Our trip to the UAE- Dubai

After Abu Dhabi we went to Dubai and stayed for four nights at the Grand Hyatt. I have never stayed at a hotel alone with both kids and was a little nervous but everything worked out and the staff helped me tremendously. We got to the hotel right at check in (after walking around the Mall of the Emirates and eating at California Pizza Kitchen) and we went swimming at the kids pool. 

We ate a good amount of our breakfasts and dinners in our room. It was just easier and Graham loved sitting in the big chair. I went down for breakfast one day and the staff was really helpful but when I realized it was the same price as ordering room service, I decided I didn't feel like dealing with getting the kids ready and down stairs. 

Also as soon as we checked in to the hotel and got to our room, he realized it was carpeted and took off walking everywhere! Now he is still walking all over the place which is awesome!

We went to the Palm Atlantis Aquarium one day and loved looking at all the fish. Graham LOVED the big aquarium/display and Peyton enjoyed all of them and the divers in the tanks that were cleaning or feeding the fish. 

We went to the Dubai Fountains one night and the Burj Khalifa. We didn't go to the top of the Burj Khalifa as I wanted to save some activities for whenever daddy can come with us but we did enjoy the fountains. Graham was clapping and cheering and Peyton was dancing through the show. The fountains were pretty spectacular.

And I don't know why Blogger keeps rotating my picture sideways but I gave up so here it is anyways...

 

The last day we went by the Dubai Marina which was beautiful and had some pretty awesome boats...

Pretty much we did lots of shopping (lots of shopping), eating at nice restaurants including PF Changs which was delicious and swimming by the pool. The kids were great and we had fun just the three of us. Dubai was fun but by the end of the four nights I was ready to leave. It was too crowded, congested, too much shopping and materialism and had too many tourists! I personally LOVE Abu Dhabi and would much rather be there than Dubai. It is fun for a little while and I know we will go back with John and explore other parts like the Gold Souq, the Burj Khalifa, Ski Dubai and the water parks...all of which I didn't feel like doing with the kids alone! It was a good break and helped give us a little extra push to make it through the next part of turnaround....a little over 30 days left!!

You can see the rest of my pictures on Facebook.

Our trip to the UAE- Abu Dhabi

Last Friday the kids and headed off to the UAE for some time with my sister in Abu Dhabi and also to have some time relaxing and having fun in Dubai. With John working turnaround, my days are long at home and since I can't just go and drive to somewhere we thought it would be a nice break and give me some momentum to make it the rest of the turnaround. 

We had a wonderful time as always with my sister and then a great time relaxing and shopping and then exploring Dubai. I have traveled with the kids before by myself (back to the States in November....to Abu Dhabi via Dubai when my dad was in town) but this trip added a whole new dimension to my solo travels as we were staying in a hotel just me, Peyton and Graham! We are getting a pretty good system down and traveling with them is easier than it sounds! 

I posted all the pictures from both parts of the trip on Facebook and because I don't have time and Blogger is annoying with pictures at times...I am only going to put a couple on here...check out Facebook for the rest.


While in Abu Dhabi we enjoyed many wonderful meals at a variety of different places. My favorite was a place called Jones the Grocer which reminded me of Central Market/Whole Foods. I was even able to have a glass of wine with lunch! 

Graham loved trying ketchup for the first time and was infatuated with it! 


We also visited Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and went on a very informative tour. The mosque was breath taking and I am so glad we were able to go this time. Peyton mostly enjoyed taking off her shoes and putting them in a bag to carry around but she was very quiet, listened and I was very proud.

I took the kids to the zoo in Al Ain which is about an hour drive from Abu Dhabi. It was a wonderful zoo. They have a partnership with the San Diego zoo and it reminded me so much of when we went there and just the habitats for the animals. We had a fun day...hot day but fun.

We were able to feed the giraffes carrot sticks which was such a neat experience and we loved it. And we also got to interact with the gorilla! He was just hanging out at the glass and watched us forever. Peyton loved him. Then he started picking his nose and putting it in his mouth which as you can see made Peyton laugh hysterically. It was a great time!


After a week of playing in Abu Dhabi the kids and I packed it up and went to Dubai....

You Can Still Be Spontaneous

This weekend was looking to be pretty dull and long! It is a long weekend (some holiday is on Saturday) and John of course is working and then I found out that Peyton's school was canceled on Sunday so that meant we would have four days of no school and not much to do with people being on holiday. I was trying to be optimistic, planning play dates, beach time and scavenger hunts and then I talked to my sister. I didn't realize that this coming week she was off of school and had no plans, she leaves the next week for a trip to Sri Lanka. So....I tossed the idea out to John and he told me to go!


So in one evening, I went from staying here to booking plane tickets, a car and hotel for 12 days in the United Arab Emirates! We fly out tomorrow morning into Dubai and I will do the same thing I did last time and drive to Abu Dhabi and spend a week there with my sister.  Then when she leaves for her trip, the kids and I will spend four nights in Dubai exploring, relaxing and having a mini vacation. Since this was so last minute...Peyton had NO idea! When she woke up this morning I couldn't wait to tell her and see her reaction and I only wished I had the video camera on. She was so excited and wanted to go now! I am hoping to do some more tourist stuff while we are there since I don't have much shopping to do (but a girl can always shop) and it is nicer weather now as opposed to the summer when I went the first time and our last trip was to spend time with Papa! We are looking to do visit the Grand Mosque for sure and hopefully one of the souqs I have been wanting to go to. I also want to take Peyton to a movie if there is one out. I thought it would be fun for her to go with her Auntie for some special time...or with me. My plans for Dubai are to take the kids swimming, play at the beach, go to the aquarium and the children's museum/zone and have fun with them! So....our weekend got busier quick and I am busy today doing laundry and packing (good thing I travel often with these two by myself so I have packing down and it goes fast) and picking up the house! And then tomorrow morning....off we go for 12 days of fun, Auntie Ashley, driving, no abayas and an occasional adult beverage! I am thankful that we can just pack up and take a trip away and am thankful to have family so close that we can escape to!


Even though we are leaving tomorrow and have tons to do, we still took time and played at the beach today. I had planned on taking the kids to breakfast and then for a walk along the beach for sea shells. Well, that walk turned into kids walking into the water, getting soaked and playing in the sand and having a BLAST! They both had so much fun and Graham was covered in sand! I love the beach, I love taking the kids to the beach and it is my favorite part of living here. We are such a short walk from it and people pay big money back in the States for that and we pay a nominal fee for our house by the beach! I love that the beach is a new experience every time you go. The tide is never the same, the sea shells look different, the horizon, water color, weather...it is always different and gives you a different feeling and experience. The beach is soothing to me and even with kids and the insane amount of sand that comes home, the mess, the baths and the work involved...I love it! And as you can see....they loved our outing as well!

Catch Up, Abu Dhabi, Haircuts, New Work Schedule...

So much to catch up on....I have been so busy with the kids, planning Graham's birthday party and also everyone being sick off and on for several weeks that I have hardly had any free time.


So here it goes....

• Last Wednesday the kids and I did another solo travel trip to visit my sister in Abu Dhabi and the best part of this trip was that my Dad was stopping over from his worldwide business trip and so we were able to see him! We flew from Saudi to Dubai and I rented a car and drove the 75 minutes to Abu Dhabi. As always they were both wonderful on the plane, getting the car and I am so lucky to have such great travelers! It makes it so much easier! We had 5 nights of spending time with my sister and my dad which was so much fun. We ate at real restaurants, shopped a little and mainly just enjoyed family time. The kids loved seeing both Ashley and my Dad and hardly slept the whole time out of excitement. 

Waiting outside the apartment for Auntie Ashley to get home from work

Taking Max to the park. The kids LOVED having him in the backseat

Graham enjoyed being fed with chopsticks

• While in Abu Dhabi, Graham got his first haircut! I saw a place that looked like they knew what they were doing and there were several other kids already in their so we went ahead and got his hair cut. My sister and I had to laugh because we have NO IDEA what to do with a boys hair. We were so clueless so I just had them trim it up everywhere and I think it looks good. He was did such a great job and just sat there very serious the whole time. You could tell that he had no idea what was going on but the best thing would be to very still. Such an easy going boy...certainly a different experience from Peyton's first haircut!

Such a handsome and happy baby

• We went to the Gold Souk one day in Abu Dhabi and I found some earrings I loved but couldn't bring myself to pay that much for them and I doubted my negotiating abilities...maybe next time! There was so much to look at and so many nice pieces of jewelry!
• My sister and I were able to go out for a nice dinner one night. I got the kids to bed and my dad stayed behind in case the woke up and I was able to get dressed up, wear heels (borrowed from my sister) and we went to a wonderful Thai restaurant in the Emirates Palace. It was delicious food, a wonderful atmosphere and fun to walk around the ultra glamourous hotel. 
• While we were in the UAE we went to Dubai for the day. My dad was flying out early the next day so we went to drop him off at his hotel and spent the day at the Dubai Mall with him before we had to say good bye. I lived in Dubai when I was in third grade and remember parts of being there but when my dad was explaining what was there when we lived there compared to now I was amazed. It has changed so much. So many beautiful and unique buildings and so much to see and take in. The Dubai Mall was HUGE and had everything you would ever want...including a Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids. I didn't do much shopping...I think I was too overwhelmed with where to start but we enjoyed walking around, having lunch and spending more time with Papa. And I decided that I need to plan a trip to Dubai in a month or so and take advantage of the aquarium, kids play area and so much more! It would be such a fun trip with the kids.
• While we were away, John started his turnaround which is 12 hour days/7 days a week until May. It is not fun for him, for me and for the kids. So far I am on day 3 of being solo and it is going well but I can see how this is going to get old and very tiring...hence me hoping to go to Dubai in a month! I have been able to keep Peyton up to see John every night when he gets home but she has been getting up early as well and I know she needs more sleep so I am not sure how to adjust her schedule and napping is not really an option for her. Graham is going to be hit or miss and hopefully we won't go long between times for him and Daddy.
• Speaking of Graham....he is turning 1 tomorrow! I can't even begin to explain how crazy that is to me. I will of course have a post all for him tomorrow! I am excited about celebrating him tomorrow and then his birthday party on Sunday.