A couple of firsts..

The convention Center.. Got this photo on-line since there's construction all around it.

 Newly hired (so new to Qatar) families of the Qatar Foundation were invited for a welcome reception yesterday at the Convention Center here in Doha.  We had no idea what to expect, but were told it was 1-3 (lunch at 3) with games. It was a very nice place.. yikes.  There were four forks per place and my children drank and ate from real china (first), and I'm happy to say, they didn't break a thing... 

The lovely room.  Love the lights!  Thanks JA for the photo.

A, P and M with friend A.

The lovely dessert table.  Thanks JA for the photo.

REALLY enjoying dessert!

So pretty.

Doesn't everyone color at a formal reception?

There were games where raffle tickets were drawn, people went up to the stage and played various games.  P got chosen (with her little friend D) for the first game.  My little desert flower didn't hesitate, but marched up to the stage and princess waved to us all...  Good grief. She didn't win, but everyone got a prize and she was thrilled!!  We all had to play the last game and I was on the winning corner of the room and won a prize too.  The best part was that it was a normal sized mug!!  We only have tiny tea cups, so I have to refill it several times a morning...

P is up there, she's the shortest one, and not a bit shy.

P with her prize.

A little owl and blanket.  She actually really liked them, despite the face she's making...

We had a really nice time and the Qatar Foundation (once again) were great hosts to us and all of the new hires! 
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Today (Wednesday) we had to go to the American Embassy to have a NEW POA notarized.  We were a bit concerned we wouldn't be able to get it completed because we don't currently have our original passports (they are at immigration for our residency permits).  We had copies of our passports and our driver's licenses and were hoping that would be enough (though the website was clear on needing the passports). 

The very official looking Embassy.  On-line photo since we couldn't bring phones/cameras/electronics...

Doesn't that building up there look regal??  Official at least..  I had these grandiose ideas of going to the Embassy, probably because I'm a total social studies geek.  I thought we'd walk up those front white stairs, get checked by security, and stroll down a long lovely hallway flanked with portraits of the white house and the American Presidents on our way to the office of the notary.  This would be in a dark bookcase filled office where we make small chat and sign our POA.  A good first civic experience for us and the kids.  (yes, I had really thought it through...)...  Um way off.. 

We were stopped before even getting into the first gate and sent back to the car to put our bag (activities for the kids), ipad, and phones back in (luckily I put ice packs in the car seats to keep them cool - the ipad stayed cool too).  We had to wait in a little trailer for our number to flash, we walked out and waited outside until we were called into the first of several security checks (where we had to leave everything - sunglasses, purse, water bottles), and then entered a dingy warm room where we took yet another number.  We waited again, told the woman at the window what we needed, went to another window to pay the fee, and then to yet another waiting room...  Finally!!  The POA was signed, stamped, we raised our right hands attesting we were who we said we were, and off we went.

That was it.  No long hallways.  No pictures of famous American landmarks...  Nothing.  Well, at least we got our POA signed and can sell our houses...