Our New Normal

Our life has returned to it's new normal here in Dubai.  School, play, the gym, run errands, laundry, pick up toys, go to the park, etc, etc.  The only difference is now we have a new backdrop:

VIEW FROM OUR BALCONY

The Double Decker Pub located downstairs.  They have a big Friday brunch with a DJ starting at noon and a band plays at 4pm. 

 Residences towers on left and main hotel is on the right

Chilling on the balcony!

 "Welcome to McDonalds.  How may I help you!"

Cash, Jake and Liam

Happy Christmas - Dubai Style!

Happy Christmas from Dubai!  (That's what everyone says over here, instead of Merry Christmas!)  Santa found his way to Dubai, and the Daniel Boys had a very nice Christmas.  Eli the Elf kept Mason on the "nice list" after all, which was questionable from time to time ;)  Mason woke up bright and early and forgot to come tell mommy and daddy before he got into all of his presents.  The twins woke up later, and were a bit confused when they found the new toys and a ride on car.  One of the good things about celebrating Christmas overseas is that Santa is very practical and knows we don't need a lot of things, nor do we have the space for them in our modest size apartment :)

We had a Christmas feast with 20 other friends at Bubbalicious, an outdoor restaurant at The Westin Dubai.  They had a ton of activities for the kids, including their own food stations, bounce house, petting zoo, mechanical bull, arts and crafts, Chinese acrobats and Mrs. Claus and her elves passed out presents to all the good boys and girls. 

CHRISTMAS EVE

 Mason showing Cash his Nintendo DS

 Brotherly Love 

Cash, Jake & Mason in their Christmas pjs courtesy of Aunt Carie; however Mason didn't last very long in his thermal pjs since it is 80 degrees here! ha!  But they made for great photos!!

 Cash & Jake Love to "ride the horsey!"

 Mason and Mommy made gingerbread cookies for Santa

CHRISTMAS MORNING

 Mason couldn't believe that Santa found an American football!  They are nowhere to be found in Dubai (and note the short sleeve pjs)

 "Hands Off Jake!  It's not my fault Santa thought we could share the ONE ride-on toy!"  I think Santa learned a lesson and from now on will have TWO of the big presents!

CHRISTMAS BRUNCH AT THE WESTIN DUBAI

 Boys enjoying their lunch with our new sweet nanny, Indu

 Mrs. Claus rides in on a camel; Seriously!!

 Our friends Tom, Marina and their 14-month old son, Liam

 Caroline with her friend's daughter, Scarlet

 Riding home in the taxi, Dubai style!!

Mason's gingerbread man with red boxing gloves!

SANTA AT THE JUMEIRAH MADINAT

Back in Dubai!

It's hard to believe that we are back in Dubai and have been here for over 2 weeks!  The 14-hour flight and adjusting to the 10-hour time change are similar to child birth or running a marathon!  There are a few highs and lots and lows, but it all fades in due time.  That's why we continue to do it over and over again! ha!

This year we took a noon flight out of Dallas, which meant there is more awake time on the plane as opposed to the evening flight that we used to take out of Houston.  It feels like the flight is never going to end, and Mason was our official timekeeper and made announcements nearly every 15 minutes about how much time was left! Cash also felt the need to throw up all over himself, his lovie, me and my seat with approximately 12 hours left to go!  Of course I had a change of clothes for him, but I neglected to include a change of clothes for myself.  Fortunately, Rod brought an extra Under Armor fishing shirt, and Emirates Airlines had an extra pair of Men's pajama bottoms for me.  I was able to change into something clean and comfortable but not quite so fashionable! We landed in Dubai around lunch time, so it was nice to have some daylight to help with the adjustment.  All in all, the boys were such troopers, and we all survived the ordeal!!

The saying goes, for every hour of time change, it takes that many days for your body to adjust.  It's a 10-hour time difference, and every year it takes us approximately 10 days to get our days and nights straightened out!  I'm happy to announce that we are officially back on track!  Yeah!

Rod, Cash and Mason getting ready for take-off!  Let the fun begin!

Jake enjoyed the headphones

                                                   

            Cash & Jake: dazed and confused after the flight!

 Mason waiting patiently with ALL of our luggage!  Each ticketed passenger is allowed up two      75-pound bags, and the twins were allotted one 50-pound bag each.

 Cash & Jake could not help but stare as a group of men walked by us dressed in their dishdasha (the long white robe traditionally worn by men in the Middle East).  

 

 Sleepy Boys!

This is how I found Jake one evening.  Poor thing! 

Dubai World Cup

This past weekend was the Dubai World Cup, which is one of the world's richest horse races.  It's the UAE's version of The Breeder's Cup, with horses flown in from all over the world to compete in 9 races.  And the best part of it all, Godolphin had a very successful evening with three winners and one second; including a first and second in the World Cup race!

We started off the weekend with a World Cup Welcome Party, that was held at the Meydan Beach Club located in JBR (Jumeirah Beach Residence).  Then the races were on Saturday evening at the new racecourse, Meydan.  Here are some photos of the event:

WORLD CUP WELCOME PARTY - THURSDAY, MARCH 29TH

 Mercedes G5's parked outside of the party. They are driven by Sheikh Mohammed and Sheikh Hamdan (Crown Prince of Dubai).  It's hard to tell but their license plates numbers are 1 and 11.  The ruling family, very important people and the very wealthy drive vehicles with very low numbers!

The party was held on the beach with the fireworks show booming over the water 

 The Meydan Beach Club and the skyline behind it

 The Boys:  Tim Yakteen (our dear friend from CA and in town with horses for the World Cup), Rod, Bhupat Seemar (another great friend that trains horses and lives in Dubai year round) and Richie Mullen (jockey in Dubai and the UK)

 My sweet friend Caroline Seemar.  We were good friends with she and Bhupat when we all lived in CA, and now they have been in Dubai for almost 9 years!

 Caroline, Bhupat and Tim

Tim, Ashlee, Rod & Caroline

DUBAI WORLD CUP - SATURDAY, MARCH 31ST

A lot of people wear fascinators to the World Cup

Caroline & I with two of her friends, Alex & Evelyn.  Evelyn (in the gold and black) was wearing a hat made by a local jeweler and it was covered in diamonds that were worth over $1,000,000!  The hat even came with a body guard.  She was a contestant in the Jaguar Style Stakes: Best Hat where the winner was awarded with a Jaguar XK convertible for one year!  Evelyn won the contest last year!!


Frankie Dettori on African Story, which won the Godolphin Mile

Sheikh Mohammed in the paddock before the World Cup.  He is also the founder and
owner of Godolphin.

In limo after the races and headed to the Armani Hotel at the Burj Khalifa

Frankie Dettori and Rod

Rod with Charlie & Frankie

Club Prive at the Armani Hotel