The kids see snow!

Yes I will admit it does seem strange that the first time my children experience snow it is while living in the desert! But it is a great way to see it! All fresh powder and after a couple of hours you can leave and defrost in the 39 degree heat… perfect!

Last saturday we took the kids to Ski Dubai which is located in one of the Dubai malls. It is an indoor ski/ snow park. You can ski, snowboard or just play in the snow in the lovely minus 3 degree setting. It even has a quad chair lift and a couple of cafes inside! For the real skiers/snowboarders among you… it has 5 runs (one being a black run) with the longest being 400 meters, like everything in Dubai it has to be the biggest in the world. And this ones claim to fame is the 3000 square meters snow park which is the largest indoor snow park.

Both the children had been looking forward to it for a couple of weeks (it has been a great bribe!) and were so excited once we got there. They looked so cute all rugged up as we went in. Of course they were greeted by a big dressed up bear which Lachie loved and Charlotte immediately ran from… my brave little princess! Once inside they had a fabulous time playing in the snow, tobagganing, sledging and sliding down in the tubes. charlotte found the little tubes early on and stayed their most of the time. Sliding down, then dragging the tube back up to go again. Most of the time she was the only one on the slope and had the attendant’s undivided attention. Lachie climbed to the top of the tobbaggan run (where you have to lie down on your back) as soon as we got there then shyed away from it and headed to the little tubes with Charlotte. But once he got his confidence he progressed to the big tubes and then to the tobaggan and we couldnt get him off! After a couple of hours they were both exhausted!!

We were most impressed with the facilities and the way it is run.The cost of your ticket includes ski jacket, ski pants, socks and ski boots. you needed your own gloves and beanies. the kids also were provided a helmet which all kids under 13 must wear… a good thing too as we lost count of the number of times Charlotte knocked her head! The only downfall to the day was our camera ran out of battery! We did get a few photos and small videos but we shall just have to return and do it again!

What makes a local?

Have only been here just over a year, it feels strange when people at school corner you to ask questions, in some ways I feel like I am still working things out myself! But to people who are just arriving, a year seems like a long time! And in some ways I do feel like a local:

* It is 39 degrees and 98% humidity today and I find myself saying how nice it is now the heat has gone!

* I know the weekend is Thursday/Friday and have stopped planning things for Saturday night! I must say the week seems to go very quickly when Tuesday is hump day!

* The camels on the side of the road no longer get a second glance.

* I could ace any defensive driving course in the world! When driving here I have learnt that indicators are optional, the white lines on the road seem to be a suggestion only, you can stop in the middle of a roundabout if you feel the need to chat and you can overtake on the shoulder doing 160km/hour while talking on a mobile with 3 kids playing on the front seat… nothing I see here on the roads surprises me anymore!

* I think in terms of Dirham’s and noticed when I was back in Australia I converted Aussie prices back to the dirham.

* I am use to being called ‘Madam’ at least 10 times a day

* I no longer feel guilty putting everything in the rubbish bin! But I do wish they would get recycling here at some stage… Clint is working on it!

Spare time????

On Saturday night as I checked the kids stuff was ready for school (feel free to think I was ironing, polishing shoes, baking etc …for those that know me better you will realise this was a mental checklist done on the lounge while eating icecream) anyway- I realised with both my angels at school I would have time to finally get all those little things done that I keep meaning to do.

So I made a list (mental again) of all the things I planed on doing such as going to the gym every day, getting up to date with their photo albums, exploring different areas (ok shops and souks) of Abu Dhabi, lots of little things around the house and so on. Now as their first full week draws to a close, what have I done??

Sunday- went to coffee with the Mums from Lachies class

Monday- made it to the gym!!! Then looked for holiday spots on the internet

Tuesday- grocery shopping (my least favourite thing to do but they insist on eating)

Wednesday- Another coffee morning followed by a manicure, pedicure and eyebrow wax

Thursday (today)- Gym, followed by morning tea with some new friends in Raha.

So much for all my free time:)

Eid holidays have been announced and we are off to Fujariah (one of the Emirates) for a couple of nights, looking forward to it!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! Hope everyone had a great New Years Eve, the Australian New Year started our street party (6pm our time) so we were celebrating with you all! Then we kicked on well past our new years till 4am… it’s been a long time since I have done that! Of course the kids were up at 7:30 to remind me why I don’t stay up that late!!!!!!!!!! 

At least we got to celebrate, unlike Dubai where all celebrations were cancelled at the last minute to show solidarity with the people in the Gaza strip.

It’s back to routine today however, the new school term has started and Clint is back to work. Lachs was happy to go back to school- always a good sign. And Charlotte and Ihave had a thrilling morning of cleaning before we are off to do the groceries- excitement plus! She has already asked a few times when it will be 1pm so we can go get Lachie.

Charlotte idolises Lachie and the two of them play well togther, they keep each other amussed for hours and have made up words and actions that just send them both into fits of laughter. I love listening to them play as they make up stories and role play with their toys.

They are the best of friends and Charlotte will usually do anything for Lachie (yes I know this will change!). Most nights Lachie will eat his dessert quickly then announces he is still hungry, Charlotte automatically gives him some of hers. The other night we commented on how lucky he was to have Charlotte share with him and so he said he would share with her the next night. So the next night as usual Lachie ate his dessert very quickly, then as he was scrapping his bowl says to Charlotte ”lets share” and gives her the half spoonful of scrappings from his bowl. She then shares the rest of her ice-cream with him, 1 spoon for her then 1 for him!  He certainly knows how to get what he wants!

Christmas wrap up

With the family gone and the tree taken down yesterday, Christmas already seems more than a few days ago! It was wonderful to have everyone here and to meet baby Lucinda for the first time.

Unfortunately Christmas day itself didn’t quite go according to plan for my kids. Lachie woke up vomiting and spent most of the day either being sick or sleeping- he did perk up enough to open presents and join us at the table for the first course but that was it.  However he is fine now, only a 24 hour bug and he is enjoying discovering all his new things.

Charlotte had a rough night, waking every half hour or so and just wanting us to lie next to her before she went to sleep again (which is very unlike her) she finally fell into a deep sleep on her mat as the sun came up. I had to wake her at 9:30 so we could open presents. We originally thought maybe she too was coming down with something but have since discovered she was scared Santa would come into her room (thanks to all the kids in the street!) so she wanted us with her so he wouldn’t come in…. on the positive side, she has stranger danger under control! But once she was up xmas morning she was fine, although very tired by the end of the day!

Their presents from santa were a hit, Charlotte loves her dolls house and plays with it constantly. Lachie loves his remote control car- although I am still trying to work out if santa bought it for Lachie or Clint!

Their other gifts are also getting lots of use especially Lachies scooter (thanks Aunty Keli, Uncle Brett, Livi, Brigitte and Ryan) and his computer (thanks Nanny and Poppy). Charlotte loves all her new toys- especially the dolls (thanks Aunty Fi and Steve, Nanny and Poppy) we have to negotiate with her at night as to which 5 toys she can have in her bed all there would be no room for her! Thank you to all the family for their gifts, they all have been used/ played with already and no doubt will get lots of use over the next year!

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas too!

Welcome to our blog!

I thought I would test my computer skills and start a blog about our lives here in the U.A.E. For those of you with your own blogs- forgive my elementary attempt!