The leader board and the ever-impressive clubhouse

I'm always amazed at the leader-board. All those numbers and names and all the money at stake.

The boys were so impressed at the clubhouse that is built to look like a falcon overlooking the 18th hole. This picture doesn't show it but the falcon's talons are stretched around a fountain that is sphere-shaped with indentations. It looks like the bird is ready to take flight with a giant golf ball in tow.

Wii at the tournament?!?!?

There was so much to do we spent hours at the golf course before we even saw the golfers. There were a few tents with Wii set up for people to play. The boys remembered everything they learned back home last summer and fell right back into competitive mode.

Charlie was so focused. I tried several times to get a good photo of him. Every shot I took, he was biting his lip and wouldn't look away from the tv screen.

Sam and Jack played each other in bowling, tennis and baseball.

Hangin' Out at the Golf Tournament

All the kids were anxious to get to the climbing wall. I rushed back to the car where I had left the camera. By the time I returned I had missed Jack and Charlie. Cairo and Sam were great and Cairo kept getting back in line to do it again and again. We finally convinced her to see a few of the other attractions that were available there..For instance: PRO GOLF!

Digital Scrap Pages

It's been so long since I've scrapbooked! I love it, it's my hobby but I've used my limited free computer time doing email and keeping up on this blog stuff. It is a history of our family and the scrapbooking really is an artistic hobby more than a daily journal. So I keep saying I will get back into it. Jessica Sprague is offering a new Photoshop Class that I registered for so I'm hoping that will get me moving on some layouts. These are the only two I've done since we got back to Abu Dhabi in August...Oh, how I'm behind....

Liam's Christmas was a gift to all of us!

The four amigos! Look out residents of the compound, now they have a vehicle!

Liam left town Christmas night and just returned today. Unfortunately, his big gift from Santa required a 24 hour charging session so he didn't get to use his new 4-wheeler until today when he returned from Antigua.

Jack and Charlie were so anxious for Liam to return and they didn't even realize what fun was in store for them with the new ride!

Cairo took a turn. She nearly crashed because she was so busy smiling for my camera!

A First-Ever Sight In Abu Dhabi

The flags were flying around the Emirates Palace Hotel where the President is staying.  You can see the beautiful architecture in the shot below.

This is the first time in history a sitting U.S. President has visited the U.A.E.  While I complain about the inconvenience of having him here, because it totally throws off the city traffic, I have to admit...It's really fun to see Old Glory blowing freely in the wind with the Emirate flag.

This had Better Be Good, George!

So far this is what the President's visit means to me....(If he can broker Middle East peace...or even improve relations...Todays inconveniences will be well worth it.)

President Bush is in Abu Dhabi today and tomorrow.  It's great he is visiting this vital part of the world.  But it comes with a cost to me personally so I hope they can make progress toward peace in this region and it will all be worth it.  Most of you know I spend from 3-4 hours a day in the car in crazy traffic.  Well, now I'm faced with closed roads, army vehicles and police parades at totally unexpected times.  Today I left home an hour and a half early to pick up the twins..took a book and planned to return some shoes at the mall then read until pre-school ended.  The above mentioned mania left me barely in time to pick up the twins...without a stop at the mall first and no reading time..Mind you, I only needed to travel about 7 miles....