Reunited in Singapore

Our hectic spring was well underway, and the much anticipated Courtright family vacation had finally arrived. We would be off to Singapore for 4 days while Connor played in a baseball tournament, and from there we planned to fly to Thailand for another 6 days to continue our vacation. But before we could head out on our trip, we had some special passengers to greet at the airport: Collin and Kevin!

Since Jeff and Connor had already left the day before for their flight to Singapore, Kaitlynn and I were the lucky ones to greet Collin and Kevin at the airport. We were excited to see them again and catch up on their lives lately. As of January, they had both moved to North Dakota to work in the oil fields there and hopefully make some good money. We were anxious to hear all about their new jobs as well as the 15-hour plane trip from Houston. Apparently they had quite the time on the airplane with their duty-free alcohol. Kevin managed to snap a photo of Collin that was an instant classic. HA!

After we grabbed a bite to eat at the airport, we made our way to our gate. Even though we had been apart for months, the kids fell right back into step with each other. Walking to our gate and then on our airplane, the boys and Kaitlynn were joking around and playfully teasing each other like they always do. Warms my heart so much!

When we planned our trip, it worked out best for us to take a red-eye flight to Singapore shortly after Collin and Kevin arrived in Dubai. That meant that they took the 15-hour flight from Houston, and then a few hours later, we all went together on the 8-hour flight to Singapore. OUCH! I didn't envy them for their trip, but Jeff and I figured they are young so they could handle it!

When we finally arrived in Singapore, it was a typical hot and muggy day. We took a taxi to meet up with Jeff and Connor at our hotel. Poor Kevin, he asked the taxi driver, "What day is it?" Collin and Kevin left Houston on a Monday night and arrived in Singapore mid-day Wednesday, thus losing an entire day. After over 24 hours of travel time plus a 13-hour time difference, they were understandably ragged and so happy to get to the hotel for some down time. Their hotel room had the best view of some of the most famous sites in Singapore. It was a cool welcome for them!

We were all wiped out from traveling, some more than others, but it was great to be reunited as a family of 6 in the amazing city of Singapore. We walked around some local markets for a while but the older boys were ready for some sleep, so we took it easy on the first night. Our 2019 family vacation was just beginning and there was so much more fun on the way!

Kaitlynn's Friends

Many in our circle of friends and family remember that Kaitlynn was probably the most reluctant of our family to make the move to Dubai. She was devastated to leave her friends and her comfortable surroundings behind for a brand new life in an unfamiliar environment.

Fast forward about 18 months and this girl feels right at home, surrounded by the sweetest, most amazing friends from all over the world. We've always known that our girl is a friend-making machine, and Dubai has been no different. From play dates, to sleepovers to birthday parties, I can't quite keep up with her social calendar!

14th Annual Dubai Little League Tournament

The regular season of Dubai Little League (DLL) baseball ended in mid-March, but the tournament season was still in full swing. In late March, Connor's traveling tournament team -- the 12U Dubai Falcons -- was ready to compete against another Dubai team, 2 Kuwait teams, and a team from Saudi Arabia for the 14th annual DLL Tournament. Last year Connor participated and his team came in last place, so he was anxious for a better showing this year. There was a LOT of baseball to be played during the tournament, and the Dubai weather was unseasonably cool making it the perfect weekend of fun competition.

Connor's team was upbeat about their chances and really excited to experience the tournament atmosphere throughout the long weekend. Connor had earned the position of starting catcher and had worked his way up in the batting order due to his on-base percentage. He had worked out of his previous winter slump and was playing some great ball.

The Dubai Falcons had a great showing in their first several games. For the first time in 6-7 years, our players beat the tough team from Saudi and made it to the championship game! The team was really gaining chemistry and having so much fun together. We were ready to see our players in action in the final game, playing for 1st place against the controversial team from Kuwait (haha).

When it was time for the big championship game, we fueled up beforehand with some American grub (Chili's, haha) and Connor managed to photo bomb me for the billionth time. He cracks me up.

And then it was game time! The weather conditions were typical Dubai - warm, hazy, and even a mild sand storm that was blowing during the entire game. That didn't stop our Falcons, though.

Connor played a great tournament and really contributed to a solid performance by the Falcons. So solid, in fact, that they won by over 10 runs in the championship game (and other games in the tournament)! It was exciting baseball and so fun to see our team take the top prize. It was our first time ever to experience a first place medal and trophy.

I'm not sure who was more excited - Connor or Coach Jeff. Big smiles all around! Jeff had to miss his favorite golf tournament in Dubai due to the tournament schedule but this win made it all worth it. Even in the sand storm!

Next up for the Dubai Falcons was the final tournament in Singapore. But first, a well-deserved nap!

Daddy Daughter Date

One thing that Kaitlynn has really missed while living in Dubai is the organized Father Daughter Dance event that her former elementary school would host each year. She decided to take matters into her own hands this spring. One evening after work, Jeff escorted Kaitlynn to her favorite local trampoline park followed by a special dinner together and a little shopping. It was the perfect night together for Daddy and Daughter alike.

ASD Middle School Falcons Track

When the season for track and field rolled around for middle school, Connor had no interest whatsoever in participating. Poor Connor has never been blessed with speed and agility, but considering that many of his friends are runners, we strongly encouraged (forced? haha) Connor to participate in track simply for the camaraderie and the experience. He begrudgingly went through the tryouts and was placed on the team, although he would tell you he was one of the slowest kids out there. He attended track practice several times a week during the short season, and we heard nonstop complaints the entire time. Due to many conflicts with our baseball schedule, Connor was only able to participate in one of the local track meets. I was happy to attend and witness the events in person, and despite Connor's negative attitude toward his track uniform a.k.a. "booty shorts," I could tell he was enjoying spending the afternoon/evening with many of his buddies.

Dubai Marina Cruise with the Lettows

On the Lettows' last night in Dubai, we decided to celebrate with a cruise in a yacht around the Dubai Marina. It sounded like the perfect way for them to see some of Dubai's hot spots up close and personal. We arrived at the Marina Walk before sunset and ordered some food from one of the nearby restaurants to take on the boat with us. It was a beautiful evening and a perfect chilly night to enjoy the sights -- such a special way to celebrate our time together with awesome friends!