Girl Talk & Tea Time

This morning Madeline and I were sitting down to our tea time and I told her that today I wanted some peppermint flavored tea. She immediately got a chair, pushed it to the kitchen counter and grabbed the pepper. She came running over, shook some into my cup and said, "there Mommy. Better?" And we slurped the morning away discussing shapes, rainbows, and future plans of clipping our fingernails.

Riding The Aramco Bus

This morning Madeline and I decided to try out the Aramco Bus. Aramco provides bus transportation all over the compound we live in, to popular destinations in Khobar and other cities near us - like the malls and grocery stores, and to other Aramco camps. The buses are large, with curtained windows and lovely air conditioning. We've been here almost 6 months (Oct. 10th) now and I have never tried the buses. Mainly because you have to plan around the bus schedule. Honestly though, following the bus schedule is probably your best bet at getting anything done around here because of time restrictions like five prayer times a day where they shut down everything. The bus schedule usually coincides with the store hours outside the compound. Most of the days of the week the buses will go to the two malls closest to camp.

The Al Rashid Mall is tall and newer looking with 4 or 5 floors (I think - it's so massive my brain is slightly overwhelmed) and I believe a normal, healthy person without any children would need a good week to properly get through it.

The Mall of Dhahran is the closest to us and a little more plain looking, but equally massive. I'd say it would take a good 4 to 5 days to properly see everything there.

Madeline and I chose to go to the Mall of Dhahran today. Madeline was very excited - this being her very first time on a real bus. when we arrived she pointed out everything she noticed. I told her that the man in front was the driver of the bus to which she replied, "move on back!"

After we got seated and when the bus started to move she started singing The Wheels on the Bus go round and round, and with every corner we turned she said, "Weeeeeeeee!" That girl has a good time no matter what she is doing.

This particular bus leaves at 9:00 and then is back at the mall to pick up anyone who wants to go back to camp at 11:30. The next bus to the mall isn't until much later and because a lot of the stores close from 12:30 to 4:00 pm there is really no reason to stay. Two hours is not even close to being enough time to shop, but it was still fun to get out. We were able to pick up a couple of stylish sun hats, a robe, and some clothes for Madeline. We will definitely try it again some time.

It Will Go On... Just Not For You.

I've decided to no longer do Madeline's Monthly Message publicly. I still plan on doing it for her and for her little sister when she is born, but for them. I dislike the restrictions of public writing, the inhibited moments where I hold back a little for fear I offend someone. Also, I don't know if anyone who happens upon the blog should know little details of Madeline's life and the likes and dislikes she has.
I still want to share the happenings and funny or adorable things my children do on the blog, but I think I need to refocus what I really want to write about on here. Lately (when I do write, which has been rare) it has all been about Madeline. Yes, she is my LIFE, but there are other things on my mind that belong on the blog too.
So there you have it.

Two Years

Happy Birthday toots!

My Madeline is two years old today. She is the most loving, adventurous, smart and amazing little girl I've ever known, and I am so happy she is mine.