School at Home on the Island

Farrah Photos

2009-03-19T02:59:00.001-07:00

The Grand Mosque

2008-12-22T22:16:00.000-08:00

Wow, what an experience, I wish all of you could have been with us for this day. We arrived at the Grand Mosque and parked the car. The mosque is huge. Can you see Ethan in the yellow sweatshirt on the lower right corner of the fourth photograph? I could not even begin to get the whole mosque in one shot. (I need a wide angle lens...) We entered the mosque and I was given an abaya (the local black gown and headress) to wear inside. Our tour guide took us all around the mosque, explained so many wonderful things to us and even showed us the Qur'an and told us some of what it says. The building itself can hold 7,000 worshippers! It was a wonderfully informative visit.

Shukran Abdullah Borek

2008-12-22T22:06:00.000-08:00

Our tour guide was a man named Abdullah Borkek. He is a German Muslim and Islamic scholar who speaks, reads and writes in Arabic and has lived in Bahrain for 32 years. We could not have asked for a more generous host at the Grand Mosque. I could have spent hours there asking him questions. We took extensive literature home with us and left having learned very much about Islam, which means "peace".

Time for prayer

2008-12-22T21:58:00.000-08:00

The Muslims pray five times a day every day. These prayer times are illustrated by the clocks. There is a call to prayer that is heard all over the island by loud speaker no matter where you are. We hear it at night in our bedroom and they play it in the malls too.

Bahrain National Museum

2008-12-22T21:55:00.000-08:00

Our tour of the National Museum was very informative. The entire museum is devoted to the history of Bahrain dating back thousands of years. There were scenes depicting life set up for everything from birth and marriage to pastimes and trades. There was a whole section showing all the different burial rituals over the years, this was the boys favorite part. These burial practices included jars that held bodies and the more typical burial mounds that are seen all over the island.

Samples of buildings in Bahrain

2008-12-22T21:46:00.000-08:00

At the National Museum they have old style architecture set up outside that can be explored. There are still many of these types of structures being used in Bahrain, but much of this island has become quite modern too. Some of the more modern structures are seen behind the photo of Dylan at the palm tree. The fenced in area made of palm branches is a very common site around the island. Palm branches are used for walls and also used as brooms to sweep the sidewalks and driveways.

Christmas Carols in a Muslim country

2008-12-22T21:39:00.000-08:00

Yes, we had Christmas carols in a public place in a Muslim country. To say that Islam is misunderstood by Americans is a huge understatement. There are signs posted here that read "Islam congratulates Christians on the birth of Christ. Merry Christmas". It was a special occassion and a wonderful time.

Nana's Sugar Cookies

2008-12-13T10:59:00.000-08:00

Yummy!

Pink Bike for Paige

2008-12-13T10:56:00.000-08:00

Scott painted my bike pink. He gets me.

That's why I love him.

Cleanliness is next to Funliness!

2008-12-13T10:52:00.000-08:00

While Scott and the boys were cleaning the trampoline (things get pretty dusty/sandy here), they started having so much fun with the water and the jumping. I just had to seize the photo opp!

Home for the Holidays

2008-12-13T10:44:00.000-08:00

We are enjoying the holiday season just being together. It is nice to have Scott home for a long break. Ethan and Luke are both riding bikes now and Buddy is my constant companion. He is the best dog ever. We are all very happy just being together.

Our Little Buddy

2008-11-26T08:07:00.000-08:00

We love him too much.

2008-11-26T08:04:00.000-08:00

Our newest addition

2008-11-18T09:45:00.000-08:00

Well it looks like I might finally get my white fluffy dog. Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it. Oh, except I specifically wished for a girl and once again, another boy stole my heart instead. We are going to call him Buddy. It fits. And I am just tickled blue, again.

Buddy not Gucci

2008-11-17T23:10:00.000-08:00

Halloween Party

2008-10-31T10:32:00.000-07:00

Ethan is Eygore (from Young Frankenstein) and Luke is Harry Potter. Dylan is himself and BMOC, since he is homeschooled, he doesn't meet many of the local (expat) girls, but tonight they all met HIM! He was (according to one of the moms, the Big Man of the Compound) and the hottest too. The girls told him he should TOTALLY go to the Bahrain school. Dylan told me later he DID NOT want to make that a reality, but he was very flattered. Of course!

We all had a great night!

Learning to ride a bike

2008-10-31T10:17:00.000-07:00

It started out with tears and some pretty angry words and ended with high fives and happy smiles. Luke is now riding a bike! Some practice is still needed, but Dad and Luker are pretty proud of today's progress.

Ethan is next. ;)

A Tradition Begins

2008-10-20T06:29:00.000-07:00

The first water slide we had for Luke's first birthday. My Aunt's place. A day we won't ever forget. Good times.

Happy Birthday Party Luke!

2008-10-20T06:23:00.000-07:00

Luke recovered just in time for his birthday celebration. Imagine that.

We had the super slide, swimming, pizza and cake. There were about 25 children in attendance and all of them LOVED the slide. It has been a bit of a tradition getting a slide for Luke's birthday. It started on his first birthday in Galveston and we had so much fun, it is one we have continued. After the party was over, a few adults (by age only) had some time on the slide too. One of them was pretty badly hurt... I won't mention any names but I will say that I occassionally sleep in the same bed with him. ;)

Fun was had by all. Family was missed.

Education in Medicine

2008-10-15T06:33:00.000-07:00

Well, we may be behind in school, but we got an education on the medical system here in Bahrain, that counts for something.

Luke said he was sick Monday morning and proceeded to vomit. About an hour later, he did it again. I started to take him seriously then. About another half hour went by and he came to get me again and didn't quite make it to the bathroom. Then it wasn't much longer and he was throwing up again, only now there is nothing left and his little body just keeps trying. I felt so bad for him, those "heaves" are worse the the throwing up, I think. He passed out from exhaustion only to wake up 15 minutes later and do it again. He proceeded to throw up nothing four more times in about 45 minutes and I couldn't get him to the doctor fast enough. They admitted him to the hospital immediately and started an IV drip, as he threw up all the water he had just finished drinking. That one was more like projectile vomitting a spout of clear water, but it was the last time he did it and for that I was grateful. The IV hurt and I tried everything to keep him distracted while they inserted it into his arm. I told him every thing I could think of, including how I wished it was me and not him. I think that one stuck because later while he was lying in his hospital bed he said, "Mom, I wish you were sick instead of me." Then he thought about that for a few minutes and added, "but I wish you only had the hiccups." It was the sweetest thing.

We have awesome family here. I just can not call them friends because they are so much more than that. Lene came over to my house, she is a nurse, and told me that it was normal for a child's heart to race and his lips to be white along with the rest of his body being drained of color. Anne came to the hospital and brought me a bag of goodies, got the older two boys and fed them and took them home. Scott came in from Saudi to stay and help. And Hirut packed a bag for me to keep my teeth brushed and my hands occupied while I was with Luke in the hospital. As it turns out, Luke and I really had some serious bonding time. It will always be a very special memory for me. We made up little games and watched tons of cartoons together. I silently prayed for every family out there that contends with illness in their children and thanked God for the blessing of health in mine. It was a good reality check and a break from routine, yes, I can even say, an education for all involved.

The "After" shots.

2008-10-10T23:16:00.000-07:00

The homeschool room is so organized now. I love it! This is now my favorite place to be. It is almost like getting to go to Barnes and Noble, which I desperately miss. The room smells of books, it has my computer and all my scrapbooks (completed and in progress) and my supplies, plus all my photos and a comfy day bed for reading all those books. It helps that the walls are a (close to) pink color too. This is my happy place.

Weekend Project

2008-10-10T23:09:00.000-07:00

We have started re-assembling all the Lego and Playmobile sets we own. I found very cool websites online that allow you to see the instructions and inventory for each set, then the respective companies allow you to order missing pieces for replacement. So we are having fun putting back together almost 14 years worth of accumulated toys.

A Beautiful Mind.

2008-10-10T10:59:00.000-07:00

He loves to read. He loves to learn. He loves homeschool and his family, and pretty much everything except vegetables. He is a joy to teach and a joy to be around. He makes me remember what love looks like. He is a blessing to me straight from above and I am thankful to be his mom. He is a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful boy.

Homeschool Remodeling

2008-10-09T23:24:00.000-07:00

I decided it was time for fall reorganization of the homeschool room. This new curriculum requires much more bookcase space than last year's curriculum. (Which I love) So, I cleaned off the bookcase, put some stuff upstairs and moved my office from my bedroom wardrobe, to the front wardrobe, so that the kids and I are in the same room together all day for school. These are the "before" photos. I will upload after photos when I am completely finished. I am almost there. It was a few day process but it feels really great and works so much better this way. I love it. It was worth all the back aches and groans from the kids as they were uprooted to other parts of the house to study on those two days. ;)

Luke is 5 Years Old!

2008-09-24T23:49:00.000-07:00

We had a simple little celebration just our family. We will celebrate his birthday with a big pool party when Ramadan is over. It is no fun to have a party where no cake, no drinking and no water is allowed. So for now, the big gift and cake will have to do. (no complaints from Luker so far)

The new books are here, the new books are here...

2008-09-24T22:18:00.000-07:00

I am some body now!

Well, I am some body, alright, and some body pretty busy too. We received all our books and, wow, was that a load of books. The bulk of them came in and we started school last week.

Can I have a drum roll, please?

I LOVE our new curriculum! Sonlight is a total answer to prayer and an inspiration without all the work. It makes a difference what curriculum is chosen, a HUGE difference. So far, this year is about a thousand times better than last year. We are studying the Eastern Hemisphere. I have combined the History portion into one curriculum we can study together. Luke still has his things we work on one on one while the older two boys are doing their own Bible Study and Math. Then we all work on the History and Science together, and most of the reading too. There is alot of reading. We are all doing Spanish, Rosetta Stone, which is awesome. Ethan works on Handwriting and Grammer while Dylan is studying Analogies and College and Career Prep. It is and is going to remain a fantastic year of study for all of us. We are all so excited about it. (Well, let's be honest, Ethan and I are excited and Luke and Dylan are tolerating most of it and excited when it is over, but that is better than last year.)

We are also implementing a new writing program called Brave Writers. We started with Tuesday Teatime and we have added dictation, next week we will add Friday Freewrites and continue slowly on that one. It is a really cool program, the author of which is very inspiring. I have sparked an interest in Charlotte Mason because of the Brave Writer Lifestyle. For any more information on my curriculum see the favorite links menu.

Gearing Up for 2008-2009 School Year

2008-09-14T22:44:00.000-07:00

My father in law passed away suddenly this summer. Thanks to homeschool we were all able to fly home to the states for an extended stay. Needless to say we are still waiting to start homeschool. The last time I checked our cirriculumn was in Paris, France. Should be here in a few days. I am excited and nervous all at the same time. We will be using Sonlight as our base along with trying some other exciting things this year. I am most looking forward to implementing the Brave Writer Lifestyle for Language Arts. See the links to the left for more on what we plan to do this year.