HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR

The Chinese are brilliant! I love it that I have another chance to resolve my resolutions. Perhaps if I put them out publicly I will have a greater resolve and commitment to seeing them through.

• Be a more responsible, discriminating custodian of material goods. Sounds kind of cerebral, huh? Anyway, in my native tongue I would say: I want to accumulate less STUFF. The STUFF I do accumulate I have be willing to care for. Simplify all the little THINGS that find their way into my world and clutter it up leading to more to launder, more to clean, more to store, etc...The kids don't realize this will have an effect on their lives to. Hopefully, through my example they will learn to take less STUFF into their/our lives. And, the STUFF we do have will be better cared for, see more love and attention and will be disposed of responsibly when it has served it's purpose. MINIMIZE
• Expect the best of people and assume that's what you get from them. I don't really have a problem with "Expecting the best" but sometimes I have a problem with feeling disappointed or hurt when I get from people less than I think they are capable of. I don't even have a good example of this but I just want to remember that people are good and are doing the best they can and to focus on doing MY BEST for others.

That's it. There is always the details of living a healthier life and getting into better shape and cooking healthier meals and being more conscious of our carbon footprint..Those are ongoing and probably fall somewhere under the umbrella of the above mentioned. I'm exposed..feel free to help out if you notice me straying.

Remember This Guy??

Sri, he was my hero for an entire week last year when he caught the birds that were loose in our house..Remember that? It was last March and I came home and thought someone was in the house because I could hear weird stuff upstairs. When I went upstairs to check it out, I interrupted a bird party going on in Sam's room. They, of course, were surprised by me so flew into my face. Sri came and caught the birds and gently set them free to resume their lives OUTSIDE our home.

Mr. Sri just got back from Sri Lanka where he went to visit his family 8 weeks ago. If you can believe it, it was the 1st time in 4 years he has seen his wife and 4 kids.

(Now I feel like a real baby for feeling lonely with Brad gone for 2 nights.)

I asked him about his trip and he couldn't stop smiling. He was grinning from ear to ear speaking in his broken English about his healthy and happy family back home and the good food he had..(he rubbed his tummy). He even smiled through the part about not going back again now for 4 MORE YEARS. I made a sad face and he was quick to console me..He said, "It's OK madame..It's too difficult for money if I go more." People like Sri I will really miss when we leave this place. I love the constant reality checks that slap me upside the head and let me know how good life is to me and my family. My little problems seem soooo insignificant.

Sri is my hero again this week...minus the birds!

A Lot Going On In My Little Brain

Is it just me?..I know I have a problem with keeping things neat and organized.

I close my eyes and try to channel my good friend and PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER Vicki Winterton in Provo.

Any solutions for this one Vicki?

Lately, I am more acutely aware of little things that are adding little bits of stress to my day...Such as: Containers and lids that have lost their spouses..single socks...a small Hello Kitty pencil sharpener that keeps falling into my bathroom sink when I brush my teeth and I just keep absent-mindedly putting back up on the edge of the sink. Does anyone else carry these pitiful burdens around, getting grumpy, sweating the small stuff?

(My version of speed-dating for lids and containers as I make lunches early in the a.m. Please notice the environmentally conscious jute bag I keep them all in. Is my insanity bad for the environment?)

My instincts tell me to just throw all of it in the garbage..get it out of my home and off my mind. Then I remember the reason I bought the containers with their lids was to eliminate zip-lock bags from our lives because that's NOT ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND. Throwing away bigger, more imposing pieces of plastic that will then need to be replaced by something else to hold the kid's sandwiches, etc..doesn't make any sense at all.

Anyone else getting stressed out by this?

Then, the single socks..well, there is an abundance of them around now because cute little Charlie wears only 1 sock everyday to school..How do I solve that. I don't for another 5 weeks, then maybe I throw away the single socks..what a waste. Then, the pencil sharpener. I know now, as write this, that I should just go find a place to put it. But when I'm brushing my teeth I'm not thinking of putting away a pencil sharpener that somehow wound up on my bathroom sink. I'm thinking of either:

a) getting to bed

or

b) getting into Big Red to get the kids to school on time

..Now, I think I will go upstairs and toss out that sharpener.

Where do things like that come from? And, how do they get into my bathroom?

Jack the sicko..Jack Heely'd around with me for two days because he had a terrible fever and cough that reared its ugly head on Saturday night. So, Sunday, no school, Monday no school. He is really an easy sick person because when he's sick..he just wants to lay around and when he's well he wants to be on the move. He loved using those Heely's in Spinneys. The tile floors with no carpets to interrupt long glides were his idea of paradise. Then he saw his favorite yogurt and muesli on the salad bar and life was good to old Jack-a-Roo. We came home, Mom napped, and Jack watched Clone Wars.

(Good indication that Jack is back in the pink and my life is quiet today.)

The Cooks at Atlantis..again. I love that place. (Picture from our time in Dubai with Joleen) Brad, Dr. Hotpants, is off on a solitary pilgrimage to Salalah, Oman. He has always wanted to go there. It is likely the place where the Land of Bountiful was during Book of Mormon times. I totally encouraged him to go and check it off of his list of things to do before we leave this region. While I would have loved to join him (because I never want him to go and have fun without me) their were 4 young reasons I felt I was needed back in Abu Dhabi. So, the kids and I have been lonely for Brad since Sunday afternoon when the driver picked him up to take him to the airport in Dubai. Lucky for me and Jack, Brad spent the morning at home, taking his time packing and getting ready to go and hanging out with us. In Dubai he was able to see Sargon and Habib, in town from Kabul, so his life is quite charmed, wouldn't you say?

He gets home tonight and we are so happy.

Can't wait to:

1st: Give big hug and let him know how much we missed him

2nd: Hear about his adventures

3rd: Have him around to keep things balanced

I love the photo I have put on the header of our blog.  Although it isn't as clear as I would have liked, it speaks volumes.  The men in the dish-dashas are Shaikhs and leaders of the UAE, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Countries.  We were also surrounded by diplomats of countries such as Japan, China, Turkey, Canada, etc.

We witnessed history with Ambassadors and Diplomats from several countries.  It was an amazing opportunity to see this event while standing shoulder to shoulder with people from all different countries and faiths.  I couldn't help but wonder what they were thinking/feeling..Of course those people on the Mall in D.C. must have all been feeling similar pride, emotion, and hope.  However, I know that all of these people we were with must think their country is great as well and they all have different types of governments from monarchies to democracies, none of which have the history or constitution of the United States.

There was a sense of hope and optimism but it was a subdued event due to the recent deaths and tragic events in Gaza.  Most parties and festivals have been cancelled recently in honor of the loss of life and drama there.

Inauguration Day in the UAE

We have so many things to celebrate and take pride in today as the 44th President of the United States takes the oath of office.  

-There is a cease fire in Gaza

-The first African American President has been elected

-There will be a smooth transition of office as Obama and Bush have 

coffee together prior to the swearing in event

-WE WILL BE GOING TO THE AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE TO CELEBRATE

(Really, we are so much fun you would think they would have invited us before now..but,better late than never.)  We have time on our side since the events begin in our evening hours so it's party time for Americans in the UAE.

Brad and I have both been battling a serious cold, fever, etc...but we really cannot imagine missing such a great opportunity.  After all, next year at this time our chances of hanging out with a US Ambassador are quite slim..We have to go and have a great time.  I don't know if security will allow for photos but if so...I'll post tomorrow.

WE'RE OUT OF THE CLOSET

Finally the world can know our future plans.  We are sadly leaving Abu Dhabi in June of this year.  Every year we have been here has been better than the one before.  We have grown closer as a family and shared so many great experiences to cherish as memories for a lifetime.  We have had a chance to share this part of the world with many of our friends and loved ones who may never have traveled here without us to encourage them.  We have found a home here and it will be hard to leave.  It is bitter-sweet.  We will head home to Utah but not to a home we have known before.

We will be moving to Cedar City where Brad will be the Provost of Southern Utah University.  It is the right thing for our family to do at this time but it doesn't make it any easier to leave the friends we have made here.

Any of you who have been thinking of making a visit here should plan to come soon.  Our last few months will be crazy with packing and planning but we always have time to accept visitors and would love to show people around.

It has been inspiring to me to see the growth that can come from making changes that are challenging.  We are all better people for having come to this part of the world.

The sweet will come with living closer to family that we have missed so much.  I am thrilled to be returning home in time to see Sarah and JD's new baby girl grow up.  The kids are so happy to be closer to all their cousins and best friends.

We Got JoJo for a Few Days!

Brad's sister Jolene came to stay with us for a few days after a quick stop in Jordan to see Mom and Pop Cook.  We crammed all we could into the 3 days she had with us.  We took her to the henna salon, the camel track and to buy camel blankets.  On her last day we had Marilyn stay with the kids while Brad and I took her to Dubai to see the regular stops: Ski Dubai, Atlantis on the Palm Island, Madinat Jumeriah...Then we had to say goodbye to yet another visitor as we dropped her at the Dubai airport for her long flight home.  It's always great to have visitors and well worth the sadness of saying goodbye to them..

Removing the 2nd cast in 2 weeks..I had no idea casts could or needed to be changed almost as often as some people change their socks.  Always willing to lend a hand, I was asked to assist the technician.

This was taken at the appointment to get the 4th cast..Yes, 4 casts in 4 weeks.  We are all getting really creative with our artwork on the new cast every week.  This is the 1st week we don't have an appointment to go into the ortho clinic..My Thursday morning will be free again...At least for this week!

Heely's are the NEW THING at the Fortress Compound.. Poor Charlie cannot take part but thanks to Marilyn and a stroller he gets to roll along with his buddies.  I know Heely's have been around for a long time but our compound seems to have just caught on.  Cairo got Heely's for Christmas and the other kids all HAD to have them.  It's been great to see all the boys and girls in the Fortress spending time outside enjoying the ride.

Lawrence of Arabia..Imagine

If you can believe it, neither Brad nor I have ever seen Lawrence of Arabia!  It's Friday night, our sabbath, also our weekend.  Saturday is just like the Christian world, Saturday.  So on Friday nights we like to watch a movie, ITunes TV or something "celebratory".  Brad decided to watch Lawrence of Arabia tonight.  I am enjoying blogging while these 3 (well, Brad) watch the movie.

Charlie has often been considered a "Mama's Boy".  I like that about him.  It's nice to have a "Boy".  He usually likes me to read to him at night and snuggle with him.  Rough play, tickle torture and other games are reserved for Dad.  

One would think the broken leg would create a lot of Mama's Boy time..NOT SO!  Turns out this Mama's boy decided to choose the time of a serious injury to become a "DO-IT-YOURSELF- GUY".  He refuses help up the stairs, down the stairs, getting water, climbing onto and off of the couch and even, as of tonight, putting on his jammies."  When I offer to carry him he says, "No thanks, I can do it."  Honestly, I think the other 3 kids with 2 healthy legs would take me up on that offer.

Chubs coming down the stairs..I really almost didn't get the camera out fast enough and it was right by the stairs.  If he doesn't break his other leg I'll be surprised.

Getting onto the couch to watch the movie with Dad.  He throws his broken leg up onto the couch and pulls himself up.  

A Blue Cast for Charlie

Charlie went into the hospital yesterday, New Year's Day, to get a new cast.  It was necessary for the doctor to put him under sedation in order to manipulate the bones into a better position for healing.  Without sedation it would have been way too painful.  Brad, Charlie and I left home for our 10 a.m. "appointment".  At noon we were placed in a room and by 12:45 the procedure was taking place..At 3p.m. Charlie finally woke up and met the criteria for discharge from the hospital.  He chose a blue cast.

As has been the case through this entire ordeal, Charlie was very brave and hasn't suffered too much.  We go back next week for yet another cast that will fit a bit tighter around his leg.

The broken leg has slowed him down a bit but hasn't "kept him down".  He scoots around on his bottom and pulls himself up onto the couch or a chair.  He even can get up the stairs.  Since I can't keep him down as the doctor recommended, I'm just hoping he doesn't do anything to prolong the situation.  

We are proud of him.  He is tough and hasn't complained.  He keeps Sharpies clipped onto the collar of his shirt so he can have people sign the cast when they show up at the house.