Inside for another sandstorm weekend

The Pirate Captain Anastasia in her inflatable yellow boat

Anastasia has been watching Anastasia

Hanging out with her "Dead Pets": Elephant, Hippo, and Penguin

"Dead Pets Need Love Too."

Book Fairs, Breakfast, Tutoring, Movies, and Essays

Anastasia's eating style is very hands on; if it comes on a spoon it definitely won't taste as good. Her favorites include avocado, mango, sweet potato (still) and she's making the most of her location- Arabic bread and hummus are high on the list also. (Notice the two big teeth in the second photo!)

Our weekend has started! Yesterday evening, we went to Abu Dhabi's annual book fair, one of the largest in the world, with publishers from dozens of countries represented. Christine picked up a few books. I behaved myself. It was held at our exhibition center, a huge building between our school and Sheikh Zayed's Mosque. Anastasia is doing fine. She was really good at the Book Fair; she even saw a puppet show (in Arabic) and met a local boy about her age. When she started to hit him, Christine took her away before we all got deported. I also saw a cooking show at the Book Fair (one of the publishers, of course, produces cook books). The chef was from Malaysia, and apparently he's quite a celebrity with a cooking show on Food Network and the BBC. We don't have cable, so I don't know who he is.

Today, I'll be tutoring, as usual...We had a breakfast date with Rhonda again at Dome in Khalidiya Mall...and we have lots of school work to do in between.

After tutoring, Christine is going to the movies with a group of AISA women, and tomorrow Anastasia and I will do our usual Saturday morning walk (before it gets hot--we have to leave earlier and earlier to beat the heat these days, as our temps in the afternoon reach 98*F regularly now...and it's only March).

I also have quite a stack of essays to mark, which probably explains why I'm blogging right now: to put off tackling grade 12 essays on Victorian poetry!

(P.S. from Christine: Randy took all of these photos of Anastasia while I was at the movie. They apparently had quite a good time. He also rocks because he grilled halloumi cheese and had wine waiting for me as soon as I had put the little one to bed.)

Prophet's birthday in Khor Fakkan

Camel vet sign in Al Dhaid on the way to Khor Fakkan

The beach: to the left of the photo there were women covered in abayas (normal), to the right was a topless, thong-wearing woman (a shock, considering we were in the most traditional emirate)

The hottie at the beach

The town: that's not fog, but dust from a truck that passed by

A morning hike in the rocky foothills

Randy and Anastasia in the nearby Omani enclave

At a mountain-top restaurant

A watchtower with Omani flag

The girls on the trip: me, Joyce and Anastasia, Leanne

The dangerous dining option

Meunier/Ball Photo Shoot

First Family Photos Dec 2008

Follow this link to see how we all looked on the last day of our month-long vacation in the USA over the winter holidays. Considering that I was just recovering from the flu, Anastasia was acting like Anastasia, and it was the morning (problem for Randy)-- I'm pretty happy with them :) Anastasia was 5 1/2 months at the time of shooting.

Special thanks to my Aunt Carolyn (photographer), cousin Ashley (photographer's assistant) and Mom (baby-control). If you would like copies of any, it's probably best to talk to Carolyn (if you know her) or me (so that I can direct you to her).

Our next family pictures of the more formal variety will probably be Jeff and Lyndsie's wedding on August 1st. This falls close to Anastasia's first birthday.

A to Z (Anastasia to the Zoo)

Al Ain Zoo

Today we went to the Al Ain Zoo, the largest zoo in the Middle East (with plans to become a whole lot bigger soon). Al Ain is inland about ninety miles; it's an oasis with many date palms, a town we have visited on numerous occasions--but this was our first trip to their zoo (and Anastasia's first zoo trip ever--unless you count in utero in India last Christmas).

The zoo is at the base of Jebel Hafeet, the highest point in the UAE. It was 97*F out, but not a bit humid. It felt more like 80*F! So the weather was perfect. We slathered Anastasia in sunscreen and put her in the stroller...She likes the stroller now. Then we toured the animal attractions: She LOVED the penguins, just like her old man. I was proud. One penguin was swimming in the water right next to her, and they were eyeballing one another.

We also saw oryx, gazelles, emus and flamingoes, the usual monkees and zebras and rhinos, and reptiles and birds...and of course the giraffe. Lots of giraffes there, including some that were running. That was a funny sight. The giraffes were in the African savanna exhibit, an impressive piece of land with plenty of room for them to run around in. I liked the rock mountains in the background. There was a nice breeze around there too--a great location for a picnic (maybe next time!).

Occasionally, Anastasia became the main attraction--as people of all ages wanted to touch her, kiss her, hold her...She handled it well. She really seemed to enjoy herself today--full of smiles and happy faces. We had some good human encounters too, like the Indian family with their babies (Anastasia really seemed into playing with this one little girl) and the Emirati family who gave us juice and potato chips.

There weren't any camels (go figure!). Enjoy the photo album above--be sure to click on the album to see all the pictures!