Week Twelve

75/365
Women's mosque. The men and women have seperate mosques. Men are expected to pray five times per day and just before it is time to pray, a man comes on a loudspeaker at the mosque and recites what sounds like a very loud prayer/song in Arabic letting everyone know it's time to get to the mosque to pray.


76/365


77/365
One of the things I love about Abu Dhabi is how green it is. When we first moved here, I preferred Dubai b/c it was more "westernized" but now that I have spent more time here in Abu Dhabi, I actually prefer it to Dubai. It's a much prettier city and they do an excellent job of keeping everything very green and well manicured.

78/365

Happy One Year Court Day! Artem was given a new motorcycle in honor of our one year anniversary for our court date in Moscow. This is the exact motorcycle that we bought him last October but that one is in Texas right now and he was really missing it. What can I say, Daddy's got a soft spot??

79/365

Today I attended my photogrpahy course in Dubai and learned so much from my awesome instructor. He helped me learn a lot about metering, ISO settings, shutter speeds, and the need for a tripod. He made us shoot everything on "manual" and I'm not scared of the "M" on my camera anymore and have shot exclusively in "manual" mode since I took the class. Now I've got to practice, practice, practice and I'd love to take another class at some point and build on my new foundation. I hope there is a difference in my pictures now that I've taken a basic course.
80/365

One of several pools at the Atlantis hotel we stayed at in Dubai.

81/365

The flowers at the Atlantis were breath taking!!

Week Eleven

68/365
This is the nail that broke while Randy was hammering and shot into my eye.


69/365
No pictures today b/c I was in the doctor's office again for my eye.

70/365
Artem is determined to conquer this wall. (Our live-in maid is helping Artem)


71/365
My favorite thing about Abu Dhabi is bendy straws!! I'm serious. All the restaurants have bendy straws and I love them.


72/365
My newest obessession...The Noodle House...a chinesse restaurant in Abu Dhabi. You mark your order on the form with the noodle shaped pens. The food is delicious and I ate duck for the first time in my life and I loved it!


73/365
Ever get the feeling you are being watched?

74/365

This crane is HUGE and was right outside our window. It was lifting up pre-formed cement slabs to create the dome of the new mosque they are building next to our building.

Week Ten

61/365
This is the way they trim fountain grass in Abu Dhabi. It's more like a stump rather than a fountain.


62/365
The Marina Mall


63/365
Drives me crazy just seeing his hair all bunched up but it doesn't even phase him.


64/365
Morning fog over the city.


65/365
Lebanesse food...my favorite!


66/365
Burj Al Arab in Dubai. They only 7 Star Resort in the world. We can only afford to take a picture of it rather than stay in it.


67/365
No pictures today. Randy hit me in the eye with the nail, on accident!

Week Nine

54/365
It's Spring, time for some color.


55/365
Just practicing shooting on 'manual' rather than automatic.


56/365
Artem and Bella are mesmerized by the moving truck out front.


57/365
My "assistant" while I pack for return trip to Abu Dhabi. I'll bet you can't guess what he's watching!!??


58/365
No pictures today b/c we were traveling.

59/365
Our little Jet Setter. In one year he has flown from Russia, flown to AZ, flown to Mexico, flown to FL, and flown two trips to Abu Dhabi. I will not be surprised if he grows up to be a pilot.


60/365
Moving sidewalks in the Khalidya Mall, Abu Dhabi.

Week Eight

47/365
Convoy! This is a daily occurrence at our house.


48/365
This is the reason we picked our lot to build on.


49/365
He is pure joy to my heart.


50/365
This is NO distracting him while Dora is on. It's the Dora Trance.


51/365
Bella's newest love...and don't think you are going to get it away from her.


52/365
Gardenia bloom


53/365
Just practicing post-processing with a landscape action in PSE.

Week Seven

40/365
Nana and Artem are on the lookout for a lost truck.


41/365
Who knew watching Daddy and Pops pressure wash the back patio could be so entertaining.


42/365
This is the climbing equipment at a local playground. Mama was not ready for Artem to go on it alone and since Mama does not like heights, Nana took Artem to the top.


43/365
This is just a shameless brag on Randy and his dad. They installed this indoor/outdoor carpeting for me on the back patio and did a great job. It's so nice for Artem to play on the carpet rather than on the cement. Now we just need the grass to green up for summer.


44/365

45/365

Artem got a stomach bug and puked all over Mama, yuck, so I gave him a bucket to puke in instead of on my lap and this is how he chose to use the bucket.

46/365

It doesn't get any better than this!

Week Six

33/365
Kisses for Charlie. Artem was so sweet when he met his new cousin Charlie. He wanted to rub his head, hold him, and give him kisses. I asked him if he'd like a baby brother or sister and he immediately said, "NO!"


34/365
I love how Artem finds such joy in the little things like collecting leaves.


35/365
I call Artem the "Mayor". He's always got something to do, someone to see, some place to be. I caught him in the pantry putting the fly swatter away. See #38 below to find out how come he needs the fly swatter.


36/365
We went to Nami's, a Japanese restaurant, and I thought Artem would be afraid when they lit the table on fire, but he stayed calm.


37/365
Artem could not wait any longer for mama to be finished with this train during photography practice. I caught the little thief in action.

38/365

Artem has discovered that the fly swatter can come in handy when his truck gets pushed too far under the couch. He saw me do this one time months ago, but remembered it when he needed it.

39/365

It's got to be a guy thing. He walks by the TV and automatically freezes.