Christmas in Liwa

This is the Al Dhafra Festival celebrating Emirati culture and heritage.

Ferrari World

Grandma Anna is Here

and she brought an excavation toy. We all had turns digging for bones. Andrés explained that we were being paleontologists.

Mega Sand Castles

Home-made Obstacle Course

Winter Break with Friends

Here is Omar and Basl, they are good friends who used to live next door to us. We still get to play together because they moved near by.

Slugger

Butterfly Concert

Pau and his friend Aiden sing Christmas songs at the Bright Beginnings Concert.

 

Adorable Casimir

The scene

Gielyn and the boys

Fraternal cooperation

Sand Box Chit Chat

Yesterday I was playing with Pau in the sandbox at Andrés' school. We were discovering and collecting rocks that had been buried in the sand. I pulled out a small, shiny, angular black rock and Pau exclaimed, "That's igneous!"
"Wow, you are right. How did you know that?" I asked.
"I learned it when Andrés learned it."
So, that's that.

Avian Neighbors

Walking the boys home from school we saw our Emirati neighbor out airing his three falcons.  He invited me to hold one. Just another day in Abu Dhabi. . . 

S P L A S H

Storytime

Time Off

Deep Thoughts

Driving in the car with Pau, out of the blue he says, 

"Mama, it's taking so long to become an adult. Why does it take so long to be a Papa?"

I distinctly remember a similar feeling, watching my teenage brothers going out by themselves and thinking, "When will I ever get to be as old as them? Why does it take so long?"

Sunset on the Corniche

"Andrés plays soccer"

ACS Christmas Extravaganza

The KG-! class at the American School participated in the Holiday Concert. Andrés mostly watched and gestured on cue.

His wonderful teacher Mrs. Ragelow played her guitar.

Handsome, even with a face injury (from goofing around in his room) and frozen milk on his nose.

Andrés surveys the goods at the Holiday Bazaar.

"Santa Christmas"

Last Night of Hannukah

"Oh Hannukah oh Hannukah, come light the menorah. / We'll have a party, we'll all dance the horah. / Gather round the table, we'll give you a treat. / With dreidles to play with and latkas to eat. / And while we, are playing, the candles are burning low. / One for each night, they shed a sweet light / To remind us of days long ago. / One for each night, they shed a sweet light / To remind us of days long ago.

National Day in Abu Dhabi

On National Day, December 2, we decided to stay close to home and walked to Al Bateen Beach in the evening (Andrés scooted). We saw this on our corner - Emirati men airing their falcons.

The parks at Al Bateen Beach were transformed into majilis-style lounges. 

It was so relaxing, Pau fell asleep.

Beach

The Spirit of UAE National Day

This year we really got into the spirit of National Day, celebrating 42 years or Emirati Independance. We wore our finest flag colors and sprayed sticky string as tradition dictates.

We promenaded on the Corniche on the eve before National Day. We were afraid to do it on the day of because last year Miquel and Andrés were stuck in on the road for three hours trying to go a few kilometers. And this year Abu Dhabi tried to have the world's longest vehicular parade. . . 

This is How They Roll

Spectacular Fireworks