Our "Staycation" to Atlantis Dubai

We've been in Dubai a week today and it feels like it has been much longer! We have been couped up in a hotel with no car and the kids aren't in school yet so we needed a break:) Off we went, about 2 miles up the road, to Atlantis Dubai. It was a last minute decision and I just called them and booked a room so we could go to the waterpark and get out of this hotel for a bit. It was a GREAT hotel! The kids had a ball..they had a kid's play place, waterpark, and of course a great beach. Any visitors that come we will certainly take you there. It is such a nice resort and only about 5 minutes from where our place will be on the Palm.

I've added some pics. Interesting thing about the water park..and pool..in one blink you would see a bikini clad European showing it all off and in the next blink a woman dressed in the water from head to toe. The great thing is that everyone can co-exist and it all seems very normal. Very "Disney" like - so clean, so nice, the people so friendly. I was at a mall the other day and as soon as I left the bathroom stall someone was behind me cleaning it up. Amazing- in a public mall restroom:)

Not that everyone is friendly...the cabs are absolutely nuts (and the drivers) but overall the people here are very helpful. I did just read in a book that I should not sit in the front of the cab as it would be considered an invitation. Hmmm....will definitely remember that one!

Will is going to play for a soccer team tomorrow morning so we will see how he likes the team, and on Sunday they start the first day of school. Weston was observed in his classroom last week and really liked it. The teacher was so nice, I think he will love it. Will had to take a 2 hour test and he passed so he'll be starting 4th grade for the second time this year! They both seem very excited about the school.

We are just ready to get settled in our place but had to get a bank account first so they could get paid. Logistics....

The boys were excited to find a living starfish!

From one of the many beautiful pools!

From our balcony looking out at Palm

We've Arrived!

The pool/bar area



Our beach!

 After some delay in writing I'm finally able to log on and write! LOTS has happened since my last post- we are settled in the hotel and have found a place to live. I have posted some pics here of the place- it is on The Palm (will add a link with info on blog) and we have a partial sea view...it's only about 1500 sq feet but has a great outdoor area with a pool, bar, restuarant and of course, the beach!  It was very appealing because it is fully furnished and has everything we need in it. I've attached some pics. The prices here have gone down considerably over the past 3 years ( just like the US) but they are still much higher than KC!

We are hoping to move in this weekend. The week in Dubai runs from Sunday-Thursday so that is when Chip works and the kids are in school. All the days are running together right now anyway as we try to get a bank account, a car, a place to live and all the other things that need to be done. The kids are going to their school tomorrow just for observation..so we'll see how that goes!

The view from our balcony - you can see the Burj Al Arab which is the only seven star hotel in the whole world

Leaving on a jet plane

Don't know when I'll be back again:)
We have made it to JFK after a long day...and about 14 more hours to go. The boys are being great and our bags are now on the plane. So far everyone has been so nice ( who wouldn't feel bad for a family of four with 12 bags???)
Next time I write hopefully we will be safe and sound on a beach in a desert.....

We're off to Dubai (we hope:)

Well..here is my first attempt at a blog post. I'm hoping to keep in touch with everyone this way and hopefully feel like we are still connected to the US! I'm also hoping the kids can look back on this and have some kind of journal of the journey....

Last night our flight to JFK was canceled due to weather so we are waiting on a delayed flight to LaGuardia and then will be taking our 12 bags on a van to get to JFK for our 11pm flight to Dubai. It's not the ideal situation but who said any of this would be easy?!?!

We are only taking clothes to Dubai. After going through an international move already we decided we did not want to move a bunch of stuff over there, it takes too long! It is quite a change not to have a baby this time (Weston was only 7 months old when we moved to London) so I am very happy not to be carrying a diaper bag, toys, stroller, etc.

Well, looks like we are off to NY. Chip was lucky enough to get an upgrade us to first class for this leg. HOORAY!