Veronica's Scrapbook

I've been aloof lately.  Been very ill with a husband out of the country.... so just trying to keep my head above water.  Loneliness bears its ugly head when you are an expat with all of your family and friends a world away.

So I've been (finally... so far behind) working on Veronica's printed scrapbook for her 1st year of life.  Yes, she's 2 now.  I have a few good excuses (moving through 2 countries, not having a computer for 8 months, etc).  I hope to finish within the month.

That being said, I'm plowing through my photos.  It's bittersweet.  I have found I cannot open hardly a single folder without smiling (or crying at times).  Personal WARNING: Do not open pictures while listening to Sarah McLachlan or any other song that might cause emotional breakdown!  

Being an expat mom and wife can make you crazy emotional.  Thank God my MIL is coming in April, we have a family vacation booked in May, and we hope to come back to the USA in July.  We have a jam-packed next couple of months and I can't wait to see everyone soon!!!

This and That

The kids were home all this week for "mid term" break.  Derek was also in Saudi Arabia.  Veronica managed to get a nasty fever and cough for the first 3 days.  We were forced to stay home and lay low together.  Here's a few things we did.

I still have flour and rice on my floors I think.

Tent building and tea parties. 

Pinkies OUT!

Bianca takes such good care of her lil sister.

We made "nature bracelets" with duct tape while out on a walk.

Homemade pet rocks.  Bianca has been asking for a hamster or fish lately.  I told her Rock Pets were just as cool.  

China dinners.  Bianca asked for chopsticks.  Said she couldn't eat rice with a spoon!  She's quite impressive with them.

Al Ain Zoo

School was cancelled a couple weeks ago due to a bicycle race.  No joke.  I picked B up from school (they start pre school here at 3 years, everyday from 7:45-12:45) and was informed there would be no school tomorrow due to the bike race going through town at pickup.  

So we picked up and headed out of town ourselves.  I took the girls to Al Ain Zoo.  Al Ain is about 90 minutes away from Dubai.  We drove through beautiful desert highway.  It was just glorious and a great time to reflect.  

Until I saw a camel hit by a truck and sprawled out on the highway with an ambulance checking the driver of the totaled vehicle.  Wild camel fatality.  Someone said, "Oh, kinda like deer in Illinois?"  Not really.  Imagine 10 times the weight, 3 times the height, and the element of seeing the gangly legs sprawled out on the road.  I resumed singing "Jesus Loves Me" with the girls and acted as if I didn't see anything.  Veronica said, "Camel!"  Yes, Vivi.  Camel no more.

But we arrived in one piece and enjoyed a beautiful zoo.  The zoo was practically empty.  The girls LOVED it.

"Mama!!!  Pink!!! Birdies!"

I thought this pic was so cool.  Somehow the reflection made it look like she was actually in the tiger's cage.  Of course, she was not.  

We were so close to the mountains.  

The best part of the entire zoo was feeding the giraffes.  I gave Bianca a choice: either a small gift from the zoo shops, or feed the giraffes (about $8).  She chose the giraffes.  She and Vivi got to feed a mama and baby giraffe carrots.  They LOVED it and it was so sweet.  Of course, I could not take pics of it and to buy the pics they took was another $15.  I politely declined the pics but the memory will be forever in my heart.  

We had a lovely picnic there and enjoyed 70 degree sunshine weather.  The days are numbered where we can go outside and not burn.  Summer is coming.  Until it hits, we will enjoy the beautiful sunshine. We finished our trip on a free train ride throughout the park.  Perfect, beautiful day with my girls.  Just missing daddy.