Monday to Friday--Trying to ignore the sound of that ticking clock

This last week was full with filling our luggage. We had left behind a fair bit of stuff and worked at trying to fit it all into our luggage. The problem with going so long without certain items is that one comes to realize how little one actually needs or wants them. So, it was with no shortage of ambivalence that I stuffed duffle bags with books and DVDs that may or may not get read in the coming years. Oh well. One thing that we left behind towards which there is absolutely no ambivalence is our lego collection. Collection may be a little imprecise when talking about a thirty pound bin of odds and ends, but Legos are not cheap in Abu Dhabi and our children have lamented more than once over the past year about not having the perfect piece for one of their constructions.

Monday night I went out to see Rise of the Planet of the Apes with a couple of friends of mine. I had to leave Liam behind because he still had some school to finish up with.I really wanted to take him along, but abandoning him was the responsible thing. Sometimes being a Dad is no fun at all.

Liam really pulled out all the stops, Julie too, to finish up with his schooling for the year. He pulled an all nighter on Thursday (Julie did too) and was finally able to really enjoy his summer starting Friday.

Did I delegate lulling James to sleep to Grandma? Yup.

Not a lot of sun for swim lessons, but lot's of fun!

Do I look homeless? That's what Liam says.

Thursday morning was spent tutoring Dad in a few computer related areas. Thursday afternoon was more packing and swim lessons. Thursday night we went down to the Hamachi Steakhouse for a great Japanese dinner (and show). It was Miranda's birthday dinner and we were all glad that Grandma and Grandpa invited us along for the celebrations.

Friday was a full one. More packing in the morning. Then Julie and I had a great visit with our friends Rory, Sarah, Gail and Joe. The basic theme of the afternoon was, "Things aren't perfect in Abu Dhabi, but it is pretty great. Please come back with us." Not sure how well we sold the experience, but it wasn't for lack of trying.

While we were lunching, Grandma, Lucy, Miranda and James were off to www.themonkeyshow.ca, a new favourite place in Halifax. We discovered it just before we left and as you can see from the pictures below, the kids were pretty happy we happened upon it. Grandma put her sewing expertise to work for James, but Lucy and Miranda pretty much constructed their sock monkeys from scratch.

My, what pretty eyes you have.

It was a rush to get to the pool for swim lessons, but we made it. It was a pretty novel experience Friday because the sun actually made an appearance.

James' newfound bravery around water is a little disconcerting.