Sand Diving

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Ahhh Paris!!

Our plans for Spring Break had been set all year..Mike’s Mom, Dad and sister were coming to visit Abu Dhabi while the kids were off school. Well, that all changed when we got the sad, sad news that Mike’s Mom fell and broke her hip while teaching. We were all so disappointed and upset to not have the Oswald’s visiting. What to do..Mike had already planned to take the week off work?? We started looking into going somewhere..maybe just a short trip to Oman, but then, like a news flash, a website for Emirates airline..kids fly free to Paris..our looming question was answered!

We also finally sold our house, which we felt was cause enough to celebrate!!

So, while Mike’s Mom recovered and my Mom and Dad packed up and moved everything out of our home in Ross Bridge we gallivanted around Paris. This trip was a sure test of our family traveling abilities!! We don’t speak the language, we only rode on public transportation, we all stayed together in small hotel rooms, and we went..all day, every day!! It was at times, tense..the subways have never ending hallways that seem to lead you to nowhere but urine smelling corners, there was an attempted pick pocketing as soon as we arose from the subway tunnels on our first day there, there was no A/C in the room, the boys lost me at Versailles…BUT, after all that said, we had a great family holiday, seeing sights we had only dreamed of before moving to Abu Dhabi. Paris offered great food, wonderful places for the boys to run and play and historic sights of all kinds, and contrary to popular belief, most people were quite friendly and helpful!!

First, Disneyland..our hotel, the Dreamcastle sat on a lake with a great view of the Paris countryside...

The blooming Dogwood reminded us of Alabama!

After two days Jett was already wiped out..on the train towards the city of Paris...

The Louve..The boys had more fun chasing the pigeons than viewing the sights!!

Ratatoutite (sp?)

Water bus on the Sienne...

Atop the Eiffel Tower

Going down...

The Arch of Triumph

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the background, this sits below the arch...don't the boys looked thrilled!!!

Walking up to Versailles...

Jett thinks he is Vana White wherever we go...

The "garden"...

Me, Jake and Mona Lisa...(back at the louvre)

Mike, Jett and Venus...

An old lady enjoying the sun...yes, that is a bra!

Boys, wiped out!

Boys..excited to have found a playground!

Jake, Jett and 10 French children swinging them around..all of the kids were so nice to the boys...

Jett in front of Notre Dame...

Our last night, the boys played in the playground at the foot of the Eiffel Tower while Mike and I drank wine (in public, woo hew!!)

The entire trip Jake's front tooth was just hanging on, it finally made major progress on the airplane...

And its out...what a memory..he lost his first front tooth over Iraq of all places!!!

Again, a great trip. While unpacking today and putting the suitcases away I am thrilled with excitement, as I know the next time I take them out..only eight weeks away.. it will be for the long flight home, we are SO EXCITED to see our friends and family, we can't wait for summer!!

Monday, March 30, 2009

Jett Turns 4--A Day of Doughnuts!

Arabs love doughnuts! There are doughnut shops all over the place..gas stations, malls, etc. Well, Jett has picked up this addiction. Chocolate covered ones are his very favorite treat, and his Birthday was packed full of them, along with a few other surprizes!!

The morning started off right..a doughnut for breakfast!

His afternoon birthday party...per Jett's request a cake made out of chocolate doughnuts..all his idea!!

It is an Oswald/Lemasters family trait..we don't like being sung to..too much attention!!

Ready for the next round of treats!!!

Last on our list for the day..his favorite present! Daddy pleased both of the boys by buying the car THEY wanted, their favorite..a mini couper! Fast and easy to park in a big city!

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Coldplay--A Literal Translation

I think it has rained twice since we have lived here. Both times it was short lived, barely a glimpse of bad weather. Most days, even all through winter show blue skies and clear air. So, I could not believe the ONE night Coldplay was coming to town severe weather was forcasted..NO WAY! Well, during the day it rained a little bit and it seemed as if the weather was going to hold out.

Around 6:30pm, on our way to the concert we noticed lighting looming over the Emirates Palace Ampitheater--the exact direction we were headed. We had barely walked in the venue and the rain started..the only protection we had were the garbage bags I threw in my purse--as we have no rain coats, or even coats here and I never thought I would need them!!

Well, the rained cleared for the concert but started up again about half way through. The lightning struck throughout the night in the distance over the stage. It was a very surreal experience and a memorable one. Coldplay in Abu Dhabi, Emirates Palace in the background, lightning striking overhead, soaking wet clothes, beer mixed with rain water and enjoying it all with the company of great friends..who could ask for more!!!

Emirates palace lights...

Lead singer, Chris Martin, joked through the concert about the rain, often asking if we "were okay." He was a great performer, despite the terrible conditions!!

Notice the lightning strike in the sky on the right..they were WAY bigger!

Rained out hair..me and Elizabeth.

Mike and I at the beginning of the rain, posing with our fashionable garbage bags!!

What a night to remember!!

Monday, March 9, 2009

Cairo--A Photo Marathon!

What can I say....an AMAZING trip. Cairo is a city so unique, words can hardly describe it. There is history all around you and yet a modern city exists among it. All the hustle and bustle of New York, sitting a top of layers of thousand year old rocks and stone that still remain. The people are genuine and offer the epitome of hospitality.....again amazing!!!

We started at the Egyptian Museum..the mummies!!!!

Lunch at the Mena House Hotel with a view of the Giza Pyramids...

Notice the rice...

The view from the top!!!

The view of the Nile from our Marriott Tower Hotel room..

City view...

Sakkara Pyramids, the oldest pyriamids in history...

Jake..making friends with a local boy, the boy is smiling because Mike just gave him some money because he was so excited and sweet!!

In a tomb...

On to Memphis...Armed tourist police were everywhere we went, most places also had metal detectors..this just gives you that warm and fuzzy reminder that we are in the middle east and very close to Israel!!

Lunch in Sakkara..at a "local" joint...

Old Cairo..down the stairs...

Police dogs to sniff out all the cars coming into hotels..the boys had fun with them!!

Bye, bye, Cairo..on our way home! Did I mention traveling with these two is like traveling with Brad Pitt,?? Egyptians loved them and their blonde hair, Jett must have had his head rubbed a thousand times!!

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Into the Wild

On Saturday evening Mike and I decided to sit down and watch a movie, the movie was titled "Into the Wild." It is about a college graduate who runs off to Alaska..that is about as far as I got, as it was late and we had to get up for school the next morning. Mike stayed up much later, getting deeper into the movie. When I awoke and came down to start lunches and make the coffee I noticed something on the fridge next to our family photos..it was a hand written quote from Mike on a blank piece of white paper.

"The core of a man's spirit comes from new experiences." -Alex Supertramp, Into the Wild

What??!!! This is SO unlike Mike, I am normally the philosophical one who runs around quoting authors....

With that said, by Sunday afternoon (after hearing Jake was having a three day weekend at school for the Prophet's Birthday) we were booked for Cairo, Egypt.

We leave tomorrow and can't wait!