Axel's Presence

Do you see my husband in this picture?  Hint: He is 1/2 inch thick, black, and sometimes hard to hear. 

Even though Axel is usually in another country, he is always present for our scripture reading/family meeting every morning.   I am learning more and more how to carry on a long distance relationship with my hubby.  Here are some notes:

1. Act excited to talk to him even if you are in the middle of changing a poop, or cleaning up puke.  It is good to have a diversion.    

2. If you reprimanding a child, feel free to tell him that you are 'in a meeting'.  It's only fair.    

3. For quick responses, SMS is better.

4. The threat of, 'I am going to call your father' is far stronger when he is away than if he was coming home in an hour.  

5. You always look hotter to your husband when he is away from you for a few days.   It's really good for my self esteem.  

6. Total control of the television.

7. Productivity and cleanliness always increases. 

8. Long stories need to wait until you see him face to face.  It makes date nights full of conversation.

9. Expect him two hours later than he says he will be home.  That way you can be excited if he shows up and not disappointed if he is late.  

10. Know that the situation isn't ideal, but make the best of it.  It can't last forever, right?  Right?  Right?   Right?

Stake Conference

Another perk of compound living?

Stake conference without those hard, cold metal chairs.

Oh, and kids upstairs playing with toys.

Compound Baby

Do you see the cuteness? Warm fuzzies everywhere.

I am still trying to get used to compound living. The communal feeling here is unlike anything I have ever experienced. Neighbors are constantly on the street chatting, people are always looking out for my children's safety and well being, and meals are continually delivered to each other's home. It is such a warm environment and I know I can handle this kind of living while Axel is always out of the country. It is the perfect scenario for our lives at this time.

We recently had a baby born at our compound and the welcome could not have been warmer. Denise (AKA Compound Queen) organized and delivered the sweetest baby shower. The room was draped with adorable girly ornaments and the lunch would rival any international cuisine buffet. It was an excellent reprieve while one of the compound nannies watched our children next door.

I still feel like I am cheating the true international life. This type of living is a joke. I have warm showers, continual electricity, and friends living 30 seconds away. What more could one want?

A Stinky Arrival

If you can believe it, I am still trying to uncover my life since it arrived last week.  It has been interesting to see a) All the fun things we bought in Nepal and how it fits in our new Middle Eastern home. b) How stinky and black everything is.  Not only did everything have Nepali stank and diesel residue from our generator, but it also arrived moldy and wet.  Our house still smells like mold despite my many candle and incense burning efforts.  As a result, I have been trying to wash everything that fits in a washing machine. 

My maid's room/laundry room.  I prefer less laundry and more maids. (sigh)

I was also amazed at the condition of our clothing. What appeared to be acceptable in Nepal no longer looks acceptable in an extremely clean country like Qatar.  It doesn't even pass for play clothes. Outside. Playing with paint. In the mud.  In a Nepali river.    

On top of the 10 loads of laundry per day, I have also been trying to make sense of this mess: 

A photo of our landing, because I have no shame

Forgive me for not being a faithful blogger, but I must organize the safety hazard that is my home.  

This Is It Qatari Style

Last night Axel and I were able to enlist one of the babysitters in the compound to watch our children while we scoped out the new cinema in town.  We are moving up in the world in Qatar.  They are supposed to even have and IMAX 3-D within the next month.  We have come a long way since Nepal.

We saw This Is It and loved it.  Nothing makes you feel more like a child of the '80s than Michael Jackson music.  I realized how much of Michael Jackson was part of my life.  Each song sparked specific memories of my childhood and somehow I felt like I had a personal relationship with him.  What is incredible to me is that millions of people feel the same way, and yet, I don't think he had a very personal relationship with many people at all.  You could tell that he really was lonely on the top.  His only comfort zone was the stage and he seemed socially stunted otherwise.  The man was a machine.  A skinny, freaky, quiet, and talented machine.  Go see it and relive some of your '80s memories.  

The movie also had to have a Middle Eastern touch.  Every time Michael would touch his crotch, we saw a big, black marker line across the screen.  It made it easy to count how many times it appeared in the movie.  Only thrice.  Not bad for MJ.  

A Month of Sheer Celebration

Do you see how much time was put into this party?  Order pizzas, buy balloons, book the pool-done.

As if moving to another country, buying a car, finding a house, searching for schools, and dealing with the several meltdowns that coinside with all these fun activities weren't enough, October just happens to be the month of birthdays in the Bromley household.  Did I mention I still don't have a maid or a driver and my husband is gone 4 days out of the week?  Just wondering if you knew that, cause I do.   

I was inclined to just close my eyes and pretend the births of my children didn't happen this month like I have done in the past, but my kids are now at the age where they actually know when their birthday is.  I tried to be tricky, but it just didn't work.  I was suckered and there was no escape. 

At first, I just had a family gathering at home.  Xavier made his cake. Xavier made his pizza.  And Xavier bought his own present.  The next day, Heavah did the same.  I believe in independent children.  

Because of the guilt, I decided to bring cakes to their school.  

Then I realized that this was the first time my children had true friends.  How could I deny them an opportunity to have a birthday party?  Last year we invited a bunch of kids from school that my children barely knew or really didn't like.  It was mayhem and I knew if we were going to do it, it would have to be low key.  

I decided to do another party.  Ugh.  Living in a compound made this process very handy.  We sent around some invitations to 13 or so kids around the neighborhood and told them to meet us at the pool.  We made a lame cake, bought some cheap Chinese party favors, and put Axel and a poor 9 month pregnant neighbor to work on the face panting, and claimed it was a party.  

The stillest I have ever seen Sedona sit

One more down...

Halloween 2009

All Halloween costumes should be this easy

We have overdosed on the Halloween spirit. We have never celebrated Halloween harder--ever. The kids had one celebration after another. How many costumes can one mom borrow? Apparently a lot when your kids can't choose what they want to be. Thank goodness for good friends and neighbors:

We had preschool parties, school parties, after-school parties, craft parties and neighborhood parties. I could barely keep up. Then again, the party always trumped unpacking. I would much rather make a scary treat to share in my disaster of a kitchen than to figure out where the next whatchamacall it is going to be placed.

Could the timing be any worse? Now that Halloween is finally over I must return to the 250th box. Honestly, I would much rather do this:

Happy Halloween to one and all!