Assalamu 'Aalayakom! (As-Salamu 'Alaykum)
(This is the greeting you use to greet someone, kind of like Hello, but it means "peace be upon you.)
We have had another busy month, this has been the months of firsts....Jaymee 1st Grade, Jordyn starts preschool (where I will be working!), I start work, the girls first ballet lesson, gymnastics and the girls first hockey practice....that is correct we have hockey here in Saudi Arabia!
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims observe a strict fast and participate in pinous activites such as charitable giving and peace-making. It is a time of intense spiritual renewal for those who observe it. At the end of Ramadan, Muslims throughtout the world observe a joyous three-day celebration called Eid al-Fitr (which means the festival of Fast-Breaking), basically this means a three-day holiday for us too. So during the Eid holiday we went to Bahrain again on a family trip, just to get away and undwind.
(This is the greeting you use to greet someone, kind of like Hello, but it means "peace be upon you.)
We have had another busy month, this has been the months of firsts....Jaymee 1st Grade, Jordyn starts preschool (where I will be working!), I start work, the girls first ballet lesson, gymnastics and the girls first hockey practice....that is correct we have hockey here in Saudi Arabia!
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims observe a strict fast and participate in pinous activites such as charitable giving and peace-making. It is a time of intense spiritual renewal for those who observe it. At the end of Ramadan, Muslims throughtout the world observe a joyous three-day celebration called Eid al-Fitr (which means the festival of Fast-Breaking), basically this means a three-day holiday for us too. So during the Eid holiday we went to Bahrain again on a family trip, just to get away and undwind.
Bahrain marina
Bahrain streets (its very clean here)
Diplomatic Residence in Bahrain
Cultural Center in Bahrain
Cultural Center in Bahrain
Cultural Center in Bahrain 
Our two fish
More fun at the Gulf Hotel (Jaymee)
Jordyn coming down head first...that kid has no fear!
More pool fun
Cannon ball!
Daddy's cannon ball, slight tsunami occurred once he entered the pool, but everyone love it!
Jordyn underwater swim
Swimming Jaymee (I showed her this picture and she said she looks like a sea turtle)
The girls eating in
Us heading out for dinner
Rob
Rob and Ian, it was Ian's birthday so we took him out and showed him how to party Canadian style. Ian is originally from Scotland. We had such a good time...I think all I know is my head hurt the next day.
Ferrari parked outside of the hotel Water Park fun!
Outside part of Wahoo Waterpark
Little surfer Jordyn
Surfer Jaymee
City Center Mall where Wahoo waterpark is, yes those are slides!
My three kids enjoying the outside part of the waterpark
Jaymee going down the waterslide at Wahoo water park
Surfers these guys are professional surfers from South Africa, they were amazing!
Surfer doing tricks
More surfer tricks
These guys were amazing
Wahoo water park
Berkini..seriously that is what they are called. Muslim women are supposed to wear these in the pool or at the beach, it covers their head, arms and feet. Its funny because they are to wear these to not "tempt" men, but A LOT of them have white ones and don't wear anything underneath, can you say wet t-shirt? Doesn't leave much to the imagination, might as well wear a bikni.
BALLET BEGINS!
Jordyn's flower hair, I didn't do it...I wish, but Haidy our nanny did it
My two ballerina's (Jaymee is on the left, Jordyn on the right...Rob couldn't tell who was who)
Our two beautiful ballerinas
Ballerina Jaymee
Ballerina Jordyn
Jordyn's ballet class
Jaymee standing in line at the end of class to get her sticker and lollipop
Walking to the rink
Falcons hockey team
I love this sign!
You can actually buy hot chocolate here!
I thought this sign was funny and very surreal considering where we are living! It makes me laugh everytime we walk into the rink
Ice skating charges
Ice!
Rob helping Lyla, the first time she has ever been on ice. Lyla is from Louisianna, so she's used to wrestling alligators in the bayou than walking on frozen water! She did amazing!
The Richards Girls
Our two hockey players
Jaymee's first time on skates
Jordyn first time on skates
Jordyn
You're doing it! Great job honey! We are so proud of you!
Jaymee (#19) and Jordyn (Walt Disney)
Rob on skates
Lisa showing the kids how to get up on skates after they fall
Hockey Moms (Joelle and Lisa...former Calgarians)
Lyla - from Louisiana, first time on skates, she did awesome!
Jordyn (left) and Ryan (right) (Ryan is Lyla's brother, great friends of ours, this is his first time on skates, once again he is doing awesome also...kids learn so fast!
The Richards (Jordyn, Jaymee and Daddy)
Hockey team, Rob and Jaymee are down the row
Coach Ray
Jaymee
Daddy pulling Jaymee and Lyla around
Jaymee in the red
Shark Jordyn, she loves being a shark (notice the two fins) Way to go sweetheart you are swimming so great!
Waterfall on camp
Waterfall on camp
Clinic
Outside part of Wahoo Waterpark
Little surfer Jordyn
Surfer Jaymee
City Center Mall where Wahoo waterpark is, yes those are slides!
My three kids enjoying the outside part of the waterpark
Jaymee going down the waterslide at Wahoo water park
Surfers these guys are professional surfers from South Africa, they were amazing!
Surfer doing tricks
More surfer tricks
These guys were amazing
Wahoo water park
Berkini..seriously that is what they are called. Muslim women are supposed to wear these in the pool or at the beach, it covers their head, arms and feet. Its funny because they are to wear these to not "tempt" men, but A LOT of them have white ones and don't wear anything underneath, can you say wet t-shirt? Doesn't leave much to the imagination, might as well wear a bikni.BALLET BEGINS!
Jordyn's flower hair, I didn't do it...I wish, but Haidy our nanny did it
My two ballerina's (Jaymee is on the left, Jordyn on the right...Rob couldn't tell who was who)
Our two beautiful ballerinas
Ballerina Jaymee
Ballerina Jordyn
Jordyn's ballet class
Jaymee standing in line at the end of class to get her sticker and lollipop Hang on to your skates hockey fans...we have hockey in Saudi Arabia! Its funny that we had to travel half way around the world for us to be able to afford hockey! The rink isn't on our camp, its on the Oasis compound so we have to drive 25 mins to get there...good news...we don't have early morning practices AND we don't have to drive in the snow (mind you driving in the snow would be nice considering here 4 lanes of traffic morf into about 8! The lines on the roads are just mere suggestions here!)
HOCKEY BEGINS
Walking to the rink
Falcons hockey team
I love this sign!
You can actually buy hot chocolate here! 
I thought this sign was funny and very surreal considering where we are living! It makes me laugh everytime we walk into the rink
Ice skating charges The prices work out to $16.00 CAN for children and $26.00 for adults (Prices include rental of skates and helmet too)
Ice!
Rob helping Lyla, the first time she has ever been on ice. Lyla is from Louisianna, so she's used to wrestling alligators in the bayou than walking on frozen water! She did amazing!
The Richards Girls
Our two hockey players
Jaymee's first time on skates
Jordyn first time on skates
Jordyn
You're doing it! Great job honey! We are so proud of you!
Jaymee (#19) and Jordyn (Walt Disney)
Rob on skates
Lisa showing the kids how to get up on skates after they fall
Hockey Moms (Joelle and Lisa...former Calgarians)
Lyla - from Louisiana, first time on skates, she did awesome!
Jordyn (left) and Ryan (right) (Ryan is Lyla's brother, great friends of ours, this is his first time on skates, once again he is doing awesome also...kids learn so fast!
The Richards (Jordyn, Jaymee and Daddy)
Hockey team, Rob and Jaymee are down the row
Coach Ray
Jaymee
Daddy pulling Jaymee and Lyla around
Jaymee in the red I have to admit that the Canadian in me still craves hot chocolate when I enter the rink, but there is nothing like an ice cold gatorade when you are walking out of the rink into 45 degree weather!
Some more fun pictures from around the camp
Shark Jordyn, she loves being a shark (notice the two fins) Way to go sweetheart you are swimming so great!
Waterfall on camp
Waterfall on camp
Clinic This is the specialty clinics, behind that is the hospital. They have very nice facilities
Security gates entering the camp
Turn to Camp
Mall of Dharan, this is one of the malls off camp. Its huge, a lot of great shopping. The Gap, La Senza, Aldo etc... There are a lot of restaurants too like Chili's, Tony Roma's (minus the pork ribs or course) Shane's steakhouse etc... All these restuarants deliver to the camp to, I told you its a nice life here!!
Here is the road to Ikea and Toys R Us, on the right is the Dhahran Mall
Haven't been to Sports City yet, but I thought it was cool
More freeway driving
Ahhh the golden arches! So we had to try McDonald's here to say we did. Rob orders a Big Mac and they ask him if he wanted beef.....what??? I know McDonald's has some questionable items on the menu, but isn't beef a common by product for them? Bottom line doesn't matter where you go, McDonald's tastes the same, so the next time you order a buger ask yourself ...is this beef or?????
Yes there is also a Burger King
The Beverly Hills of Khobar
(we call it Golden Lane)
Here's one of the many houses that line Golden Lane
This one is being built
I love this house
Beverly Hills of Khobar
Yes, this is one house
UFC Night
Security gates entering the camp
Turn to Camp
Mall of Dharan, this is one of the malls off camp. Its huge, a lot of great shopping. The Gap, La Senza, Aldo etc... There are a lot of restaurants too like Chili's, Tony Roma's (minus the pork ribs or course) Shane's steakhouse etc... All these restuarants deliver to the camp to, I told you its a nice life here!!
Here is the road to Ikea and Toys R Us, on the right is the Dhahran Mall
Haven't been to Sports City yet, but I thought it was cool
More freeway driving
Ahhh the golden arches! So we had to try McDonald's here to say we did. Rob orders a Big Mac and they ask him if he wanted beef.....what??? I know McDonald's has some questionable items on the menu, but isn't beef a common by product for them? Bottom line doesn't matter where you go, McDonald's tastes the same, so the next time you order a buger ask yourself ...is this beef or?????
Yes there is also a Burger King The Beverly Hills of Khobar
(we call it Golden Lane)
Here's one of the many houses that line Golden Lane
This one is being built
I love this house
Beverly Hills of Khobar
Yes, this is one houseUFC Night
We love UFC night here its ALL free we don't have to pay for the fights! I LOVE IT HERE!
Rob, Trevor and Scott
Homemade chinese dinner night. We had two new families joining us. What a great time!
Jaymee's First Day of Grade 1
Jaymee's first day of school (Grade 1)
Rob, Trevor and Scott
Homemade chinese dinner night. We had two new families joining us. What a great time! (L to R: Conrad, Steven, Lani, Scott, Nancy, Rob, Trevor, Heather, Jay, Didi (she is Jaymee's new teacher and they live right behind us...she's great!)
Welcome new friends!
Welcome new friends!
Jaymee's First Day of Grade 1
Jaymee's first day of school (Grade 1)My dear you are growing up so fast. Jaymee is loving Grade 1, we've already had numerous lunch dates with friends. She is doing great in school too.
I'm still have the 'big city' mentalitly about letting her walk to and from school on her own. I know its not that far, but I would have been able to do that back in Calgary. Every morning she walks to school with her good friends and neighbors Ryan and Lyla. This is so surreal. I am so proud of her!
Well like I said at the beginning of this blog the month of September has been filled with a lot of firsts! We have been so busy and loving every moment of it! Take care everyone and I will promise to try and get the blog out faster! Take care and we miss all of you!!!
Hugs and Kisses, until next time!
Love The RICHARDS FAMILY XOXOXOX
