Pictures of Laci

Christmas

We all had a good Christmas. Bret got way too many video games, Cole got lots of Ben 10 stuff, Drew got a kitchen and Laci got a barbie doll with an abaya (the black dress the Muslim women wear). The kids spent the day playing with their new toys and we had dinner with some friends.

Bret and Cole on Christmas morning waiting patiently to open their loot.

Drew playing with his new kitchen. He loves it.

Drew with his new Batcave.

Christmas morning chaos

The boys in front of the Christmas tree at Dubai mall.

Laci learning how to use her cute little voice.

Christmas in Dubai

Here are some pictures of the kiddos. It is beautiful in Dubai this time of year, which is why most of the pictures are outside. The weather right now makes us forget how hot and muggy it is in the summer.

Laci's hair looks a little goofy. Sally gave me these little velcro rollers and I tried one out. I don't really know what I'm doing with this whole girl thing yet. I love her dress, though. I found it at this store here called Monsoon. They have the cutest girl clothes.

Baptism & Blessing Day

Earlier this month Bret was baptized and Laci was blessed. It was a busy day. Nick's parents were able to be here for the events, which was nice. Bret was baptized in our pool. We had a couple of friends from church over and it was a nice, peaceful morning. Bret said the pool was a little cold, though.

The fam

Nick & Bret looking good in white

Bret about to get dunked

Laci with one of her first smiles

Laci in her beautiful blessing gown. The dress was made by Nick's grandmother (who was nearly blind) before she passed away. The picture does not do it justice.

Dress Up

Laci has a couple of dresses now, so I thought I would dress her up and take a few pictures.

Dubai Mall

The kids had a day off from school last week so we headed out to see Dubai's newest attraction - a new mall! Dubai needs another mall as much as it needs more sand. But, this mall is supposedly the biggest in the world. Inside the mall is the largest aquarium in the world. And, this all sits right next to the tallest building in the world. You get the idea - this place is insane. Only about half of the 1200 stores are open and these are all the same stores that are in every other mall here in Dubai. I just don't get it. There is one plus for us, Dubai's first Taco Bell! We had our Nachos Bell Grande and soft tacos for lunch. It tasted just like any other Taco Bell. We walked through the shark tunnel at the aquarium and the kids loved it.

Tacos and nachos for lunch - note the Taco Bell logo in Arabic

Halloween

Here are a few pictures from Halloween. Bret, Cole and Drew all wore costumes that Nick brought back from his most recent trip to the US. He made special trips to Target (oh how I miss Target!) to get them. Bret was a bleeding skeleton, Cole was the Hulk and Drew was Buzz Lightyear (Toy Story 2 is his favorite movie). Bret and Cole had a parade and class parties at school on Thursday and then Nick took the boys trick-or-treating around our neighborhood on Friday. Laci wore a little outfit that some friends gave us. It is newborn size (5-8 lbs) and it actually fits her. None of the boys ever fit the newborn size. They were too big.