Flying By-

Things have been flying by lately..time and hot air balloons!  Yesterday the kids were outside playing when I heard them screaming for me.  Of course I ran out panicked only to see this!  A huge hot air balloon flying right toward us with Sheikh Mohammed and his son's picture on it!  This balloon was advertising the upcoming horse races here in Dubai.  The Dubai World Cup is something you could compare to the Kentucky Derby.  Deric and I are very excited because this year we are going to the World Cup with our buds the Sassos!

 This balloon was so close to us the people in the balloon yelled "Hi!" and we could hear them!   As it flew over us we we ran to the back yard to see it pass.  The kids and I were squealing and laughing from the excitement!  I took the shot below from our upstairs balcony.

Time has been flying by because we have had so much going on!  The girls had a big Girl Scout event last weekend called Thinking Day.  Don't worry- NO SAND WAS INVOLVED!  Thinking Day is when the Girl Scouts come together to think about a country where women are treated poorly.  This year we "thought" about how empowering girls can save our world!  Blake's troop learned about how women in the Congo are taught to sew so they can make things to sell.  The girls made these spoon dolls  that are made by women of the Congo.  They then taught the younger girls to thread a needle and make some basic stitches.  

Olivia and her Daisy troop-

Sweet Caroline explaining these dolls to the younger girls...

Olivia doing a great job making some stitches!

 When the event was over we closed with a flag ceremony.  I don't care what we are doing..when we say the Pledge of Allegiance in Dubai I get teary eyed!!!  Blake got to hold the Girl Scouts Overseas flag for the ceremony!

Time has been flying by with more afternoon trips to our new park:

Much much time has been spent at the mall getting all things disconnected and hooked up for the new villa.  Yes, you must go to a mall to hook up your power and your cable.  You must take a number and stand in a line to do these things.  You must forcefully hold your place in line to make sure no people cut in front of you.  Yes, people CUT in this country!!! I waited over an hour near the ticket pulling machine only to have many Indian men try to push in front of me!  OH NO YOU DON'T!  DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS! I held my spot in line FIRMLY..with a baby on my hip! Here are some pics of Lilly at the mall after we survived our line waiting experience!  Yes, this is a mall! 

And look what I found at Carrefour!  Texas ice cream in Dubai!

LOTS of time has been spent this past week on my computer working on advertisements for the upcoming ASD Carnival!  I created this poster that is in front of the school gates- Also the ticket...

Time will now be spent moving and setting up our new home.  Thanks to our good friends the Chews!  Their daughter Sarah took the kids last night to ASD's "Films on the Field".  They got to lay on blankets on the big field and watch a movie.  I got to stay home, have a break and get some things done...WHAT A BLESSING these friends are!

Next post coming to you from VILLA 9!!! Cheers!

SixintheStates the Final Chapter!

I am obviously behind on my blogging if I am still talking about Christmas!  However, I still have some great memories from our trip home and it has just taken a lot of time for me to get it all out!  The last 2 months have been busy since we have been back!  I am currently getting ready for our big move, working on some carnival art for the school, planning for my family's big arrival, holding nightly tutoring sessions for the Bryant kids and......well, you GET IT!

Here are the rest of my favorites from our time in Texas!  We spent our last days at my mom and dad's.  We had a great time in their cozy-newly-remodled house....the house I grew up in!  Santa found us there and Mama D and Pappa Terry made it extra special for us.  Here are some shots from the last days we spent at home!

A trip to see Mom at the beauty shop is a must...

Mom has done such a great job with redoing the shop!

Crafting with Mama D in her famous craft room!

Mom made the girls these matching shirts!

Lilly and sweet Granny at Aunt Debbie's Christmas Eve!

Cousins and presents..what could be better!

Olivia made Aunt Debbie this special bowl in art class at ASD!

Ugly Dolls from Aunt Nancy and Uncle Eric!

New Earrings from Granny!  This was the first time
Blake got to change her newly pierced earrings!

Christmas Eve...New jammies and presents from Mama D and Pappa Terry!

Mama D made the girls this amazing doll
furniture and clothes.

Handmade doll chairs out of old cards!

This is what Christmas Eve looks like..

This is the home I grew up in but it is very different now!
What was once 3 rooms is now one big open living and kitchen space! 

Look what happened while we all slept!!

Christmas Day lunch with Mama Vi- When I am 90 I
want to look and act like her!

Christmas night with the King's!  Best way
to wrap up the season!!!

This little fellow visits my mom and
dad's backyard for some catfood- yeesh

We had one last dinner with Winnie Kate !

We celebrated our sweet Reagan's 7th birthday-
These two have been buds since they were babies! 12 weeks apart!

I will close with this picture of my cousin Amy and I.   Amy is the closest thing to a big sister I had growing up. She and my mom are sisters and best friends.  Growing up she was my idol...the cooleset person I knew.  She is why I am an Aggie..why I was on drill team...the list goes on..If Amy did it, I was doing it!   Amy is not super crazy about me being over here but grins and supports me always!  Amy is going to close this blog as my first guest writer! Look out Dubai!  She has some words for you!  How blessed am I to be so loved.  She and my family are a big part of the reason I sometimes just want to go home!  I miss miss them!  However knowing they are home cheering me on is my fuel!  I know so many of them have been worried about us being in The Middle East right now.  Just know we are safe and sound.  Dubai is a very safe place and should that status change we will be on the first plane home.  Cheers from Dubai!