BISAD

Sydney got accepted into the British International school for Sept 2010, yeah. She is off to the big school now.

She will be in school from 7:45am to 1:00pm and she as a option to have a after school program on Sundays for a hour, but we will see if she is up to it since she is still taking naps these days.

They have a parent group at the school and you can go on field trips and read in the classes and help where you can so it should be a lot of fun.

We will miss Stepping Stones, but we are looking forward to the new school.

She can eat at school or take her lunch they have a restaurant style there at the cafeteria where they bring there hot lunch to them.

We are going to a open house on June 2 to see her classroom and do activities there and meet the teachers. I am hoping Sydney will have a lot of fun that day at her new school.

I am already taking Sydney to BISAD for swimming on Saturday mornings and I am hoping that since she has already been going there it will make a easier adjustment to a new school, but meeting some new classmates should help too.

Everyone is going to be new at the open house. We plan on going for support and then Stepping Stones is having there summer concert as well so we have a busy day ahead of us, but we are looking forward to it.

Nuclear Security Summit

On April 12-13, 2010, President Obama hosted a Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, DC, to enhance international cooperation to prevent nuclear terrorism, an issue which he has identified as the most immediate and extreme threat to global security. President Obama has invited over 40 nations to participate, including the United Arab Emirates, represented by His Highness, General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. These nations represent a diverse set of regions and various levels of nuclear materials, energy, and expertise. The goals of the Nuclear Security Summit are to come to a common understanding of the threat posed by nuclear terrorism, to agree to effective measures to secure nuclear material, and to prevent nuclear smuggling and terrorism. The Summit will focus on the security of nuclear materials, leaving other broad topics such as nonproliferation, disarmament, and peaceful nuclear energy to different forums.

I thought it was really cool that they have the Presidents together in a photo. Our US President and the President of the UAE.

Lord of the Dance

The world's most profitable dance show is coming to Abu Dhabi June 23-25 the Lord of the Dance. Created by the famous Irish-American dancer and choreographer, Michael Flatley in 1996, the show features more than 40 dancers retelling time honored tales of Good vs Evil handed down through Irish folklore, blending tradition with the latest in theater design and pyrotechnics.

Flatley, known for his Guinness Book of Records feat of the Fastest feet in the World delivering a staggering 35 taps per second. WOW!!

Abu Dhabi Weekly Magazine

Abu Dhabi weekly puts out every Thursday a local magazine and it got voted best in its class by the BPA for magazine publisher's so this week they were so excited and since the magazine was produced 18 months ago they have published 81,659 free magazines here in Abu Dhabi. Some people didn't think they would have that much to talk about in a local magazine, but I think it is great you get to see what is happening around the area and if you are new like we were it is nice to get the inside scoop on the Capitol city. Thanks Abu Dhabi weekly.

Middle East Leading Destination

Abu Dhabi has been named the Middle East's Leading Destination. The top honor, presented at the World travel awards 2010, marked another achievement for the capital-and the first time a destination other than Dubai has received the award.

Wow way to go Abu Dhabi.

Ferrari World opening soon

It's official Ferrari World is opening up October 28, 2010, three weeks before the second Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix.

Stats on the fastest roller coaster in the world Formula Rossa, it is designed to simulate the performance of Ferrari's F1 cars, accelerating from 0 to 100kph in just two seconds and reaching speeds of 240 kph. The ride is so fast that occupants are provided with protective eyewear to shield against the wind.

The park will also contain over 20 extra rides.

I have been waiting to see when they were going to open it and when I was at Yas Island a few weeks ago I couldn't believe how far they have come and so let the count down begin.

Our foster dogs

Marco was our first SAD puppy. His new forever family renamed him Shorty. I got to be apart of the adoption and see him go on adoption trail what an experience and it is so wonderful that the family that took him on adoption trail did in fact adopt him.

Jenny was our second foster puppy. Her new forever family renamed her Mia.

Hamish is our third foster puppy.


Ever since we moved into our villa I knew I wanted to foster some of the dogs with SAD and once our dogs arrived and got settled I did just that. So far we have fostered three puppy's at different times this year. Two were saluki's brother and sister Marco and Jenny. Our latest puppy is a crossbreed named Hamish. Both saluki's have found there forever homes and we are looking forward to Hamish's adoption very soon. Since we already have two dogs we don't really want to take on another dog and this is a way to help out SAD and help mold these dogs for there adopted families. The dogs are with different foster families as we try and cut costs since there is only one kennel here in Abu Dhabi and it is even better for the dogs because they get to be with people before there adopted families come along. Most of these dogs have been abandoned on the streets and by chance we have collected them or a good Samaritan turned them into SAD at the hope we could find them a forever home. We have homed more dogs then ever last year and since SAD was founded 4 years ago this past April we continue to make more SAD dogs happy.

SAD Ball

Beth and the SAD sign we really do make SAD dogs happy
Beth, Shavon and
Beth and Shavon with our Masquerade masks
Beth with her Masquerade mask

The Strays of Abu Dhabi Masquerade ball was held on April 30, 2010. The SAD ball helps raise 60% of our funds for the year. This year the ball was held at the Crown Plaza on Yas Island. We had great food and wonderful prizes and a live auction. I went with some friends and enjoyed a great night out with the girls. We raised 95,000 aed at this fundraiser. That is more than last year. Way to go SAD, we did it!!!

Internatioanl Babylost Mother's Day

May 2, 2010 is International Babylost Mother's day. Women who have lost their children come together in their own special ways to celebrate International Babylost Mother's Day, a day created by Carly Dudley to honor the never-ending bond between a babylost mother and her child.

I didn't even know they had such a day, but I am so thankful that I got to celebrate Angela today for her special mother's day. We honored Angela today by a special flower to call her very own.

We planted a red Ixora in honor of Angela today. Paul took some pictures of me planting the flower and Sydney even helped mom it was so cute. After we were done planting the flower I put the prayer shawl on and took a photo with the plant. It was a very special moment for me and after that Paul was able to put the camera on a timer and we all were able to get in the photo. I think she was smiling down on are family today during the whole planting experience. God gave us just anuff light to finish planting the flower.

Our house feels complete now that we planted something for Angela because at the other house we did too and it just seems more complete now. We will be able to see the plant everyday because it is outside our dinning room so every time we eat we will see it. I am so glad we were able to be apart of IBMD today while other moms out there shared something special to honor there child as well. We are so blessed to have had two little girls.

Angela Nicole Batey October 8, 2008-October 8, 2008

You will always be our little girl Angela and may you rest in peace until we meet again.