In N(Eid) of a vacation

We recently returned from a much needed vacation.  Evelyn had a week off from school in celebration of Eid Al Adha so we decided to head to beach.

On Sunday, before our trip we had a BBQ with our friends, the Bunch Family, which involved roasted pink marshmallows.

Enjoying roasted marshmallows

On Monday morning we spent a day at a desert resort where the kids got a camel ride and falcon show.

Waiting for a camel ride

Finally...they have wanted to ride a camel since we moved here!

Up close with the falcons

On Tuesday we made it to Dibba in the Fujairah Emirate.  The beach was great with lots of shells to collect.

Sunset on the Fujarah coast

Enjoy!

The Neals

A Few Social Gatherings

I can't believe it's been 3 months since we've moved here.  The weather is finally starting to feel cooler. The highs are only in the 100's and being in the shade or out after sunset can be quite nice.  In September we celebrated Evelyn's 6th birthday.  We had a joint party with a few new friends (twins) who have the same birthday as Evelyn.

The Doll Cake

Evelyn taking a swing

Blowing out the candles 

Garrison enjoying some chocolate after church one night

Lat night we visited the family of one of Oasis Hospital oldest translators. He is a bit of legend, as his grandfather and father were seafaring tradesmen between Dubai and Muscat back in the day.  Always cool to talk to him, and he is always trying to teach me something new with my Arabic.  Here the kids are being introduced to one the new chicks on the premises.  The. kids. had. a. blast.  

 Garrison caught us some dinner!  Watching Garrison run down a chicken was awesome.

We dropped by about 5 to have dinner.  While we sat around drinking tea, other westerners we know all came by just to make a social call.  That's what you do here--you invite yourself over to peoples homes for tea or dinner.  We waited, talked, played, told stories, talked religion and politics, caught chickens....all the usual stuff.  At about 8pm (no dinner yet) we suggested it was time to leave but they insisted we stay and have something, so they brought out the homemade chapati and ranch style red beans.  Of course it was great.  Turns out dinner was going to be about 10pm.  They stay up late here.  It will take a long time before we are ever living on Arab time.