New Friends

We have made many new friends very quickly here in Little Rock. We've actually kept fairly busy, with various playdates and other activities. Last Friday, a group of guys (and their families) from Michael's high school came over for dinner.

Gabi introducing Bella to Hannah


Russ pulled Bella's hair


Gabi sharing her baby dolls with Ellie


Meredith and her mom, Rachel


Ellie reading a book with her mom, Sharon


The guys: Matt (and baby Russ), another Matt, Adam, Michael, and Brad

One of the guys in Michael's program who also just moved here is named Hadi. His wife, Nisreen, has only been in the US for one year, doesn't have a car and cannot drive, and is home in the apartment with her newborn all day every day with no way to get out! I don't know how she does it. I put a third carseat in the backseat of my car and brought them over to our house one afternoon, but she only wanted to stay for a short while because Tameem doesn't sleep well so she needed to get back home to rest during his naptime. We'll have to get together more often.


Tameem enjoyed our exersaucer


Tameem and Nisreen

We have made more new friends as well. One of my cousin's husband has a cousin who just moved to Little Rock the same weekend we did, and they now go to our church. In fact, our church has a very active "young adult" (20s and 30s) group which has helped us meet many other people. And, of course, you can never over-estimate the value of having family nearby. We love being so close to Lolo & Lola, Ninong & Ninang, and our cousins. Tomorrow morning, Gabi has a party at her school playground to meet all her new classmates, so that should be fun.