updates

I realized that I haven't blogged in awhile and wanted to let you all know that we are still here.  We've just been really busy.  I've been taking K to his new preschool three days a week, plus now have Bible study every Wednesday morning.  And, I signed H and K up for karate at a local dojo.  They started this past week.  It's been interesting to say the least.  The first class, I swear, H was a nervous wreck.  He didn't understand anything and was a bit panicky.  I mean, I need to cut him some slack, as the class is taught in Japanese.  He didn't seem to want to do it again, but once the second class started, he did better.  K goofed off most of the second class.  K likes to look at himself in the mirror:  way too much.  He's making faces and smiling at himself, while the sensei is trying to tell him what to do.  The class is twice a week and I think it will be really good for the boys.  I was very hesitant to sign them up, as the class ends at 7:30 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, both school nights.  I'm a complete psycho when it comes to the boys' bedtimes, usually, but I'm glad I am making the exception for karate.  I took some pictures during their first class, but I need to do some editing before I post them.  I'll try to get them up on the blog soon.

Oh, I did a little damage to my cute little car yesterday and boy did it put me in a mood.  I mean, I've been in a funk for the last few days, but this just set me off.  I am driving around a person who is planning on making a right turn.  I've got loads of room to go around, so I proceed.  Well, this idiot decided to swing left before making that right turn.  I saw him coming and had to move left quickly and went over the curb.  If I had been in my yukon in the states it would have been no big deal.  But here, my little tiny car is so low to the ground that it scratched and dented the very bottom of the passenger side.  It's not huge, but enough for me to notice and get mad.  I could have let the dummy hit me, but it would have been much more damage and a huge pain to deal with the insurance and all.  Of course, it was an American driver, which somehow made me even madder.  ARGH!  

Today, we had planned on going bowling.  There are two bowling alleys on the air base.  The little one is more kid friendly, but was booked for parties.  The larger one was almost completely full, of guys.  We opted to move on to plan B, which was a super cool looking park.  The pics we saw online of this park looked so awesome!  We drove around, got lost a bit, but finally found the park.  It was really neat.  You go up the path and there is this cool playstructure with a fast slide.  Then, you proceed down the hill to swings, teeter totter and another smaller playstructure.  Then, you venture up the path to the craziest slide you can imagine.  I had no idea of what thrill seekers the locals are.  This slide would never be allowed in a children's park in the states.  The slide is very wide, has a drop of almost 90 degrees, then a little landing and another decline to the ground.  I climb up the steps with my boys and my friend's son.  H proceeds to get on the ledge, yes the slide is so steep, it's a ledge, and flies down.  K decided there was no way on earth he was going.  He started to cry a bit and refused.  My friend's son cried and refused also.  I thought I could manage taking A down on my lap, but when I climbed onto the ledge, I knew I'd probably either drop him or pee my pants on the way down.  I declined.  Meanwhile, H kept on going down.  My friend, MA, decided to head on up the steps and give it a try.  She did it!  Scary as it was, she did it!  She convinced me to try it.  I mustered up all my courage and made it up the steps.  I hesitated on the ledge, almost chickened out and then finally let go and flew down the slide.  I did almost pee my pants, but I conquered the scariest slide I have ever seen.  Of course, I only went down once, as I'm still a chicken.  I forgot my camera, so I'll post pics once I get them from MA, who was smart enough to bring her camera along.  

Well, that pretty much sums up last week.  This week will be equally as busy.  I'll try to blog more and get some new pics up.  

Love to you all.  We miss you.

magic computer desk

just picked this antique desk up the other day and wanted to put it on here to show daddy.  whatcha think?

another pic

Forgot to add the pic of K and his best buddy.  

The birthday

Our little A is now three!  Well, he's been three for a few days, but today we celebrated his birthday with friends, cake, presents and funland.  

He did sneak away from me at one point and was off playing pachinko.  Gotta love the slots!  As you can see in the picture, he couldn't even take his eyes off of it for one second to look at me for the picture.  Funny little boy.  

All the kids had a fun time and A made it through the first couple of hours before becoming cranky and not so fun.  He passed out within 5 minutes of getting in the car and snored the whole drive home, which by the way, MA, was 15 minutes! ha ha 

All in all, a good day for all of us.  Thanks, MA, J and the kids for sharing our special day!

Peeves

No, not the Peeves ghost that plays tricks in Harry Potter, but pet peeves.  I'm in the mood to rant.  

First:  bad drivers, especially the Americans here that think they are far superior drivers to the locals.  I'm heading to the px this morning, and as I'm driving along, this idiot woman backs out of her driveway right in front of me.  Didn't even think to look or acknowledge that she almost backed into my car, which was moving along at a speed of a whopping 40 kph.  She gets on the main road and is weaving in and out of traffic like a lunatic.  I see her heading towards me, probably thinking of cutting me off, but at that point I was done.  I kept trucking along and she got stuck behind me, since there were 2 trucks in the other 2 lanes.  She then tailgates me all the way to the px.  I was so irritated!

Second:  sunglasses with white frames.  Seriously, people have to know that they look ridiculous.  I'm sorry if any of you out there have these glasses, and wear them, but they drive me nuts.  I don't care if they're Prada, Gucci, Chanel or whatever, they look stupid and cheap.  Especially those big ones.  YUCK.  Just because some nut like Paris Hilton wears them, does not mean it's okay.  Grab a good pair of Smiths, Oakleys, Tifosis or whatever and you'll look much better.

Third:  people who refuse to discipline their kids.  I'm in the px and this little boy is SCREAMING for ice cream.  It's not even 10 am and he's throwing a full on tantrum.  His mom, grandma and grandpa are all saying things like "not right now, maybe later" and "please, please, please don't do that", over and over again.  Smack him!  He needs a good old fashioned spanking!  

Fourth:  people who roll their eyes and give me dirty looks for disciplining my kids.  We're at the commissary this morning, and A decides to whine and start crying because he wants bubbles, which he saw hanging in one of the aisles.  I tell him, "no, we are not buying bubbles, you don't need them".  He gets really mad and starts to scream.  I stop the cart and tell him that if he does not quit right now, I will take him to the car and spank his butt.  I go to move along and there is this woman giving me the look.  Like her freakin kids have never thrown a tantrum and I'm the devil for telling A he will get a spanking.  Well, next aisle comes along and the little bugger starts up again.  So, off we go to the car.  He got a spanking, we went back in and finished our shopping, in peace.  Yes, I spanked his butt on his birthday.  I'm that mean.  Discipline, it works.  

Fifth:  recipes that are just stupid.  I tried to make a persian cookie thing for our persian lunch themed bible study tomorrow.  It was a stupid, stupid recipe.  It turned icky, gross and messy.  And all my ingredients are wasted.  I checked the internet for other recipes for the same thing, and they were all exact.  CRAP.

Okay, I think I'm done.  Wow, I must be seriously PMSing.  I bet when C reads this he'll be thinking:  "oh thank goodness I wasn't home on that day!"

A new year

Just wanted to take a moment to wish you all the very best for 2009!  We may be far away, but we think of you often and we love and miss you all.