Thanksgiving Dinner With A "Few" Friends!

Casa Flusche was excited to learn that the USS Lincoln would be making a four day port call here in Bahrain. The reason we were so excited was because that meant that two good friends of ours would be here for an early Thanksgiving! Our friends Gabe Tonozzi & Matt McKerring are shooters on the USS Lincoln and it was wonderful getting to spend some time here with them.


Some serious clown'n around in the outside kitchen!







Heather & Hollie lending a hand!



Hanna's first attempt at making gravy ;)



A little R & R!!







Tanner cheating at Monopoly ;)



Mommy having drink with Hollie



The fabulous Nida with Jacob



Katy and the yummy desserts



Peek-a-Boo Pagie!



Toby dressed in his Thanksgiving best!




FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD!











When all was said and done over 40 people endulged in all the deliciousness that reminded us of Fall in the States. The whole squadron was invited and all the shooters from the ship attended. Paul and I smoked an eighteen pound turkey and oven roasted three turkey breasts totaling a whopping 33 pounds of turkey. All the sides and desserts were provided by members of our squadron. The guests were asked to bring a dish that reminded them of Thanksgiving "back home". Amazingly we didn't have doubles of anything! Everything looked delicious and tasted out of this world! Nobody left hungry and the boys from the Lincoln had a home-cooked feast!


Buffet Style


Pre-fest











(not) the kid table


three babies in a row


The "kid table"



A little game of Corn Hole!


The first time I sat all day!

Great food, great fun, great friends!!
Happy Thanksgiving!

Trim'n the Tree!

It started out looking like a Charlie Brown Christmas tree. Only a week ago Hollie and I found it at the Al Anwar shopping center for BD 5.2, we couldn't really ask too much of the poor tired "tree in a bag". But once we threw some lights, beaded garland, a paper star and an assortment of ornaments on that bad boy it ACTUALLY resembles a Christmas tree (LAUGH)!!! Not only does it do the trick, the boys love it! Tanner declared it's "the most beautifulist thing I ever saw Mommy". Besides, the silly tree makes me smile... you just can't put a BD price tag on that!

"Where's The BEEF?!?!"

I'll tell you where the beef's at - EZ Burger!!!



I know what you're thinking right about now... "Seriously Jann, you're blogging about a hamburger joint? Really?" Well, yes sir I am!

A little over a month ago EZ Burger opened on the west bend of Arad Park. Why is this such a big deal you ask? It's the ONLY good burger on the whole island! The chain is from California and it almost resembles an In-N-Out Burger for those of you like me from Cali. We are over the moon because they use USDA beef unlike all the "mystery meat" they use out here in this neck of the woods. The chocolate shakes leave something to be desired but who am I to complain? ;)

So, I'm almost embarrassed to report that since it's opening we have eaten there at least once a week, and last week it was three - but who's counting?

Let it SNOW!!!!

SNOW in Bahrain you ask?!?!? Well, ONLY when Santa Clause visits base.

Last night the base hosted a "Lighting of the Christmas Tree Celebration" and all were invited! It was really something to behold!



We arrived to hear beautiful caroling and songs of Christmas. It was fun listening to the nerby parents and children joining in the singing of their favorite Christmas classics while snacking on popcorn and milk & cookies.








There was an wonderful live nativity that featured children from base as well as a REAL camel!!! Only in Bahrain, right? Love it!







After the children sang their hearts out everyone's attention was turned to the unlit Christmas tree. With a big loud countdown backwards from 10 the tree was lit! Oh, the "Oooos & Ahhhhs" just melted my heart! And THEN, what's WHAT?!?!? Is it? Could it be? OH MY GOODNESS - SNOW!!!! SNOW IN BAHRAIN! (at least that's what the children thought) only the most clever adult could tell that it was soft soapy foam being blown into the night air. All I could think was "NICE TOUCH MWR, you guys are good - REALLY good!" ;)



Once the snow was blowing we heard some bells... it must be... could it be... SANTA! Yeah, Santa flew in all the way from the North Pole to meet the children of NSA Bahrain and wish them a Merry Christmas. The kids all lined up to sit on Santa's lap and whisper their heart's desires to the Jolly Old Elf, and I just stood there smiling in-spite of myself. ;)





It really was quite a magical evening and the boys (as well as this Mommy) were sucked into the winter wonderland experience. What a beautiful way to wrap up Tanner's 6th birthday and get us into the Christmas spirit!

Party'n in PJs!

Yesterday was my amazing little Tanner's 6th birthday!




Six years ago on the morning of December 2nd God blessed me with the amazing and precious gift of Tanner Robert. His laughter is contagious, his smile sweet, the most outgoing and friendly child with a heart full of love! I love this little guy like nothing else, Happy Birthday to my BIG boy! I can hardly believe he is now six. SIX, REALLY? Somebody pinch me, where did the time go?



AND since it was his birthday the King declared it a National Holiday and stated that all schools in Bahrain were canceled on December 2nd in honor of the celebration of "Tanner Flusche's Day of Birth". Well... at least that's what we told him! (The real story is that the night before the King declared the following day a national holiday, releasing children from school. Tanner's school didn't confirm this until 8:00PM so he went to bed not knowing. He was VERY happily surprised the morning of his birthday to learn that he could hang out in his jammies and relax with Mommy & Gavin. Sadly, Daddy is attending Flight Sim School in Wichita, KS and had to miss out on the party (but we'll make up for it later in the month at WaHoo!).

The night before his birthday while he lay asleep in bed I decorated the house with a HAPPY BIRTHDAY bunting, presents and obnoxious birthday party hats. It was fun and he loved the surprise when he woke up. As a tradition in our family, the birthday boy or gal gets to pick what ever they want to eat for each meal of that day, so we celebrated with a breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes (Tanner's FAVORITE)!

After breakfast and an early morning Skype with Grandpa & Nini Tanner opened his birthday gifts. He was thrilled to receive a Star Wars Lego set & Star Wars Lego coffee-table book from Nini & Grandpa, a new DS case, game box and two shirts from Mommy & Daddy, Toy Story 3 DVD from Grammy along with Kindergarten workbooks, an Anikin (Star Wars) costume from Aunt Tobey and a card & check from Nana-Gigi which he plans on using to buy a new game for the Wii. Earlier he received a really cool V-reader and "books" from Grandma & Papa. He loves all the generous gifts, thank you so much to our wonderful family!











We spent the rest of the morning playing with his new toys, wearing the Anikin costume over PJs, watching Toy Story 3 and reading all about Lego Star Wars. Sounds FUN, right?! :)

And just incase you were curious what other meals Tanner chose...
Lunch: Lemon curd sandwich on wheat bread with Gala apple slices and Sun Chips with chocolate milk.
Dinner: A&W on base - Hamburger ("WITH NO PICKELS MOMMY!"), french fries and Sprite.

Happy 6th Birthday Precious, We love you!