Happy 15th Birthday Alena

December 01, 2021

It may not have been your ideal day, but we sure worked hard to make sure we did everything on your list. We made crepes before our "early" departure, we packed cake with mousse and whipped cream into the cooler to eat at the hotel, we had all your favorite meals even though we were on the road to Duqum. We stayed in a lovely hotel and you were able to chat with your best friends with barely an interruption. I'm sorry I couldn't send you there to be with them but I'm thankful you had some fun.

The Crown in Duqum was lovely. The girls sneaked in a swim, I swam with them a little bit while Matt was out buying chicken.

They're at that hard age. One is still little while the other is teetering on the edge of growing up. Sometimes they're delighted to play together but it's always mixed with frustration on the part of the little one who doesn't understand why she quits early or leaves to be part of big kid stuff. It's hard. It's happened before, so many times. I wish I had another little for her.

These two only wanted to explore. Brigham for shells and Samuel for beetles. They found some fun things before Matt took them to the "rock garden".

Omani decor was interesting. I spent this entire Duqum time in the hotel trying to take a Chemistry test. After spending an hour not being able to get into the test and chatting with my Aunt Ruthie, I finally figured it out and embarked on 2 hrs of torture, sititng on the floor with my back hurting and solving very difficult chemistry problems. I can't believe how long that test took!

Not sure what exactly this place really is. Samuel thinks maybe a fossilized coral reef. Either way, they enjoyed themselves.

We interrupt this friendly chat across the world to bring you your cake.

Hi Lilly and Evelin and Maddy and Leena and whoever else.

The moon rising over the ocean from our balcony was absolutely stunning. I sure love my oldest daughter. She is thankfully very different from her siblings in many ways but she's strong enough and capable enough to balance them all.