Abu Dhabi getting ready for school

We had a few days in Abu Dhabi both between our U.S. trip and Kenya and after Kenya and before school started.  A good bit of the time was spent unpacking, repacking and unpacking again, but we managed to have a little bit of fun, too.

Umm, yup.  My car thermometer says 48 degrees C.... which is 118 Fahrenheit.  We are not too sad to be hitting the air again soon to go to Kenya where it is winter and much, much cooler!

Friends left us a giant stuffed donut while we were gone.  Makes a great hula tutu for Anna!

Anna on the climbing wall at Adventure HQ.  It was her first time and she did great!

Holding on tight!

Anna and her friend, Nina

All six girls I took with us.  The big kids did the cable climb obstacle course but since I had gotten photos of them before, I mainly stayed with Anna on the climbing wall

Jane jumping over the goal at the trampoline park - look how high!

Regan made it over after several tries

Meredith probably made it over the most but I only got this photo of when she didn't quite make it

This challenge had them reach up and grab the end of the nerf-like bar.  No problem for Regan!

Or Jane

Now it's time to go to Kenya and *just* in time as the hottest day I think we've had since we've lived there just happened.  Yes, that is 48 degrees Celsius.  Which is.... 118 Fahrenheit!!!  Ouch.  Scorching and we're glad to be out of here for a few days!

Now we are in Dubai after Kenya and just before school starts to try another Adventure HQ playspace.  Big adventures here - although Anna doesn't look *too* excited that she can join in the fun on the climbing parts this time (she's too little for the cable climb in Abu Dhabi)

This location has a low to the ground cable climb for the little ones - just the place to give it a try before getting *really* high int he air

A sideways rope climb just like her sisters'

Jane on the tall cable climb - this one has a zip line. Regan was so scared the first time she did it, but then it was all a-okay.

This is a little skateboard on wheels on wires.  V-e-r-y wobbly and very scary the first couple of times.  You stand on the skateboard and pull yourself across with the rope.  You can see from Meredith's expression that she is a bit concerned about this challenge.

Jane has a smile but you can't see her wobbly knees in this photo!  Jane yelled down, "Mom!  Don't video me!"  She didn't want anyone to see that she was pretty nervous, too (although she sure fools us with this big smile).

Meredith was very brave on the zip line

Crossing paths - Jane is about to start the skateboard and Regan just finished a balance beam

In addition to the low cable climb, Anna had access to lots of fun climbing walls.  This one was like a mouse's maze

Now she's climbing a giraffe.  This was about as high as she was interested in climbing.

*Much* more confident on the zip line now

Anna's favorite wall were the dinosaur bones

That darn wobbly skateboard caused concerned looks every time!

Meredith taking a turn on the giraffe wall

All the way to the top

These two walls were so much fun.  They were racing walls and Jane and Regan raced each other a bunch of times.  There are several race settings.  One of them has the hand and footholes close with a bang as you climb up so you have to race up quickly before you lose your holds.  The bangs were loud and it was nerve-wracking - not their best times.

Race to the top!

Back to the cable climb one last time

Lots of fun with the zip line - look, Mom, no hands!

Anna made it all the way to the shoulder bone which is quite high.  Yay, Anna!

Ahh - collapse on the giant bean bag as that was a lot of work (and fun!)