Opera on Ice

On Saturday, December 22, we finally had a chance to go see the Royal Opera House here in Muscat.  You can go any time to do a tour either guided or on your own, but we just hadn't made time for it yet.  We had planned on going to see the Sleeping Beauty ballet in November, but those plans fell through.  An afternoon showing of Opera on Ice was a perfect starting point for the boys.

I have only one picture from inside the auditorium because I wasn't sure I was allowed to take pictures in there at all.  I took a picture of the carved marble back wall.  Pictures are forbidden during the performance.  But the rest of the opera house is grand and beautiful.  I want to go back sometime when there is not a show and even go to the galleria just to see what high end shops there are.

Entering the Royal Opera House from the parking deck.  On the left is a restaurant.  To the right, they were setting up for an outdoor venue later in the evening.

Throwback Thursday: Christmas in Florida

Before we moved, we spent every other Christmas in Florida with Stephen's side of the family.  I loved these Christmases because it promised warm weather.  Occasionally I didn't bring cool enough clothes and would resort to wearing tanks I had meant for layering.

Last year was a Florida Christmas, and FaceBook and my line-a-day journal have kindly reminded me of memories from last Christmas as well as jogged memories from Florida Christmases past.  In my line-a-day journal I noted things such as walking to Target, walking to Chick-fil-A for lunch (yes, both are walking distance from my in-laws' house), long and short runs, and an actual chilly day that required a light jacket.  FaceBook reminds me of the Christmas of bikes and riding those bikes in shorts and a t-shirt.  We walked to parks and the pool (an outdoor pool, btw).

Pretty sure we fit about 1 of the 4 bikes we all received for Christmas in the car for the drive home.  Yes, the seat needed to be raised, but it was fine for a quick ride.

Christmas 2018

This was our first Christmas in Oman, our first Christmas to stay home, and our first Christmas on a beach.  It was different, it was fun, and it didn't make me homesick as I expected.  Maybe the exhaustion from cleaning up new toys and wrapping paper trash just distracted me.  hmmm...

It started early as Christmases with young kids do.  We postponed until 7:30 am, then got up to open stockings and unwrap presents to each other.  After that, Stephen went running while I ran up and down the stairs in our house.  It's been a while since I've done that exercise.  I should incorporate it into my routine once a week.

The boys opening their stockings from Santa.