Year One.....Done!

We've officially passed the one year mark here in Bahrain. It was a momentous occasion for us. We celebrated by eating at Coco's, the first restaurant we ate at on our second day here. What's funny is that our landlord owns the restaurant. We love this place! Lucky for us, we get to eat there for free now. Just one of the perks we get from our landlord. I guess it makes up for all the days we are without water and/or electricity.

We have not yet heard where we are going next. Scott says we can hear anytime starting now through January. So, I'm just planning to hear closer to January, otherwise I'd go crazy. I remember waiting to hear where we were going while living in Memphis. It was supposed to be Washington D.C. Then, a new detailer came in and changed everything on us. Scott was given the option of Iraq or Afghanistan for a year. Luckily, this position in Bahrain came up. Scott was originally coming here alone for a year, then they allowed me to come with Scott and changed it to a two year assignment. Was it the right decision? We think so. We've been together rather than apart and we've been able to get a lot of fun travels in. It was such a stressful time last time. I am doing my best to not think bad thoughts this time around. My fingers are crossed that we are going back to southern California. We shall see.

Scott is doing well. He worked until 8pm or later all week including Friday (which is a day off for us here). He gets Sunday (a work day here) off for Columbus Day. I have to work. I'm always so jealous when he gets the day off and I'm working. He deserves the time off though. This has been a demanding job.

Benny is his usual self. We're taking him to the local vet today. His skin has been dry and flaky for the last few weeks. We think it's from the chlorine in the pool. Hopefully she'll figure it out. He will be on cloud 9. He absolutely loves going to the vet. They can do anything to him and he wags his tail. I think he just loves that he's getting extra attention. I'm bracing myself for when she tells us he's too fat. She brought it up 4-months ago and I'm sure she'll bring it up again. Now that the weather is cooling down to the low 100's - high 90's, we'll start running and walking him more. We just couldn't do it before. As the months move on we'll be back to our routine of running and walking him several times a day.

I'm still busy trying to manage 32 wild kids alone at school. I am so exhausted at the end of each day. Some days I regret taking this job again this year. Last year was so fun. This year is mostly not so fun. We have many fun moments, but this group of kids are just wild. An exciting thing I started this year is a penpal program with my niece, Lily's, 3rd grade class in LA. My kids have already written letters to the LA students. They have received them and written back just this week. All my kids are super excited to have a friend in America. We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the letters. My sister, Caroline, informed me that news of this penpal program has made the local paper. Exciting stuff!