What's In A Name?

Jake, Jake, Will, Will, Sam and Katherine

One of the highlights of our summer has been the visit of our friends from Doha, the Van Hoozers. They came to stay with us for a weekend and we did our best to entertain them. (bowling and Schlitterbahn-Galveston for the kids, shopping and wine in the driveway for Krisitie and me.) Now, there is a whole story behind our friendship with the VH clan. If you will remember from a previous blog, Sam made friends, not long after we moved to Doha, with the Van Hoozer boys, twins named Will and Jake. When I took him over to the Van Hoozer's house for the first time and met their mom, Kristie, I was further amazed at our connections. They had also lived in Singapore, but moved there a year or so after we left. Get this...they lived in the same apartments, same building, same floor as we did and knew many of the same people, including my next door neighbor, Elena, who was a tennis partner of Kristie's, and another dear friend, Nancy.

Now, back to the story at hand. One reason I was so excited to have the Van Hoozers to our house, was to get Will and Will and Jake and Jake to finally meet. Good thing we went out to dinner that first night, because the Shrull Will and Jake were gone for most of the rest of the weekend! I did manage to snap the above photo....what a treasure! Poor Sam and Katherine felt a little left out, but we reassured them that they were special too, even if their names did not match! (Kristie, you could change your beautiful daughter's name to Samantha!)

Hopes are to see the Van Hoozers one more time before they leave for Doha on Aug. 1. We just can't get enough of them!!!

It's Still Standing!

When I look back over my blog, I realize how little I have written over the past couple of months. And, I also realize how much I have missed blogging! Things have been pretty wild and crazy, but now it is good to be settled in Texas for the summer. We took our trip to Ireland (travel blogs to follow soon) and since arriving home have been visiting family, friends and doctors and cleaning like crazy. I don't even mind that! (I MUST be glad to be home!) The good news is, the house was still standing!! However, some good things must come to an end....Keith left for Doha yesterday. We had a great three week time together, the five of us. For the rest of the summer, it's just me and the boys. I plan to "mother" my little heart out. And shop. Spend time visiting. Shop. Organize my drawers and drawers of photos. Shop. The next seven weeks will fly by. It will be back to Doha on Aug. 22. Until then, I'll shop.

Chores to be Done

Scenes from The Wallace Fourth of July Party

Stopping in Luling for BBQ and Watermelon

You Know You're in Texas when.....

Scuba, Scuba Do!

It was a fun and unexpected treat when we found our friends Ed and Karen at the pool one afternoon after their scuba diving trek to somewhere in the Arabian sea. Sam had expressed an interest in trying out Ed's scuba equipment, so this was the day. They "explored" the depths of the Riviera Gardens pool and Sam was hooked. Scuba lessons may be in his (notice I did not say my!) future. Give me a snorkel, mask and fins any day, but I will have to meditate on whether swimming with sharks and dancing with dolphins way under the sea is good for me! Thanks, Ed, for a fun introduction to scuba diving.

P.S. By the way, Keith and I knew Ed and Karen in a former life. Keith worked with Ed in Texas and I knew Karen at Westside Elem. in Angleton...she was teaching and I was being a PTA mom! Small world and a delight to be hangin' with them again!

Watch Out High School...Here He Comes!

(Eric, Nick, Jake, Sam, Will and Cooper)

Only four more days of middle school ever...for Sam AND for me! Exams are all that's left of a memorable and interesting eighth grade year. Last Thursday Sam took part in the American School of Doha's Eighth Grade Promotion Ceremony and then the big celebration dance that evening. Man, did he (and his compadres) look sharp! They had so much fun and captured memories that will last awhile, if not a lifetime.

Congratulations, Sam!

We are proud of you!