JKEA Carter Family

We are happy to announce that the Carter family will add another GIRL to the group in April.  Ethan was a bit bummed but just said…. “that’s okay…the next one has to be a boy.”  HAHA we will see Ethan we will see.

Thanksgiving Day is an annual holiday celebrating the harvest and other blessings of the past year and we celebrated Jeddah style.  We celebrated yesterday with our friends, Marines, and children.  The weather was beautiful (75 and sunny) and the food was amazing.  We wish we could have been with family….I hope they are ready for the craziness for Christmas.  Rest up…our kids are up at 7am.

We had the honor of attending the 236th birthday of the Marine Corps last night.  What a humbling experience.  It was a beautiful evening, our dinner and ceremony were outside by the pool and the presentation was moving as always.  They spoke of the attacks at Pearl Harbor and then the attack on the World Trade Center and our dedicated Marines who were involved.  Our guest speaker was the Marine at Post 1 while our consulate was attacked here in Jeddah in 2004.  Wonderful evening with wonderful friends.  Here are a few pictures.

SURPRISE!  The Carter Family will be growing once again….adding to the world’s overpopulation.  We found out in September that we will be having our newest arrival in April.  WOW.  Doing the math….Abby will be 21 months old when her new sibling arrives.  Ethan is quite excited and is expecting it to be a boy….we keep telling him that it may be another sister.  He wants to name the baby Michael.

The pregnancy so far…well pleasant is not a word that comes to mind…..all day sickness (with no vomiting there for no relief), chocolate cravings for every meal and light-headedness 24/7.  I also cry at the drop of a hat…hell the hat does not even need to drop.  So pretty much think this is another GIRL.  Here is a picture of Baby C #3 at 8 weeks.

We head back to the doctors on Sunday, November 27th for the morphology scan….Boy/Girl????  Stay tuned!

Well Halloween was sure a party fest.  Our housing compound did a great children’s party.  They had a parade for different age group, a costume contest (Abby came in 3rd!!!!) and candy and food galore!  Afterwards we went trick-or-treating and boy did Ethan get some candy!  Abby well she went to one house…she was done )

The consulate also had trick-or-treating within the offices, a haunted house, and snacks.  The kids had a great time.  Abby also won the costume contest at the consulate for her age group!  She is on a roll.

Ethan was batman (well he is batman everyday and his costume sure shows the wear and tear) and Abby was a sugar plum fairy.  Thank you to the Guinee’s for the GREAT costume.

Ethan started PK4 at the American School Jeddah on September 10th.  He loves his teacher Ms. Mary.  Ethan has been on a field trip to the Chocolate store Voila and is learning a lot, including how to wait his turn….haha.

Well we arrived in Jeddah August 2nd, the 2nd day of Ramadan. For those of you who don’t follow the islamic calendar Ramadan per Wikipedia “is the ninth month of the Islamic Calendar, which lasts 29 or 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and submissiveness to God.”

What does this mean for me you ask?  No store is open during the day and as an adult you can’t eat or drink in public during Ramadan, children are the exception.

Things took a bit of getting used to….wearing an abaya…well this is not so bad afterall…no need to worry about what you wear out to the store, dirty t-shirt and shorts well that is fine…you cover it up anyway.  I don’t have to cover my head which I am super grateful for,  I would be so hot.  In Riyadh they must cover their heads.  Since the A/C is on full blast…it is comfortable in stores.

Prayer times…also took a bit of getting used to.  Stores close down for prayer 4 times a day…the first prayer is at 5am so nothing is open then.  Prayer normally lasts about 25 minutes and once you are in a store you can stay and shop you just can’t pay and leave.  So planning the grocery store is pretty easy….get there before they lock the door, shop while they pray and check out when they are done.  See not so hard. 

August was terribly hot…about 115 F.  Now in November.  The weather is GORGEOUS!  I can even wear pants outside.

Our house is nice.  4 bedrooms with a spacious downstairs.  We have a playroom in the office off of the living room and that has worked GREAT.  I will take pictures of the house soon.

Ethan made friends at the Kindergarten on the housing compound.  He was bored at home so we sent him half day there to meet other children.  Many of them went to the American School beginning in September.

Let’s finish up summer….after all it is almost 2012.

We were lucky enough to go see the Casaregola’s and new Baby Gavin!  Ethan was super excited to see Lily!  Gavin was a cutie as to be expected!

Before Joe headed to Jeddah we took Ethan to see Medieval Times.  Boy did he have fun!  Still talks about the sword fights and the horses.

July 7-10th…..1 suitcase, 1 airplane ride, 4 best friends and a million of laughs.  I took a trip to Pigeon Forge and Knoxville Tennessee BY MYSELF!  There is nothing better than meeting your best girl friends for shopping, food and drinks (and for me kid free).  Jen, Maggie, Michelle and I had a blast together…just like old times.  We have now decided to make this a regular trip.   I could not ask for better friends.  Love you girls!

July 16-23 Bethany Beach Delaware!  Took the kids with my Mom, Dad, Kate and Schrader to the beach….it is always fun to find sand on children.  We spent the week resting, playing in the sun, and water if you were brave enough to get in…a bit chilly for my liking and of course eating and drinking.  Kids had a blast.

Mom and I cooked a lot during the summer….We learned one VERY important lesson….DONT FORGET TO SEER THE STEAK!

Of course the summer came to a close and off to Jeddah we went….but we could always use one last family photo.

It has been a while…I promise blogging is on my to do list. We need messages of the fun and adventures had by the Carters (Big and Little)….Stay posted, it’s coming. eventually.

Happy Birthday. Sitting here writing this I am thinking back on all you have learned in this last year….day/night, how to hold your head up, how to sit, how to feed yourself, speed crawling, climbing stairs and the list goes on.  You make us all laugh with your dancing (I am still trying to get this on video) and how you put your hands on your head when we say “Oh No”.  You can show us your hair, toes and ears.  You clap at yourself and screech in glee.  We can’t wait to see you grow….We love you Abby.  Happy Birthday!