Murjan Bazaar

We had our last week of dance class this week! We will start back in January. It has been so much fun to teach them! They really learned so much!

Josh and I spent day in Bahrain and Elise went over to Heather's, this is the outfit she picked out to wear!

Sweet Ellie is starting to walk now! She loves me!

Our compound puts on a huge bazaar for our compound workers. All of the proceeds go to the workers. My friends and I were in charge of getting donations for the raffle. We were able to get a tv, patio set, turkey's, tickets to Abu Dhabi and several other exciting items!!

Another exiting thing is that Santa Clause was here! Claire was not thrilled, but it's the first year that Elise was excited to see him!

Santa gave us reindeer food and all of the babies wanted to eat it...off of the ground...

Elise loved the horse riding on the beach!

Tons of vendors from all over Saudi Arabia come to our bazaar.

Birthday parties

Claire has everyone wrapped around her finger! We were at Jeanette's house and she asked Jeanette to hold her. No one can tell her no!

We have move and groove class on Wednesdays. Claire loves it! She asks to go on this towel! It looks strange, but the kids enjoy it and it's something fun for us to do in the afternoon.

It is getting much more cool here now! This weekend the high was only 108! We have even been able to go to the playground in the evenings.

I promised Elise a movie night on Thursday ( which is our Friday). 

We had two birthday parties this weekend. The first one was a 'mine craft' party. Josh had to educate me on what mine craft was! The other party was helping celebrate Ellie's first birthday! It is fun to have parties on the weekend because it gives us all something to look forward to!

Elise needs a little batting practice....

We had an awesome group date night on Friday. Our playschool watched the kids for a parents night out. We took the kids in the bus to the school on the compound, and the bus took us to the restaurant. 

We ate at a Lebanese restaurant inside the Intercontinental. The food was yummy and the waiter told us we could take our abayas off! 

All of the restaurants here have curtains and partitions so the ladies can remove their headpiece to eat. I've always wanted to take my abaya off, but I've never been told it was ok. It was very freeing!!

At Ellie's party we all showed up with blue shirts! They wanted to take a picture of it. It was not planned! :)

Jet lag and birthdays!

We started the week off with trying to get over jet lag. This involves various 3 AM cries and much needed afternoon naps for everyone!

There is an 8 hour time change here so it quite an adjustment.

Elise has been making sure all of her animals go to sleep before she does. Yes, her entire bed is covered in these animals.

One of her many times of falling asleep in the middle of the day.

On Elise's actual birthday we invited her friend, Lauren to come over for a girls day of lunch and painting nails. These girls are so sassy!

We took her out to eat at The Steak House. This was her choice of restaurants because of their playground. They are also one of the few restaurants that sing to you!

Bebe and PaPa came over to celebrate with us and BeBe made delicious cupcakes!

Elise and Lauren wearing their matching dresses....

We also got to celebrate our good friends birthdays here in Saudi. Jeanette had a birthday this summer and Stephanie's was this week too.

We went to Le Cafe which is like a mild version of a La Madeline's, but very good for food around here.

My friend, Amber made Elise this beautiful pillowcase and blanket for her birthday. She loves it and loves snuggling up to it!

It was finally birthday time! Elise has been wanting a superhero party ever since Gregory started liking superheroes!

My friend, Katherine at Simply Party, made these precious invites and my table signs! 

My little "bat girl"

Elise was thrilled Mr. Alex came!

  

This is a picture of our friend, Jamir. He works here at Murjan and loves the girls. He only sees his family once a year, at best.

These girls love each other!

Wow! I can't believe Josh and I have a four year old. We are both so happy to

Have two healthy and happy girls. There's not a better feeling in the world!