3 am...

Since we landed on Thursday evening I have seen 3 am every night!  It's gotten to the point that I don't even really look forward to 3 am...I know it's coming but I don't actually want to admit it is.  I would love to wake up just once and find out that I slept past 3 am and better than that that B slept past 3 am but no such luck.  On the bright side it's only Sunday so maybe our luck will change this week.  But I digress...

We landed in Abu Dhabi on Thursday night after a very uneventul flight - thankfully B slept a majority of the flight and then continually followed the flight path on the monitor throughout the flight.  She thought it was awesome to see where the plane was in relation to the world.  We were able to make it through customs with no issues and were dropped off at the hotel.  The best part of the whole thing - besides the room which B described the tub as "Holy Moley it's huge" was that there is ALWAYS someone willing to help. I had a porter at the airport for my luggage as well as the hotel who brought it up.  The man was willing to help me unpack!  (No I did not let him but I did think about it LOL).
 The view from our room is wonderful - although the view from the other side of the building is a bit better due to the fact it over looks the water and the Grand Mosque.  But we're still thrilled with the hotel!  B wants to live here - well she would if it was pink ;-)  The room is huge with 2 double beds and a tub that she canNOT get in and out of herself!  It's way too deep for that!  We're totally enjoying the beach and the pool areas - who knows maybe B will have a tan by the time we leave here!

On Friday we were fortunate enough to have pool and beach time before getting picked up by my friend Katie and her husband - Katie's from Michigan and this is her 4th year.  I was able to get some food and a phone in order to conduct the business that I need to get done here.  Everything is done via text - banking, bills, etc.  My goal is to get an unlocked smartphone eventually but I'm holding out until I'm getting paid on a regular basis ;-)  It was nice to have people who knew the area - malls, stores, etc and how to get around!

 Plus on Friday night we were able to spend dinner with Andrea and I may have fell in love with Lebanese food ;-)  Sooo yummy!  And food is fairly inexpenisve - even going out isn't bad.  Ok once you get over the dhuram vs. dollar.  The first time you read a bill and it says 60 for dinner it's kind of freaky but then you translate it to dollars and it's only 16 it makes the whole world a bit different!

 Saturday was spent at the beach and pool - it's a tough life for this little girl but she's adapting well LOL.  She thought the robe thing was awesome and HAD to wear one like Mommy.  She really is being a champ about the whole thing - the worst part of the adjustment is that she wakes up at 3 am STARVING and doesn't want to go back to sleep.  Of course now I'm up and starving but she's sleeping like a rock ;-)  I'm not planning on waking her up until 8 or so since I know she needs the sleep!  She's been so good that I'm fine with letting her play in the water all day.  Of course I'm also grateful for sunscreen as the sun here is great for me but not so good for her!
Today is the first day of "work" - we have a 3 hour orientation meeting which should let me know where I'm placed.  Once that occurs it'll be time to either move from this hotel to another one this week or this will become our semi permanent home until we get our housing which could be 2-4 weeks.  I love this hotel and so does B so I would NOT be upset with staying here but who knows!  At this point she just wants to go to school so that will be the next priority for her.  Poor kid can only handle so much adult time before she is over it ;-)  Oh well - more pictures and info to come but for now it's time to get the day started!  Happy Sunday!!

Ready, Set....GO!

The big day has finally arrived!  B and I are headed to Abu Dhabi today!  It seems unreal as this process has gone on for over 2 months but today we'll board the plane and be off.  B is having her good moments and her rough moments with the change.  It is going to be rough on her and I realize that but overall I think this is good for both of us. It's that time when we get to spread our wings and find out if we can fly or not.

There are still many things to do such as make a couple of last minute phone calls and finalize packing of B's suitcase and my carrry-ons.  Not a huge deal but I also wanted to put some stuff away that hadn't been done yet so we'll see how far I get.  The nicest thing is that B slept at Grandma's last night so I was able to stay up and work on getting everything done that needed to be ;-)

There are still more questions than answers on how the process will work for us once we arrive but it's time for a Great Big Adventure and I think this will be one that B and I remember for years to come - whether it be bad or good we shall find out!

Tickets - FINALLY and Half Marathon Weekend!

What a weekend!  The weekend started and ended somewhat the same way - with high stress!  Friday morning my sister had her person for foster care come in the house in order to get it licensed so that once she moves in she can continue to do foster care!  This stuff always worries me mainly because I worry and that's just who I am.  Some day I may change it but probably not!  Towards the end of that process I FINALLY got it - I got our tickets!

OMG it's real!  It's serious!  We are moving overseas and will be leaving the USA for Abu Dhabi on Wednesday September 25th!  I still can't believe it!  It seems amazing that all this time that we've been waiting finally has a date on it and we will be heading out to start a different kind of life.  I used to think of every move as a new life and starting over but I'm finding that you never really leave the old life you only add to it.  And in this case B and I will be adding to our experiences.  I'm excited - she's nervous but I know it'll work out - one way or another!

And now on to Half Marathon weekend - which by the way I had no business running!  I was not trained, I had given up due to the job stuff and now I can say I completed it in 2:22 - not my best time but it's done and I ran it.  I completed it...and now I need to get my act together as I feel better when I run and can continue to grow my goals and determination.  Detroit did a GREAT job for their first Women's Half and 5k!  It was incredibly impressive and well organized.  That cannot be said for other races but this one it definitely can be.  I did get my first flower (B bought it - no seriously - she paid for it!)  And I bought her her first flower - of course now I need to get her a flower in training/blossom shirt.  But all in good time!  I  do need to thank my daughter and my friends - Juls and Katie who got up EARLY to come cheer me on during my run!  They were amazing and I am so grateful!  I really can't believe I finished it but now I have a new goal as there is a half marathon in Februaryish in Abu Dhabi that I plan on running and I WILL break my 2 hour mark!  That is after my blisters and toenails heal from this weekend!

Talk Like a Pirate Day & Random Thoughts on School

B LOVES most anything about pirates!  So on that note we plan on celebrating Talk Like a Pirate Day!  Last night we looked up different foods to make - Fish & Chips (Goldfish and potato chips) and tried to figure out what a pirate would love to eat.  Of course she gave a HUGE list of the parts she agreed on and the ones she wasn't a fan of...so we'll see how it works!  Plus she asked me to make a map for buried treasure - planning on working on that this morning but it's currently pouring outside so I'm guessing that may have to wait!

Since I was up this morning and listening to the storm - and really wishing I was on the beach watching it roll in, I decided to look into schools I can place B in when we get to the UAE.  She DESPERATELY wants to go to school and who am I to stop her?  As I'm doing my research I realize that there area  variety of British and US schools to choose from...the question is what do I do?  I'm tempted to put her in a British Curriculum school due to the abundance of them but I know she really wants her Spanish Immersion program still.  I'm tempted to do some more research on the differences but I'd also like to find an Arabic Immersion program for her as well.  This child LOVES her languages and who am I to stop her from learning?  As always I have more questions than answers and since I'm not sure of which city I'll be in it makes it a bit tougher to find out where I will be able to place her.  But the biggest question is which curriculum?  I have a feeling this will be a topic that plagues me for the next few months as I learn the differences and decide what I really think is the most important thing for her....

With all the changes in life I thought this was appropriate ;-)

This is known as KinderBells and the kids LOVED it!

In the Dog House - need I say more?

On top of a hill - spent lots of time running, rolling and crawling up and down!

Artprize has become a standard in Grand Rapids, MI.  ( http://www.artprize.org/ )  This is an amazing event where artists come from around the world to compete for cash prizes as well as get their work seen by over 400,000 people.  Each year we go and enjoy the art as well as the time of just being in the city.  Yesterday was opening day so B and I headed over to Frederick Meijer Gardens to get started...she was not that excited but the glass was amazing and I could not help but be proud to be from this area which hosts this event.  The next stop was the Gerald R. Ford Museum - we didn't make it in but as you can tell from the pictures we had a good time ;-)

What's cookin'!

In honor of fall - as our temps have dropped dramatically this week! I have crockpot oatmeal going for when the household wakes up!  Here's one recipe to try: http://www.theyummylife.com/Slow_Cooker_Apple_Cinnamon_Oatmeal but I'll be honest because I was up at 5:30 am I just put the oatmeal in the crockpot with water, spices and let it set.  By the time people are up and moving it'll be all set and I'll be able to add homemade applesauce to make it super yummy!

And to help kick of Apple Dumpling Day - I have all the stuff I need for Apple Pie Bites!  Again super easy recipe: http://quick-dish.tablespoon.com/2013/04/11/apple-pie-crescent-bites/ and will make today go by with lots of things to do!

The waiting continues....

I am ever so grateful for this website: https://www.facebook.com/kplayak they have every day of the week put out on Monday so you can help celebrate!  Yesterday my daughter and I made play dough in honor of play dough day!  It's been fun to keep track of and help keep our minds off the waiting!

The waiting goes on...and on...I originally had my face to face interview in New York City on July 17th from there I waited for the offer letter which arrived on August 18th and currently I'm waiting on the visa and tickets which will take my daughter and I on to our new "Great Big Adventure".  The waiting is hard, the funds are getting low and my daughter just wants friends to play with and I'm just ready to begin working (weird I never thought I'd say that!)  Yesterday she made a birthday cake with play dough and her wish was to get on an airplane...I think the waiting has gotten to her as well.  But what is a Mom to do?  There are times like this that I wish I could fast forward to a different month and things would be done and ready to go but it is what it is.

Life has not been without joy though!  This past weekend I enjoyed time at the Neon Vibe 5k with some great friends!  It was worth the drive and better yet it kept my mind on other things - wondering if I'll be in town this weekend to do the Detroit Women's Half Marathon but that's not in my hands...

Time to start again...

So the point of blogging is to get thoughts out and share them with those that you love and care about...right?  And here I was consistently slacking as I let life take control of me and not the other way around.  Although I'm no longer in Alaska that's when this blog was started so I figured I'd just keep going as another adventure is awaiting me!

I'm currently waiting on my visa and ticket information so that my now 3 year old and I can head off to the UAE in the Middle East.  I am currently in limbo and not liking it a whole lot...as patient as I am I am ready for the adventure to start and start it will...the problem is finding out when.

Yet I digress the other issue is that my running has not been great and in that I've lost my stamina and desire to run, although not that great to begin with (I did finish a half marathon and a 25k this past spring) I was hoping to be further ahead and yet I let life get the best of me.  Therefore I am now taking it upon myself to take control of life!

This new blog will be dedicated to life as a single parent, living overseas, budgeting and getting healthy...again.  Here's to hoping it all works out!