08.16.11

Happy Birthday to Paul's Mom, Mary Ann, today! We wish we could be with you to celebrate!  Madeline had a playdate this morning with a new friend and we made cupcakes. We brought a couple home with us and on the way home she remembered today was your birthday and she said, "For Gama for her birthday!"  She ate it when we got home, but the thought was there, which is pretty good for an almost 3-year-old.

This morning started out in an irritating manner.  I was bitten by an ant while sitting on the floor ironing the hem of my shorts.  These shorts are so annoying. Every time I wash them, they fold up in all sorts of directions and I have to iron them back to a straight, flat hem.  Then they look great, but to have to go through that every time I want to wash and wear them is quite annoying. 

So I'm sitting on the floor minding my own business and an ant, who was apparently camped out underneath me BIT me on the back of my calf.  I immediately clobbered the little jerk with my palm.  That little tiny bite caused some major discomfort and stung constantly for like an hour and continued to sting on and off throughout the day.  I didn't even think to use some antisceptic numbing spray, which I have upstairs, so to know I needlessly suffered annoyed me even more. The war is on.  I will have the service center come spray outside for ants and we will be on the lookout - like you have to be all the time here in the land of sand - for any cracks, crevices or holes in our tile or walls. There will also be some major stomping going on.

We were all ready for the day and about to leave when I noticed the car was gone.  Paul had missed the bus tending to Madeline this morning.  I was up all night last night with her or Abigail - who now has a tiny cold - so I apparently didn't hear Madeline screaming like a banshee in her bedroom this morning - oops!  So I called Paul. He was thankfully able to come home with the car.  The girls and I drove him back to work at the new building we haven't driven to yet.  Getting there was easy, especially with Paul in the car.  Getting back to our area was a little confusing.  I followed the signs to "community," which were supposed to say "camp" according to Paul, and then I was all turned around.  So I did about three U-turns and ended up following a sign that said, "core area".  Thankfully this took me to where Paul used to work and I was able to find my way back to our house. 

Today we had a playdate with another Aramco mom on camp, Sarah and her girls Agatha and Gussie (Augusta).  I met Sarah when I first moved here and was taken to her home for a playgroup.  She is originally from Australia and has a really cool accent.  Her girls are very close in age to my girls and Sarah and I are close in age as well, so there is some common ground there.  The girls had a good time making and decorating cupcakes and playing in the playroom.  We will hopefully get together again soon this summer.  Madeline and Agatha will be in school together if our families are still around then.

 

Tuesday nights in our house are "hobby night." Basically that means we order barbeque'd chicken or U.S. steak from the hobby farm restaurant here on camp.  I like it because it's pretty good food and I don't have to worry about what to make for dinner or mess up the kitchen. Then we try to focus on doing something fun together as a family that has something to do with a hobby or interest one of us has. 
Last night Paul took Madeline to the swings for about an hour while Abigail and I stayed home.  Abs and I would have gone with them but at 7:00 pm it was still 104 f and Abigail has a bit of a cold/congestion thing going on. So technically it was more of a normal day than a "hobby day," but that's okay.

Today Abigail started eating sweet potatoes.  Sweet potatoes are definitely a favorite for her because this is the first time she willingly opened her mouth and swallowed the food. So things are looking up in the baby eating department.

I love my girls *smile*