Halloween 2010.....we had a nice little block party. Lots showed up! I brought 3 games and everyone brought treats for the kids and we did trunk trick or treating! It was great! We decorated our cars! So much fun! The kids had a blast. Rydge was a bat and Rylan brought his baseball uniform, thank goodness. good times!

Here are some pictures of my school kids! They are amazing children. All children are the same, they all love attention and love!

Jumeirah Beach, Dubai! Scroll down to see my latest blog update too. It may be on next page. I just updated today!

Finally, we are in our new FLAT and on the internet-yippee skippy!!!! As I sit here writing this blog, Rydge is nagging at me to help him with his homework, he has it every night. He is learning so much, I think instead of K when we return, he will be ready for FIRST! Rylan is doing well also, he keeps complaining he is too smart for this class, so I will meet with the teachet yet again tomorrow to check things out! He is a bright boy, we are very proud of how he is doing. It has been really hard on him. He has embraced this adventure as best as he knows how.

We hired a nanny part time, she is here about 15 hours per week. She loves the boys and they love her. Her name is Michelle and she is from the Phillipines. She has two children she is supporting back home and we are glad to be able to help her. Not only does she take care of my children, my house is spotless each day when I arrive home. She is a wonderful, wonderful girl. We hope to keep her. We pay her much more than a typical local, so we hope she remains happy with us, even with the challenges the kids may bring her. I hope she continues on with us. She plans to be here about another year or so.

Andy's job is going well, altho very demanding. He is getting ready for the BIG F1 race here in Abu Dhabi the middle of November, its a HUGE account for them. Look it up on line. He is learning new things everyday. They are giving him a lot of responsibility, so I think they like what they see. GO ANDY...get that raise!!!

My job is wonderful, I love it still. It has many challenges, but I have seen so much improvement with my kids since the start of school. They are beginning to get into a routine and they are starting to understand what I am saying, altho I have NO CLUE what they are saying to me!!LOL They are wonderful kids, and I am really enjoying myself. We are so appreciated here, so much different from the states. Again, if it weren't so far from home, I'd stay forever!!!

I will add some pics on a different blog. We went to Jumeriah Beach in Dubai this past weekend, so MUCH fun! I can't believe we are going to Dubai for fun on the weekends! :) Also, I will add pics of my kids at school. They are so precious! Love them all!

Well, I had better sign off. It's 6:43 pm and still no dinner on the table. I am making New Zealand beef tips for hot beef sandies tonight. Gotta go mash taters and make gravy! Ya'll take care. Breathe in some of that fresh country brisk air for us. We are missing that for sure!!

Love, Abby and boys! :)

Andy's NEW truck and his office. Check out the view past his truck!!!

Andy started his job this week and is already being spoiled! He got a BRAND NEW truck. Its pretty sweet. He started his drive into Abu Dhabi this past Sunday. I think he has laready impressed his boss, so this is a fantastic thing. It takes him about 1.5 hours there and back each day, so he is exhausted when he returns home to the hotel.

I am happy to report.....we will be in our new home tomorrow-Thursday. I am so done with this hotel. We still have not received our furniture allowance, yet we have our furniture, thanks to our parents for helping out, until we are paid for that. We have all our stuff or what we need at least to get started. I even have a washer, NO MORE washing in the tub.....yes.....that is what I have been doing the past 8 weeks. I only had laundry taken out twice! I am amazed! Our new home will feel like a castle with all the perks! :)

The kids are still doing well in school, both learning so much. We have an AMAZING friend taking them to and from school for us, so that puts mommy at ease. Now...if I could just get my hubby off the busy highway to Abu Dhabi, I would be more at ease. He drives in insane traffic and I pray for him everyday. The driving is crazy here, they have NO que system, so they drive where they want, how fast they want and where they want. There is a lot of horns honking and lights flashing and that mean get OUT of my way!!!!!

My work is well. Amazing still. We have one obstacle, but we hope that is taken care of soon. I work with 7 amazing LT's as we are called(Licensed Teachers), these will be friends for life! :) Love, love my job. If it werent so far from home, I'd stay forever!!

This is going to be just a relaxing night at home, probably room service one last time. We will keep our key to the hotel until we get our allowance, then we would have to be out of the hotel 5 days after that. I will keep the key for internet and pool access until then. It will be middle to end of next week before its hooked up at our house(internet/tv/phone).

We are well, still missing home. We are here for a reason, and I can see our goals starting to be met. This is so worth it. The kids are settling, Rydge better than Rylan. He, Rylan, REALLY misses the farm, I dont blame him. He just asked, "Is Papa Randy finished picking his beans yet?" I am not sure, we we are gonna call soon to find out. It's hard for Ry to even talk to him, he misses him so much! :( The opportunities that we will be giving him though is amazing....we plan to visit Muscat, Oman when mom and dad are here. Its suppose to be outstanding on the ocean there. I am really excited! We hope to stay over night one night and hang by a pool and beach. My mom loves the beach! :)

Talk to you all later.

Love,

Abby and boys!! :):):):)

Rydge and Rylan's rooms, living room and kids playing Playstation. Ry's room is JD and Rydge's dinosaur. We brought their bedding from home. You can see Ry in his room doing his homework. We will add color soon.

Phew...finally a paycheck! It's amazing what one can feel like after getting paid! We have been here for almost 8 weeks with no pay and it finally arrived as promised! :) Here are some pictures of our new flat. It has NO color as of yet. We were gonna go shopping today, but Rylan has the Flu, so we are home tonight. Our place is nice and WHITE. We will add color with paint, if they let us and with wall decor and table coverings. The boys rooms are cute as we brought their comforters from home. I wanted them to have something they knew once we were settled. We are doing good and hope to be in our place in the next few days. Our sitter is still in the hotel as well as the gal I ride with to work, so we will wait until they move. I have yet to drive here, its so scary. I have to start tho as Andy will be out of the country next Tuesday and Wednesday and I will need to drive-YIKES! Andy will be traveling to Doha, Quatar and Bahrain for MUSCO. He will be training with several guys in the next few weeks. Its very exciting for him to also have what seems to be an amazing experience. I think we made the right choice, but will continue to miss our family back in the states terribly. It's very hard and we miss our support system for sure. We are excited to announce my parents will be coming in November for over two weeks! We are so excited!!!!! They will be here for Andy's BIG job at the F1 Race Track in Abu Dhabi, we hope to get tickets, it will be quite a event. Also, it will be Rydge's 4th birthday when they are here and Thanksgiving. We will be busy. I better sign off, the kids are getting rowdy. Andy is out buying a washer and stove for us and will bring us home dinner. The kids got room service chicken nuggets and fries! Talk to you soon!

Love and Hugs~
Abby