Last post--Bahrain, forts, bdays, deserts exploring & camel luck

We got our first out of country visit--to Bahrain and enjoyed seeing a few sights there.

 Kids got to experience shopping in the souks.

 This fort was amazing dating back 4,000 years---definitely the oldest place I've ever been to.  They had listening devices where you would stop in front of different areas and they would tell you the history of things.

 Jordan showing Ryan a baby crab

 Stopped at a camel market on the way back but everyone was scared to get sick so this is as close as we got;)

Birthday palooza begins:)

All 16---Happy for him, sniff sniff for mom

 Addie learned how to do a back bend by herself

 Rocked the Spriggs kids clothing inventory fashion show:)

 Celebrating the best time of the year

Megan turned 9  (sniff sniff again)

 Megan rocked the hula hoop contest at the park where we celebrated with her friends.  She won her turn's contest.  They also did water balloons, duck ponds, and made their own movie:) with Dave's new b-day present.  It got so very hot--102 so when one of the kids started turning pale and wasn't feeling very good --we loaded up everyone in the air conditioning and sat in the car and opened presents.  Different...but it worked.

 Jordan went to a birthday party for one of his friends here and this is what they looked like when we picked them up.  I'm pretty sure they had fun.

I learned a new skill--sushi making to surprise Dave for his birthday and believe it or not ---I DID IT!!

Then for Addison's birthday we headed out to go desert rose hunting.  As we were trying to get all the cars in the caravan through a sand patch we saw like 6 camels out ahead of us.  As we parked they started coming toward us to see what the commotion was??? Really I have no idea---So the wind was blowing so hard--when we got out to try and take a family picture it had picked up and the sand hitting your legs HURT so everyone jumped back in--I was bummed--you know --wild camel. Doesn't happen all to often...I mean sure, you can go to a camel market and stand next to one but seriously?  This guy even put his head down and someone crazy decided to pet it!!  When we started digging we were getting nothing and the wind was bad.  Most kids just wanted to get back in the car and I was worried someone might be disappointed so as we were getting ready to leave Dave says let's try another spot, so we did and being persistant paid off.

 Jordan petting the camel.

I think this picture better shows the "real" of the sand blowing.

After a few holes of digging we found our rose treasures and then as we were digging---this guy just shows up on his camel and lets us all have a turn on it!!!!  What??  Seriously--do you see anything around us?  No zoo--total out in the middle of the desert nowhere and we get to ride a camel--Total awesome--thanks for making a great b-day party random Saudi guy:)

I was reminded this week that sometimes we go down roads in life thinking its the right way only to find out it isn't. --and that is okay--because we know then, for sure, we need to go another way.  So while this has been short lived and not sure if you even made it to the end of this post, I am ending my blog days and if you'd like to know anything about where we live or anything else or just say hi I still have the same email address:) and would love to hear from you anytime!

Spring Break

Spring break has turned into 2 1/2 weeks here so I'm a bit behind--just saying I'll be catching up next week with lots of pictures to share!  Hope you are enjoying nice spring weather:)

Week 11 Mar 6-13

This past week Dave was in Palm Springs CA.  While he was gone we

have had Friday Sabbath Lego challenge.  This is a few of what they came up with: (ignore the messy background--real life here;))

 This is Peter getting out of the boat to walk on water.                 This is Ammon at the water of Sebus watching the flocks of sheep--isn't that cute (far left) and the armless man on the right:)

 bus trips and naps --awesome right?

 pool time and  lots of sunshine

Addie was "star" student of the week and asked I make a star in her hair:) Megan got a "hat" day and we practiced spelling words by using her animals to spell them f-e-w:).












Jordan got to meet some new friends in Bahrain.  They did some fun service projects. They took food (1 kilo of rice and then bags of fruit/veggies) to donate, then they also took toys to donate to an orphanage over there.  It was a great opportunity for my kids to think of others and pick things that they felt other kids would enjoy playing with from their own things.  Jordan also said they cleaned up a beach. He met others from Kuwait and different areas of Saudi and Bahrain.  Talk about learning new things and stepping out of your comfort level right?  I mean we're talking going to a new country. It may not be super far away but still.
I am so grateful for the sweet comfort that comes in knowing He is mindful of each and everyone of us and is aware of our needs.  I am learning a greater understanding of faith.
  This is some of the things he saw. The fort below is a place we are hoping to tour when we go as a family. He was cleaning the beach.  This is what they call the causeway--the island is Bahrain.

While he was gone we explored an exhibit that they displayed a few weeks ago called the "flower festival"  We were at the cultural event so we had missed it, but as we drove by it on the bus we saw this---and we didn't want to miss it!  So with the heat coming, we knew we needed to get over soon so we could enjoy it too.  Some of the flowers have already started to wilt but the big towers were amazing when they were all in bloom.  Still lots of beauty to see and the weather was SO nice.  We made quiet a trek to get there from the middle school (no 4 o'clock bus-:)) but it was worth it.

 A Peacock!  Can you see the wings and beak? My kids kind of are in the way:) haha

 This was a display made out of old glass bottles.

 We also did some shopping and I had to include this--Ryan is always like "Are we going to buy the dead fish?"--This one is bigger than it looks in the picture and it had teeth so they were all checking them out.  It would have been a great opportunity for me to reinforce the importance of good teeth brushing, but thought of it later! Drat.

 We worked out to Jillian--some of us fared better than others :)

And Haley went over to main camp to help with a service project for kids ages 0-5 years . She passed of some "good works" she is working on in yw's and did some slushy making and some face painting. She really enjoyed that and has asked for some:)