Well Hello, Bahrain

Last weekend Brooks had a day off so we decided to go to Bahrain for the day! It was our first time in Bahrain since October of 2010!!!!  Seriously!  After we had Miles, the following February was when Bahrain had all the unrest and disputes and our company evacuated all of our people OUT of Bahrain and INTO Saudi.  We weren't allowed to back to Bahrain until last November, and well, we were in the USA and I was 8 months pregnant.    Anyways, Bahrain was so much fun and incredibly nice to have some freedom.  I can't even begin to express how it feels to cross the borders and be in a place where there are no abayas for expats, no closing down for prayer.. eating when you want, shopping in normal places WITH DRESSING rooms, bathrooms with toilet paper, and pork!!!  Not to mention just going some where with your family with something to do for entertainment!!  

We started our day off by getting up at 5am and loaded the car by 6am.  We arrived at the causeway and made it through customs in 15 minutes.. AMAZING!  We got to Bahrain and made it to our normal breakfast restaurant, RIC's, by 8:30am.  After eating a bacon, sausage, pancake, and french toast breakfast for all of us, we headed to City Center to do some shopping-- Gavin needed new clothes for spring/summer (the kid is wearing 5T clothes now.. I'm pretty sure he skipped size 4T) and Miles needed bigger shoes, since the size 4's I bought him last month already don't fit... he skipped a whole shoe size!  After finding their stuff and stopping by a toy store, we headed to the indoor water park, WAHOO.   We ended up staying their for hours and the boys had a blast!  Gavin and Brooks took off and did some water slides while I brought Miles to the kiddie area and found a nearby lounge chair for Brooklyn to sleep.  Miles goofed off a lot in the splash area and kept going up and down the slides all by himself.  He was such a big boy.  Eventually when Brooklyn woke up and needed a bottle I found Brooks who took Miles and Gavin onto the HUGE water area and they played and played and played!  Mommy and Brooklyn got to lounge around and relax and people watch!  

After the water park we grabbed a quick lunch before heading to the movie theater.  Yes, Brooks and I were crazy enough to bring 3 little kids to the movies.  We went and saw Dr. Seuss' The Lorax.  The movie started at a perfect time... within 15 minutes of getting inside the theater and Miles jumping up and down excited, he fell asleep in the stroller and slept the entire movie.  Brooklyn took a bottle right when the movie started and was content the entire time.  Gavin ate an entire bowl of popcorn and never took his eyes off the screen.  He loved it.  Brooks and I were shocked at how well the trip to the movies turned out... we're thankful we planned ahead so it wasn't pure chaos!  The movie was cute, too.

After the movies, we left the mall to headed back home to Saudi.  This was the boys before we ever made it to the causeway to cross customs and the borders.  I'd say it was a successful, fun family day trip!