Week 5 Jan 25-31

Week Summary:  Haley's trophy, Jordan's 1st days of school, Swim team, Firetrucks, 1st camel sighting,  Integrity & sand four wheelin'

This week Haley won a lego pencil holder as she tied for first in her music class singing contest.  She was thrilled to pretend she was singing for me:)

Jordan got to go to school on Wednesday Jan 28th....The King of Saudi Arabia passed away over the past weekend so schools were closed pushing his start to school back one day.

Eating Chunky Monkey pancakes for his first day---because chocolate, bananas, & peanut butter make getting up at 4:45 easier right?:)  
When he got home he was holding a stack of books and later he told me it reminded him of Harry Potter.  He went in and gave his class schedule to this lady who took him to this room of books and just starting getting all of his books together.  I thought that was funny.  He said in one of his classes every kid in the front row was from a different country.  He has enjoyed his first couple of days.
Last week Jordan tried out for the swim team for this area.  He doesn't have it at his school.  We got word he made the team this week and will start practicing in the evening starting Feb. 1st.

This is Jordan at his swim tryouts with Coach Elvis. 

Ryan went to the clinic because his ear hurt:( It was right next to the fire station so we got to see the fire truck!

 On a different day this week, Ryan and I went and surprised Addie taking her out of her "lunch" to have lunch with us and play at a nearby park.  The kids have lunch here from 11:30-12:40.  Most of the students come home that live on main camp.  However, we don't have that opportunity due to the ride time so it was fun to go spend some special time with her.  Megan gets to do lunch club every Thursday--gymnastics and is really loving that.  When I was walking Addie inside, I saw her practicing cartwheels and front walk-overs with her friends on the grass.

 There is something truly amazing about the integrity here in this country.  One month ago Jordan lost his wallet on one of the planes to our new home.  Not only did we get it back this week--a month later, but everything was still in it.  Everything.  This also happened to another lady that lives down our street.  Nothing was stolen out of her purse either--credit cards, money, identity etc.  You can see this everyday as kids ride their bikes and scooters to the bus stops and leave them there without any worry that their things will be stolen.  This week Jordan also realized that while he was helping the kids at the park he had put down his ipod.  A few hours later, it was still there.  I think that it is incredible.

This Saturday we finally got to go to Half Moon Bay beach.  This is where Dave has been trying to go since we got here.  We were told there were four wheeling here.  On our way we saw our first camel sighting!  :)  I usually don't read all the rules (ha--remember last weeks' post?) However I was reading these as we were being checked at the gate and had to take a picture because of the one rule!!

 Haley found a starfish and the kids had fun playing with some new beach toys.




Then the party started---Dave took the four kids four wheeling on the sand dunes.  Ryan and mom went back with some friends that had to leave early.  Unfortunately our little rental doesn't fit us all in so we had to split up but the kids had a great time and I'm sure we'll be back.  We have more video than pictures but I have to work on it still to make it work on the blog.

Addison --rooster tail!















The funny story with this picture is that they came across this boat--yes, in the sand so to be funny they were acting like they were going to tow it around  (which I'm pretty sure that is what people had been doing with it) but then this guy comes driving over telling them "no no, you can't do that" so ... they are just pretending-haha.