Trying out my new camera.

Aaaaaargh! Maties...

I love this pirate face that Charlie came up with!
When Charlie asked of the watch made sounds, Jack said, "We need to read the destructions...."


Bobbi and Grandpa John sent gifts with our Cook Grandparents. Jack and Charlie got "Dead-Man's Chest" watches and eye-patches.

Desert Fun and Fresh Camel Milk????

Today we went to the desert to play in the great big sandbox! What I would give to have the energy of the kids! They ran up and down the dunes without any trouble at all. We built a campfire and took Pizza Hut for dinner. While we were sitting there we looked over and saw a caravan of camels walking by. There had to be 50 of them. Babies, Mommas, black ones, white ones, some with blankets over them, every kind of camel you ever could wish for. After watching them cross below us, Brad, Cairo, Jack and I hopped in the Jeep to get a closer look. When we got really close we saw the owners there. They called Brad over and they spoke. Before long, the guy moved a baby camel away from it's mother (where it was having a nice drink of milk). The guy started milking the camel into a bowl and the mother camel was so mad! She started kicking him like crazy. The man persisted and as I watched, amused, from the car, I thought Brad is going to have to drink that now after all that trouble..Sure enough. The man offered it to Brad and then to Cairo who had joined Brad out of curiosity. They both took a nice sip of fresh warm camel milk! Jack and I had a great laugh.. I am so proud of them, especially Cairo for her sense of adventure and willingness to try ANYTHING! That may likely be a characteristic I grow to hate. Of course by the time all of this happened I had sand in my camera and could capture NO PHOTOS of the whole thing so you just have to take my word for it...Now I may need that new Canon Rebel I've been wanting....

Spinning my Wheels....

Spinning is my latest fitness craze. I am officially addicted...It started with two of my closest friends here being regulars. Liz 3-4 times a week and Molly, a personal trainer and the instructor. It's not just great cardio, it's a great time to catch up with these two fun ladies and the others who spin with us. Often, after class we spend time in the steam room where we continue to solve the world's (or just each other's) problems...

Not necessarily "looking my best" but feeling great! (Class hadn't started yet)


Liz McGuffee...My go-to person for everything AbuDhabi..As well as one of those people you feel you've known forever..She is also mother to the "other Jack", known at our house as "McGuffee" one of the twin's good pals.


Molly..An incredible cook, personal trainer and mother to cute little Nico, one of the twin's favorite playmates. It's always a treat to talk to Molly. She is upbeat, creative, and positive about life.

Photos from the playground last week at school. It is great weather to stay after school and play. They sell snowcones on Thursdays so we always want to stay that day!

Are they 3 or 13?

These two guys just get cuter and cuter all the time. The cutest thing about them is their true love and devotion to each other. Just yesterday they had a mutual friend over to play. They all got along great until the friend started singing, "Charlie is a baby, Charlie is a baby..." Jack went through the roof! He got right in that kid's face and said.."Don't say that! He's my brudder!"

Poor Charlie LOVES watermelon but HATES the "nuts".

Classic Quotes

Today on the ride home from school Sam decided to explain DNA. He simply explained it as "A genetic code". I'm not sure I would have been able to come up with that.
In response to my asking Charlie to quit picking his nose he said, "There's bugs living in there, it's like a treehouse."
Frustrated, as he picked the seeds from his watermelon Charlie said, "There are just too many nuts in here."

Charlie's sea creature bag. He is never far from his creatures. They don't get much fresh air but they seem to be doing fine.

Charlie's latest obsession

Charlie has taken to the 3 minute timer that came with our Boggle game. He times everything. It is a great way to get him to eat..I just say, "Have those Cheerios gone before the timer runs out.." He starts eating like crazy. Today he brought it in the car on our way to school. He said.."Try to get us to school before the timer runs out." He had to turn in over 4 times but he didn't care. I love the little things that he attaches himself to. Since Christmas he has carried a shaving bag around. Inside are his favorite sea creatures. They rarely see the light of day. They are always sleeping. He carries that bag everywhere. Never letting his creatures out..just occassionally looking in the bag to make certain they are there.