MORP...what?

YES, ITS PROM SPELLED BACKWARDS. ITS ANOTHER UTAH THING. it seems that if there is a girl's choice dance right before a boy's choice dance, chances increase for more girls to be asked to the boy's choice dance...?? that is the logic anyway. and it works! haha. the dances are about one month apart.  there is even a special committee in student government that makes sure every girl gets asked to Prom. yes it is true. love provo!

but here is MORP

What was great about this dance is that there was so much family support (I had just had surgery for a tennis injury). Josh and his buddy Ashton were the servers, Brian was the chef, Patti set tables, and Kensie did Amy's hair. A big thank you to all! They are darling kids.  Amy has such good friends. And I have such a good family

lookin' fancy--brian did the flowers, yes

the theme was Mascarade, hence the mask

behind the scenes--those two are keepers--spending their friday night as waiters for a little sister? c'mon byu ladies--that's what you want in a man!

the cute couple

disneyland

 walt really had something worth sharing. we can never put our finger on it, but it truly is the happiest place on earth. amy's choir at timpview has a tradition of performing there. it is always a  fantastic experience because it is full of behind the scenes experiences for the students. here is some of what we did.  (brian and i were chaperones, of course!)

our favorite because of holden: carsland!

before/after

"we are not in provo anymore, brian"

what could have ended up in tragedy has become a great blessing for all of us.  amy sustained a "severe head trauma" after a fall at school. (just as she was recovery from her shoulder surgery) she missed all of third quarter of school and although has some residual pain (headaches and nausea) is on the mend! we are grateful!!

ABU DHABI

this is the garden outside or our room--we had a huge patio--80 degrees --until summer hits then about 120 degrees F

Abu Dhabi is made up of 20% emirates only. It is a beautiful, very safe country.  We enjoyed every minute of being there.

Red sand dunes (the farther you get from the coast, the more red they become)

This is closer to Dubai (the coast)

This is a brand new building just dedicated by Elder Holland.  The ward is warm, friendly , filled with saints from all over the world.

We are on our way up the mountain (in a car) Jabel Hafeet, a popular biking destination

Jabel Hafeet

At the camel market--yes you can buy one for about $1,000

This is also where you buy your sheep or goat

Marigolds are EVERY WHERE IN Al LAIN it is the birthplace of the Sheik who unified the Arab tribes to form the UAE, so it is a well planned-out and very beautiful city

babies (twins)

A natural hot spring where we stopped to visit the hot pools (men and women are separated of course)

it was nice a warm!

downtown Al Lain (where we would live)

this fort was the beginning of not only the city Al Lain but UAE altogether

The founder, Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan (looks like Lehi, don't you think?)

inside the fort--this is part of the restoration which is a museum

the first journey by a non-resident,  Sir Wilfred Patrick Thesiger, from Britain, who traversed the desert several times 

These are school girls who gave me a tour of their beautiful school, International School of Choueifat UAE(where Amy will attend if we go) It is extremely academic but we think she is up for the challenge :)

Bedoin clothing

when in Rome...or Abu Dhabi...