Whoops!

I am so sad. We missed Knuffle Bunny because I wrote it down on the calendar for Saturday instead of Thursday. It only ran Thursday and Friday! I looked at my tickets yesterday- realized my mistake at 30 minutes before it started on Friday- couldn't get in! So bummed out- how could I make such a stupid mistake? I had the tickets in hand when I wrote it on the calendar. And I hadn't just written the wrong day, I had written the wrong time too. I have no idea what happened there. Just so bummed.
The nursery program at the school filled up- so Edward isn't going next year. Because he won't be three till October, they gave priority to the already threes. I am okay with that because it did seem to be a lot of really long days for him. So here's to one more year of savoring my baby boy! I better up my game though and do more fun stuff with him, like crafts, letters, songs, etc.
We have two birthday parties to run to today- our kids have busier social lives than us!

Guess who...

Guess who is left-handed? Yet further proof that we each have a mini-me! We are headed to Music Makers today- Edward loves singing time. I turned in his nursery school application the other day- it was a big decision. He doesn't start until after he turns three and is potty trained, but it is five days a week from 8 to 12:30 p.m. So many days- for so long! I am used to preschool being for three days a week for two hours. I thought about keeping him home with me for another year, and still might if he isn't ready. But I talked to admissions and they have a lot of late summer / fall birthdays next year, so he will fit in. It is a really great Reggio Emilia program, where they get to do what they are interested in. Lots of music, movement, crafts, play time. A wonderful teacher. And maybe he'd rather be finger painting and riding trikes on the playground than home helping me switch the laundry and doing the grocery shopping?
Evelyn's creative writing continues to crack me up. Her latest offering was a thinly veiled mash-up rip-off of two Backyardigans episodes and Mr. Popper's Penguins. But she added depth to her characters by making one like Chinese food, one like Arabic food and one like Dutch food. Hmmm. They got a note telling them to climb Mount Everest, but couldn't make up their minds. It would be cold so they didn't want to. But they did and when they got to the top their was a box with six penguins inside and a note saying they were the girls' new pets. Then they all sled down the mountain!
This whole week has been strange weather- sand storms and overcast. It rained- well sprinkled- yesterday- and all it really managed is to knock some of the dust out of the air- it didn't get things all that wet. I am regretting ever complaining about how dusty Quincy was- because I have it in spades now!

Never know at the mall...

You never know what you'll run into at the Seef Mall. This time it was clowns promoting a big Formula One race coming to the Bahrain International Circut. I just ran in to purchase tickets to Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical for Evelyn and I since Dan Zanes had been such a hit. (Bahrain is doing this whole Spring of Culture that is so neat! Andrea Bocelli came, but Roger was gone in Oman that night and tickets were a little much. Also coming is the Shaolin Temple Performance Group (kung fu demo!) and Jody Sperling Time Lapse Dancing- for free- hoping we can go to those!) Anyways, Edward was hoisted up by a stilt walker, got his face painted, drove a remote control car, and colored a picture of a car- scoring a free apron. I love how family-friendly Bahrain is. I think my kids have gotten more face-paint in our last seven months here than I had my entire childhood!

Dan Zanes

We went to a Dan Zanes and Friends concert yesterday. It was so much fun! We sang and danced, sat on a giant beanbag, ate cotton candy and popcorn, and got face paint. During the encore, the band invited everyone up on stage! And after we got to say thanks and take photos. It was great- worth every penny.

We wait for the show to start on a giant beanbag.

Edward loved dancing.

Evelyn loves her facepaint!

Edward and Roger liked the drums!

And we got to meet Dan Zanes! It was great. Thanks for coming to Bahrain Dan Zanes and Friends!

having fun

We had some friends escort us on the U.S. military base for a Dr. Seuss event. The event was fun- green eggs and ham, story time, bounce castles, crafts, face painting, cake and a goodie bag. And I got to eat at Taco Bell! It might not be fine dining, but it tasted like home! The base reminds me a lot of a college campus for some reason. It wasn't what I was expecting, but I'm not sure what I expected either. Edward had a blast in the ball jumper with his friends Bethany, Charlie and Ari.

And we finally went to Magic Planet at the mall. Evelyn got to do the Bumper Bugs, which she loved. Edward did the Merry Go Round and Evelyn did something that was like a Pirate Ship, but rotated also. We also watched A Series of Unfortunate Events and The Adventures of Tin Tin: Secret of the Unicorn on DVD with some popcorn. Both were great! It was a fun family weekend.

 

Growing up

"It's a yummy snack," said Edward, holding the Goldfish I'd splurged on out to me. I am amazed how articulate he is getting. "Time to go to sleep," he said last night while crawling into bed. When we read picture books, he points to the capital letters and identifies them right most of the time. Same with numbers. Where has my baby gone?! He is so sweet.
Evelyn is a sweatheart too. She is so interested in things lately- she is always checking out craft or cooking books-  "lets do a mother daughter project!" She bought a sew a stuffed dog kit with her own money this weekend and I think we are going to start it tonight.