Gammy and Poppy come for 2nd visit

We were fortunate that it worked out for Gammy and Poppy to come to the UAE after their vacation to Israel.  Although the UAE and Israel aren't that far apart geographically, it's not easy to get from one to another so we appreciate all the effort (and changing of planes!) they were willing to take to visit for a few days.  They could only stay about five days as they needed to get back for some board meetings for Poppy (the mandatory retirement is looming so not too much longer to plan around these meetings!).

Since they had already visited once and done a lot of the tourist sights, it was a quieter week of kid activities and family time.  They were also here during the UAE's 43rd birthday so we had some fun National Day events to attend (and it meant the kids were out of school for three days that week).

One highlight on the trip was Gammy and Poppy taking the girls to Kidzania (pretend kids' city in Dubai).  They had a great time and although I took a photo of them going in, I managed to lose it somehow.  But they had a great time doing lots of different jobs there.

Overall a fun visit and we're so thankful that they were able to visit us.

Gammy having a gourmet lunch with Anna at school.  Poppy ate with Jane.

Air show in UAE colors to celebrate its 43rd birthday

Kids were more interested in digging this umbrella stand out of the sand than watching the air show!

Sweet Anna on the beach with the Abu Dhabi skyline behind her

Dinner at the beach club

Mere was so tired she fell asleep in Gammy's arms at dinner

Gammy, Poppy and the girls on the beach

Sand castle time

Time to put up the Christmas tree (yes we went with artificial when we moved here - not a lot of pine forests in the desert!)

UAE National Day sugar cookie - yum!

We planned on going to Al Ain one day but the girls begged for a picnic and bike ride instead.  Picnic spot left a little to be desired - nice view of water from this side but too close to busy road on the other.

Jane liked her bike ride though (and so did Meredith)

This string of photos is fun - girls are all trying to get their legs in the air at the same time.  Nope, not this one.

Nope, not this one either.

Only Regan made it up here.

Success!

And now backbends in a row

Tetherball with Gammy

Found a big fat caterpillar on ride home.  Took it to the grass and hopefully it survived!

Poppy's turn to play Meredith in tetherball

Gammy, Regan and I are heading to an Emirati wedding.  Photos aren't allowed inside so this is all you'll see.  It was so interesting to see what a local wedding is like but we all agreed that we think American weddings are more fun.  My friend Becky who is a college professor invited us to join her at one of her students' weddings (that is another difference in weddings here - seems to be a case of "the more the merrier").

I think this says in Arabic 'no men allowed' or similar as the local weddings are single gender only.  Even all the workers in the banquet hall were female.