Mi Mi

Ari has been missing her Mi Mi (Miya), her puppy. She asks for her about every day. When we are on Skype she calls her name until my parents take the laptop into the room to see Mi Mi. Well, it was killing my dad to hear Ari asking for her Mi Mi every day. So he sent her a Siberian Husky stuffed animal that looks just like Miya. He had to order it from Alaska. You don't find many stuffed huskies that are black and white. Mi Mi now goes everywhere with us.

From Mi Mi

From Mi Mi

From Mi Mi

From VA Bch - Sandbridge

Random Pictures of Ari

From Drop Box

Ari with Morgan

From Random pictures of Ari

Ari posing for a picture

Bahrain School Volleyball

Well, it didn't take us long to get back involved with volleyball. We met the right guy and now we are in. Brother Wells from our ward is the boys high school volleyball coach for the Department of Defense school. We have had the opportunity to go over and help the boys prepare for an upcoming tournament in Europe. The boys are really willing to learn so it is great.

Brother Wells is also in charge of the officials on base. I was able to officiate the Captains Cup league last week and earn a little extra money. We appreciate everything Brother Wells does for us. He has kind of taken us under his wing. Bryan is hoping to be able to play in the upcoming 4's sand volleyball tournament at the end of the month.

From DOD Volleyball

I forgot to mention that Ari helps as well. She is in charge of picking up the cones, she just may not do it when we are ready for her.

From DOD Volleyball

Ari's new found love

Ari has a new love and it is coloring. We started out by coloring Nana pictures for her birthday. BTW do not by the animal shaped markers. They make a mess. Coloring is something she can do by herself. She doesn't need me to sit right by her. This is a new found freedom for mommy.

From Coloring

Eating Good...

Since we have arrived in Bahrain we have only been out to dinner a couple of times. We forgot t take the camera the first time, but we ate at a really good shawarma diner. The next place we went to dinner at was an Indian cuisine diner. We ordered lamb chops, prawns fried rice, and the delicious bread. All three of us found this place to be a hit. Ari loved the lamb chops. We were excited because she doesn't eat a lot of meat. The portions were enough for left overs. Oh, we also ordered an avocado and chicoo milkshakes. They were really good surprisingly.

From Dinner

From Dinner

From Dinner

18 Month Check Up

From Hogle Zoo 2010

So it just dawned on me yesterday that Ari needed to go in for her 18 month check up.  We were already on base so we stopped by medical and they could see her that day.  This will be Ari's 4th pediatrician.  We really like our new doctor.  I wish I could remember her name.  Here are Ari's stats.

Weight: 13kg = 28.6lbs (95%)
Height: 82cm = 32.3 inches (75%)
Head: 19 inches (90%)

Ari is a little parrot these days.  She wants to know what everything is.  We tell her and she repeats it a couple times and then she tells daddy about it when he gets home.

She knows most of her body parts (head, hair, ears, eyes, nose, neck, lips, teeth, tongue, knee, toes, fingers, belly, leg, arm, feet, eyebrows, back, bum, belly button, toe nails)  and most characters from Sesame Street (Elmo, Bert, Ernie, Zoe, Abby, Cook(ie), Big Bir, Telly, Gro(ver), Osc(er) and Winnie the Pooh (Tig(ger), Ee(yore), Pooh, Darby, Owl, Rab(bit), and P(iglet).

Ari also enjoys Skyping with her family members.  The people she wants to talk to mostly are her Mimi (Miya her dog), Nana, and her Unc.  Probably because this is who she talks to most often.    Funny story, the other day I was packing her bag in her room and I hear the Skype dial tone.  Ari had called her Nana all by herself. 

Ari is also very social.  She loves people and kids.  While on base she waves to everyone we walk by.  We have met people we other wise would not have.  If she sees another child she is walks right over and tries to give them a toy she has.  Sometimes she scares the other child away.  I hope she always remains this outgoing.  

Now to tell about one of her not so favorable characteristics.  She is so stubborn and has started to throw some fits.  I have to remind myself that I am  the mom and it is okay to say no.  Ari thinks that if she says please she should get it, not the case.  She understands time out and will go and sit in her room.  She doesn't like us to get mad at her.  She gets sad and goes to her room or hides under her B(blanket).

Ari is showing signs of wanting to potty train.  She has used the potty a couple times, but we are not pushing it.  Once we move into our home we will take her to pick out a potty.  I am hoping it will be as easy as getting rid of the bottle.  Ari gave up the bottle because she wanted a sippy cup like the other kids.

We are so thankful for her.  I don't know how we could have made it through the past year without having such an easy child.  She just adjusts to whatever environment she is in.  

Week 2 in Bahrain

So I guess I didn't tell everyone why we are in Bahrain and how long we will be here.  Well, we are here because of Bryan's job and we will be here for 2 years. 

I don't have any pictures, but I can at least tell you what we have been up to.  Bryan started work last week.  He is excited about his job and really enjoys the people he works with.  He leaves for work between 6 and 6:30am and gets home around 6pm.  He will not always be working this late. 

Ari and I have been going out with different agents looking at homes.  We haven't found anything else that looks promising. We are still considering the two homes I posted pictures on.  We are not in a hurry so we are continuing to look this week.

We were able to hook up with the church military contact and attend church on Friday.  The church is about 15-20 minutes west of the base.  Brother Wells, or rather Grandpa Wells picked us up for church.  The church is held in a huge villa.  The classes are held in different bedrooms.  The church is officially recognized in Bahrain which is great.  They have a nursery with about 4-6 kids.  The nursery ranges from 18 months to 4 years old.  I am sure it won't be long until we have callings.  We really like our Bishop. 

Funny story, the Bishop and his wife are actually looking to move closer to the church so they let us tag along with them on Saturday.  After we finished with them.  Brother Wells took us out to look at places as well.  We went to dinner with Brother Wells and his wife after to a little place down Shawarma Ally.  I am giving our ward an A grade.  I think we are really going to like it.  Oh, it was fast and testimony week and some of the testimonies were interesting. 

Well, I have gone on enough.  Bryan is officially on his own at work.  I will continue to keep you posted. 

Recipe for a Military Spouse

 A friend of mine posted this on her facebook account.  I really liked it and thought I would share it.

Recipe for a Military Spouse
2 cups Patience
1 c Courage
3/4 c Tolerance
dash of Adventure
...1 lb of Ability
To the above ingredients:Add 2 tbs elbow grease and let stand alone for a year. Marinate frequently with salty tears.Pour off excess fat and sprinkle ever so lightly with money then Knead dough until payday. Season with international spices. Bake 20 years or until done. Makes unlimited servings. SERVE WITH PRIDE