Passport Attempts

Sorry for the delay folks. Things have been a little hectic around here lately....as you can imagine. 

Both sets of Grandparents are here and we are having a great time. The other night all 4 of them ran out of the house giddy with excitement to go for an evening drink - too funny.

Congrats to Cat and Aaron on the birth of Julia! Happens to be on the same day as my wonderful husband's birthday - watch out for those Leo types. :)

Below is the evolution of our passport photo attempts (notice the hands in some of the photos). It took 3 attempts and the last one is hopefully the prize. 

Love to all

What makes me happy

3 weeks old today. All is going well. 

Nanny and Opa Gindl arrived a few days ago - so, so happy to have them here. I think they are finding it a bit warm. :)

Love to all.

my feet are back!

Time Flies

The days are whizzing by. Wake up, feed, try to get Neva to sleep for more than 20 minutes (hit and miss), feed, feed, eat, next thing you know it's 10pm. 

Thank you so much for all of your emails, posts, etc. They mean a lot to us.  Unfortunately I don't think I will be able to respond to them for a while. Apologies. 

Hope you are all doing well.

Laughlin Family 

Introducing....

Neva Isabell Laughlin

Born July 22 at 9:20 pm by C-section (cord was "wrapped everywhere" said the doctor). 

52 cm & 3.735kg

Everyone is doing well. Story to come later on. Need to rest now. 

Love to all. 

The Laughlin Family

Happy Due Date

Bruce and I celebrated our due date on Thursday. We had a fantastic dinner at a restaurant called Eauzone, located in the One&Only Royal Mirage Hotel.  http://www.oneandonlyresorts.com/flash.html

The dinner was amazing and to top it all off my wonderful husband gave me a beautiful bracelet. Not sure if it was to tell me that he loved me or to tell me to Get It Out. :) 

Having a due date makes me think of those turkeys that you can buy with the little plastic thingy that pops out when the turkey is cooked (if only it was that easy). So many people have asked me when I am due. I usually answer with a "this week" or something like that but immediately I get the "yes, but which day?" I always want to tell them that I am not a turkey. Of course this wouldn't make any sense to them...but it would be a typical random out-of-left-field Andrea reply. 

Here is a picture (not the most flattering) of us outside the restaurant. As you can see the humidity has greatly increased here. +40 with high humidity is a whole new level of hot for us. At least it cools down to 30 at night. 

This is a picture inside the hotel

MOVIE NIGHT

We also went to the movie Wanted on Friday night. Yes, I'm trying to keep occupied and we're trying to do things that we won't be able to do for a while. Let's just say that going to the Mall of the Emirates on a Friday night at 7:30pm is a BAD idea. There is a huge parkade (4 levels) with a bazillion spots -we figure the Chinook parking lot is the size of one level.  We rocked up at 7:30pm feeling really smart because we had pre-purchased our tickets. Alas, EVERY and i mean EVERY spot was taken. We scooted up to the top level thinking that we could outsmart the masses - good thing there were only 100 cars that thought the same thing. Holy crap! There were 3 cars waiting for every 1 spot that opened up. It was a total luck of the draw. Had we not already purchased our tickets it would have been an instant "GET OUT OF HERE." Instead, it became a challenge - Bruce figured out a loop that we kept repeating, waiting for someone to leave. At 8:15pm (movie started at 8:30) EUREKA, there was a spot. We were so excited that the movie didn't even matter anymore. Too funny. As we were leaving the car, giddy with the excitement of winning the parking lottery, I said "Bruce, let's never do this again." Some bystanders overheard our joy and then my statement, needless to say they were having a good time laughing at us. 

The other humorous thing was the kissing scene in the movie. The theatre erupted with hooting, whistling, and clapping...it was great. Always entertaining.  - Public displays of affection are not part of the custom here. For instance, some of the rules posted at the entrance of the mall are no smoking, no skateboards, and no kissing. 

WE HAVE A BED!

I said bed - not baby. 

Last Thursday I opened the door to a man who was holding a piece of paper. He did not look happy and spoke an interesting dialect of mumble. It wasn’t English, nor was it any other language. I totally understand the shy – I don’t speak your language- thing, but mumbling tossing your head and rolling your eyes does me no good.

Here’s how it went – keep in mind I am doing some excellent hand gestures to be as clear as possible (you can visualize that one). J

Hello?

mboblablofbla

Are you here to deliver a bed?

eye roll and head tilt/roll (neither indicating yes or no)

Are you here from Pan? (Pan is the name of the store)

Mumble, repeat eye roll and head tilt

Delivery? Drop off?

Waves paper as mumbles something else

At this point I walk outside to go and look at the truck. This completely surprises that man and he looks at me with big doe eyes. Sure enough it is the delivery and after some more gestures and hand waving, the 3 men bring in the bed. From what I can gather the first man was trying to ask me where I wanted them to put it….maybe.

As they leave Mumblore looks at me, pats the boxes and says “Good wood.” I patted the box, nodded and said "Indian wood." He nodded patted the boxes again and said "Good." 

Later that day some very nice men showed up to put it together. This was quite funny as whenever I moved something they would freak out and come and do it for me. Even if it was a book, they would tisk, fuss and give me a dirty look.

All is all the bed is here! YEAH!

Other updates:

I still have another week or two to go. All is well.

We now have our U.A.E. residencies. I would just like to point out that my visa lists me as a housewife - right on the piece of paper in my passport. I also find it interesting J   that Bruce could be held accountable for my wrongdoings (he is listed as my sponsor).  

 

Bed Purchase and Random Shots

What kind of wood is this made of?

India ma’am

It is made in India?

Yes.

Do you know what kind of wood they used?

Indian wood ma’am

Pause - all right. When will it be delivered?

In one month.

It will take one month to deliver this bed? 

Of course ma’am

There is another store in the city that is closer to our house, would delivery be faster from them?

No ma’am, same time 13 days.

But you said it would take a month.

No, (long sigh), ma’am it will take 13 days.

This bed will arrive at our house in 13 days? 

Of course ma’am. 13 days in a month. So it will arrive next Thursday.

Thursday? This coming Thursday? 

Of course ma’am 13 days. If you want I can phone a carpenter to put it together when it is delivered.

On Thursday.

Yes ma’am.

- Fortunately the man walked away to do something and another sales lady processed our sale and gave us MUCH more information. We may or may not have a bed arrive this Thursday (or any day). We’ll keep you posted.

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