A Photo Update from Aug. to Dec. 2014

Things were a bit slow from August to December and then things got super busy with traveling and then I was very tired trying to recover from jet-lag. We've been home (in the UAE) for about a month now and I think I have finally recovered from some pretty serious jet-lag. It is time to get caught up on this blog and on my scrap-booking. This post is a compilation of photos from August until just before we leave for our December travels. They are mostly of Ladybug and Monkey as Unicorn has gotten a bit camera shy lately.

In August Ladybug started learning to play the guitar. She is quite a natural.

September 10 Monkey lost his 2nd tooth!

Ladybug was so excited for our trip she made a paper chain...90 links!

Also in September we had to renew our passports in Dubai.

Since we were in Dubai we headed to the Dubai Mall and had my birthday dinner at Texas Roadhouse.

The kids love this fountain at the Dubai Mall.

In October we watched the General Conference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Ladybug doing an art project with her General Conference crown and bunny ears she made for her Halloween costume.

"Fishing" at our Branch Halloween Party.

Ladybug got her face painted at the Halloween Party.

In November Ladybug and Monkey participated in our Branch Primary Program.

Ladybug made a paper Nativity.

Close-up of Ladybug's Nativity Scene

Thanksgiving Dinner! Yummy! We were able to find all our favorites.

Cute photo of Ladybug and Monkey at church. They look so little on this couch!

Our Charlie Brown Christmas Tree

Hiding, Vacation, and Man, it's hot here!

It's been a while since I have posted. Mostly because we haven't been up to much as it is TOO HOT here to do anything so we have been hiding out in our apartment.

Next week we are heading to Germany for a couple weeks so I will be back to posting again in August!

In the meantime, please check out my friend's blog. She has a humorous, yet honest way of telling it like it is here in the United Arab Emirates! I am linking to her most recent post on the heat here but I highly recommend you read all her posts!

Click HERE to read. Audra Raye Abroad: Oh-Em-Gee, It's HOT!

Al Ain Oasis

Our last adventure with Grandma was to visit the Al Ain Oasis. This oasis is a palm plantation with almost 3,000 acres. There are over 147,000 date palms with 100 different varieties. There are also some mango and lemon trees as well. They use an irrigation system that is over 3,000 years old. Entry is free and they close at 6pm. I don't know what time they open and I am sure they have limited hours on Fridays as well.

So, we headed into the oasis and had NO idea where we were going. After about 5 minutes the security guard came up to us in his golf cart and offered to show us around a bit (not sure why but I would guess it had something to do with Ladybug and Monkey...they have that affect on people here). He took us to an area where the water was flowing in the channels and even let the little ones walk in it. He also made us take his picture with them! Then he drove us around a bit and told us all about the oasis and the different types of trees that are there. He then drove us back to where he found us and told us how to find our way our of the Oasis "maze"!

The entry to the Oasis

Ladybug, Monkey and the security guard

Ladybug and Monkey in the water irrigation channel

Ladybug and Monkey in the water irrigation channel (it was a little harder to walk back against the current)

All packed into the little golf cart

Another view of us in the golf cart

Some date palms

Dates (the will begin harvesting them in July)

The entrance (I think the poor sign needs an update)!

Click here to read more about the Al Ain Oasis!

Al Ain Zoo

Zoo's generally aren't my favorite thing to do when it is HOT out but my mom and the kids really wanted to go to the Al Ain Zoo. It is already so HOT here that the Zoo is only open from 4pm - 10pm daily.  Well, we went anyway and we were pleasantly surprised! It was hot, but they have the option to get a tour guide who drives you around the Zoo in a golf cart. You get to see everything, get a bottle of water and a soda (or juice) for everyone in your party, a giraffe feeding, and a discount if you purchase anything. This VIP treatment cost 500ADE for the 6 of us (4 adults and 2 children). We also got front row seating for the bird show.

Monkey, Ladybug, and Unicorn at the Entrance

Our tour guide and golf cart (yes, she gave us permission to take her photo)

Flamingos

Big Horn Sheep

Baboon

Meerkat

Wild African Dog

Lioness

Lion

Beautiful White Lioness

Gazelle

Gazelle (she loved getting her picture taken)

Hide and Seek with a Wildebeest

 Giraffes Synchronized eating

I love that the little one has his tongue out and the one in front looks like he is liking the spots off the little one!

Monkey "feeding" the hippo trash can!

Hippos (they tried to hid from the camera but I got them)!

The kids got to feed this giraffe

Ladybug about 110cm

Monkey about 100cm

Unicorn about 140cm

Very cute recycling bins!

Mr. Crocodile

She was so excited to be chosen! (I think he had her picked out from the second he saw her)!

Ladybug waiting for the falcon.

Look at that face!

Another animal that enjoyed getting his picture taken. Cute penguin!

My Monkey!

My Ladybug!

My Unicorn!

A Big Tortoise

This camel had an itch...he used the tree branch to scratch!