Visiting the Local Henna Salon is a Must

I try to get all (female) visitors to visit the henna salon with me.  I love to go there and get a taste of a tradition that has been around for 1000's of years.  The ladies there are relaxed and enjoy seeing americans taking part in one of their few cultural opportunities.

We always get a chuckle from the local ladies when we insist on leaving the salon after our designs are dry enough to move.  The ladies usually sit there for hours visiting and waiting for the henna to dry completely.  It is so "american" to be in a big rush to move on in our busy schedules.  We waited on my front porch for it to finish drying.

Now I've had both my sisters float in our pool with me...just need to get them here at the same time!

Jenn and me at the Hiltonia.  We had dinner there and I was able to show the family where I spin.

Drew and Sam in their matching Joe Bloggs T's at the new Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi.  What an amazing place.  The columns are found on the outside of the building.  Check out how the tops of them look like palm trees.

Brad and his Dad

This photo and an article were in a UVSC publication recently.  I sent the email around to family but a friend just asked why it hadn't been on the blog.  Great idea!  Thanks Karen.  (These guys really do smile a lot of the time..Don't know why they look so glum in this photo.)

The article talked about the history of UV and it attaining university status and the thoughts these two former employees had on the issue.  The car in the photo is one that Gil restored as part of his hobby.

Cairo Meets the Princess of Sweden

A real-life princess.  Cairo was so lucky today to be able to meet a real princess.  Princess Victoria will become Queen of Sweden.  The first female monarch of Sweden in over 200 years.  Princess Victoria visited Brad's campus today and Brad made arrangements to have Cairo there to meet her in person.  

Cairo waiting patiently in Brad's office.

A gift from the Princess.

Cairo was thrilled to receive a special gift from Princess Victoria. It is a charm for a mobile phone.  It has beautiful crystals on it and came in a box labeled, "The Royal Palace Stockholm."

You will notice a book behind Cairo on the chair.  It is a book she has called Princess Treasury.  Princess Victoria is pictured in it with a paragraph about her life.  Cairo took the book to show the Princess that Cairo already felt like she knew her.  The Princess was amazed that she was in the book and especially that Cairo had the book there to show her.  Cairo asked her to sign the page in the book but she said she wasn't able to sign things...She gave her this special gift and treated her so sweetly.  Cairo said it wasn't just a great day "It was FANTASTIC!"

Swimming Lessons

Every Wednesday for the past couple of weeks we have had swim lessons with Shari at our pool after the kids finish school at 12:15.  Pictured below are the boys friends who take lessons.. Louis...(he'll be remembered for yelling "muy bien, Jack!" After Jack demonstrated a stroke for the rest of them.)  Nico, Molly's youngest.  Below are Shari and Mark.  Mark broke his leg on the playground yesterday so I guess this is his last swim lesson for a while...Get well soon MarkyMark!

Brothers

Look how these two have grown.  Everyday they become better friends and have more fun together than the day before.  I feel so blessed to have twin boys.  I took this picture on Thursday after they had spent the morning at ACS being assessed for KG2.  I cannot believe they are almost 5 and ready to go to kindergarden.  Where does the time go?

As I blog this darling picture of them there is water rushing in under the front door because they are outside hosing each other down on the front porch.  They are laughing so hard...I don't know if I should stop it or just shove some towels up against the door...