January

I am so sorry that I have not blogged this month. We have been busy as usual.

First, I have to reflect on our trip to Texas for the holidays. I have to admit that I was a little worried about myself and Evelyn going back home and really getting depressed. The oposite happened for both of us. It was quite weird at first going home, because I realized that I now have almost two lives. One here in Abu Dhabi and one there. I thought I was going to see all of the things that I have missed and have to work through those emotional feelings again, but it didn't quite happen like that. I realized what I thought was so important to me before, was not so important to me now. Ofcourse, I am not talking about my family and friends, I am talking about the conveniences that we had. Our trip home salidified my moto that family and home can be any geographical location, as long as we are together. We were so happy to see and spend great time with so many of our loved ones, friends and family. Like I told them, we would never had spent as much time with them over the holidays if we lived there. I was also scared that I would have felt like so many things had changed since we left, and we would have felt left out, but not so true. We are so blessed that we stay in touch with everyone and keep up with what is going on at home. I feel like we never missed a step even though we live 8,000 miles away. The gift giving was over the top as usual, and we were forced to leave a box of toys behind (which isn't a bad thing since we will be there in the summers and the girls will have something to play with). The flight? Well, it went pretty good. It is hard to imagine traveling for 24+ hours doorway to doorway, but we seem to do it with no problem. Jet lag was pretty rough when we got home, but I am glad that we gave ourselves several days to recoop before school started back. Overall, we had a WONDERFUL time and can't wait to see everyone again.

So since we got back to Abu Dhabi, life is back on track as usual. We had the most thoughtful welcoming back home from our Emirati neighbors. It was so nice that they all recognized that we were home and sincerely wanted to know how our trip went. Our next door neighbor even cooked us lunch the first day back home knowing how tired we would be. It was delicious, wished I could tell you what it was, but I don't know the name. Some kind of rice with chicken with arab spices. YUM, it hit the spot.

I am so excitted to say that Evelyn has now started ballet classes. She really really enjoys her class. I didn't want to push too much onto her when we first moved here afraid that it would just exhaust her, but know she is ready to take on a few more things. In a couple of months we will look into swimming as well for both girls. Evely, speaking of, has made huge improvements with her adjusting to her new life in Abu Dhabi sice we got back. I think around the 3rd day we were back she said to me "I love Abu Dhabi...I don't want to go back to Katy, mom" BREAKTHROUGH!!! Up until we left for the holidays, all she could say is she wanted to go back to Katy. She didn't know what she missed about Katy, but just wanted to go back. I think after visiting, she realized how good her life is here in Abu Dhabi, not that it was bad in Katy. But I hope she can see that life can be great anywhere you live. She has many many friends and best of all they play every afternoon in the street infront of our house. Tons of kids. They come buzzing our bell if Evelyn is not outside. Too Cute.

As for me, I have been heavily planning our spring vacation to Italy. YES YES YES!!!! It is my absolute dream to go there, and I can not believe that we are going. Best of all we are going with great company: mom, dad, Paul (brother), Amy (sister-in-law), and Charles. So all of my spare time has been spent researching places to stay and things to do. Mom and Dad will be coming here to Abu Dhabi the first of March, then we will all go to Italy in April and Paul and Amy will meet us there. It is going to be a trip of a life time.

Lance and I have set a New Year's Resolution to "GET MOVING" We are trying to get regular exercise as part of our lives. I have joined a pilates class, that I absolutely love and we all have gone to the YAs Marina Circuit (were the formula one race took place) and walked to track for exercise. That has been really cool.

We are also finally tackling our gardens. We have been looking at sand pits in the front of our house for 6 months now and it is time to do something about it. The weather has been absolutely beautiful here. It is sun shiny and very pleasent. Now is the time to do it.

This past weekend, I went on a shopping trip to Dubai with 3 other ladies. We had a kid free girls only day of shopping. It was so great. We had such a great time and will be doing it again.

Camille is doing great. I call her my squeaker. When she talks it is just squeaks and squeels. It sounds like we have a bird in the house. (mental note, don't get a bird) She sure knows what she is saying, but we don't. I have been working with her encouraging her to articulate her sounds a little better...all in due time. I am still bringing her to playgroup and she loves to play in the neighborhood in the evenings with the kids. I have to admit that she was still drinking her milk out of a bottle, but we have successfully weaned her off of the bottle. Sniff sniff, not a baby anymore. sniff sniff.

Lance is always busy this time of year. He has a lot of traveling planned for February. I have to admit that it can get frustrating and difficult without him around. Work as been good for Lance and really enjoys what he is doing.

Well that is what has been going on with us. Stay tuned because I will post some pictures from the holidays and thing we have been doing.