Hot Water

It has been at least 110 degrees every day. In Dhahran is getting closer to 120 and it's only May.

Our water is HOT. We take hot showers, water the lawn with hot water, and even the toilet water is hot.  When you sit down you can feel the heat and if the lid has been closed it leaves condensation on the seat.  Forget about washing your clothes on a cool setting, it is one temp... HOT.

So we are off to the pool, because it's the only cool water to be found in these parts.

A Rare Day

This...

plus this...

equals boobie traps!

But it also equaled this... a sweet smile, knowing he would now be safe from monsters in his room at night.

Yesterday was one of those rare and wonderful days. The boys played nicely together ALL DAY! It was so quiet I kept checking up on them thinking they were really being sneaky about something. Instead I found them happily engaged in different activities, taking turns, helping one another, and sharing. It was so peaceful.

Ethan the last few nights has been stalling bedtime, as he's worried about monsters in his room. I explained that with as many lights as they have on, a brother sharing your room, a priesthood blessed house, security gates with patrols, and the fact that monsters do not exist means no monsters would be visiting his room. The next morning they decided they would take one extra precaution just to be sure. Zach took his Lego Indiana Jones booby trap building experience to a new level and guess what? No monsters.

It gets better. We finally got into town to buy paint. Chris has a honey do list while I'm back in AK that includes painting the house. On the way into town we had Family Home Evening. If you have never had FHE in the car with all the kids strapped down for a 45 minute drive I highly recommend it. The boys were quiet, participated, and asked super insightful questions that led into some serious gospel teaching. It was great. Actually it was better than great-- it may have been the best FHE we've ever had. No wrestling, arguing, or Ethan trying to have gas on anyone (this is his new thing, mostly he saves it for Chris). The only interruption was Zach saying, "Hey I just saw a really cool cave... and a tire farm." The roads here are littered with tires, miles and miles of tires. I'm not sure if we see more camels or tires along the road.

Cardio Kids

My goal is to keep the boys off the couch and away from the TV, despite the fact we have limited outside time. Even if they could handle the heat, Graham cannot.

My solution was a "cardio kids" program one morning a week for preschool age kids. I emailed the expert and Tiffanie responded with a novel of information.

It has been a hit with the kids and moms. After the first class every morning Ethan would get up and ask if it was "cardio kids" day and then ask for breakfast.

We start with some listening games and then move on to some simple stretches and yoga poses.

Here the kids are doing the warrior pose.

Then we start movin'! We've done gymnastics, basketball, and this week was an obstacle course. Each time they went through they had to do it a different way. This time it was hopping on one foot.

We also had them crawl through different tubes.

These are some of Zach's friends he will be starting school with.

We then move on to games. Some favorites are Duck, Duck, Goose and popcorn (using a sheet and plastic balls). In the background you can see the giant Twister Board my friends made for the class. 

Another favorite is Rescue Dogs. The kids pretend they are dogs trapped in a burning building and the firefighters must rescue them. The adults pull for a while but the kids keep it going for as long as we let them.

We end the session with some relaxation time where I take them on an imaginary trip... under the sea, outer space, or flying like a bird in the sky.

They're so amped up after we let them run wild! Then it is time to go home for lunch.

And where is Graham during all this...? He is happy as can be with the amazing Gutrie. Gutrie is amazing because Graham is a mamma's boy. The few times I've had someone watch him it did not go well. For some reason whenever Gutrie takes him he is all smiles and I NEVER hear a peep from him... for the whole hour.

Gutrie is a contract worker here and takes care of the youth center in the mornings. He is from Nepal and is excellent with the children. The workers come for several years and can't return to their families until they pay off their travel expenses and fulfill their contracts. I know he misses his wife terribly but I don't know if he has children.

Trying To Beat The Heat

Summers growing up were spent at our pool. I had tan lines well into the winter months. I remember riding home after swim lessons with all the windows down in our station wagon. We would sing along to ABBA as the wind dried our hair.

Our family was well known for its pool parties. They were big and frequent. My parents would spend all morning vacuuming the pool in preparation, then my little brother would drop poop pellets all over the stairs. The days were full of games like Shark, Rock the Pool, Ring Dive, Underwater Tea Parties, and Handstand contests. Night swims were just as fun. The pool had one light at the deep end. It attracted bugs which attracted bats from the surrounding trees. We would duck under the water as they swooped by. These are just a few of my favorite memories of country living.

Alaska didn't provide many opportunities to swim unless hypothermia was on your agenda. There were a few community pools but we really didn't use them. Swimming is a life skill that I feel is essential. So, I am excited to share with you what has transpired here over the last two weeks.

Our pool is a block away so we use it almost daily. It is cooled in the summer and if there is a breeze at all it can be very chilly. Even with outside temps in the 100s the boys like to warm up in the hot tub after playing in the pool.

Two weeks ago the boys were restricted to the baby pool. Then we went with some friends in Dhahran to their pool that has a slide. With borrowed tubes, the boys experienced their first moments of aqua freedom. I loved not having to juggle all three in the water. Since I was staying in town that night for doctor's appointments, I went out and bought them their own tubes.

The next week we moved on to goggles and water wings.

I was amazed at the difference in the boys' swimming techniques with the goggles on. They had no reservations about keeping their faces in the water.

Once they had tubes, the restricted deep end and diving board became the new play area.

After about five false starts Ethan finally took the plunge.

Ethan knows he does not need both the tube and water wings he just likes them both.

A Kiwi named Liam came to town this week to teach the boys to swim... and by golly he did. Here is a lung capacity demonstration.

He had them blast off the steps like rockets the first day and by day four they were crossing almost two swim lanes.

Here's Ethan giving it a go.

On the last day he had them jumping in without floats.

Liam really knows his stuff and did a stellar job with the boys.

Today we had to say goodbye to our new friend. Next week the boys will pick up where they left off with a local teacher.

Graham loves the water too. After observing the mother and baby class one afternoon, I had him learning swimming skills today too. 

Mornings Abroad

Every Monday morning we take a trip at story time. Today we visited Indonesia. Here our little friend from West Java is wearing a traditional ceremonial dress.

After watching a short film on Bali, West Java, and Jakarta I am totally sold on visiting Bali.

They brought this wonderful dish of birthday food. The middle was rice surrounded by chicken, potato strings, soy beans, egg strings, and potato balls. I was not familiar with the way it was prepared but nonetheless it was all delicious.

Sorry, some of the pics aren't great, I was using my camera phone and Grabby Graham wanted to use it too. Some of the children were adventurous enough to try it.

Zach declined and headed for the regular snacks and juice. Ethan, no surprise, loved the rice and then went for the juice and biscuits.

Then the children lined up to play a game. They had to eat the cake hanging from the string without their hands.

Zach really struggled and then gave up. It was probably good that he did, because in the end the reward wasn't very tasty. He would have been pretty mad.

He wanted me to show him how to get the job done right. I was successful.

Another great activity out of the 110 degree heat... but it's a dry heat. Haha! As if it mattered.

Pirates Can Do Laundry

Today a Pirate did my laundry...

When it comes to household duties Ethan has always been my assistant.

I have not always been patient with his eagerness to assist.

However, his ability to actually help is starting to match his desire to help.

He insists on the whole process: sorting, adding soap, starting the machine, and picking the dryer sheet. Heaven forbid I change a load without his help. He gets mad, mad, MAD! He doesn't fold the laundry. but he does help put it away.

Later this pirate traded his hat and sword for an apron to help cook dinner.

Chicken Pot Pie was on the menu. We started with the crust. It turned out excellent. We had never made this version before but it will definitely be added to our dinner repertoire.

We let the crust sit and moved on to the veggies.

I showed him which line to stop the water at.

He was so precise about and he got it dead on.

Just a little squeeze of garlic.

Now for rolling out the dough.

Some peas.

Sampling some peas.

Just so you don't think I'm an incompetent mother-- stirring it all together was one of the last steps, the stove was off, and this was not the burner I had used to cook on.

Voila! A masterpiece. It looked good and tasted great.

"Mom, does this little scrunch face remind you of anyone you know?"

Yesterday at the pool my neighbor commented on how much he looked like me. If only his hair was a little longer she would be dead on.

He even cleaned up after himself. I am proud of Ethan for all his hard work and proud of myself for the patience shown in the process. I do love my little shadow.