Free Chocolate

Kit Kat Factory = big disappointment, twice.  I had all the dates and times in my mind.  I knew Wednesday was going to be busy, but in a good way.  We had a Willy Wonka-ish factory tour (9am), the girls were trying gymnastics(3pm), Isaac had kickboxing(4:30pm), Makenna had horseback riding (7:30pm) and Matt and I were going out for our date night.  I had printed out the directions to the factory the night before.  We normally sleep in on Matt's days off: a treat for him and I, as I don't get up early to run.  The kids still wake up normal, but what's normal for them is later for us.  Since we had to be at Kit Kat by 9, everyone had to get up early.  We ate a quick breakfast and headed out the door by 8:15.  We hit horrible traffic at one round about--15 minutes wasted and got there 5 minutes late.  The guard didn't understand what group we were supposed to be with, he took our names, ID's, called inside, still didn't know.  So I called another mom to see what name the tour was organized under and found out that ... we were a day early.  Oh man.

Taken pre-"tour".  Matt's visitor badge makes him look like a vicar in short sleeves. Can you tell it's bright?  That's because it's daytime.  Clouds are very rare. 

Gymnastics ended up being postponed a week as well.

So no sleeping in the next day either.  And to just rub salt into my wound of guilt, I realized that I had the date correct on my calendar in my phone, but my mind had tricked me.  I need to always double check.  And then the factory was a bummer.  We were expecting to be down on the floor like at Frito Lay or In n' Out or Audi, but nope.  There were brightly painted murals down a long hallway about the history of Kit Kat, flip boards about where they are exported to, a movie about how they are made and a few windows looking down at a couple parts of the assembly line.  Bummer.  The kids played some nutrition games at the end that Isaac thought were quite contradictory to their advertising goals.  So they spent the last 15 minutes learning about healthy eating and then were sent home with goody bags containing 7 samples of their various products.  Whatever.  Now we know.  Win some, loose some.  One funny thing.  One of the older kids took a picture through the window and the guide flipped out demanding he stop immediately and erase the pictures.  I guess it's so top secret, we can only take glimpses from above, unlike Audi where we were mere feet away from giant robot welding arms.

Isaac DID go to kickboxing Wednesday and Makenna DID complete her third horseback riding lesson at the Polo Club.  The grooms let go of the leads for a bit this time.  Baby steps.  The other stable was more fun, but we are still happy for the short drive and beautiful horses.  One of her favorite parts is when they practice turning around in the saddle.  Their teacher calls out "switch!" and they flip a leg around and around and are sitting facing backwards.  Then they "switch!" back and go again.  The horses are standing still for this part.  It's just her and another boy in their group.  He is Indian by birth, but was born in Dubai.  His dad has been to Las Vegas 4 times.  The parents are going on the pilgrimage to Mecca next month.  It sounds very interesting.  She (mom) is excited, but nervous about the physical difficulty.

Matt and I also managed to go out on a late date.  We have had plenty of times over the years when regular date nights didn't happen for one reason or another--usually work schedules.  And we adapted and had date lunches or movie nights at home. But it's so nice to have time together each week.  Having a 13 year old certainly has its perks.

While we were at the factory on Thursday, I got a call from someone in the ward asking if Isaac could babysit that night.  Matt Romney was in town and doing a dinner/speech.  Isaac chose to skip kickboxing and go play with Noah, a happy, energetic 18 month old.  We had a crash course in diaper changing and all the kids practiced on Jessica's monkeys.  The girls were hoping Isaac would get plenty of real practice too, but were disappointed.  He just had to provide lots of playtime.  I heard at church that Noah was all smiles when they got home and they thought Isaac did a great job.

While Isaac was babysitting, we took the girls to a mall in search of French Onion Soup.  Matt picked up the sore throat bug and thought that sounded good.  We found some at PAUL's, a yummy French Cafe.  Side story:  I went down to The Walk on the Thursday I was visiting last summer because Matt told me the Sheiks often make their own parade Thursday nights driving their exotic cars down The Walk, or so he heard.  If they do, they start later than I was there.  I did find a quaint French cafe with lots of small tables and mismatched chairs.  I sat at one tucked into a corner and slowly ate an open faced sandwich on amazing bread and read my big fat new translation of Les Miserables.  I had created this rather fanciful/romantic picture in my head of that night, but it quickly burst after we moved here and I realized that PAUL is in every mall in town.    Oh well.  It's still really good, but I laugh at myself a little every time we pass by one.  Jess and Matt both had French Onion soup.  Makenna and I shared a sandwich with sliced steak, grilled onions and mushrooms and sun dried tomatoes. We all saved room to share a few tasty desserts, mmmmm.

Written late Saturday afternoon: We just got back from picking Isaac up from the drop off for the stake youth activity.  He said there were tons of kids there (around 80 RSVP ed according to the last email) and he had a lot of fun.  I'm not getting too many details from him because he's half asleep.  They all went to Dreamland Aquapark--the place Jess lost her teeth.  Isaac couldn't find a blood stain.

I snapped a picture of Isaac setting up an experiment last week.  He was testing how increasing levels of salinity affect plant germination.  Quite an appropriate experiment for Dubai as we are constantly using desalinated water, which is supposedly more salty than fresh water, though you can't taste it.  The results were largely as expected--the less salt, the longer the roots, though we were surprised that even a couple seeds in the saltiest solution sprouted.  I should have taken an after picture, but this is all I have.  On the cluttered counter you can see bug spray to combat the ants with which we have recently been at war; magnetic words that the girls use to write poems on the fridge; super glue, which we use for everything; the "dinosaur medicine" Jess got from the ER that we finished up during the kids' bouts with the cold bug that went through them all; and the hand vacuum that we use more than brooms.

Other Isaac news (it's now Monday), he just got back from being measured for a suit.  We have to take him back for a fitting on Thursday.  It won't be ready for church this week, so it'll have to wait for Fast Friday. He is being the Primary Pianist this week.  The YW and YM, with help from the bishopric, will be running a combined sharing/singing time (combined with senior and junior) the third hour of church so all the sisters can attend the RS, VT conference.  There has been lots of logistical planning for a few weeks and Isaac has been practicing a selection of 8 songs.  He sounds great!

Makenna has cashed in her "extra work" for a sewing lesson.  I have been making the girls weekly schedules for school (as we are not doing everything with k12 anymore).  I have 5 circles at the bottom of each weekly plan for them to do something extra when they have extra time.  Jess is working for a Kinder Egg.  Makenna wanted to sew, on the sewing machine.  She measured, marked and cut out fabric.  We will start sewing tonight, perhaps.  I cannot yet reveal what the finished project will be.

This is a picture I found of Jess while getting images off the camera.  My first thought when seeing it was, "and we wonder why she is the one who has had stitches twice, a concussion and two knocked out teeth."

Our only other news is that Isaac, Makenna and I have started our online learning class for scuba diving.  We have to get through chapter 3 before our first pool session.  I have changed my tune from thinking this would be a casual, just for fun endeavor.  This is serious stuff.  I also better understand why 10 is the no-kidding minimum age.  It's challenging material.  We are having a whole lot of science and math packed into this real life learning experience.  I have been getting a lot of "when am I ever going to use this in real life??" questions recently, mostly from the girls. Interesting how fractions, density, buoyancy, volume, pressure, and more now hold greater meaning and purpose.  

yawn

I used to be a lot better at writing in a timely manner, but here it is Monday morning again and I am rushing to get something down to send to Kim and everyone else.  Maybe I'll add it to the blog for family history sake, but maybe it will be too boring.  I have been trying to run in the mornings, getting up with Matt and getting out the door before 7 while there are more shadows than sunlight.  I've been completing the 6.25 mile loop around the development, but I'm not feeling very strong.  I'll get back home and peel off my completely saturated clothes and pull on a dry swimsuit.  FYI: it is just as hard to put a dry swimsuit on a wet body as the other way round. Jumping in the cool pool feels sooooo good.  But I didn't go today.  I was just too tired when the dumb alarm went off.  I don't function well on less than 6 hours of sleep for too many nights is a row.  

We are still treating the temperature directions on the faucets backwards.  We turned all the hot water heaters off months ago because the "cold water" coming from outside is plenty hot.  We learned that if the hot water heaters are turned off, they become reservoirs for creating and holding room temperature water.  So if you want hot water for the cooking or washing, turn the faucet towards cold.  If you want to cool off, turn it to hot.  

The kids have all gone through a cold bug.  Isaac picked it up first and then passed it along to the girls.  Nothing major, just low grade temperature, sore throat and sniffles.  Isaac did miss a couple of days of MMA to sleep, but nothing else suffered.  He has the option of going 5 times a week now which is just too much.  This kid has major opportunities all around him and is sadly realizing that he can't do them all.  

This weekend is the scouts' first camping trip.  They are going to Oman, sleeping on a double decker Dhow (boat) and snorkeling, cliff jumping and climbing.  Does it sound amazing?  Yes.  But he is not going.  There is a stake youth activity the same day.  They are going to the water park where Jess lost her front teeth.  And he has an orthodontist appointment.  The scouts have outings constantly, stake youth activities are far more rare.  I let him choose and am glad about his choice, but I know he wishes the dates didn't line up like that.  He has plenty to look forward to though.  In two weeks he is starting classes to get scuba certified.  Makenna and I are taking the course too because the scouts are getting a deep discount.  Jess is too young.  Matt told her that they will go get ice cream anytime we go.  

The kids have had three swim team practices.  Our friend is running it for two of her kids and my three.  She is really making them work and everyone is enjoying it.  I play with her younger ones in the kiddie pool.  We meet at 9:30 Sunday mornings.  I wake the kids up at 9 and they grab their suits and a small snack before we walk out the door.  Then I make a grand breakfast when we get back.  The best so far was blender pancakes with chopped mangos and whipped cream.  We usually have a few pancakes left over, but not on swim team days.  On those days I never seem to make enough.  

Hmmmm, I think I am out of things to write about.  We are doing serious school today and tomorrow because then Matt is off and we have a bunch of activities planned.  Tour of a KitKat factory with the homeschool group, girls trying gymnastics, horseback riding, trying the beach for the first time in a long while, and of course MMA.  Maybe after all that, I'll have some interesting stuff to share.  

Dolphins, Drumming and Dinner

These are a few pictures of two Homeschool outings.  The first was held at our friends' villa.  There were about 30 kids crammed in a big open room (her sewing room!!) and they all had drums.  It was really loud, but very cool. The instructors did a good job with keeping the kids focused.  They started with simple rhythms and built on them.  The sound of all the drums beating in unison was exciting, thrilling, even if you rather wanted an Advil afterwards.  I don't know why I don't have a picture of Jess.  I have Makenna and a few of her friends.  And Isaac sitting between Timothy and the twins.

A couple weeks later we went to the Dolphinarium inside Children's City.  This is the same area as the good Children's Science Museum.  We had a bit of down time waiting for things to start.  Isaac tended to drift away from me and the girls to seek out the older kids.

We had an hour lecture about dolphins, where they live, how they are similar and different to humans, which species of dolphins live in this area.  I learned several new things. It made it much more educational than just seeing the show.  Then the staff played some games with the younger kids.  Afterwards we were joined by a bunch of other kids on school trips for the actual show.   I have several pictures of the high flying swimmers.  Oh, and there were seals at the end too, but they were a little anti-climactic after the dolphins.

We don't usually read during dinner, but every now and then someone (or more) is just really into a book that they can't put down.  It happened this night.  I had made a super yummy salad, but it got eaten v e r y  s l o w l y because they were all reading machines.  I gave up reminding them to chew and swallow and took a couple pictures instead.

The kids all got some Nerf guns for Christmas, two years ago.  They had a year in storage, but have been well loved the past few months.  We once again find orange bullets in all sorts of unlikely places.  Matt decided to add fuel to the fire and ordered a few more off Amazon.  They arrived last week.  They can arm themselves, plus a few friends now.  The girls had a couple friends join in yesterday, but they mostly worked on target shooting (part of their arts and crafts time was spent making a target to tape on the door).  As soon as the oldest three Rampton kids come over next, watch out!  Stay out of the line of fire!  We don't care if they shoot all over the house; there is nothing they can damage.  My one rule is they have to wear glasses or goggles.  Sunglasses are fine.  They have two pairs of Nerf glasses with orange lens but can't currently find them so they are relegated to using the causty science safety goggles from k12 which we have in abundance.  Of course most of these pictures are not during pitched battle and don't have the required eyewear modeled.

According to the Stars and Stripes, Heidelberg base is closing.  As of the end of this month, next year, it will be no more.  That is just hard to get my mind around.  Back in my day, Heidelberg was our biggest sport competition.  We had youth conference there one year.  Hmmmm.

Makenna is back on a horse again.  She started up a series of lessons at the Polo Club which is less than 5 from home.  They cost more, but none of us are missing the 45 minute drive to and from the old place.  It is a MUCH nicer facility.  The horses are beautiful! and very well cared for.  She loved her first lesson.  We have to go shopping for new boots though.  Her toes have grown since last time she put wore them and are now very scrunched.

Makenna walking Sahaam back to his stable with her Irish instructor, Greg.  

I feel like I failed my first Sunday as Primary President.  It didn't matter that I had a great sharing time planned, when our secretary thought she was released and didn't come (I hated telling her "nope, sorry you are still the secretary and desperately needed" after church when I didn't know if it was good news or bad.) which meant I didn't know the prayer/talk/scripture/AoF or where the big cards were.  We had to wing it, but meantime, one teacher didn't show, our pianist isn't back until next week, we have 4 kids visiting, two new families that I need to get info on.... It felt crazy. Jr. Primary got so big overnight.  We went from 2 Sunbeams to 5 and my old class is up to 13.  Plus nursery gained 5 more in one week.  I feel like I'm in survival mode, when I need to be in planning the program and stuff for next year mode.

Matt has been coming home exhausted.  Work is really busy for him.  He likes to be busy, but it's still tiring.  Days off should be a treasure but we had a series of unfortunate events.  None alone would be a big deal, it's just lame when they all fall together.  A/C repair needs follow-up, fixing computer issues, but ends up with a corrupt hard drive, a set of curtains got pulled down when caught in a vacuum, and then while cleaning a windshield wiper blade, the blade pops out and the arm comes down, THWACK, and cracks the windshield.  But he is awesome and is fixing everything and still makes time to wrestle the kids and hear about their days.  I sure love him.

Isaac had to go to a scout meeting Saturday morning to sign up for leadership positions.  He is going to be the Chaplin for the troop.  It's going to involve a fair amount of work due to the number of boys (around 50) and the diverse religious backgrounds. It is run as an American troop with US flag and pledge, and the majority of the boys are US.  But there are a surprising number of different nationalities as well.  This surprised me.  Why would they want to do scouts??  Scouts was always something forced on boys at a certain age on Tuesday nights.  But this troop is run by scouters who have a passion for it and when you look at some of the things they do, it becomes very obvious why they have a big diverse crowd.  On the schedule for the year there is scuba diving, kayaking, cliff climbing, white water rafting, and for their long trip over spring break they are planning on trekking through the African Savannah.  Wow. All family members are welcome to join any of the outings.  I think I'm going to sign up to get scuba certified with Isaac.  Makenna would LOVE to see animals in Africa. . . . It is an amazing well oiled machine.