Pinkalicious and a Shout Out

I know this is just the beginning of all the pink but so far, so fun. We haven't done much to change the nursery from blue to pink but this is a start. I had to post these pics of Georgia's crib bedding so I could give a shout out to the incredible seamstress who made it.

Lauren Griffith is the Material Girl
...she really is the Material Girl.

http://thematerialgirlonline.com
OR
lbgriffith1@yahoo.com

Her website doesn't do her justice. It doesn't have recent pictures. You can't see the detail or the true talent but you get the idea. She's made crib bedding for SO many of my Houston friends and my sister too. Wish I had some of their pictures so show how different they all are. I couldn't wait for her to get her hands working on Georgia's.

Not only is she incredibly talented, she's super cool, cute , sweet and has incredible taste. (and her prices are great) The only part I did was pick out one fabric...she did the rest from start to finish. She made the skirt, sheet, bumper and pillow. We just received a shipment last week with all of the nursery bedding plus a few other pink things. Needless to say...the bedding is pinkalicious. I love it but having two boys will make you really LOVE pink.




I had a last minute idea for her to make a small diaper bag for Georgia. We had some extra material for the Material Girl and she just whipped this up. The "G" was all her idea. Its so cute and perfect for a short little outing or for taking to the church nursery. Her bags are just as cute as the bedding.

Thank you Lauren!
You're awesome and I'm so thankful to have your fingerprints on Georgia's room all the way over here in Doha!!

Ok I have to also note that from this exchange of emails and contact with the Material Girl, she introduced me to one of her friends who just moved to Dubai. Emily and I have become great expat friends through emails and blogging. She and her family are adorable. We haven't met face to face but we will someday. I'll take all the Texans I can get over here in the Sand Box!

Ready...BREAK(fast)!

Every night during the holy month of Ramadan Qatar military shoot off a cannon to signal the breaking of fast. So just as the sun goes down the cannon BOOM! And I mean BOOM!

Checking out the cannon and hanging around. Also this is just proof that Brad Harris exists. He's Lindsay's husband and a great friend of our's. For some reason he hasn't been included in my pics. Once I again, I'm so thankful the Harris's moved to Doha!

Emery, Barrett and Cres

The bunch! Took Brooks a while to get close to the cannon.

Little Georgia, Daddy and the cannon

Linsday and me with Georgie


Getting ready...the build up and anticipation is pretty intense.



Finally...the BOOM. One second of extreme volume. Then its over! Fun and so LOUD while it lasted.

Just one more day of Ramadan! Whoohoo.

Decade of Togetherness!

You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.
-- Dr. Seuss

September 2, 2010 marked a decade of marriage for us. We've been a "husband" and a "wife" for 10 years. It doesn't seem like too long ago until I sit and think about the details of our decade together.

Getting our first jobs, buying our first cars, making brand new friends (as a couple), joining a church, the loss of a grandmother, loosing a parent, buying TWO dogs, renting a town home, being laid off, searching for another job, learning to live within our means, celebrating our first holidays and birthdays, buying a house, traveling, difficulty with our jobs, enduring the heartache of a miscarriage, trying to get pregnant, having our first baby, living on one salary, buying a boat, having another baby (very quickly after having the first), adding to our extended family with marriages and new babies, selling our house, moving to Doha, spending months away from each other, having a baby in Doha...shoot, just plain LIVING in Doha and the list goes on!

I'm thankful I can say the last 10 years have been the absolute best years of my life. The blessings over these years have come from so many different circumstances. I especially count my blessings that have come from hardship, whether its been something tangible or an area of growth in my life. I've learned the most about myself, Nick and God's love for us when we've been in the trenches. We are two totally different and very imperfect people. I'll be the first to say that being happily married is hard work. But the work is worth every bit of the reward. Thank the good Lord for his grace when we've been more focused on ourselves rather than God's will. Its pretty obvious from the pictures below, that we were babies when we got married. We've done a lot of growing up and growing together in the last decade. I feel rescued having known without a doubt that Nick was the man I would call husband for the rest of my life. I love him with all my heart and he's every bit and more of my better half! We truly are opposites in so many ways. I would be a disaster without his strengths. I've learned so much from him...he completes me.

Since we got married back in the dark ages of film cameras...these pictures had to be scanned. Another reminder that 10 years ago was a different world. I tried to scan pictures from our formal wedding album but it didn't work out...you know the big black ones. Again...ancient times!

Rehearsal Dinner
I have all kinds of comments about this picture. Mostly what I notice, is that everything is perky!

Special, special ladies that have made me the wife I am today...all 4 of them have modeled being faithful committed wives!
Bridesmaids Luncheon
Ash, Aunt Rosie, Mimi and Mom

My Pink Ladies...our friendships stronger now more than ever!
Absolutely wouldn't have a healthy marriage or be complete without them!

Seriously...are we getting ready for an 8th grade dance or our wedding?


The first man I loved! The epitomy of what it means to love unconditionally.
Both of us fightin' back tears!

Pure Bliss! Best day of the rest of my life!




On the actual day of our anniversary (Thursday) we ate dinner with friends at Chili's. Then I attended "Open House Back to School Night" at ASD while Nick took the kids swimming. Truly a sign of the times that we've been married 10 years!

Also blog worthy are the "ever-so-doha" flowers Nick had delivered for me on Thursday. If you know Nick, you know he's the type of guy that goes 110% on things. Its usually a great concept except when combined with anything "Doha". Don't misunderstand Nick's intention, he wasn't trying to prove anything...instead just do something a little extra special because it was a big anniversary. And don't misunderstand my intention of posting these pictures. I was more than appreciative but obviously I didn't need this to know how my much my husband loves me. Apparently in Doha bigger truly is better! Even when it looks like a casket arrangement. Needless to say, what arrived wasn't exactly what he had in mind, although it smelled wonderful :) One good thing about Doha is that most things are negotiable. Nick said he worked some magic and it didn't cost what you would think. I knew something was up when the delivery guy asked me if I had a table to set them on and then started clearing my laundry piles off of it. Not just moving them...clearing!! I grabbed my camera and saw this out of the window.


Doha Flare!

Gotta love the birds...

10 years is a big anniversary and it will always be remembered by the Doha flowers. I must say, all my favorites were included :)

In just a matter of days we'll be in the Maldives aka paradise to celebrate our anniversary. The 5 of us are going on our first-ever family vacation by ourselves. We've never vacationed with just mama, daddy and babies. Honestly thrilled I can celebrate 10 years with the little ones the Lord has bless us with along the way!

Here's where we'll be in just a few days!

No roads, just sand! And the temperature high is around 83! Praise Jesus!


(I know this is a family blog but since I'm the "poster" its heavy on the "poster" side of things, meaning...my emotions and perspective.)

Fantasy Football

Fantasy Football doesn't look any different in Doha than it does at home. Except I don't remember making a family night of it when we lived in Houston. The number one thing I like about Doha is life is simpler here. The girls didn't have anything to do so we just made it all out affair.

So serious,...not to be bothered. Can you hear the silence!?

Few of the ladies!

Bed full of boys!

Seriously...is this the secret service or a group of guys doing a fantasy football draft?

I joke, but we are so blessed to have these families in our lives! I'll take a Football draft any day!

Snake Eyes

Nick has absolutely had his #1 Doha Day or WEEK I should say. And by #1, I mean #1 to go down in history as a classic memory and experience. We've spent the week laughing our heads off and scared out of our minds. I'll let the video explain most of it.

Pre-video set up :
After eating out earlier this week, Nick and the boys went to get their hair cut. Nick has been wanting to go to the "Hair cut Souq" so he battled through a little Iftar traffic and gave the boys and himself a true Doha experience.

When Nick called me on his way home, he said "I'm sorry it took so long. I had to stop the guy from massaging my stomach". What? I was pretty sure that was a bit of a stretch. Surely NOT! Nick said "it was so strange and awkward, I videoed it on my phone. You'll see when I get home." I still thought to myself he was exaggerating a little and it couldn't have been that bad.

Nick has never had a massage and probably never will. He doesNOT enjoy it or find it relaxing...and even worse he's totally disturbed by the idea of a man rubbing his body, which is understandable. In Doha there is a strict rule/law that same sex massages are only done. So man massages a and man and woman massages a woman. You know...to keep things from getting kinky and to follow conservative Islamic beliefs.

Apparently the footage below is the typical treatment for one who is male and needs a simple hair cut. Thankfully the boys didn't get the entire treatment.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

After that wonderful experience. I literally watched the video and peed in my pants. Seriously, if you know Nick and his personality combined with the funny ways of "Doha" this goes down in history as one of his most uncomfortable moments.

Unfortunately the situation worsened. After we laughed and went to bed. Nick woke up for a Fantasy Football draft at 3am with some buddies back in the States. His eyes were killing him but he thought it was because he was tired. He just went back to bed without looking at them. We were both shocked and scared to see "Snake Eyes" the next morning. These pictures don't tell the truth. He looked scary and his eyes were more than just a little blood shot.


The company health hotline assumed he had a severe case of conjuctivitis. So I immediately washed sheets, clothes and towels. Nick drove straight to the hospital instead of work but stopped a few times because his vision was blurred. Of course after getting to the hospital he was told the opthamologist's office was closed and they weren't sure what time it would open. Maybe 9:30, maybe 10:30...SO DOHA! Finally he got in to see a great doctor. The doctor was unable to see his retina because the cornea was so foggy. At that point Nick's vision was really limited and his eyes were in extreme pain. The doctor determined there was something acidic under his eyelids irritating them severely. So whatever was on the massage hands must have gotten in Nick's eyes. It actually wasn't anything contagious. Immediately the doc gave him some anesthetic drops that seemed to help. And then gave him one contact (another DOHA moment) to put in one of his eyes. He only had one contact on hand so Nick was instructed to pick another one up at a pharmacy, plus a prescription. After stopping at multiple pharmacies (darn Doha) he finally found another contact and then spent way too long attempting to put it in his eye...he doesn't wear contacts! After 2 days of protective contacts and drops...his eyes have cleared up and feel much better. Each day he's more comfortable and feeling back to his 20/20 self. I'm honestly so thankful this wasn't worse. I've never gone so quickly from laughing to praying. And thank goodness it wasn't the boys.

Apple Tree with a little surprise!

Back at Apple Tree. Barrett had his first day for the term. We have LOVED our experience at Apple Tree and Barrett was excited to be back this year. I wasn't sure if the enthusiasm would stick around through "drop off" but it did. This little dude has grown up and had no problem with me leaving him for the day, which is different than last year. Its amazing how much he watches and models what the older brother does. Brooks has truly enjoyed getting up and going to school and I think its been rubbing off on ol Bear.




Barrett and his teacher, Mrs. Julie (who is AwEsOmE!)

After school there was a little surprise waiting at home for the boys. Our air shipment arrived with the ever-so-loved Jeep!!


Too bad its so hot they can hardly stand to stay outside but it was fun while it lasted. Many more Jeep afternoon drives ahead!

Last Supper with Mark

Last night we had our last supper with Mark. His family is already in Houston waiting for a wonderful reunion in their new home! He flew out of Doha with dog, Barley back to Texas just a few hours after we said our farewells. The LaRovere's will now reside just seconds away from our old stompin' grounds in Cypress, Texas! We're thrilled they'll be in reaching distance when we're home to visit but we totally ticked off that they moved away!!! Seriously, I'm having a few issues.

We enjoyed a good old American Fave, although they offered us Fudd's Iftar Special. Thought this was interesting. Ridiculous amount of food for a pretty decent price.
(drink, soup, appetizer, burger, and dessert for less than $20)

Georgia telling Daddy to stop working and get off his Crackberry!

Mr. Mark getting some baby girl love before he heads home to his little boys.

So I guess its real. They're really gone. We love you and will miss you so much. God's best blessings to this sweet family who will be life long friends.