardens. They removed some of the more invasive trees and replaced them with HUGE palm trees. We are told they will clean up the rest of the gardens but that is yet to happen.

So here are some views around the compound and then of course our street - Walnut, and our house, Walnut 1.

How to make girls happy !

It was VERY early on a Tuesday morning, 2:30am to be precise when Andre arrived home. He had driven home from Yanbu - was expecting him mid-morning, but I guess maybe the incentive to get home quicker was more than he could ignore hehehe. Needless to say there were three very happy girls in our house Tuesday ! After three weeks, we were starting to forget what he looked like hehehe.

Wednesday was C-day for me...... Sick and tired with my hair, I arranged for a hairdresser to come to the house and off came about 4 inches. I am feeling much better about it although getting used to it being in a kindof style not just long and straight. And most importantly I guess, the boy is happy - had threatened to shave it again hehehe and he seriously requested I don't go shorter than my shoulder. So shoulder it was ! Not the best photos but you get the idea, before & after !

Thursday, it was up early to sit on the causeway for 90minutes. We needed to go and book tickets for Thailand. I would be going to our annual NESA teacher's conference being held in Bangkok again this year but, this year, the family would be coming along ! So we're booked, Andre will be heading back to Yanbu for the whole month of March but will return in time for us to spend a week in Thailand together.

And now its Friday. Some of us enjoyed watching the first game of Super 14 round two this morning - Andre and I had predicted different teams to win hehehe his won :(

And then it was off outside for the girls to ride - Steven you asked for photos and here they are ! Lucy needed to start riding a two wheeler, didn't go as well as we'd hoped, still very hesitant but maybe she'll try again later.

Wateen's birthday party

The girls attended a birthday party of one of Aimee's arab classmates recently. Was at a farm so it was a cowboy theme. Each child - and there were plenty, got a bandana & cowboy hat to wear and a sherif's badge. They enjoyed horserides and games included shooting at targets, and sack races (notice the interesting sacks hehehe). The girls had a ball and wow you should have seen the cake/s - filled a 2x1m table !

November...

...brings cooler weather, bonfires and.....bubbles !
Well November arrived and the weather has definitely turned, the girls are wearing long pants to school some days, making sure they have a jacket/sweater with them and sore throats and stuffy noses are the order of the day.
Wednesday night saw our compound celebrating Guy Fawkes with a bonfire. It was a very pleasant evening to be outside, weather was perfect and the kids had a ball running around.

Thursday morning we just relaxed at home before joining Ashton and Gary in town late afternoon/evening. Gary arrived in kingdom on Saturday and so had to get out to get some stuff for home.
Friday was the time for bubbles, car washing and updating the blog :)

Needless to say we are more than happy with the change in weather as we enjoy the just warm, just cool time outside !