Masdar City, the "City of the Future!"

Abu Dhabi is working on a city that is completely green.  It has electric cars that run on an a track of magnets.  It has no steering wheel or driver! 

 The "city" uses all sorts of environmentally cool things. It has solar panels, wind tunnels for air conditioning and cool windows. There is a university there with housing.  It is still very small but it has some big ideas!

Wadi Adventures part 2

We still had all our gear on so they strapped us up to the zip line! Nothing like flying!

Bennet went first!

Colette

Look, no hands!

Ashtonn, doing the splits mid air!

Dallin

The last time I did this I broke my arm. This time it ended much better!

 We then took turns getting strapped to a big log and dropped from 3 stories! They call it the "Swing".
I think my stomach took a swing!

Wadi Adventures part 1

Al Ain is home to a cool place called Wadi Adventures. It is about an hour drive outside of Abu Dhabi.  You get to see some big beautiful sand dunes and cool mountain tops on the way there.

I didn't think you could fit 6 camels in a truck!

We went rafting first.

 We did well enough for the biggest of the rivers! Bennet took pictures for us the second time around.

 Our guide had fun dunking our raft with water but he got us through the big rapids!

Next, we strapped up for the obstacle course!  The course has two levels both high of the ground. The kids were so brave that I had to pretend I wasn't scared off my tush!

Colette and Ashtonn

Colette made it look easy!

Dallin, the original "Spider-Man"!

Go Gregg!!!

That's Dallin and I on the top! We are awesome!

Bennet was a natural! He didn't even look scared! 

My 10 day trip to the USA

I was able to take a quick trip home to Oregon to attend my grandfather's funeral.  It was so nice to see most of my family!

I had to eat at Chipotle to get my burrito bowl!

I stocked up on Swedish Fish and Sour Patch kids.

Oh how I miss Panera! 

My Silly big brother and my sweet cousin.

More cousins and my sis on my left.

Izaak, this boy makes me happy!

Cousin Lavone and her goofy husband, Erik. :)

Welcome Winter! I forget how beautiful it is!

Easter Oregon is amazing!

Grandma celebrating her 90th birthday!

Love these folks! Family is the best!

Do you see the smily face in the snow?

My nephews got to keep some of their Great Grandpa's ties.

My awesome Bro-in-law hooked me up with a birthday dinner and dessert! Love him!

Some of my most favorite people in the world!

My sister is my BFF!

My mom and step-dad. Is it possible to love people so much!?

My fab little sister.

Our Hero, Our Grandpa.

My Grandpa passed away this January.  He was my hero and friend.  He served his country and family every day of his life. He and his amazing wife, were pioneers in our faith and taught us the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He will be missed very much but I know that he is very busy on the other side of the veil. I know he is taking care of our family and watching out for us!

 Grandpa Holdren holding his first baby, my mom.

 The two scandalous lovers . . . oh yeah, they have a story . . .

 My Grandpa at work. He was a pioneer in the use of hypnosis.

 Grandpa served faithfully for his country and even served during "Operation Desert Storm" in the 90's.
His life was spared many times during WWII. God had big plans for him.