Our "Starter Palace"

Well, folks we're in and it was certainly worth the wait!

Our new home in Arad is beautiful and is already beginning to feel like home! I worked like a dog for one week solid and I am proud to announce IT'S DONE!!! WOO-HOO!! Three cheers for a serious lack of cardboard around here! I know, I know enough writing, just get to the photos of this place (or is that palace?) already! :) Enjoy!



Tanner "recycling" the cardboard boxes. This one was a race car, doesn't it look FAST!?!?!?!?



Gavin giving Mommy an hand unpacking!



First floor living area #1 looking out toward the front foyer



Downstairs living area #1 (Dining room in the back)



Downstairs living area #2 (the Pool room)


Down stairs living area #2 looking toward the front courtyard



Playroom on the first floor



Playroom



The downstairs bathroom, Tanner asked it the beday was a sink... ahhh, no, not exactly. (laugh)



The inside kitchen (locally known as the "clean kitchen").



Inside kitchen looking toward the direction of the back door and outside kitchen



Outside kitchen (locally known as the "dirty kitchen")



The outside kitchen also houses the laundry machines (as well as an additional freezer AND a dishwasher, which is a rarity in Bahrain)



This is day two in the new house... Mommy's first time to cook in the outside kitchen. Let's give it up for PANCAKES!!!



Marble staircase



Second floor living area (with door to the guest room and the wet bar in the background)



Second floor living area (master bedroom door to the right)



Our guest room, also refereed to as the Aebi Lodging Facility (laugh!)



Tanner's Bedroom looking toward his bathroom



Tanner's Bedroom



Gavin's Bedroom



Office looking out to the second floor living area



Front door entry and office



The office (door on left leads to Master bedroom)



Looking down the right side of our street from the office



Looking down the left side of our street from the office (you can see a little of our courtyard from this picture)



Door on the third floor that leads out to the "ROOF PARTY!"

Thanks for visiting the Flusche Villa! You're welcome to visit anytime!

WHO GAVE THESE GUYS A LICENSE TO DRIVE?!?!

Driving in the Kingdom is pretty much like that day in driver's ed when the teacher returned from his fifth smoke break in a half hour and said "class there are people out there that will try to kill you on a daily basis". Here in-lies the reason I should have paid attention that day when he breezed over DEFENSIVE DRIVING. You think I'm kidding? Read on...

Today I witnessed a man in a black Mercedes (it's ALWAYS "that" guy) make a right hand turn at an intersection from the left side of the center median. Yup, that's right I can see you right now, pointing with your left hand toward the right side of the computer screen... trying to imagine what that looks like. Here, let me help you it looks... SUICIDAL! I was in the left turn lane, 3 rows of traffic on my right. The "Mercedes Man" came up from behind me, went around the median (on my left side) and proceeded to cut across four lanes of traffic that was just starting to roll because our light just turned yellow (the lights I'll explain next - don't worry).

Yeah, and somehow nobody shot at him or even offered a choice finger. In fact nobody even looked surprised. I JUST DON'T GET IT! That's "just how they drive around here" everybody tells me. So I ask the question, WHO GAVE THESE GUYS A LICENSE TO DRIVE?!?!?! People back home ask "do they drive on the right side of the road?" The answer is... maybe, or... sometimes, or ummmm, can I get back to you on that?

OK, since I brought it up lets discuss the traffic lights. Traffic lights, traffic lights. In the States green means GO, yellow means SLOW DOWN (or speed up depending who you ask - laugh) because the light is about to turn red which means STOP. Seriously, you can ask any preschooler what the lights mean, they know! OK, so in Bahrain Green still means GO but so does Yellow UNLESS you are stopping. Confused yet? Let me make this clearer (or worse depending on your point of view

Let's try this:
You are at a red light STOPPED then the light turns yellow to tell you to START MOVING because the light is ABOUT to turn green (which still means GO). Cars will honk at you if you don't "gun it" on yellow in this part of the cycle. OK, so that leads me to the second half of this equation the light also goes from Green to Yellow to Red as well (like in the states). It took us a few weeks to adjust to the yellow light Russian Ru-let, I pity the guy in front of me the first time I drive when I return to the states! ;)

Oh! And then there's "Round-Abouts"... Never mind, I'll have to save THAT for another day.

The overall key to survival:
PAY ATTENTION and drive as if they are trying to kill you (because THEY ARE)!


Kingdom of Bahrain License Plate


Kingdom of Saudi Arabia License Plate

Heavy Heart

Today I am thinking of my amazing family and how truly blessed I am to have been given such a beautiful quilt of loved ones.

Thank you for loving and praying for our family and keeping us close to you through the US Postal Service and technology. What an amazing time to be alive, we are thankful that you are on this journey with us.

May God bless you and keep you!



Bob and Jann


Lauren with Gavin


Talking to Cameron at the Olberding's Home


Pat, Robert and Father Shelby Scott


AJ, Janice and Valerie


Tobey with Gavin


Osama "Bob" Ladin


Paul and Gavin


Jann, Nina and Tanner


Lauren and Todd


Christy, Gavin and John


Ashley and Beth


Bob, Jann, Nina, Mony and Ted


Macee


Flusche Boys


Pat and Gavin


John, Tanner and Gavin


Nina and Mony


Bob


Nina


Nina and Gavin


Nana


Lauren and Todd


Nana and Jann


"The SUPER Cousins" (Landon, Tanner and Ben)


Bill, Ella, Megan and itty-bitty Eva


Beth, Macee, Carissa and Gavin


Our BEAUTIFUL family

"Merry Yaught"

Well Gang it's official, we've been here at the Marriott for 41 days and I am happy to announce we will be vacating the premises in two days time!

We have had a great time here and the staff has really welcomed us like a part of their family. Our two dear housekeepers Mr. Joey and Miss May have been over the top! Lets just say that my kids get hugs and kisses everyday from the staff.

It's funny, I haven't spent this much time at a Marriott since I worked for Southern Hills! ;) We are blessed to have spent Christmas, New Year's, Gavin's first birthday as well as all of our "fish out of water" moments in this Executive Apartment. Alas, it's time to go.

Here are a few favorite photos of our experience while staying at the Marriott Bahrain, Executive Apartments.



This was the night we arrived to the hotel (it was 2:00AM), check out all the luggage!


Master Bedroom


Tanner's BIG BOY room


Jann's Kitchen


Wake up sleepy heads! (our first day in Bahrain)


Gavin fights jet lag on our first morning


Christmas Eve 2009


Tanner fell asleep while waiting for Santa on Christmas Eve!


Christmas morning playing with Gavin's sock monkey


Tanner and Gavin Skyping cousins Landon and Ben Christmas morning


View of the beautiful Manama skyline from our balcony


Playing at the 20th floor kid's playroom


Admiring the view of Manama from the top of the hotel


Gavin says "Cheese" on the roof


Flusche & Aebi kids on New Year's Eve 2009


Playing under our desk was one of the boy's favorite games


Our favorite place to enjoy a snack


Bye Room 2053, we'll miss you (sort-of, laugh!)