Thanksgiving at the Godwins

Here are some pics from our Thanksgiving at the Godwins house. Mainly I am putting this out here so you can all see how amazing their house is! We had a nice time and the kids had fun playing and staying up late. We are so thankful for our new friends this year. We can't imagine Kuwait without them!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! I hope you all have a wonderful day with family and friends. We are cooking the Turkey and all the fixing's right now. We have a lady that Ryan works with coming over to eat with us about noon and then we are heading to Stewart and Anita's for dinner this evening. Should be a fun filled day with about 3 weeks worth of calories! But that is a worry for January 1st! We have a lot to be thankful for this year. Here are our lists:

Dawn: For our family being together, Our Skype phone, The sale of our house, Stewart and Anita, That I am Ryan's Wife (as opposed to his possession) and that I can wear what I want and have independence and freedom, for a house with maids quarters! (can't wait!!!), our scanner, AFN, signs in English, the kindness of those who don't have to be kind, English schools for the kids, Starbucks McDonalds and KFC - A taste of home!

Ryan: After living here in Kuwait almost two months, I am very thankful for two things: my Christian faith and the fact I am an American. Other items I am thankful for: selling our house, my supportive wife (moved half way around the world to keep the family together), our awesome kids, our health, my free Yukon - with free gas, books on CD for my long drives with Arabic radio, and term limits - at worst we only have 8 years of the Big O.

Calvin: My Mommy, for God and all the people, school, for Thanksgiving, for playing Noggin on the computer and playing with my Dad.

Alayna: Pizza, Peanut Butter, Baby Baby and cheese.
(can you tell my little girl likes to eat!)

GOBBLE GOBBLE!!!!

Happy Day!

We hired a Live-In Maid today! I am so excited! She will move in on December 1st. We spent the weekend interviewing people and decided on one and offered her the job this morning. Her name is Nor and she is Filipino. She has good english skills and she holds her own sponsorship paperwork so we will not have to assume responsibilty for her. If I have to be in Kuwait for two years at least I can take advantage of some of the good things about living here. Hopefully this will go well and she will do a good job. We are a little nervous, but we are hopeful as well. Merry Christmas to me!!!!

Peddlers and Paddlers

What an exciting week! Alayna learned how to peddle and is loving riding around the courtyard on the "red rojo" tricycle. And Calvin is an official swimmer now! Once a week at school they have swimming lessons as part of the PE program. He has made an amazing amount of progress in a very short time. Thursday at his lesson he actually swam from the teacher to the edge of the pool. With his head under water, kicking his feet, and doing the "crawl" with his arms he swam right to the edge! Then we went to the pool today and he just couldn't do it enough! And he loved holding the side of the pool and then going under to touch the bottom with his feet and pop back up. And he didn't want me to help him either. My babies are growing up!!!

Thank you!

Here are some pics of the kids with some goodies from the grandparents. We got "Giant" cookies from Gramma Puffie and Grandpoly and new clothes from Nana and Papa. Many of our family and friends have sent things to us, and we are so appreciative! We feel so loved! The kids love getting boxes and finding out what treasures are inside. Thank you to all of you who have sent us wonderful things! We miss you all.

READER!!!

Calvin is doing so well in school! They really push reading and math skills and he is rising to the occasion. Here is one of the books he is reading now. They send home 3 books each week for them to read at home and then they work on group reading while at school and individual assesments routinely as well. One Proud Mama!!

A little Holiday Spirit

Well, I decided to add a little holiday spirit to the blog. I know it isn't even Thanksgiving yet, but now that we are overseas we have to starting thinking about Christmas a little earlier. Since I have to be worrying about gifts and Christmas cards when it is still 80 outside, I need to get creative to find ways to feel in the Christmas spirit! Speaking of which I still need lists from some of you out there. You know who you are! I know I haven't given ours yet, but I promise to get on that this week. I have to go pick up Alayna from school now. I might even put in some Christmas music this afternoon! HO HO HO!!!!