Early Morning Chat

Hanging out with Skyelar early morning. She is becoming quite the chatter bug. Just said "Num,Nuum" (means food around our parts) for the first time too.

Before We Know It

We were up bright and early playing in our jammies this Saturday morning.


Didn't realize that Skyelar had a big booger when we took these pics. Still pretty cute, even with the bat in the cave.

Skyelar is starting to scoot around. Almost a crawl, but not quite yet.


She'll be moving before we know it. (Still not a single tooth! Weird.)

Quiet Thursday Afternoon

Spent the afternoon playing blocks with Skyelar.


She is getting big enough to demand what is hers!





Then I asked daddy if I could take a picture.

All the while mommy took a nap on our new couches.

Rain Day

The other day, we were all set to go to our new pool and get "our swim on!" When suddenly we were imprisoned by a fast moving thunder storm. We decided to stay in our suits and wait it out.
Looking out the window we watched the rain fall in our backyard.

Look at how big Skyelar is getting! It is like the rain is helping her hair grow.

The rain finally stopped and we made it to the pool!




Back home, we still had to sit on a mattress while we wait for our shipment to arrive:


It's no fun living on the floor and out of suitcases, but hopefully it won't be much longer. We bought a couch since we took this picture; we will show you a picture in the next set!

Skyping with Grandma and Grandpa

Although we are crammed in this tiny hotel room with all our stuff, we still make time to say hi to Grandma Mary Jo and Grandpa Patrick.

It was a bit chaotic with Skyelar reading the paper (instead of read insert eat) and squirming about.


But thanks to Skype we always get to see our grandparents and they get to see us. Even from across the other side of the world.

(Note: I just want to publicly say how much I love this photo of Mairin. She looks amazing! Such a beautiful and caring mamma!)

All Giggle and Laughs (Not quite but almost)

I have been a stink. I know. I scream. I squeal. I squirm. Nothing makes much sense. But you have to give me a break, my world has been turned upside down and all we do is drive from one store to the next buying things for the house.

I am getting better. If I sleep on time, eat on time, and get some some lovin, I wake up fresh and ready to go. I am all giggle and laughs.

Ramblin Rose

Yesterday, was my birthday and while we had already celebrated back in Doha, I got to ask my mommy and daddy for a lot of little things all day long. It was great. They felt sorry for me since they dragged me all over Jakarta to go shopping for eight hours, so every time I said, "Can I have this pleeeeeeeease? It's a special day. It's my birthday." They said yes. This seemed to work quite well. Lo and behold my new pink rose headband garland thing.

It makes my daddy a bit nauseous to look at it, but even he has to admit I look pretty darned cute in it.

Here he asked me to do, "something a princess would do." What can I say I improvised. I mean what kind of request is that?




I know we haven't posted pictures in a while. We hope these hold you over for a while. Will send more once we are out of this hotel and in our new house. I am sure I will have lots of pictures of my new room. Did I tell you I am getting a bunk bed? And the whole room is pink and purple...

Me and my dad.

Me and my little sis!

Happy Birthday

Dear Kaia,

It is the night of your fourth birthday and you are asleep in the room next to me at a hotel in Jakarta. We just moved here last week, and we are trying to get settled. I was thinking about what a strange life we have created for you. Your father is an Iranian raised in California. Your mother is from Wisconsin and you were born in Malaysia, spent a few years in Qatar and are now ready to start your new life in Indonesia. You have been to Thailand more times before you turned four than most people will go in a lifetime. You have been on safari in Kenya. You have crawled through Roman ruins in Tunisia, have ridden the subway in NYC, and walked the streets of Stockholm.

You talk about going to Jamaica because your former teacher is from there, and then to Holland to see friends of yours from your old school. You know Bali is next to Jakarta and you look forward to going there. The other day you were singing a song I had never heard:

when I get older, I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom just like a wavin' flag
And then it goes back, and then it goes back
And then it goes back, oh



You knew all the words. Turns out it was the official theme of the World Cup. You are aware.

In short, you are the most remarkable person I have ever met. I marvel at your sense of style and confidence, even when I am frustrated by your obstinacy. You are already a master negotiator and your grasp of logic is frightening. It is strange that I write these letters to you now, because I can already see you at every age. Even before you were born I could see you as you are now, and no matter how much you change I feel like I will always know you so well. You are the best and worst pieces of your mother and I, as well as your own unique sticking agent.

We have only been in Indonesia for a week, but I can already see the affect it is having on you. You walk about like you own the place. “Don’t be so shy!” you tell me. I hope your time here, exploring the many wonders it has to offer, will help you learn some humility as well as understanding. I am sure we will see many things that will leave lasting impressions on who you will become. I will be here to guide you through what you see. Actually we will be here together as a family.

If you were wondering what you were like at four here are some off the cuff ideas:

• You are currently obsessed with pink and purple and shiny pretty things.
• You love to draw.
• You love books.
• You can do many things by yourself.
• You are very independent.
• You are a monster when you are tired or hungry, but most of the time you are very polite and mature.
• You love pesto pasta and princesses and pizza.
• You love to ride your bike and roller coasters.
• You love Mickey Mouse. Strawberry Shortcake and Handy Manny.
• You always want sprinkles on your ice cream.
• And often times order your food at restaurants.
• All in all you make us very proud. I know all parents must say this, but you are something special to everyone you meet.

I am sure we will look back when you are an adult doing something extraordinary and say, “You have been like this since you were born.”

I love you and happy fourth birthday. I hope that our friends and family will share some thoughts in the comment section below.

Cute But Deadly

I look super cute right?

All smiling and light first thing in the morning. Well you need to get a look at me after I have screamed by head off for three hours in the car. Not sure what it is, but I am not loving the car here in Jakarta. In a city with so much traffic, I better get used to it.


(Father's Note: Doing what we can to get settled in our lives, but this delicate flower has her own agenda and couch shopping in downtown Jakarta is not on it. She is finally down for the night and I couldn't be happier!)

Goodbye to my Marylin!

When I first arrived in Doha, three long years ago, I looked like this:

Right from the start we were very lucky to find a kind woman to take care of me. Her name is Marylin. She has made countless sacrifices for our family and has always been there when we needed her. She works so hard to make sure that Skyelar and I are happy and safe. She has been a part of our family since the beginning and I will miss her very much.



Thank you Marilyn! We will miss you very much!

After we took our serious pictures, we had a few minutes to goof around with Clopsy, another Doha friend we will miss.

Kaia' School Pics

It was an exciting year for Kaia. She started school and had a great year. Here are her first official school photos.

Here they are getting silly!