You know your in Iraq when........

Your son builds a city and says.....

 "Here is the Mask (mosque) that says the answer to prayer (Call to Prayer)"

Staycation

Our weekend WAS going to start by leaving the school picnic early and taking a taxi to Erbil to enjoy a weekend of refreshment. Getting out of our city, going to a mall, eating out, having life a little more "western" etc.  But with our earlier than planned arrival back to Iowa (May 30th) we decided to save some $ and have a STAYCATION instead.  IT WAS AMAZING! 

We had our schedule of events planned, pool ready, and rules of not answering the phone, or the door. :) 

The first night we went out for pizza and walked to the DVD store and picked out some movies for the weekend.  We set up a little "movie theatre" under the stars.  

Got our jammies on, snacks on, and cuddled up to "Alvin and the Chipmunks"

Our mornings were slow, making a nice breakfast, good coffee, and enjoyed some breakfast and family devotion time outside in the shade.

It's been getting hot here (90's) so it was perfect for our Pool Party! We got all crazy and sneaky and wore shorts and tank tops on our roof (since no one could really see us when we sat down behind the retaining walls) The view was awesome too! We cooled down in the pool, laughed, and ate snacks.  You know us, the Bishops be lovin' them some killer snack times!

 Zephie didn't make it in the water this time, but enjoyed her special shady spot. 

Unless Daddy needed some cuddle time!

Zander had a blast. We had a blast just watching him.  We need to do this more often!

We have been working hard on potty-training this month. We had a couple "Potty Train" sticker charts, that he totally loved and helped with some motivation.  Well, the deal was when he woke up dry each morning for a week we could go to DREAM CITY! (The Mickey Mouse Place) Big boys go here when they are done with diapers!

Seriously I don't think his smile ever left his face. 

 He felt like such a big boy giving his ticket to the man.

Riding the BIG Ferris Wheel that we have been talking about for awhile. 

 Riding on the space-ship. Andy's long legs barely fit in it, I think he was about ready to sink that sucker!!

Not much for rules and regulations here. The ride was still spinning and people were jumping out, climbing over the wall, etc.  One of those "You-know-your-in-Iraq-when" moments.....

Then the carousel ride.  He choose this one and named him "Black Snake" but said "You remember that horse that Grandpa has, Diesel.... Yeah, we can ride that one too"

 Zephie took a little snooze but then was ready to have fun too!

We spent a lot of time outside going for walks, reading, swimming, and working in the "garden"

We spent each evening watching movies and just relaxing. Andy and I even got a little afternoon date at the only "western" restaurant in town- Texas Chicken. The plan was to order a coffee then mix it with Ice cream so it was like a "Jamocha Shake" but they didn't have any coffee that day :)  We still had the ice cream and had a lovely time. 

It was a perfect weekend.  Very refreshing to just relax and enjoy each other and exactly what we needed to get us through until we get back to Iowa. 

From Iowa to Duhok.2

A little beat up this time... but it arrived (in 5 weeks!) 

The hopes was to arrive by Easter, because it had the goods of Easter egg coloring kit, jelly beans, and other "goodies" that could go in our "easter basket". :) We just celebrated again!

Zander will get the jelly beans for rewards for going potty. Daddy gets the trail mix for an after school snack for being  the #1 Teacher. Mommy gets the pink lemonade to enjoy during naptime fully concocted in the magic bullet for a "slushie"

What about Zephie???? 

ohhhhhhh.... She gets this squishy ball thing...even she loves getting packages!  But we are a sharing family, so hopefully I can get one of those dried cranberries and jelly beans. I promise I will share my WHOLE-WHEAT pasta with everyone else as I make a yummy recipe I will find on pinterest!

Most of you are like "whoopie-doo" why blog about receiving a package- twice in ONE WEEK for petes-sake! Well for one, these are our first packages that have been sent to us... and two, I use this blog to remember really special occasions.  To us... this is a really special occasion! Can't you see on our little man's face??? 

Thanks Al and Jenn for the awesome package and Thanks Al for having really big feet so the package could hold more stuff :)

ps- if you are wanting to send something, it will have to wait until next year, because good chance it won't get to us in time to enjoy before we leave. (proof I'm not telling you all about this, just to get more packages) :)

From Iowa to Duhok

Our weekend is here, and its off to a great start! We got our first package! Who knew by putting your name, city, and phone number it can get to you? I guess that's how you do if no one has addresses. 

Included was puzzles, candy, and a book!

English books are always perfect, since we can't get any new ones here and Zander loves books. He is totally into Winnie-the-Pooh lately so it was awesome... It was a learning experience for mommy too, because I had no idea what a Sleuth was let alone how to pronounce it.... By the way, it's another word for Detective :)

A big box of Nerds was enjoyed by all of us (that can eat solid foods at least)

We noticed how different we all eat them....

Zander with the two-handed-stuff-face tactic

Me with the lick-a-few-at-a-time approach

then Andy with the vaccum-atic technique

 LOVED IT! 

Thanks to Oma and Opa for the laughs and super fun package!

Ms. Zephie Delal= 5 months

Seems like yesterday I did a 4 month update.  It's been a busy month so time has flown by! But the date tells me that my baby girl is over 5 months old already! 

Here's what she has been UP to:

 Pretty sure she is going to be a thumb sucker like her big brother!

Having tummy-time with her buddy Henry

 Morning routine: Wakes bit before 8. (we won't mention the other times she wakes up before that) Nurse... then chill on her activity mat until naptime at 9ish.

Constantly MOVING that tongue of hers!

Absoluetly in love with Zander man.  Even though he can go from kissey-face one second, to bonking her on the head the next.  She doesn't care.  He makes her laugh like no-one else can.  It's one of my favorite things to watch of ALL TIME! Zander singing "Jingle bells" and dancing is pretty much an automatic giggle. :)

Still loves the bumbo. Spends much of the day in there, moving around from room-to-room in order to be with the action of our family.  She is showing the first signs of sitting up on her own.  

Just started discovering the joys of grabbing/licking her toes.

Trying to transition her out of her swaddle, so we are just doing one arm in for a week or so:)

Grabbing things- her favorites are the baby wipe bags because of the crinkle.

If we were in the states I would have some killer 4 month stats for ya.... but they don't have those here. Last week a man and woman came to our door, holding a med-kit as they walked from door-to-door, vaccinating(????) all the kids.  Didn't quite feel comfortable with that "system" so we turned it down. We'll get her 4 month shots a couple months later than the normal kid. We would rather take that "risk" then the who-really-knows-what's-in-that-thing risk.

Love you, my sweet 5 month old baby girl! xoxo