I was hoping my children would have a mind-expanding experience (without the mushrooms typically involved back in the states) moving overseas. It might’ve worked too well. We had a fantastic Saudi weekend in the desert, complete with dune-sliding,

sand-soccer-playing,

and khabsa-eating. 

The views were simply stunning:

And we got to get a little more mileage out of the “Humpdaaaayyyyyyyy” camel jokes:

The most memorable moment came in two parts; it began when our 4×4 lost the license plate after plowing into a sand dune. That became relevant later as we were passing through a check-point, and the guys with assault rifles decided we looked like incognito smugglers- since we had no license plate. It all worked out.

To my wife and daughter back in the states: we are really having a rough time here, barely getting by without you. Hope you won’t mind all the sand in the sheets! See you soon 🙂