A.D. Anecdotes 4

Although the humidity and heat of a UAE summer are impressive, we decided that having seen it once, we were not eager to see it again, so we have returned to the States for the summer. BUT, we did have some fun times in May and June in Abu Dhabi that I don't want to forget, so I present, for your viewing pleasure, the following highlights:

Where do you spend most of your free time when the weather is already HOT?

In the water. ANY water. One day, the beach.

The wind was blowing so much the plate stayed on his stomach without him holding it!

The next day (ok, most days), our pool. (thanks for the pictures, Grandpa!)

Another beach - when you have cool friends, they teach you what things like 'kiting' are. We had so much fun watching them kite, eating dinner, and finding crabs. 

What happens when you accidentally run into the deep end of the pool while playing tag with your brothers and you can't swim? Your parents enroll you in private swim lessons! Hailey LOVED her swim teacher enough that she actually learned how to swim. The transformation between one day to the next was miraculous. Hailey now resembles a little fish in the water. She can't wait to continue her lessons in the fall, and we're happy that we won't be suffering as many heart attacks in the water trying to make sure everyone is alive and swimming.

What do you do when all your friends are buying passes to the water park, and your kids can't stop begging you to go try it out? You cave into peer pressure. And in two weeks you go four times. Tyler and I got to go by ourselves one day, and it was a blast.

What do you do when a new park and food truck open up?

Try it out! The new park is amazing, and the food at the truck was pretty good too.

How does your husband show you he's sorry he went away for a week long business trip to the States and hung out with all your old friends without you? This is how. I'd like to say I shared these with everyone and took my time slowly savoring each last bite. In reality, it only took me four days to eat the entire box. Alone. And it was wonderful.

What happens when you have talented friends?

You actually learn to make bread, and succeed when trying on your own!

What do you learn how to do at 9 months old? Sit up, as well as army crawl! This baby is growing too fast. He's enjoying his mobility by exploring previously undiscovered frontiers, like under the tool table and behind the couches. Now, if only he could figure out how to back up… (Since we think he's ridiculously cute, he gets the most pictures this post)

How do you celebrate the last day of school and a 10 year wedding anniversary? With ice cream cones in the middle of the day, and amazing flowers! (and a sick throwing up baby, but we'll just gloss over that part…)

What do you do when you have to say goodbye to good friends?

You maybe shed some tears. Ok, a lot of tears. And promise to try and visit someday!

What do you do when you're the cutest thing around and everyone wants pictures with you?

Say cheese! And hope that they give you free shwarmas if they think you are so awesome… This is our FAVORITE shwarma place, and we like finding excuses to eat here.

How do you finish off another great school year? Strong! The boys worked really hard this year, and had the best teachers. We had fun seeing a lot of their accomplishments at the end of year back to school night.

Will and his best buddy Jason

What do you do when you really have to go?

You use this beauty right here, located in a very deserted and out of the way part of town. Umm, I decided I didn't really have to go that bad… I did end up at a pretty sweet warehouse with fun furniture and knick knacks though!

Colby looks like a giant next to his friend here - a six month head start will do that to you!

Meanwhile, the other three created their own fun... See you in a couple of months Abu Dhabi!