My Baby Girl!

Daddy and his girls....

My youngest daughter finally came to visit, and we had such a wonderful time seeing her and catching up with the news.  We tried to pack in as much as we could for her to see and experience while she was here, but we definitely left a few things for her next trip over.....got that, Steph, sweetie??!!

She flew into Abu Dhabi, where Heather picked her up and she stayed with them.  Then, for the weekend, they joined us in Fujairah for some beach time!  Heather, Kim, and I are trying to get scuba certified, so Steph and Cory got to lounge by the pool, while the 3 of us froze in the pool trying to demonstrate our basic techniques.  Kim was doing great, but Heather and I both got stuck on clearing our masks, so we called a halt for the day.  Then, the next day it was so windy we knew we couldn't go out for the open water dives, so we re-scheduled for a few weeks later and then got to just sit by the pool and chill all day Saturday!

Tent on the beach

A little windy....are those the curtains you're using to keep warm, Cory??

The weather was cool and windy, so sitting on the beach wasn't as comfortable as sitting up by the pool. Ahhhhh.....relaxation!



Just LOVE those sunsets!

Second night....

We headed back to Al Ain and stopped at a little fruit stand to check out all the options.  Some fruits we had never heard of, like Rambutan and Mangosteen, but we bought a ton to try!

Then we spent the next week showing Steph a little bit about our city.  She went walking with Kim each morning to check on "his" camels!  One day she got a little close and a camel stole a kiss from her!  :)

She and Kim went to visit the Sheikh Zayed Palace Museum, where Papa Zayed was born.  Kim had not been there yet, so I think they both enjoyed seeing what the past looked like in the UAE--not so distant past!!

Sheikh Zayed Palace

Kim and Steph climbed up Jebel Hefeet....without me!  I had to stay at school later that day to make up for leaving early the day before....  :(

Playing in the desert

Checking out one of the oases

Went to the Green Mubazzareh and put our feet in the hot springs..... way down from where the water first comes out of the ground.  Still.....VERY HOT!!

We all went to visit the Paradise Hanging Gardens.  They've added some new areas since last year--even more grand and beautiful!

Flowers and butterflies....

I  "heart" Stephanie!

Flower Tree

Purple Girl!!

Of COURSE we visited the zoo ~

Pretty flowers at the zoo, too!

Loved the lions...

Beautiful setting!

Wheeeeerrrrreeee's Daddy? 
Oh, yes, he's doing his version of "Speed Zoo"

He joined us for a few more pictures...

Our last weekend with Stephanie, we went to spend the weekend in Dubai.  I got to leave school at 9, so we had a couple of full days there.  We stayed in the downtown area, close to the Dubai Mall.  We had lunch at the souk overlooking the Burj al Arab.  Stephanie and I went shopping at the old souk on Deira Creek (Kim decided he didn't want to fight off the vendors).  We visited the Emirates Mall, where Ski Dubai was built.  Kim and Steph went up in the Burj Khalifa.

Sitting outside for lunch at the Burj al Arab

Along the river at Madinat Jumeirah

Shopping for bargains at the old textile souk
Hey, Grandma, this is where she bargained for your Pashmina shawl!

Ski Dubai--inside the mall!

Aquarium--inside the mall! 
Hey, Steph, watch out for the shark over your head!!

Divers Fountain

Just before the fountains begin dancing at 6 o'clock

One of the light and water shows choreographed to music

Sitting outside, watching the lovely sunset, listening to the music and the fountains, enjoying our first Thai food (actually, only the first time Kim and I have had Thai food:  DEFINITELY a fan!)

Steph in front of the Burj Khalifa at night...She was already feeling a little apprehensive about going up in it the next day!

Display at the top, showing the filiming of the movie Ghost Protocol

Can't wait to see the movie with Tom Cruise crawling up the side of the Burj!

Looking down to where we were eating the night before

View of the city

Then, we had to leave to take her back to Abu Dhabi, where she stayed with Heather and Cory a few more days.  We visited the Grand Mosque and then left her with Heather.  That's when the crying started.....

Fixing your sheila is an art form....

Kim is putting on his shoes....

3 Abayas

Time to leave....sniff...sniff...