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Friday, October 24, 2014

One year in Dubai

I did an entry for our one year anniversary with Cairo, so here's one for Dubai.



It was easy to blog about living in Egypt because it was night and day from anything in the US.  It's not as easy to do here because it's very similar to the US, and what our lives would be like back home.  School drop off's, going to work, going to the gym, going to play dates, going to the grocery store, trying to think of things to do on the weekend that are fun and inexpensive (okay, that's one area where Dubai is not like home- everything is expensive), cleaning the house, cooking for 4 people, driving in traffic, crazy drivers on 6 lane freeways- all very similar to what life would be like in Houston.  I also don't have as much free time to sit at a computer and complete many thoughts than I did in Cairo.  I have about 6 unfinished entries sitting in my draft folder right now, so a lot will be jammed into this entry.

Sooo....one year here.

I'll start with trips.  We've gone on two trips since being here (three if you're counting going home for a visit).  We went to London in December 2013.

Tower of London


Who says you can't travel with kids and keep it inexpensive?  Benjamin's favorite part- riding the bus



FAMILY!!! We got to meet up with the lovely Mrs Katee Cahill for two days.  This chick is the best tour guide ever! Doing Zachary, La proud!


What is it with kids needing to chase pigeons around?  What followed next was a face plant, and a pretty banged up nose.
Cokes remained snuggly in her stroller and cocoon sleeping bag.  We were all jealous.  She knew how good she had it too because she happily spent a lot of time in there. 

Love this pic of my two guys

London was super cool.  I'd love to return when out kids are much older so we can fully appreciate all it has to offer.  We stuck to the tourist stuff and parks this trip.  We learned two valuable lessons though-
1.  Get a hotel apartment, or an airbnb place. We stayed at a Holiday Inn in Oxford Circus because Seth had a bajillion points from his stay in Dubai the previous summer/fall.  It was fully cemented in our brains after this trip- and all sleepless nights-to always get a 2 bedroom apartment on our next destination.
2.  Do not under any circumstances go to Harrod's in London.  Especially during Christmas.  It's hot, crowded, and you can't afford anything in there anyway.  We entered, Benjamin had to use the bathroom, waited an hour in line for him to do that, and then exited. All that took at least 3 hours to accomplish.


We spent a quiet Christmas back in Dubai.  It was the first Christmas we've stayed in our home while living overseas.  It was quiet, perfect, and also lonely.  We're heading home for Christmas 2014 (so excited!)
Dubai Christmas- where it's too hot to wear  your complete fleece pajama set


Summer 2014 brought us to Italy.

First stop was Rome


My parents, and my Mom's long time friend (and my 1st Grade teacher!) Mrs Carrier were with us too.  

Benjamin and Colette loved Rome.  Because they ate


 and ate



and ate


Benjamin loved the Coliseum and, to everyone surprise, absolutely loved going into every single Church he could enter.  He loved them!  He loved having Seth, or my Mom, tell him the stories behind every painting, every Saint, everything.  I remember I was the same way.  Catholicism is steeped in history (the good, the bad, the ugly), and I'm so happy to know my son loved hearing about his faith, and everything that goes into it.


Did Colette love all the churches?

Not so much.




It was absolutely amazing and so good for the soul to be in Rome.  It's like London, it's like Cairo- everywhere you turn is something to see that you learned about.  It's either an ancient statue, monument, old building, even a street food- everything, at every corner, is steeped in history.  We loved it!  Living in Dubai is great, but not so great for a lover of history.  The things here will go down in history, one day, but right now everything is new and nothing that conjures up deep rooted emotions.


Next stop was Tuscany.

So, going to Tuscany is something you'll often see on people's bucket list.  It's beautiful, it's inspiring (like really.  The Renaissance started there.  Even way back then they thought living in Tuscany was pretty rad)  HOWEVER, it's just something to see for yourself.  Because it's such an indescribable beauty.  Our pictures couldn't capture it.  Our descriptions couldn't capture it. It's just that wonderful.

We had the privilege of staying in a 400 year old villa in the small village of Rivalto.  It was so amazing that we could have stayed there all week and been totally happy.

We were able to enjoy the outdoors!


and eat


and eat

and eat

The kids loved the outdoors, and walking around the small villages 



Just a note here- Pisa is petty meh.  Besides the tower, there really isn't much to see.


We returned back from Italy to the blazing hot temperatures of Dubai.

that's 114 degrees to my non Celsius reading folk

So, we decided to cross one thing "you must do" off of our Dubai checklist

Ski Dubai, y'all!






Ski Dubai does not disappoint.  It's a lot of fun. Benjamin had an absolute blast.  Coco couldn't make the trip because under 3's are not allowed.  

She's more of a beach girl anyway


Benjamin's summer had an agenda: "Firss day camp, then Iddhlee, then big boy skool."

So, tear, now begins his trek into big boy school.  He's in an absolutely amazing school that Seth and I are completely amazed with through and through.  

First Day of school



Another great thing that happened in our year in Dubai is this small one's First Birthday.


Unreal to think that she's never had actual residence in the US.  Only one and she's lived in two countries and traveled to two more on top of that.  What a cool life this mini chick is living!

Seth's job is going really well.  He has also found some good friends through his cycling.  We're all so proud of him keeping up with his fitness.  Benjamin told me when he grows up he's going to go on bike races with his Daddy every weekend.  





So, now cooler temps are settling into Dubai.  It's not going to break 95 today (!).  Next week is Halloween, then Little League will start up again, and then we'll be heading home before we know it to celebrate Christmas with family and friends.  Looks like our next adventure will be heading to Vietnam over Benjamin's Spring Break in march.  

Where to next, guys?


Thanks for the great year, Dubai!



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