Christmas Day

Which I only have one picture of our 1^st Christmas together and it is at the Restaurant we went for dinner.  I used to be so good at taking pictures, but I guess that is when I’ve been traveling.  Now I need to make the effort to do it for my memories of events and periods rather than scenery and places. 

I got up quite early to call my brother, Joshua. I briefly talked with the kids and Josh.  Always sounds like a party at their place.  Then, I aroused Spencer by playing really loud music and a big kiss.  We ate my day old Cranberry braid, and opened gifts we bought for each other.  Spencer said Christmas was great this year because he could buy gifts for me and for him, things he wanted but you don’t really buy gifts for yourself.   Josh said the best gifts are the ones that you benefit from as the giver as well.  And I will be the third witness to confirm that statement true.  

We really spoiled ourselves this year, I mean it wasn’t monetarily really expensive but nice, quality and definitely more than I have ever gotten or given before.  Spencer also was creative in his gift giving, he bought me a Nike Fuel watch, Downton Abbey Puzzle (I like to do puzzles, but this one was a frustrating challenge), a couple day bags (one he joke a future diaper bag, and no I am not hinting anything), cook books (I am always trying to find new recipes of things he will eat), cool exercise bands, and a stocking full of goodies. 

My parents sent us a video about the composition of Silent Night; it was written and first sang in Austria.  We watched the movie before taking a nap. It seemed as if the cast was picked local, like they were from Austria. The accents seemed legit.

Then we made calls to our parents, before we headed out again to fight the traffic to go to Najd Village, Saudi Restaurant.  I haven’t had local food besides Kabsa yet, which is just seasoned rice and chicken.  We met up with several families from the Branch, including the Wacaser’s who are the ones who extended the invitation to us.  We sat on cushions lined along the walls of the room.  There were carpets in the open space in the middle where they rolled out a straw like runner, which they placed our food when it was ready.  There wasn’t any veggies options, besides dips so we got a dish with veggies and meat, as always here the meat was more plentiful in the rice than the veggies.  It was also supposed to be a dish for two and it would serve at least 3 if not 4 normal people.  I really loved a dish one of the girls ordered, it was a mushy rice dish with squash in it. 

The hard part for going out is in the evening is driving home.  It has taken us just about an hour each way. Traffic in Riyadh is pretty frustrating.