Yep. That's me. I'm terrible. At this point, WAY too many things have happened since my last post...when we welcomed baby Capri, so I will just have to hit the highlights and call it a day. Sorry everyone! I will try to do better, I promise!!
Summer Vacation:
One word - perfect. We traveled just days after Capri's passport arrived at the embassy. Turns out you can find some fantastic prices on flights when you're able to fly the next day. And how did our little 5 week old do with flying? She was an absolute dream! Capri slept almost the entire way and we only received a few ugly looks from people who thought she seemed too little to be on a plane. Win!
Our visit with family was everything we hoped it would be and we got to celebrate the 4th of July at home in Idaho again - something we missed terribly the year before. The summer was filled with bar-b-ques, camping, parties, late nights drinking on the patio, fires in the fire pit, family, and friends - exactly what we needed after a tough year away. Summer was a smashing success!
New School:
I don't want to write much on this one. Basically, the new school building is a dream come true...but the positive points end there. We've combined our girls' school with the nearby boys' school and...it's horrible. I have never seen such horrifyingly disrespectful children in all my life. I'm disgusted by these boys daily and I don't even have to teach them. I guess the best part about the school is that I've been fortunate enough to stay on the girls' side. And I know how lucky I am to be there instead of with the boys. The teachers who have to trudge over to the boys' side of the school every day deserve a medal...a million dollars...a free pass so they never have to work for the rest of their lives...something - ANYTHING - to show them how much they are appreciated and that we all know how hard they have to work just to keep their sanity every single day. This new situation has completely changed my perspective on teaching in the UAE...and...let's just say any positive opinions I once held about the school system here are now completely gone. Thankfully, I am able to focus on my students - my sweet, sweet Emirati girls - and know that at least I can make some difference in their lives. They are the only part about that school that keep me returning every day, and, in that respect, they have their work cut out for them. Fortunately, there's still the matter of:
Family:
Dalila is the best little girl in the world to come home to after a long day of dodging disgusting little boys at school. She makes the world go round and she is my shining star. She can make her little sister laugh with nothing but a smirk in Capri's direction...and she often has the same effect on me. Thank goodness for my silly, goofy, darling little girl. Every struggle I go through is completely worth it if it means I can give Dalila and Capri a chance at living their dreams when they grow up. And, really, that's the whole reason we're here, isn't it?
So - let's just count this as the catch-up post and forget the fact that I've not logged on in...oh...five months? Deal? Deal! To make up for my lack of focus, here are some cute photos! Cute photos of darling little girls should fix everything!!
The Fourth of July!!
Dalila took swimming lessons while we were home in Idaho!
And here she is on her first tent camping trip.
Experiencing all there is to offer at the Bar J Ranch in Jackson Hole Wyoming
And her first ever haircut, too!
A fantastic time camping in Island Park
And her first time fishing - in a tutu, of course!
Plus - a surprise baby shower for little miss Capri
And the best Halloween ever, with these two little sweeties.
Summer Vacation:
One word - perfect. We traveled just days after Capri's passport arrived at the embassy. Turns out you can find some fantastic prices on flights when you're able to fly the next day. And how did our little 5 week old do with flying? She was an absolute dream! Capri slept almost the entire way and we only received a few ugly looks from people who thought she seemed too little to be on a plane. Win!
Our visit with family was everything we hoped it would be and we got to celebrate the 4th of July at home in Idaho again - something we missed terribly the year before. The summer was filled with bar-b-ques, camping, parties, late nights drinking on the patio, fires in the fire pit, family, and friends - exactly what we needed after a tough year away. Summer was a smashing success!
New School:
I don't want to write much on this one. Basically, the new school building is a dream come true...but the positive points end there. We've combined our girls' school with the nearby boys' school and...it's horrible. I have never seen such horrifyingly disrespectful children in all my life. I'm disgusted by these boys daily and I don't even have to teach them. I guess the best part about the school is that I've been fortunate enough to stay on the girls' side. And I know how lucky I am to be there instead of with the boys. The teachers who have to trudge over to the boys' side of the school every day deserve a medal...a million dollars...a free pass so they never have to work for the rest of their lives...something - ANYTHING - to show them how much they are appreciated and that we all know how hard they have to work just to keep their sanity every single day. This new situation has completely changed my perspective on teaching in the UAE...and...let's just say any positive opinions I once held about the school system here are now completely gone. Thankfully, I am able to focus on my students - my sweet, sweet Emirati girls - and know that at least I can make some difference in their lives. They are the only part about that school that keep me returning every day, and, in that respect, they have their work cut out for them. Fortunately, there's still the matter of:
Family:
Dalila is the best little girl in the world to come home to after a long day of dodging disgusting little boys at school. She makes the world go round and she is my shining star. She can make her little sister laugh with nothing but a smirk in Capri's direction...and she often has the same effect on me. Thank goodness for my silly, goofy, darling little girl. Every struggle I go through is completely worth it if it means I can give Dalila and Capri a chance at living their dreams when they grow up. And, really, that's the whole reason we're here, isn't it?
So - let's just count this as the catch-up post and forget the fact that I've not logged on in...oh...five months? Deal? Deal! To make up for my lack of focus, here are some cute photos! Cute photos of darling little girls should fix everything!!
The Fourth of July!!
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| Enjoying the Menan parade with cousins - gotta love small town Idaho on the 4th of July! |
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| Mommy and Lila in patriotic dresses. |
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| Daddy and Capri playing horseshoes. |
Dalila took swimming lessons while we were home in Idaho!
And here she is on her first tent camping trip.
Experiencing all there is to offer at the Bar J Ranch in Jackson Hole Wyoming
And her first ever haircut, too!
A fantastic time camping in Island Park
And her first time fishing - in a tutu, of course!
Plus - a surprise baby shower for little miss Capri
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| The sneaky hosts of our surprise baby shower! |
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| Our little Blueberry Muffin and kitty cat |
There - I now declare this blog - UPDATED!!! (that should make it official, right? Right!)
