Ducheks in Dubai ?!?

My apologies to those of you who follow the Blog AND are on facebook, the photos are usually the same. But believe it or not, there are those who are not on f.b. that we want to share our stories with!

The doors parted and mom and dad planted their first step in the U.A.E., boy were they excited! Dad had a new camera to play with (as you can see he is already sporting it around his neck) and they had just watched Meet the Falkers on private TV screens... We were excited too.

The first thing we did was take a day trip to Dubai. First stop: indoor ski resort in the mall. We had lunch in a really nice Lebanese restaurant overlooking the bunny slope. Mom said, "you know what is nice about this meal- it is all just meat."

Dad had so much fun taking his pictures. I had fun taking pictures of him taking his pictures. Unfortunately the air was so thick with sand that day that photos of the Burj Dubai (tallest building in the world) were not really possible. We did drive around it several times and it is actually a beautiful building.

We drove out onto the Palm Tree Island and checked out the Atlantis Hotel. We didn't get to see Paris Hilton, but it was impressive just the same.

July 4 Beach BBQ. We have met so many great people here. Most are not from the US, but were happy to oblige us anyway.

The men cooking the meat.

Lounging at the pool. They didn't actually get to enjoy the beach club so much, as Eva came exactly one week after their arrival.

Ned and I didn't get to make the desert safari with them- we stayed home with Eva. But the excursion involves 'dune bashing' in SUVs; unfortunately mom got sick.

They rode camels and tasted the milk- yuck.

A stop over to let the engines cool. What a majestic landscape the desert can be.

Photo of the year!

They got to try on Emiratie dress, this is what all nationals wear on a daily basis.

Oh my gosh- I wouldn't have believed it without the photo. My parents smoking Shisha! It is very common for families to smoke shisha after dinner or coffee shops in the afternoon; probably as common as it is for us to order a coke with our hamburger. My guess: smoked, but not inhaled.

Dad figured out the video option on the camera to get this one...

And of course they took several photos of Baby Eva.

They toured the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.

We had an amazing brunch at the Shangri La Hotel on Dad's last day. Eva is Soooo good she slept through the whole thing.

View of the Grand Mosque from hotel.

Mom is on her way home today. After anticipating this trip for 5 months I can not believe it is already over. We are so thankful that they were able to be here to help us get up and running with Eva. Mom cooked, did the dishes (no dish washer) and vacuumed the living room every day. Dad fixed our kitchen exhaust, installed shelves in my cabinets, oiled the door hinges, etc. But best of all they were here to hold her and love her and welcome her to the world!