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!