Doha welcomes Krispy Kreme! Check out their promotion...

...the first 25 customers get a dozen of Original Glazed doughnuts FREE every week for 1 YEAR! The next 25 customers get a dozen of Original Glazed doughnuts FREE every week for 6 MONTHS!

The best part about this is that their shop is going to be located in the mall nearest to our compound. The downside is that is will open on Fri., Feb 1st at 5PM, a day and time when everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, is out at the malls!

Seriously, for the kids (wink! wink!) we would probably make an effort and stand in line; but do we really want to be known as the DOHA DOUGHNUT FAMILY????!!!

We don't think so.

Nicholas Lorenzo!!!! Oh, My!

Check out our little Catholic-turned-Muslim son! (Just kidding!) These pictures were taken just yesterday afternoon outside our villa. The workers had come to check on one of our appliances when they were interrupted by "prayer time," so Nick just joined in!!



As Nick himself would say, "Me a BAD Dude!"

January 27, 2008 - Our ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY!

It's Sunday the 27th, 2008! Gabrielle went to school and Rolando to work. The school/work weeks here are Sundays through Thursdays with Fridays and Saturdays as the weekends. We have spent the past weekend talking to the kids about a year ago, have shown them some pictures from the past so they could see how big they have gotten in one year, and reminised about our long journey here, again, with our fellow-travelers. Having said this, we would like to send a special "Hola" to our friends Frank and Maria who have already returned to Texas. We miss you and think of you often. Thanks for everything you did for us! And last but not least, to celebrate in true Doha style, we returned to the Retaj Residence tonight for a visit. The guys that work there remembered us the minute we walked in. One of them even remembered Nick by name. It is always nice to remember where you came from so you'll be grateful for where you are, and as always, look forward with excitement to what is yet to come!!

HERE ARE SOME MORE OF OUR MOST FAVORITE PICS OF THE '07 YEAR!!!

December 2007 - Nick's 3rd Birthday

NICK'S GROWING UP SO FAST! And potty trained, too. Can't help but love him!!! Thanks to Nick's special friends Gina and Michael for joinging us on his special day!!!! (They are really great friends of all of us, but the kids just love them soo much we let them claim them!) CAN HIS SMILE BE ANY BIGGER!

November 2007 - Thanksgiving, Doha-style

Having so much to give thanks for, this year's Thanksgiving Day was celebrated with our friends and neighbors from our compound. The diversity of this group alone was the biggest difference for us, but that did not distract us from giving thanks for everyone else back home. Yes, that is a turkey - BUTTERBALL, afterall!

October 2007 - Halloween: BOOH!

Ghosts and Goblins! Scary, black cats and skeletons, too! Here's our little enchantress and pirate at Alfardan Garden I Compound (thanks for the invite, Gina and Michael)! We had a FRIGHTENLY fun time!

September 2007- A Tour of the Desert

July and August 2007 - Back in Texas

Spent some awesome days in Texas with our families and friends. We celebrated two big events in our family: Vanessa's Quinceanera and Veronica and Jorge's Church Wedding. We wouldn't have missed them for the world! Thanks for the memories.

June 2007 - Paris and London

EuroDisney for Father's Day! All of us kids-at-heart had a true blast. Our niece, Kristina Hernandez, who had come from Baltimore to Doha for a visit, was able to see all the beauty of France and England, with us. I'm sure she'd agree, though, that nothing beats the beauty and fun of QATAR! "Hi, Kris! The kids are enjoying their cool crocs you bought for them. "

May 2007 - Company Picnic and Gabrielle's 6TH B-Day!

This month was full of fun, laughter, cheers, and tears.......our little girl turned 6!!!

April 10, 2007 - Moved to Beverly Hills 4 Compound

After living at the Retaj Residence for 10 weeks, we finally moved in to what is now our home at the BHG4 Compound. Being a realtively new compound, many of the facilities here are a work-in-progress. Nonetheless, we have made it home for us and the kids; and are happy to share what we have with any one who just drops by for a visit, or flies from the other side of the world to stay with us for a while! (Hint! Hint!)

March 2007 - Milan and Florence, Italy

While in Italy, the kids were known as 'Gabriella' and 'Lorenzo'!

February 4, 2007 - Gabrielle's first day at the American School of Doha

The American School of Doha Dragons! That's how they are proudly known. We recently found out that the student body is composed of over 60 different nationalities! What an amazing experience for Gabrielle. She completed her Kindergarten year here and is soon to complete FIRST GRADE! This year's teacher praises her to me often. How I love to hear my daughter READ!!

January to April, 2007 - OUR FIRST HOME: The Retaj Residence

From the time we left the driveway of our home in Texas to when we set foot in our temporary home in Doha, a total of 55 hours had passed. Unbelievable!!! Although this may not look like much, it was one of the best sights we could see after our long and exhausting journey (even if it was at 3 o'clock in the morning)!