This is so late

I'm so busy here in Doha - I'm just now getting around to blogging. Hmmmmm.

Friendship Festival - a big to-do put on by the PTA to raise money for the school. Very similar to Haude's big carnival they hold every two years, except ASD is just a bigger school. But same games, same prizes, and Johnny Rockets and Subway were there! More hometown goodness.

I worked a couple of shifts, doing my volunteer duty. All three kids ran loose and wild. I did catch Kathryn being chased by cute 5th grade boys. Seems my little girl may be growing up. Am I ready for middle school next year?

And let me just say kudos to John, who played the "Dunk the Assistant Principal" game twice. Both times, in the AP went. He can throw, apparently. My other two missed by a mile.

So here's to a great (hot and sunny) day spent with new friends!


Kathryn and Kaitlyn


Scott, Spencer, Aaron, Alecks, and of course, John

A Little Texas in Doha

Man, not only are there a lot of Houstonians in Doha, they almost all went to Texas A&M. I've never met so many Aggies.

Anyway, last Friday night there was a Texas A&M Boot Scoot. A fundraiser. Fun. No wooden dance floor, but that's okay, because two-steppin' isn't my thing.

We had a great time with our neighbors Jacqui and Wayne (who sadly are moving back to Houston this summer) and with Scott and Susan and her neighbors. A silent auction brought some bidding fun for a cool table that we eventually gave up on.

The music was almost all country (surprise!). They did play some Jimmy Buffett and I would have used that song, but it is inappropriate for child readers. So Garth it is. Plus, Scott and Aaron's teacher is from New Zealand. Susan and I asked her at the party if she had ever heard of Jimmy Buffett. Nope. But Garth Brooks she knew. This is a woman who has just tasted her first ever Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, here in Doha. Can you imagine?

So, I did take pictures. I know you would like to see them. Sorry. Blogger not cooperating. I've tried for the past 3 days. But, you can always go on Facebook and see them. That upload worked.

So, imagine Felicity Huffman in a cowboy hat going with her date Rick Moranis, and you've got your visual. That's the best I can do. If blogger starts to work again, I'll get some pictures posted.

(Oh, and if you are a friend of my husband, don't go tattling on me. I happen to think Rick Moranis is cute. I mean he's no Rob Pattinson, Hugh Jackman or Daniel Craig, but then I don't really look like Felicity Huffman now, do I. And I'm in enough trouble as it is for not working on my taxes. Shhhhhh!)

Observations by a 10 year-old expat

"When we go back to Houston, I'll know lots of people so I'll only have to be the new kid once."

"The thing about Doha is the weather is pretty much always the same. In Houston you can go to school in shorts in the morning and be freezing in the afternoon."

"Everything in Doha looks the same. How do you know where you are going?

"It's just so sandy here. Look at all those big areas of sand."

"In Houston I was excited about 5th grade appreciation because I was going to go to a different school for 6th grade. In Doha, it's the same school. Just a different building."

"There are a lot of people here from Houston."

"I wish they had school districts here so the school wouldn't be so far away from where we live."

"I don't understand why our school gives you 3's and 4's on our report card. I like A's and B's."

"If you get a 'U' on your report card in Houston that's bad, but here it's good."

"No way are we not moving back to Houston. WE ARE GOING."

Amen, baby. Amen

Just a couple more Shamal pictures (that's another word for "Wind bringing in Sand!)

This is our patio table, covered, after the storm. The boys had a ball using it as a notepad.


And speaking of boys, the dust was so bad last night, they donned scarfs to go out and play. This is Mohammaed, with John, before heading outside.

Where did the sun go? (You knew this song was coming sometime, right?)

A quiet day at home. Scott came down with a fever yesterday afternoon, so he and I are spending the day at home. He was watching TV and I was (surprise!) on the computer, working very hard at surfing. Facebook, YouTube, iTunes, New York Times.com... you know, all very important sites to visit.

As I was clicking away, jumping from tab to tab, the daylight seemed to just disappear. Dark all of a sudden. Clouds? Fog? I think it was my first official sand storm here in Doha. Here are pictures I went out and snapped:



This picture is our little beach, our lagoon, and always you can see the Spanish Embassy across the water. Look close. It's there, but what a difference.




And, as a reminder to close your windows and doors when the sand blows in, I found a layer of fine sand/dust on my microwave, right by an open window. This was about 4 hours after my housekeeper left.


No soccer practice tonight!

T-R-O-U-B-L-E

This child of mine. My youngest. My hard-headed, stubborn, takes-after-his-mama, six year-old....

First thing he says every morning when he wakes up at 5:30am, is "I'm not going to school today." Every day, without fail. And every night he repeats himself. "I'm not going to school tomorrow." Go to bed already.


Except last night and today. Today was going to be a good day, he said. Wanna know why?
1) It's a short day. (Early release on Tuesdays - yea for Mommy! Mommy LOVES short days.)
2) Valentine's party with Mommy today. (Oh, I know I will miss this one day, but why are these painful?)
3) Mommy is taking us home. (More driving in Doha with arguing kids in the back. Can't wait.)
4) We get to go to the mall. (Yes we do - Daddy's birthday is Saturday. I love the mall.)
5) We get to make our valentines today. (Oh, **** - I forgot about those - hope construction paper and a crayon is all we need.)

See what a good day it's going to be?

Happy Valentines Week, because it can't just be a day.

Where Are We?

I took John to a birthday party on Saturday. Forgetting the drama of actually getting John to the party, I thought I'd let you all figure out where the party was.


Yes, it was at:



And while we're at it, I took the boys not too long ago to the mall, and had a snack here:



You guessed it:


You know, the more the things change, the more things stay the same. Here's a couple of pictures from the mall. See the restaurants in the background?




Sometimes I can PRETEND I'm at home in Texas!