Fujairah, UAE - Sept 2011

In September, friends went with us for a long weekend in Fujairah, UAE - another emirate 2 hours west through the tree-less mountains. We had a nice, relaxing time swimming, snorkling, eating, etc. But, it was very noticable that we "weren't in Kansas anymore!" Dubai has, apparently, spoiled us. In other words, you definitely feel like you are in the Middle East in Fujairah. Perhaps that is the way it should be?

We tried a coconut milk drink. Probably won't need to do  that again!

Friday Market (open EVERY day) - roadside market - everyone sells the same things for the same price!

Jolee loved the towel elephant the maid left for her

Macey is ready to swim!

Bumble bee napping at the pool

The pool from our room

Chess and snakes-and-ladder boards - life size - the kids loved them

Chris and kids on Al Aqah beach. Chris and Timothy snorkled around Snoopy island in the background.

Me, too.

Our dog Bailey is not about to be left out - even if it's Greek! She comes in every morning and lays under our table while we do school work. We must be eating too many snacks!

Texas A&M Aggies!

Chris went to a Texas A&M Aggies football game on his last business trip to Texas. He HAD to bring something back for everyone!

Gotta Love Cookie Batter!

We couldn't resist the chance to give Julia her first taste of Chocolate Chip cookie batter. She seemed to enjoy it!

Happy 1st Birthday Itty Bitty Bit!

We celebrated Julia's 1st birthday with friends on Saturday. She sure has grown from her 4 pound start! Crawling, pulling up, some teeth, real food. We wished we were celebrating with 2 cakes, but feel blessed to have at least one. God is good. I am glad that I can honestly say that the worse year of my life was also the best - I know God better now. Julia loved the doll Hughes gave her, her scramble bug, the blocks from Aunt Lissa and the icing on the cake!

Grass!!!

One unexpected event in the USA was that Julia discovered grass. And she loves it! Yes, the green stuff! We don't really have any real grass at our home in Dubai - more like weeds that get watered. And it has been too warm (115F plus) to look for any at the park. So, I took more pictures of Julia in the grass than I realized! Isn't she cute??!!

Hixson, TN

 Plunkett's in a bumble bee swim suit Meme gave her

 Indiana in one of the many dresses Mema bought her

Something was really funny!

Not grass but a quilt Grandma made her. She looks so much like my baby pictures! Do you see the 4 top teeth that poked through last week? It was one rough week for both of us.

How Do You Do It???

15 - 17 hours (depending on whether you are coming or going) on the airplane! Everyone asks me, "How do you do it?"

"Easy!" I answer.  It's the jet lag that is hard!

Here's how. I couldn't resist taking pictures!

 Julia enjoys a baby smoothie.

 Movies and Food!

More movies and more food!