It’s hard to believe it is only 4 weeks until Christmas! The lead up here is just starting with decorations going up in the last few days (now that Eid is over), I am not sure where this year has gone! The weather at the moment is glorious, cool in the morning, no need for a jumper yet, still mid 30’s during the day but then the afternoons and nights are just lovely for sitting outside.
I started the month off accompanying Lala’s class to the kid’s zoo as part of her ‘pets’ topic this term. It was a fun day, full on… I forgot how much energy you need for excursions! The kids got to see, feed and pat all sorts of animals, La’s surprised me by happily feeding them and touching some (all the really slow-moving ones) but there was no way she was going to touch the 4 month old lion club or the snake!
We can safely rule out vet as a future occupation!
My 'little monkey's ' for the day.
Of course (like all places here) it had to have a ride area!
Last week the kids had the whole week off school (conveniently coinciding with Denny and Linda’s visit) for the second Eid. After Ramadan (the holy month of fasting) they have the first Eid, then a month later is the second Eid which celebrates the people who have done the pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca. It is like the Muslim Christmas. This year Lachie’s class were all invited to a Hajj party at the Sheika’s palace. It was a great experience for them, lots of fun, way to much sugar and a little bit of culture.
Charlotte would only wear traditional dress if it was pink!
My little pilgrims
Sunset at the palace
Now ready for national day!
All the best parties have their own ice-cream truck!
Clint’s Dad Denny and Linda arrived for a 10 day visit on the Thursday before Eid so there was no school for the 10 days they were here. Linda arrived laden with treats, a very special one sent over by Clint’s grandmother who baked fudge for us. I am not sure how they got it through customs though!
Does this look like fudge to you?
Charlotte managed to wake up the first day of holidays with a mild case of the chicken pox which put a hold on our camping plans, but luckily after 4 days she was able to get out and about again. It wa such a mild case, 13 spots in all, I am concerned she may get it again! But it was well timed, Clint and Denny spent the weekend at the Grand Prix and Linda and I left the kids at hoe and hit the shops! She was however still contagious so we had to skip the camping but, we still joined out friends for a day on Lulu Island. It was beautiful and really is one of Abu Dhabi’s best kept secrets; probably because you need a boat to get there! The kids spent the day swimming, playing in the sand, snorkeling, fishing and being towed on the donut.
Sand always provides hours of fun
Lala and Gabby
Lachstar
Hanging on the boat with Poppy
All the boys went fishing, the girls stayed to swim and play in the sand. The ladies had drinks!
We headed to Dubai a few times to show Denny and Linda the sights. We spent a day, wandering, shopping, lunching and enjoying a dow cruise at the Madinat Jumeriah.
On the dhow
Traditional boat, traditional dress and a mobile phone!
Burj Al Arab
We also ventured up the Burj Khalifa- the tallest building in the world, it was a clear day and the view was fantastic. Fortunately we did it 2 days after Tom Cruise was hanging off it filming for ‘Missions Impossible’, so we could actually see the view and not just the helicopters!
Lachie's tough guy look
We can be silly at any height
Daddy's girl
Cheeky again
Family shot
Enthralled with the view
Denny and Clint
Last weekend Clint and I attended the 235th birthday of the United States marine Corp ball at Emirates palace, the kids behaved for nanny and Poppy and Clint and I got to dress up.
Denny and Linda left late Sunday night, Clint then flew to Kuwait for work on Monday and is in Dubai tonight for a function. But all is good, next week is National day so another public holiday and now less than 4 weeks till we fly out for Christmas in Japan!
Posted by kjnkjt 
Lachie and Charlotte 