Ray Family Adventures: January Fun

Goofy girl wearing an Omani skull cap "helping" our housekeeper clean the backyard tile!

We got a Cheesecake Factory!!!!! So exciting! It opened at the new giant mall out at Yas Island. Not sure I have ever ben so excited for a chain restaurant. It tasted just like home!

The Emiratis sure do love their air shows. We see them all the time. We saw this one on our way home from the Cheesecake Factory. We just pulled over and parked when we saw it. Olivia even said, "Another air show!?"

The "Ooh La La Spa" opened it doors again. This time is was Eliza's turn (thank goodness!)

The spa owner got in on the foot bath this time :-)

Eliza started swim lessons. She LOVED it the first time...the second, not so much! She just wanted to splash around. It is an hour long and after about 45 minutes, she was done!

Little Miss Reader. We went to the mall to meet Mike for lunch one day and she wouldn't even put her book down to walk. I love seeing her love of reading. It is also amazing that you can go from barely reading to reading chapter books in just a couple of years. This was Ivy + Bean, her favorite!

Mommy/Daughter mai/pedi. Olivia had three weeks off from school and Eliza only had two. It was so fun having a couple days alone with my big girl! You rarely get one on one time with the older one. She requested a foot bath, like Mama. Usually, she just gets nail polish. She has always wanted the foot bath part!

She was back at it again! Once she got Boardwalk and Park Place, it was just a matter of time before I went bankrupt!

This is something that you see that you just don't ever get over. The locals and other expat kids are typically not in carseats. While I think it is the law here, it is not enforced. It is crazy. Usually you see the kids climbing all over the backseat, but this one was so bad, I had to take a picture. This child, who was no more than 18 months old, was sitting in his father's lap while he is driving! The mom was sitting in the front seat. He was having a great time hanging out the window clapping his hands and putting his face in the wind. It isn't a financial thing either. You will see them in a Range Rover, Mercedes, Bentley, etc. just all over the car. The adults are wearing a seatbelt, usually. CRAZY!

Eliza's new stroller has become her food truck. She is too funny!

Another over the top birthday party. This one was a the golf club. That cake alone!

It had the works: dj, photo booth, ice cream bar, popcorn machine, cotton candy, bounce house, full buffet, face painter....

This was a super cool event. It was the HSBC Abu Dhabi golf tournament. When we first walked in, it had all of these cultural booths for adults and children. This girls had a blast and wanted to come back "next weekend"... we will be back next year, for sure!

Falconry is huge here. A big part of their culture.

Love this photo!

My littlest love waiting for henna in a Bedouin style tent

They both just love getting henna. It stays on for about a week and they are always willing to wait in line for it.

Daddy helping with the little putt-putt they set up

Always game for henna and face paint!

Fun photo booth!

Mike had VIP access through work, so that was nice to be able to sit in the shade for a bit.

We followed Rory McIlroy for about 9 holes, which was very fun...tough navigating the double BOB thorough, but worth it!

That is him in the white pants

Taking her food truck around the neighborhood :-)

So, this is a huge change for me since moving here. I am a gym fanatic! I started by running a lot and eventually my friend and I found this amazing gym. It is pretty much a Crossfit gym that runs these fitness classes called, Primal. It is 5 days a week for a month and super intense! I am addicted and about to start my 4th round. Here I am with my good friend, Angie. This is just one of the crazy things we have to do!

My little sweet pea! Every couple of weeks, she makes a very strong request for Daddy to take her school. He is usually gone by this time, but he will go to work late to take his little to school. It is just too cute!

Very cool restaurant patio overlooking the corniche and water, Leopold's of London. Excellent breakfast and coffee! Love this cute photo!

This Bentley out front of this restaurant has been splatter painted. We can't figure it out, but there you go! Only in Abu Dhabi would they splatter paint a Bentley!

We had such a fun night celebrating my good friend Nancy and Gaby's birthdays. It was at a new restaurant on the beach, Asia de Cuba. Fantastic evening!!