Hello Mr. Stinky Pants

On our recent trip to Dubai, Graham had his six month birthday.

We celebrated by playing at the Wild Wadi water park.

Our first day home we started rice cereal and...

...he loved it!

His nursing time suddenly dropped down to ten minutes about a month ago. So I knew he was getting close to wanting other foods.

Then during our trip he became very grabby at the dinner table. He really wanted to drink from my water glass anytime I took a drink.

I don't remember Zach or Ethan liking rice cereal on the first try.

But then again, this kid has done everything right at all the milestone marks. He continues to be a complete joy. I just wish he would nurse some more of this weight off. It is not coming off as quickly as it did the first two times. Oh well, you wouldn't know that by looking at those cheeks.

A Very Merry Unbirthday

The other morning upon waking this child insisted that it was his birthday. I tried to help him understand that it wasn't, but he wasn't going for it. Every time I turned around he was climbing counters, pulling out birthday hats, tablecloths, and napkins, and later, birthday candles.

He was not asking for presents, but he did want a party. By the end of the day I gave in. I was not about to make a cake so we compromised on "Happy Birthday Cookies".

After a couple rounds of the Happy Birthday song, Ethan made a wish and pretended to blow out an imaginary flame on his number three candle.

We all had a great time celebrating Ethan's unbirthday.

When I asked what he wished for he said... "an empty dish."

It didn't take long before all our dishes were empty. Poor dad was out getting the car windows tinted... he misses all the fun!

I have the cutest boys!

Sometimes You Just Have To Email The Easter Bunny

It's been a bit of a confusing week for the boys. On our first drive to UDH they were in a daze from traveling. Since then, each time we've taken a drive, they have traveled in a bus with curtained windows and low seats, or are so focused on a movie they weren't aware of their surroundings. On a short car ride without a movie Wednesday evening they finally realized we live in the middle of the desert. It was quite funny listening to their comments of surprise about all the sand. They kept asking why we are here. We kept answering that we aren't sure why but the Lord said we should come when the opportunity arose.

Also, last Friday we had an Easter themed meeting at church, and since Easter fell in the middle of the week, we didn't celebrate it that day, either. To calm the fears of these sweet boys that the Easter Bunny might not show, I had to email him and let him know about our circumstances. So this Sabbath day we are finally celebrating Easter at home by watching conference and satisfying our chocolate cravings... kind of. They're never really satisfied, are they?

Bright and early the boys were off. The dusty morning and dead bird carcass in the yard did not slow them down at all, although the aftermath of yesterday's high fevers did.

This is the boys' first hunt in an a back yard. In Alaska the Easter Bunny always hid the eggs in the house.

It was so early that Graham slept through his first easter egg hunt.

Ethan was thrilled about the candy, but equally excited about the pictures of the Savior the Easter Bunny hid in some of the eggs that told the story of the Resurrection.

The boys divided up the booty. Zach was way faster than Ethan, as he was on the low end of the fever scale and...

Ethan wasn't.

Finally some smiles for the chocolate bunny! (Which we later found in the garbage, because he decided it was too messy to eat it. The ribbon and bell did, however, make a cute bracelet.)

Moments later the fun was all over and they passed out on the couch for several hours.

What a pleasant conference it was for Chris and I.

While writing this, Ethan started complaining about a sore throat. It does look suspicious. As for Zach, his gag reflex is working just fine. As I was checking his throat, I accidentally made him barf chocolate goo all over.

Ethan really is sick, because he is willingly sharing ALL his Easter candy, even the really good stuff, with Chris and I.

This was Chris eating a sour Skittle... not so good.

Note the horribly short haircut. Last night he came home and said, "I think I made the barber really mad."  I agree. He just had to do it right before all our vacation shots.

The Cleanest Teeth In The Middle East*

This tootin' tootin' cowboy set off at dawn for a new adventure!

Ethan has worn this outfit in some degree or another to all our recent events-- a golf club dinner, church, and today, the dentist.

Ethan did a great job. He actually sat still and obeyed all the hygienist's instructions. She couldn't believe he was only three.

The protective eyewear was a way fun bonus, making him a space cowboy.

When it came time to use the fluoride, the hygienist explained how it would turn his teeth pink for a short while. He told her he was totally ok with that and shared his recent experience with green teeth on St. Patrick's Day.

Durning lunch he shared with Dad how he learned the proper way to brush teeth by watching the demo on the mouth mold. "But it had way more teeth than I do," he clarified.

*maybe

All In A Days Work

Petroleum Engineering can be intense and stressful, especially when you're the new guy trying to figure out the ropes. Then sometimes something comes along to lighten the mood. Yesterday Chris received this response to one of his technical emails explaining something that needed to be addressed.

Genital men

Will do today.

Thanks

Pirate Party

The boys were invited to a "costume encouraged" pirate birthday party, complete with a treasure hunt, spyglasses, and the most amazing piñata ever.

Zach was number ten of about 30 kids to take a crack at it.

Carlos, the birthday boy seen above right, was super sweet to Zach and Ethan. Our stuff had not yet arrived so they went without pirate costumes. They were a bit sad and Carlos quickly removed parts of his costume so they could each have something to wear.

This piñata was so tough that even the older siblings attending got a turn. With more than 30 children the anticipation for this to open was intense. In the end the parents had to rip it apart from the few small openings that had been made.

It was mayhem!

These pirates took home some serious booty! I have never seen a gift pile that big before.

Objects In Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear

Last Thursday I went to Dhahran to help celebrate the RS's birthday. I decided to stay the night with some friends instead of making the long trip twice in two days. Graham is still no work at all, so even though he was with me, I had a way fun mommy night out. My friend Debbie took me shopping and helped me out with the bus routes and layout of the mall. After catching a bus back to camp we met up with her husband Wade and went to a hole in the wall run by a Lebanese man that was sooooo good. We had yummy flat bread, hummus, and parsley salad. Then for the main we had chicken and shrimp kabobs with several types of rice.

I am always hesitant about buying food here because it often is past expiration and never tastes like you expect. So, it was nice to eat some good Arab food.

Cooking has gotten better now that all my cooking gear is here. We've actually had some of our favorite dishes turn out all right.

So this is what I missed: getting ready for church.

I had unpacked all the Sunday stuff and Ethan insisted on wearing this suit. It is way too big but somehow Chris didn't seem to notice.

I also missed a massive camel crossing. Given the time taken to watch the crossing I was impressed that the boys made it to church on time. In Alaska we never tired of seeing moose along the road. Here, we never tire of seeing camels.

Here they are being herded by one of three jeeps.

Three became a little rowdy and ran down the road in the opposite direction. One of the jeeps took off after them and turned them back on course. It almost looks like one is being nudged back on course.

He's all puckered up, but no one's kissin' those lips.

I love this shot.

Head Gear

Ethan falls down a lot. You can pretty much count on him tripping when he runs. His knees are all skinned up, and although he has yet to hit his head, he has discovered the perfect safety head gear... just in case.

My friend Tonya gave us this chair for Graham before he was born. Ethan quickly adopted it as his own.  He was so excited to see it when it arrived last week. He has decided he is willing to share it with Graham.

Notice how he accessorizes with an orange safety belt.