Visitor!!!!!!

We’ve had a BLAST on our first 4 days together in the UAE!  Kari arrived late Thursday night in Dubai and got big hugs from the kids when she woke up the next morning!

First stop: Burj Khalifa… the world’s tallest building

To get to the top, we rode the world’s fastest elevator :)  Next stop: Fancy Purse – OH HELLO LOUIS!!

Big Sister – Little Sister Picture LOL

Kari in front of the Burj Khalifa

The view from our hotel/apartment.  It was amazing.. we had a 3 bedroom duplex (2 story) with a full kitchen, huge living room and jaw-dropping views.. for those that want to know, it was called Marina Hotel Apartments.  We got a second wind, got fixed up and went out on the town.  Jambase is a supper club, we ate, drank and danced the night away!

Kari with the Burj Al Arab in the background… got up bright and early, packed up and out the door for 9:30 a.m… who needs sleep… sorry it isn’t in the agenda for this week, but Ski Dubai is! 

 

 

We got out of our ski clothes and headed over to the Dolphinarium for a dolphin show we had tickets for.  On our way into the park we just happened to run into some camels.. perfect!  The guy didn’t warn us that the back end would get up first.. woah!

The dolphin show was soooo entertaining.  I loved it – we were all SO tired after this and headed back to abu dhabi… Snow yesterday, Beach today…

That night we headed out for a traditional Dhow dinner cruise – it didn’t start until 9:00 p.m. so we let Charles sit this one out…  We had enough food to feed everyone on our street. seriously. each of these course pictures is per person!!

We are getting pretty good at our self-portraits… We got back late.. after 11:00 and got a little rest.   Bright and early we headed out to the Grand Mosque after dropping off Charles to work and the kids to school.

 

Massive, huge and absolutely stunning.  The tour was so interesting!

We were constantly fidgeting and fooling with our headscarves… they are SO hard to keep on. 

After touring the mosque, we did a quick souvenir shopping trip and then got both kids from school.  Today was Halloween!

Mostly Tricks from Will and Treats from Audrey.. he was such a little toot. refused to wear a costume and was in just a defiant mood… grrrr. to his credit, he had trick or treated twice already: once at audrey’s school’s fall fest and once at his school that morning.. he was over it and it is quite possible we were all a bit tired after all the going and going..? :)

Audrey did a last minute switch-a-roo from ariel to rapunzel… no biggie since we had both!

Having  BLAST, making memories, laughing hard, playing hard and enjoying my sister SO MUCH!

Week in Review…

I’ve said before that we just stay so busy here… We fill our days taking advantage all that Abu Dhabi has to offer… Here are some of the moments caught on camera from this last week… of course this isn’t all we’ve done (even though it is a lot) – I didn’t have my camera for everything we did. 

I turned 31… (sigh).  I got this cute coach cross-body purse for the on-the-go days! I missed my family and friends a lot on my birthday, since they are the ones that make it so special…

TUESDAY:

THURSDAY:

FRIDAY:

I am obsessed with baby/toddler feet… I chew on them.. I bite them… weird, I know.

SATURDAY:

SUNDAY:

 

I have also been planning for my sister’s visit, (Including a trip to Dubai!) as well as attending my weekly bible study (which I just adore).  Priscilla Shirer’s study on Jonah: Navigating A Life Interrupted.  So good! It is about finding your way thru a life you didn’t imagine for yourself… uh hum! 

and last but CERTAINLY not least… becoming an Aunt to this precious little thang!

Happy Birthday!!! My heart breaks that we cannot be there to meet you in person.  Honestly, I don’t even know what to say that will make it okay.  I learned at an early age that every choice bears a consequence….  Some good, some bad.  The choice of moving half way around the world has indeed resulted in both -  This one has to be one of the hardest thus far.. I am so very happy and so very sad all at the same time.  I look forward to telling you all about our adventures in the sand and watching you play with your cousins. 

Is it possible to miss someone you’ve never met? 

Hugs, Kisses and Lots of Cuddles from Afar, Aunt Christa