Living the Good Life....

Aside from running around like a chicken with my head chopped off getting ready for our 4th of July BBQ....this is what we've been up to this past week.

Living the good life.

Lazing around in the canal, drinking a beer, or cider, or wine, or sangria...(wow, maybe I have a problem), getting a tan, playing with Caden in the water.

This is not bad folks...not bad at all.

I can definitely handle 2 years of resort style living. 

Housemaid cleaning the house...

Yard boy watering our lawn twice a day, and doing all of the upkeep, AND washing our cars every other day...(yes they really need washed that often, the sand is out of control)

This is really is so much better than I ever thought it could be.

I'll be honest, it took me the past two months to get to this point.

But, I have arrived and I am loving it!

Last week we went to a friends house on the beach (see photo above) and as I waded in the warm water with the other ladies, sipping on a cold Hard Cider, while Caden played with the other kids...I realized that I'm REALLY going to like it here.

Despite the insane heat, the insane drivers, the inconvenient grocery store situation, the lizards that live IN our house, and back sweat I seem to always have. This place is not bad at all.

Where else would Andrew, Caden, and I be able to jump off of our backyard lawn into warm and SALTY (so so so salty) water, and float and play around while Davis sleeps on the porch? In 106 weather....

Okay, I'm sure there are places...but we are in the NAVY. We certainly aren't paid enough to live this lifestyle anywhere else. So I plan on fully enjoying the maid and this lifestyle while we can afford it!

Oh and I need to quickly mention how much I LOVE our neighbors. Caden has a constant play date and Harrison and C totally love each other. I especially love that Harrison calls me, "Haden's mummy" in the sweetest little accent.

Our whole family went and swam in their pool with them a few nights ago and it was brilliant. (C swims there almost every day, but this was the first time we all went) D LOVED his baby floaty, and I loved the New Zealand wine they kept filing my glass with. Then they spoiled us again tonight with Chinese and champagne! Great hosts and great company. We really lucked out in the neighbor department.

Tonight is their last night before heading home to New Zealand for about a month and we are going to miss them!

Seriously...friends and family...you need to come visit. This Bahraini life is something you need to experience!!!

You won't regret it. I promise.

And That's 'Watts' She Said...

Introducing the "Butt Baths"

Really though, they are more of personal 'showers' than baths....but Caden started referring to them as 'Butt Baths' and it has stuck. So, in our household that's what they are. 

AND, I know, I know. I told C it was inappropriate to talk about 'butt baths' in public. This is obviously a very public forum, but I just can't help but share this discovery with all of you. I just don't think I can share the Bahrain experience with you without talking about this! Almost 2 months later - and these still baffle/surprise/confuse/amuse me every time I see one. Which is daily.

I first referenced the existence of the Bahrain 'Butt Baths' in THIS post. It earned the #1 spot in my 10 Things I've Learned in Bahrain (so far) post earlier this month. 

What is it? It's hard to explain. SOOO I've made a point to take some pictures to show you!

No need to thank me. 

 

See it there on the left side of the toilet?! It's the little shower head/hose coming from the wall. Honestly, the first time I saw it I thought, "Oh this must be to wash off your feet after being at the beach! How nice!" I especially thought this because there is ALSO a floor drain in every bathroom too....not so sure what to think about that.

At first I thought it was a novelty, or a fluke, but then I noticed them in the malls, in the restaurants, in the grocery stores, EVERYWHERE!!!

It wasn't a fluke. It's a real thing. A part of their culture. To have these next to all toilets. I've also found that almost EVERY toilet has it's own toilet brush mounted on the wall next to it. 

I can't decide if both of these are because the Bahraini people want everything to be really clean...or if they are naturally really dirty and need to have these extra tools. Both? I don't know. I'm kind of disturbed by it.

All 5, yes 5 bathrooms in our house have them. This is in our guest bathroom.

SO interesting. I guess it's the little things that amuse me right now. Sorry for the inappropriate post - but I'm seriously INTRIGUED by this! Have you ever seen this installed by every single toilet before?!

And the floor drain?!?! Are you supposed to 'spray off' onto the floor and let it drain?!?! Do you teach kids how to use these along with potty training?! Should I ask a local what I'm supposed to do with it?! Do they realize that in the 11 other countries I've been to this is the fist time I've ever seen this?! 

Not to mention that they have these by Every. Single. Toilet. But they don't have electrical outlets in bathrooms?! Where am I supposed to blow dry my hair? So annoying. Priorities I guess.

Also...these are a horrible idea to have around a 5 year old. C thinks it's a toy and "accidentally" sprays me with it whenever he gets the chance. It's lovely. 

ANYWAYS...back to normal, acceptable conversation...

We met our neighbors yesterday. They seem very wonderful! They are in the process of moving to Bahrain from Saudi Arabia as they are opening a new International School here. I am fascinated by their accents as they are originally from New Zealand! Their 2 year old son is adorable and sounds so proper and cute when he talks! Little kids with accents are so classy to me. SOOO much better than Honey Boo Boo. 

So far I've met Laura and her son Harrison, and her mom ("mum") and dad.So excited to have some friends! How sad is that?! I'm so desperate for friends here!

But even better than being just neighbors...they have a POOL! The canal is nice and all, but sometimes a pool is just wonderful. They have given Caden an open invitation to come on over whenever he wants to use the pool. All he has to do is walk along the bulkhead (trying not to fall into the canal) and come on in through their front gate! I don't think they realize what they've brought upon themselves. My poor son is so missing family and friends, he stalks them. He plays out on our porch listening in on their conversation. I heard him yell out, "What's going on over there?! What's so funny?" I have to remind him that he isn't always part of their conversation.

Laura told me that yesterday he told them his entire life story. Yep...he's definitely my son. 

OPEN. BOOK.

C has already taken full advantage of the pool...this is him enjoying the pool earlier today. I checked on him every now and then from my bedroom balcony. Then as I fed Davis in the living room I was able to open the sliding glass door and hear him swimming and laughing and playing with them. 

It melted my heart. I'm SO EXCITED to have some great neighbors. 

(Especially ones with a pool.)  I have a feeling that we are going to have an open house policy in this neighborhood, and I can only hope that the neighbor kids come and go and play all day long.

Have I mentioned how much I love Floating City?!?!

I honestly feel safer here than I did back home in Maryland. Crazy, but true. 

This place is winning me over. Butt baths and all....

and That's 'Watts' She Said...

Our First Night!!!!

Well...day 3 of unpacking and I feel like we are moving one step forward, two steps back. This whole unpacking with a baby thing...it majorly sucks. I don't recommend it. At all. At least we are unpacked enough to officially move in today!

Davis is proving to be pretty moody and hmmm...lets just say 'difficult' these past few days. So essentially one if us entertains the little one while the other unpacks. 

It's taking FOR-EV-ER....

Plus like I mentioned before we have way way way too much stuff. Though we are probably 75% unpacked...it's this last 25 that's going to be the hardest. And...my husband is SOUTHERN...so I say he has two speeds. Slow and slower. No need to elaborate more on that...

Now it's the things like, hanging pictures, decorating, and getting the right shelves/bins/ etc to be able to put stuff away. 

I love our villa..but storage space is NOT its strongest asset. 

I'm exhausted and sore, and our Internet isn't working yet, so I'm keeping this post short and sweet since I'm typing it out with my thumbs. 

So here is our life in pictures right now...

 I know, I know...this does NOT look like unpacking. We had to take a little break and celebrate My awesome Australian friends birthday and I treated myself to this. Nutella and banana crepe with vanilla gelato. It was HEAVEN. And I am not allowed to get another one until next year!

My name is Kristina, and not only do I pee my pants when I workout, but I used to be addicted to MAC makeup. I've been carrying this around since high school...and I'm finally letting it go. Downsizing people!!!

D hanging out like a boss. One of his few nice moments. Is it me, or are his arms freakishly long?!

I loved the ladies that packed up our house....and I love them even more after seeing what one of them wrote on these boxes of Caden's books. 

We took a little break to wear some mustaches around the house. Why? Well, thats just how we roll. Awesome family mustache picture to come later!

Caden took his very first dip in the canal. Have I mentioned how much I LOVE this place? Just walk out the door and hop on in! See the life jacket mom? Don't worry.

The previous tenant, another Navy guy, rigged up this outdoor shower. It's super handy. 

And now we are ready for our FIRST NIGHT in our new home!!! 

Finally...

and That's 'Watts' She Said...