Happy 43, UAE!

We finally made it happen - a date night! We decided to hit the new Cheesecake factory that just opened up here. It did not disappoint. I also learned how to use the camera on Ken's new work phone - no wonder people like these things! Still haven't mastered the selfie though, probably because I dropped said phone in the ocean before getting the opportunity, but more on that later...

Colby would only sleep if one of us was holding him. He didn't want to be left out.

This mall also has a lego store, so we went to check it out. This lego camel was pretty impressive!

We had also been wondering where we would get our next kid - look no further, apparently we just have to hit this shop!

So we went out on National Day, which is the equivalent of the U.S. 4th of July. It meant 2 days off of work and school. It also meant sitting in traffic for hours and getting home way late (poor babysitter), getting silly stringed, and watching the cars go by with their awesome decorations. I thought it was totally worth it - Ken, not so much :)

Please excuse the dirty windshield...

This is one of the street paintings I thought was really cool - they wrote out the words to the beginning of the national anthem, as well as pictures of the leaders of the 7 emirates.

Happy 43rd birthday UAE!

Sunday Best

So I've decided the only way we are ever going to get presentable family pictures is to take them right before church - you know, the only day I manage to look semi respectable and shower consistently :) We've given it a couple shots and come up with some favorites.

This is us trying to pretend like there isn't an obnoxious fly landing in someone's eyes every couple seconds, that Owen isn't constantly trying to escape, and that Colby isn't upset. It may be a little forced.

In my head, this was going to be one of those pictures where I look super put together and we are all smiling happily at each other. I guess this is a little more realistic though :)

Tyler wanted to know if he looked grown up. YES! Now stop growing. Seriously. I'm pretty sure he was just 2 years old yesterday...

Moments with Munchkins

These days just seem to be flying by! One of my continuing goals is to enjoy the moment. 

Owen can be so sweet before Ken leaves for work. He is definitely a daddy's boy!

This girl takes her roll as big sister quite seriously - I can always find her with Colby, singing him a song or telling him jokes. He makes for a good audience - he's always smiling!

Our favorite gardener Rubel went back to his home country, Bangladesh, but not before we got a couple pictures of him with the kids. Owen in particular is going to miss him!

Will likes to tell Colby stories that he makes up. They are pretty entertaining!

Dad works hard to teach the kids important things.

The terrible twos are upon us … which makes his happy moments that much sweeter!

His all time favorite book : Please Puppy Please.

These two things go missing, there is no sleep for Owen. Trust me, I was that crazy lady you saw out in the front and back yard in my p.j.s at 2 am frantically searching for doggie when Owen woke up and realized he was missing. It took 20 minutes to find him, going through the house and yard with a fine tooth comb.

And this baby. He's kind of like magic - if you're feeling down, hold his smiley little body for a couple minutes and everything is OK again!