Breakfast with Charlie

This morning Charlie and I were the only ones awake and he was hungry. I fixed him his Cheerios and decided to sit down and talk to him because I rarely get time alone with just one of my children.
We spoke about dinosaurs. Charlie's latest craze. He told me the name of each dino as we pulled them out of the "toob" they live in. We made up stories and they had conversations, etc.. When I started talking about one of the dinosaurs he informed me that it wasn't a dinosaur because it lived before the dinosaurs! It seems he is following in Sam's footsteps.




After our conversation I grabbed my camera and snapped some quick shots. I don't want to forget mornings like this. I wish I could just freeze the kids at this stage in each of their lives and soak it up. I know they will be grown before I know it.

ACS Playground Fun

We went to school early today to sign Cairo up for an after school activity. It was such a beautiful morning the kids had a great time playing outside before it got too hot. The other boy in the photo is Parker Thompson from our ward.

Easter Bunny in Abu Dhabi

Jack made this cute mask in preschool today. Charlie wasn't there because he had a headache this morning. It was really cute because Jack made one for Charlie too.

Just Because

The idea of getting flowers has never really excited me. Of course I like flowers and there is nothing wrong with getting them but I realized the other day it is an entirely different feeling to get an unexpected flower delivery. There was a bit of a language barrier when the delivery came. Brad had been sick for about a week and had come home between meetings to have a quick nap. The kids told me someone was at the door for me. When I got there I saw a guy from Brad's office holding this beautiful bouquet. I said, "Oh, thank you, why are you bringing these to me?" He said..."For the Director." I was a bit embarrassed as I realized they were for Brad, not for me..
I went up to our room and told Brad he had received a beautiful bouquet..He said, "It's for you, from me. Just because I love you."
Receiving flowers like that is a whole different feeling. I love getting flowers!

ACS Test Day

Jack and Charlie had to go through and assessment to see if they are accepted to KG1 for next year..I'm not even certain if we will decide to send them or do another year of preschool but they had their "activity" today and had a great time. I had to call it an activity to get them to miss their regular preschool without a fight...

Of course Charlie took his "toobs" of sea creatures. He did agree to let me watch them while he went to the activity.

Jack...always soooo Coooool.

Girls Get-A-Way to Hatta Fort

Me,Liz,Molly,Jennifer,Alex and Trish (missing: Heather)

We had such a great time. Just 24 hours can make such a difference and refresh us. We laughed a talked and ate..Everything required for a fun girls weekend.
See the following photos of other things we did, including shopping for pots along the road and watching a guy herd camels across the freeway in his car....

This photo includes Heather..In the middle. These are all such great women and wonderful friends.


Beautiful Hatta. These aren't "home" but they are incredible mountains and it's always nice to see a new horizon.

1000 Meter Swimmer!

Today Cairo did her regular swim practice with Shari. They swam 1000 meters in under an hour...This girl can swim!

Happy Mother's Day in Abu Dhabi

One great of the great things about living overseas is we often get to celebrate two of the same holiday on different days of the year. I was surprised today by Sam and Cairo who had made Mother's Day cards for me in their Arabic classes.

Our Cute Brownie Scout

Cairo loves Brownie Scouts. She joined the troupe a little late but has loved every activity since she started. Today she earned three new badges for her sash. This proves that she is cute in anything she wears!

Phone Calls from Utah

I'm really sorry this photo came out blurry. Cairo was so excited about the upcoming visit from Bobbi,Sarah and Dave that she was pumping her fist while talking to Sarah on the phone

Wuslim Mom?

Jack has this funny issue with Muslims...It's taken this long for him to comment on the women wearing abayas and head scarves. After seeing my photo with Shari the night of Dave Scott's birthday, Jack asked if that was when I was a wuslim? I said, "No, I was just wearing a head scarf." Jack then said, "But you're still my Mom, right?"
Honestly, these guys make me laugh everyday.

A Day in Abu Dhabi

Jack got 3 stamps today because he was so good at school. He wanted all three on his face! He's still darn cute, in his mom's opinion.

Sam scared this little guy today because he lost his patience with Jack after Jack messed up the diorama. Little Ian took off for the front door with tears in his eyes. After I intercepted him and had a talk with Sam about how these little kids think he is so great and hearing him get angry really scares them, Sam was so cute to Ian and apologized and before long to two of them were on the couch watching Jurassic Park together. Ian is only 2 years old but Sam started treating him as an equal. Sam was very concerned that this little guy would be afraid of him. When I saw them on the couch together I was so proud of Sam. He was truly making an effort to make Ian comfortable with him as an older kid.

Dave Scott's 40th

One of our best friends here had his 40th birthday. His wife Susan had a surprise dinner for him at a nice Italian place. We ate outside overlooking the marina. It was a great night. Everyone wore black for the occasion and Shari and I decided to take it a step further.

Swimming Lessons

Jack was tired today so his lesson didn't last very long. I was able to get a smile out of him though, after he had been hiding under the hat.

Swimming Lessons

After each lesson, if they do well, the kids get to choose something from Shari's treasure box.

Charlie at today's swim lesson.

Swimming Lessons

Cairo at her swim lessons today. She seems to improve every time she swims. In the one picture Shari is trailing her.

Diorama Night at the Cooks

After seeing Sam's diarama, Cairo and Jack wanted a piece of the action.

Sam came to me tonight asking for a box. When I asked what for he explained he wanted to create a "Dinosaur Diorama". So, luckily, I had the perfect box. He spent a few hours creating the perfect dino setting...It includes a volcano on one side..a stream running through it and a flying dino suspended above the others using a piece of thread sewn through the back and neck of the dinosaur. I hope he has this much enthusiasm when it's a school assignment.

Swim Coach and Bread Maker...What More Could We Ask For?

Shari teaches the kids swimming every Sunday and Wednesday and usually bakes us a batch of homemade bread and cinnamon rolls at the same time.


Believe me..These are not just cinnamon rolls..They have caramel on the bottom..Whoa. I need to be doing laps with the kids to justify these calories!

Power Rangers Spotted in Abu Dhabi

After Ryan, the twins friend in the compound, showed up in a Power Ranger shirt the twins HAD to have one. I found them today at a store and I know I won't see any other shirts on the boys for a long long time. Get ready to see the twins in the same shirts in every blog photo! Good thing the kids are cute cause the shirts sure are ugly.

Desert Fun with the Curtis'

The desert seems to be a place both of us love. We find a sense of peace and beauty there always. The kids have a great time too. It's a giant sandbox that seems to follow us home...We find piles of sand around the house for days.


We loved having John and Sue Curtis visit us from our Riverside neighborhood. It is always fun to show people our new home and introduce them to the beauty and culture that is so different from home.