Back to the Sand

Dusting off the blog today!  Back to the sand for the Bryant 6!  We had an amazing, fun-filled summer in the good old USofA and during that time I gave myself a big break from the blog.  Summer was food for the soul.  So much quality time spent with our treasured family and friends.  It gave us fuel for this next exciting year as expats!  

One grandpa, his good old Texas pick-up, a driver with a very large car, and lots of tearful hugs and kisses good-bye were what it took to send us on our way last Saturday.  It was a day I was especially thankful for my big family.  6 plane tickets on Emirates=12 suitcases I could fill to the brim with all my American shopping treasures!!  

THANKS PAPPA TERRY FOR FOLLOWING US TO THE AIRPORT WITH THE LOOT!

OUR GREAT DRIVER OMAR WHO HAS TAKEN US EVERY TIME WE HAVE FLOWN OUT AND ARRIVED.  HE HAS WITNESSED ALL THE TEARS!

So this trip back to Dubai was way different for me!  Thanks to the excessive travel my husband does we were eligible for one business class ticket for the 16 hour non-stop flight home.  Guess who got to sit in that seat?  ME!!!  Yes, Deric took on the 4 kids in the back of the plane while I sipped champagne and watched movies in business class.  Huge points earned by him this day.  HUGE!!!!!

4 SLEEPY CHICKENS SAFE AND SOUND BACK IN DUBAI....
THE LAND OF "CAN WE HELP YOU?"...YES!

BLUE BLANKY AND THE DUKE HEADING OUT TO THE CAR

TAXI!!!!!

How have we been spending these first days back?  Sleeping and staying inside!!!  Lilly and I  have suffered most from the dreaded jet lag.  We have been buddies up at all hours of the night watching Dora and hanging out.  In fact it is 12 am right now as I write and I SHOULD be sleeping.  Oh jet-lag I loathe you!

SHE FELL ASLEEP WAITING FOR HER DINNER

It is HOT here.  Yesterday it was 110!  The kids have been wanting to play outside so badly but they only last a minute!  They have been so excited about the trampoline the Sassos passed down to us when they left for London.  I guess we will see it more in the fall.  For now it used in about 10 minute increments and then it's back inside!

Between snoozing I have spent some time organizing the playroom...This room is downstairs in our villa which I love.  The kids have been spending lots of time in here the past few days playing Wii and watching movies.  Picture taken when kids were ASLEEP.  It rarely looks this way...hahahahaha.

REALITY!

I LIVE IN THE DESERT BUT I WILL WEAR THIS COAT WITH THE HOOD ON!

I will end this post with what we did today.  One word.  BRUNCH.  Dubai does not take its brunches lightly.  They are at all the major hotels.  They are only on Fridays.  There is entertainment for your children.  There is music(band made up of all Indian men playing John Denver and The Eagles) There is flowing champagne and mountains and mountains of yummy food!  Need I say more?  This was our first brunch as a family and it was great!  

AND WE'RE OFF!  LET'S BRUNCH!

JUMEIRAH BEACH HOTEL HERE WE COME!

OUR ALMOST 2ND GRADER!

OUR ALMOST 4TH GRADER!

YUM

LIKE I SAID..ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE KIDDOS

ICE CREAM BAR!

CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN!

We surprised our hilarious, sweet, beloved Lilly with a practice run of her upcoming September 9th birthday.  She will be 2!  She was amazed and perplexed at the cake, candle and singing.  Priceless moment!

LILLY WAS AMAZED AT THE HOTEL LOBBY'S SOARING ARCHITECTURE

EID MUBARAK!  In English: "May you enjoy a blessed festival"  

This is a Muslim greeting used at the end of Ramadan.

So here's to another year of living abroad!  Who knows what 2011-12 will bring for the Bryant 6.  But one things for sure, I'll keep ya posted!  Cheers from Dubai and Happy Labor Day America!