Spring Break at the Red Sea

We finally made the four hour trip down to Aqaba. The neat thing about the Red Sea is that it is shared by several countries. From our hotel we could see Egypt across from us, Israel to the north, and Saudi Arabia just below our hotel. We had a fabulous time swimming and snorkeling. There are amazing reefs to explore. The kids were happy from early morning until late at night as long as we were on the beach or at the pool. It was very hard to drive back to water-deprived Amman. Hopefully we will be able to have another weekend there soon.

Colin wore this mask for most of the drive. He is our beach boy!

We felt like we were back in Mexico.

Alex was happy to be back in a kayak. He has missed his Newport Beach canoe. The boys liked it until he had rowed them almost to Egypt.

Colin was king of the dock. He had this net that was bigger than he was! They all had a great time finding all sorts of sea creatures.

Old Timer

Well the kids are still on Spring Break. This morning Gaby was bored and she asked me what internet games I played when I was a kid (i.e. Club Penguin). I told her we did not have the internet when I was a kid, in fact I did not even have it in college. I know that just dated me.

So then later today I told her she needed some "unplugged" time and she should find a book to read. She began to ask me what books I liked when I was a kid. Then she paused and with all sincerity asked me if there were books when I was a kid?! I told her we only had scrolls back then. Sad thing is, she believed me for a minute! Boy, how did I become so old! I still feel young, so that is all that matters, right?

On the same subject, I made the mistake of reading the book "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" to Gaby and Andrew. If you are familiar with this classic then you remember there is an older brother, Peter, and his obnoxious little three-year old brother Fudge. I honestly thought reading them this book about the naughty escapades of Fudge would make them feel their little brother Colin is not so bad. It had the opposite affect. Now all they do is tell me how much Colin is like Fudge! Gaby is constantly telling me I need to be stricter with Colin. She has taken it upon herself to become the mother I am not! What do you do? I now regret all the times I lectured my mother (being the oldest daughter as well). Sorry mom!

Talent Show at American Community School

Gaby participated in the talent show at the American School. She and a friend sang "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus. Gaby has a great voice - she started off and ended the duet.

Gaby's Talent Show from Alexander Hawkes on Vimeo.

Out of the Mouth of Babes

Great quotes from the kids lately:

Andrew woke me up early Saturday morning. Here is what I recall of the conversation:

Andrew: Mom, Colin dropped the mouse (to the computer)!

Me: Is it broken?

Andrew: No, it just needs to be fixed.

Me: Oh, that is good it is not BROKEN!



Colin came into the kitchen today where I was preparing a frozen chicken for the crock-pot (a whole chicken).

Colin (wide-eyed): What is that?

Me: It is a chicken.

Colin: Is it our new pet?

Me: No, it is for dinner!

Colin: That is not the kind of chicken you eat!

This made me laugh because it was not until college that I learned they sold whole chickens for cooking. I really thought the only way to buy a chicken was to buy boneless/skinless chicken breasts. My roommate's boyfriend once bought an entire frozen chicken for her. We laughed at it for a good while. Then not knowing what else to do with it we strung it to the fan in our friends' apartment for a joke! At least Colin learned at age four how most of the world buys and cooks their poultry!


Another funny incident with Colin was when Gaby dropped some school papers outside our building, The police guard for our street came to the door and rang the bell to give me the papers. Colin and I answered the door and we were presented with the papers. This seemed very official to Colin. After I thanked the guard and shut the door, Colin asked me with very wide-eyes if the papers said we were going to have a baby!!! The poor kid thought that is how you were officially informed a baby would be on it's way! I told him it was a reminder that Gaby needs to bring cookies to the bake sale at school this weekend. He looked pretty disappointed! No, we are not having any more babies, especially any that are compliments of the Jordanian police!

Meeting VP Joe Vitamin

Today I took the kids to dad's work (the US Embassy) to meet the Vice President of the United States! Pretty cool, huh? A few weeks ago Colin learned about Presidents in preschool since it was President's Day. He could not pronounce Joe Biden, but instead has been calling him "Joe Vitamin". He also said that Barack Obama lives in Jerusalem and for work he prays all day! Pretty hilarious how confused a four year-old can get living in the Middle East!

Back to the story! We ended up having to wait about an hour in the hot March sun (he,he - no complaints from me). When he arrived there were a few hundred people waiting behind a roped off area. He walked straight to our little Colin and shook his hand! It was pretty cute, Kirby and Vitamin! It was the only hand he shook before he talked! He spoke to us unscripted, straight from the heart. It was really touching, I even got teary when he was thanking us for living in the Middle East and making sacrifices to serve our country. He then asked all the kids to come up on the podium with him. Gaby and Andrew were standing beside him, and Colin was placed right in the front (I was holding me breath the whole time that my darling four year old wouldn't pick his nose or knock something over)! I had about twenty secret servicemen between me and complete humiliation! Luckily nothing bad happened except for Andrew slightly shoving a little girl trying to nab his spot. VP Biden talked to the kids for awhile. He gave them some great advice, you could tell he is a father and grandfather. My favorite thing he said to the young ladies was to wait until they were thirty before dating and marriage. Right on! Gaby already has had a boy in her 4th grade class call and say he "likes her"!

After he spoke we all had the opportunity for a photo with him. I will post it as soon as the Embassy Photographer makes them available. We got a family picture with Colin refusing to look at the camera or his beloved "Joe Vitamin". Oh well. At least I got the picture for Facebook. :)

It was a great experience, I felt very patriotic. It is neat to show respect for the office and organization of our country, even when you have not necessarily voted for that person. I was glad my kids had that chance to meet him and be personally thanked for their little lives here. It has been neat for them to see their dad so involved in this visit, and to feel pride for what he does. We truly our members of the greatest nation on the Earth. Even during hard times, I have faith we will pull through. God Bless the USA!

Life in the Fast Lane

Well I have not seen much of Alex the last two weeks. All because Joe Biden came to Jordan yesterday. Alex has been in charge of the official motor pool. He has been organizing the transportation of around 50 secret service agents for the last week. He has spent a lot of time at their "control room" in the Sheraton Hotel here in Amman. They took a few hotel rooms and transformed them into a control post. This has been very exhausting for Alex trying to coordinate his Jordanian drivers with the rigid, uptight American agents. They have not been patient with the drivers who show up on time, but with no gas in the car (oops)!

Alex was also in charge of the arrival and dispersal of the official vehicles from a huge military plane, including Joe Biden's personal limo. He even got to drive one of the official vehicles today in the motorcade at 90 MPH. He hasn't admitted it but I think he has had fun (when he wasn't totally stressed out). This stuff has been straight out of the movies. Similar to the "big film" budgets as well. He has worked a ton of overtime the same week that we have all been sick, we bought a house in Utah (that will be another post), and I had several job interviews and accepted a position teaching at the kids' international school for next year. Whew, I am tired after just typing all that! It really has been "life in the fast lane" with Alex behind the wheel! Watch out! No, seriously, Alex is an excellent driver.

Oh, by the way, here is something I found interesting. Joe Biden's personal driver is a woman! She drives his limo at those high speeds everywhere he goes! Funny, huh?! When anyone is making fun of women drivers I am going to mention this little tidbit. Although the women drivers here in the Middle East are actually pretty bad, I will admit. But you would be too if you were trying to drive with numerous blind spots from your veil!

So, Alex will probably complain even more now when he has to drive the family minivan! I think it is great. Yesterday I fit 10 kids and three adults in the old van. I took two other moms with absentee husbands and their children to the local "Jungle Bungle" for a few hours of jumping and sliding. We put the seats down and everyone climbed in the back and it was good times! I love living where there are no laws as to how many people can ride inside, or outside for that matter, a vehicle. My life is as exciting as the VP's motor pool, no???

For Your Eyes Only.....

Well, I decided to make our blog private. I did not like the idea of anyone reading about my little family. Alex was contacted by someone within the State Department who was thinking of coming to Jordan. The guy had found our blog on the web and knew everything about us. He did decide to accept the job in Jordan and requested that Alex find him a house just like ours and he presumed we would become great friends. It was a little too weird for me. Considering we do live in the heart of the Middle East, with an armed guard outside our front door, I do not want any "joe shmoe" knowing the intimate details of our lives. Or details regarding our house for that matter. So we are now private and this blog will probably become more of a journal for me. If I can stay motivated (comments will insure that). I love to read my friend's and family's blogs, especially the honest ones. So what better way to document our funny adventures in Amman without any hesitations, right?

Did I get you humming the old James Bond song....."for your eyes only, only for you"