HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

HAVE A SAFE & WONDERFUL NEW YEAR'S EVE!!

*********2009*********

Cards, Cards, Cards Galore!!

We received seven in the mail a few days ago and five in the mail yesterday. I am pretty impressed that we have received so many cards from so many of you. Funny though...some were sent WEEKS and WEEKS ago and others just last week. That pretty much sums up the mail system here in Dubai. And our friend Karen Baird...she is the FIRST to always send hers out...She always mails them to her friends & family so they get them the day after Thanksgiving...and guess what...we don't have hers yet!! NO JOKE...I guess you just never know!

We have LOVED seeing the photos, reading the letters, and hearing the stories! It's fun checking the mailbox everyday. I have started a "wall of fame" here in Dubai. Not much room in our apartment so the sliding glass doors have become the holding spot for all of your wonderful cards!! Thank you for paying the extra postage and sending your wishes to Dubai. I bet more are coming...maybe we will have them all by the end of January!! I just keep building "up" with them!!

BTW...for PJ and Kristen...Gilbert's picture is NOT on the wall because it has been added to Fayth's new photo album from Santa that she carries in her backpack. She has all her little friends in it and shows it off at the playground! I had to write this because PJ & Kristen are great friends and follow the blog and PJ WOULD NOTICE THIS and I don't' want him to feel that Gilbert is unloved!!

More Hello Kitty

Yes, the presents just keep on a comin'. Fayth's new friend, Max, bought her a Christmas gift. She was so excited it was from him!! She kept saying "Mac" present because she can't say Max. Well, she loves her new coloring/sticker book, her hair clips, and adorable Hello Kitty stuffed animal. Question... can you guess where Hello Kitty is...YES...in the doll house. The doll house has become a "holding ground" for all of her fake friends!! Thanks Max...you are a thoughtful little guy!! And you should know where you stand...In Fayth's eyes...you are "DA MAN!"

Drinks at the Neighbors

Friday evening we were invited to tower 5...right next door...to have drinks and appetizers with my friend Zeina, her husband Simon, and another couple Aysun & Semih. It was just what we needed. It felt "festive" to be with new friends! The kids ran around and Fayth didn't want much to do with Zeina's three boys!!!! None the less...it was still fun! Jon and I tag-teamed all night. Both families bought Fayth Christmas gifts. She received a French bingo game with animals & dominos and a tin box of princess puzzles. It was such a nice gesture from both of them. And what does the "American bring"...Food...I made a triple recipe of guacamole!!

Aysun and her husband would like to start a family soon. However; after the evening was over (to many stories to blog about)...I guarantee they've changed their minds!!!!!!!

It was a wonderful evening and we even sampled foie gras (duck liver) a delicacy in Paris. Zeina's friend shipped it to her! It is a tradition in France. Would we eat it again...??? probably not! However; the peach vodka and grapefruit juice went down like water! Good thing we walked and live right next door! Great times with new fun friends!!

Christmas Afternoon at the Beach!

After naptime we headed to the beach for some FUN IN THE SUN!! It was fun to play in the sand on Christmas Day! This will probably never happen again since next year we plan on being home for the holidays! The entire day will be a fond memory Jon and I will have forever!

What a WONDERFUL DAY!

Now, "Can I just play please?"

Thank you EVERYONE for all of my new things! I love my presents! xxxooo Fayth

What a wonderful fun day!!!

It Continues...

11. Another gorgeous "handmade" album from Gammy! Mommy loved it!

12. "A hat...I love hats!" also..."Clothes for sunny hot Dubai...YIPPEE!" Between the grandma's we have a new summer wardrobe! (mommy likes this...they both have impeccable taste!)

13. "My very own princess backpack filled with tons of stickers & books!"

14. "EIEIO"..."This could be my favorite toy..." "Giggle, giggle, dance...dance...dance!"

15. "Yes, I am finally pooped out!" "Wow...I KINDA like this Christmas "thing!"

Next Five!

6. Tinkerbell..."I love the this lime green girl!"

7. The dancing bear..."Daddy, isn't she cute!"

8. "Oh, what is this over here in the corner?"

9. "This is great fun, I think I'll rearrange the bedroom!"

10. "A CAMEL"...no, Fayth, an Alpaca! "I don't care what it is...it's adorable!"

Christmas Photos!

The blog doesn't let you post more than five photos at a time so I will post them and list underneath a few words...First of all, we wouldn't have had nearly as special of a Christmas if it weren't for both families and aunties sending Fayth so many presents! We felt like we had a little bit of everyone with us for the morning. They spent more money on shipping than you can even imagine not to mention having to be wrapped and organized WEEKS in advance so the presents would arrive on time. For all of this, we are grateful, and FAYTH is a lucky little lady! She had JUST THE BEST DAY!! To our families...we love you and we send big hugs & kisses...only 39 days and we will get to squeeze you in person!! Hurray!!

1. First glance at the presents, "OH, my!"

2. Stocking from Santa..."Anything, else down there?" It was filled with Hello Kitty & Pooh bear loot...Santa must have had fun filling this!

3. This gift was from the guy in red..."A bike, thank you, Santa!"

4. "I am lovin' this bike!"

5. Concentrating...just so busy!!

Our Christmas in Dubai...

I'm going to mainly post photos and give you a snapshot of our day!

We had so much fun!

Christmas Eve...Jon building a doll house! Gammy & Papa Evenson always like to do ONE big item...well...it would have been a mortgage payment to ship a doll house so I got to shop for it, Jon assembled it, and the "Gammy & Papa" paid for it.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

WE WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS! IT'S JUST SO FUN, ISN'T IT??

EAT LOTS, DRINK LOTS, AND BE MERRY!!

SENDING MUCH LOVE AND HUGS FROM DUBAI...

The Evenson Family of Three

It's already 8:15 p.m. Christmas Eve and Fayth is all cozy and snug in her bed, daddy is building a doll house, mommy is drinking wine and updating the blog, and Santa & his reindeer better be working up an appetite. They will have a plate of food to eat including the biggest carrots you've ever seen!

We didn't sprinkle reindeer food here...I didn't want to get kicked out of our apartment. The grounds are "JUST SO"...oh well, next year!! Cheers!! And Merry Christmas!!

Almost a WHITE Christmas!!!

This morning, Christmas Eve morning, when we woke up it was WHITE and foggy outside!!! It was like nothing I'd ever experienced especially living up this high with windows surrounding our apartment. It was so beautiful over the tower...Jon rushed outside to take a photo. I love how the fog was deep, thick and low and just the tower "peeked" out at the top...surreal.

Then about a half an hour later it was spooky........white, white and more white. I could barely see a few feet out of the windows. I sent a friend here in Dubai an email that said "We may have a white Christmas after all!" I tried to take a photo and the camera wouldn't work because it had nothing to focus on but WHITE THICK FOG! Finally, the fog lifted and then the top of the tower was covered and the lower downtown Dubai was back in our view as good as new!! It was really neat. Wish my former 1st grade students could have watched it from our windows. What a powerful lesson about fog and the process it goes through! Turns out it was a blue sky beautiful day!! No WHITE Christmas after all!!

Bling Bling

No, not diamonds from Jon for Christmas... It is a Christmas tree that is 80 feet high on the Marina Promenade, at Festival City Mall, that is covered in Swarovski crystals. You'll just have to imagine this blog...I didn't have our camera with us! Swarovski sent a team of 15 to work around the clock in order to fill the 1,466 branches with the sparkling crystals...40,000 of them to be exact!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BLING BLING...it is just stunning!!! The tree topper is made from 25 crystal stars!!! The tree took one day to build but ten days to decorate. I was just in awe...it was just glowing, sparkling and gorgeous. Oh, how I would love to have a Swarovski tree in my family room!!

Seeing Santa

After baking yesterday, we headed to Souk Madinat Jumeirah for a festive evening at the Christmas market. It was filled with snacks, shopping booths, entertainment, a huge model railway, Santa's sleigh and the "BIG GUY!" All of it was outdoors near the Burj Al Arab. Fayth was so excited and said "Santa" all day long. She even knew what she was going to tell him she wanted...a Pooh boat! We dressed her all up, dressed up Dollie, made a plate of cookies and headed out. Standing in line she smiled ear to ear and couldn't wait. Finally, it was her turn...she took my finger and headed towards the BIG man in red! I sat her on his lap, she checked him out, turned to me and was thinking to herself..."Ooohhh...he's a little scary up close and personal...not as chubby and cute like my books!" I want my mommy!" No tears...but you could just see the fear in her eyes. Of course daddy was taking a boat load of photos. So, seeing Santa this year was bit easier than last...Maybe next year she'll actually tell him what she wants and smile on his lap!! We'll have to wait and see!! HO HO HO!!! Merry Christmas!!

YUMMY Cookies!!!

These are just SOME of the finished cookies!!

Cookies Galore!!!

Cookies, cookies, and more cookies!!!

A mess, a bigger mess, the biggest mess we've EVER had!!!

We had a fun time baking over 160 Christmas cookie cut-outs yesterday! Three and a half hours later...we were pooped...but not finished...we had Santa to go see and a kitchen to tackle!

We have made plates of cookies for our concierges, friends, security staff, and people Jon work with. We have also kept a TON for ourselves. Last night after dinner Jon had four and said if I headed to bed he was going to eat the whole tray!!!

NO SNOW DAY HERE!!!

As the emails came pouring in...and Skype calls from friends & family at home snowed in...we headed outside to a "chilly" 70 degrees in a spring jacket. Thanks to the Bardgett family (former first grade family), Fayth has a fabulous green wind breaker!!! She got to wear the jacket for the first time since we've been here. To us, it felt a bit "cool" outside!! SORRY...I just had to!!!

Our Friend Mayleen

Our friend Mayleen is a cafe waitress at the nearby AlManzil, where Jon spends a lot of time because of wireless hookup and the quiet atmosphere it has for working. Mayleen has headed home for a month to spend time with her three kids and husband. She is from the Philippines and hasn't been home for three years. Most of the hotel workers are women and from the Philippines. They sign a contract for one visit every three years. There isn't a worker we have met that is single. Most of them are married with numerous children. Can you imagine??

So, we went to say good-bye to Mayleen our friend and babysitter, and wish her a wonderful visit with her family. Fayth made her a homemade card which brought tears to her eyes! She will return at the end of January, we hope!!??!!

You should have seen the HUGE gingerbread house in the cafe...Fayth wanted to touch every nook and cranny!!