Adios, Sweet Trailer!

Davy graduated!  After Winter Holiday he will join Toddler Care, and say good-bye to our beloved Trailer.  There was a trial at the beginning of the year (back in August) to move him early, but everyone agreed that he needed a little more time in the Trailer with the babies (much to Mama's relief!).  The past few months Davy has enjoyed his reign as "The King of the Trailer."  I couldn't believe that he was the oldest, after being the youngest all last year, but alas, it is happening: he's growing up right before my eyes.  The babies went on daily walks around campus, and I would get to see him and squeeze him on occasion on these walks as I was coming back from the cafeteria or an errand.  I still continued to visit him every day at lunch, and try to nurse him, but he was generally too busy with his friends and teachers/adoring fans.  The last month he has been transitioning into Toddler Care.  One of the ladies would take him for Circle Time and lunch, and after a few days, I could tell that he is ready!  His friends and teachers at Toddler Care have a lot to teach him.

I wrote each of his teachers a letter for his last day, and it took me ages as 1. it is hard to put into words my love and appreciation for them, and 2. I couldn't stop crying! Ms. Girlie, Ms. Tes, Ms. Rose, and Ms. Ann will forever be special angels in my heart, as they loved my son asd their own and cared for him when I couldn't from the time he was 8 weeks old.  Thank you, Ladies, and thank you AIS-R, for on-site daycare.  I am convinced it is a working mama's saving grace, and should be mandatory in all of the modern world work-places.

Billie and Davy



She is such a good baby--not even bothered by Davy pulling her hair!

 

 

 

Pretty Yara

Davy with Ms. Girlie

Circle-Time!

A smile!  (sort-of)



Circle-Time: Row, Row, Row

Mama Tes with her babies

Kisses for Katherine

Making his rounds

Kissing his girl



Mikayla's turn for Davy-love

So long, Trailer!  Thank you for everything!

Trip to the Desert

Over the Eid holiday, we ventured out to the desert.  Besides the Clock Tower Souk, this was our only "tourist" thing that we have attempted here.  We went with two other families, and took a lovely picnic.  It took 2 hours to get to our destination--"Graffiti Rock."  Unfortunately, it seems like all of the flies in Saudi Arabia also decided to show up to our picnic, and we were unable to eat it. On the way there, we saw The Edge of the World, which is the Riyadh escarpment.  Pretty cool.

Our family was ready to leave before the other families, so we decided to trek back on our own.  Big Mistake.  My sense of direction and Shannon's together is still pitiful.  The short story is that we got lost and it took us 3+ hours to get home.  The long story involves a lot of prayers, panic, and frustration with endless desert stretches, no turn-arounds, and a dying phone.  We have never been so happy to turn into the compound, and will probably never attempt to leave again.

The trip was pretty much a bust, but I'm glad we have these pics.

Halloween party at Omar's house (the night before the trip)

Leaving Riyadh

 

 

Shannon and Trevor looking at the rocks

Vera starting to climb

 

 

Graffiti Rock

See the flies?

Attempt at a timed photo

 

Failed picnic

 

 

Vera's First Winter Concert

Vera is a natural star!  This was her first performance--all the Pre-K and KG 1 classes put on a Winter Concert featuring numerous songs ("Frosty, "Snowflake," "We Wish You a Happy Holiday," "Jingle Bells," and "Santa Clause is Coming to Town") with motions.  As I told Ms. Celine, Vera's teacher, I have NO idea how they managed to pull this off with all these little people.  Vera saw us straight away when she entered the room, and came to give me quick hug, then went back to her row.  She wasn't 100% into all the motions (unlike her daily practice sessions in the car with car dancing), and took her time sitting and standing up at the appropriate times.  She wanted to make sure we were watching her!  Towards the end of the performance she decided to bring me her bow (it was a good thing we were in the first row), and at the very end she shouted out to me that she needed to go pee pee. :)  All in all, she did a great job, and we were so proud of her!  These pictures show the show, along with the after-party with friends . 

Walking onstage... 

"Hi Mommy!"

"Snowflake, snowflake, little snowflake"

Post-Performance

Love with Nathan

 

Super heroes!

 

More posing with Gaith

Eating snacks

Ms. Celine, Nathan, Vera and Gaith

The Star with her dad

Christmasy Photos

We may be in a Muslim country, but we have not lacked in Christmas festivities.  We have been celebrating since the day after Thanksgiving, just like in the good ol' USA.  Today is Christmas Day, and I honestly feel like we have "done Christmas" right.  I will list a few of our fun activities: Vera's Winter Concert, Caroling at the Compound, Santa's visit and singing at the Compound, cookies and movies at Gaith and Yara's house, Christmas Sunday School with the kids, and the first annual Lyon/Haggard Christmas Eve Open House.  Although our travel plans fell through, it was lovely to celebrate at home with some good friends.  Plus, we have even more festivities to come when Gran Jan and Pop arrive--yay!

Davy loving the lights

Christmasy Vera

Giant Snow-globe! 

Mommy and the kids

Not loving Santa

Vera and Santa!

The whole fam