Can This Be Happening...

I am turning into a SLOB...not really...but this apartment is being overtaken by bows, clips, flip-flops, toys, art supplies, dolls, stuffed animals, paper, etc!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In my former life if my house looked like the photos for a minute...I'd be having a heartache...NO JOKE!!! In my new life, who cares!!! I clean-up at the end, or the end of the day (with the help of daddy) and tell myself...it doesn't really matter!!! I walked around today and was like "OH, my GOD!" "Can this be??" So, I thought I'd photograph it. Purpose of this entry...make you all feel exceptionally great about what a nice clean home you have!!! Anything, next to these photos is immaculate!!!!

Photos, Photos, and More Photos!!

See...I not only scrapbook albums for Fayth, I print about 75% of what I take and put them in "generic albums!" Each album holds 432 pictures. I started this the day we moved in here and I'm currently on album 7 and towards the end of it and only through January of this year!!! Yikes...I need to slow down I think. However; the best thing...I will have photos with all of our Dubai memories forever and ever and they will be Fayth's someday!!! She LOVES to look through photo albums, as I've said in the past, and last night spent about an hour sitting at my desk, by herself, flipping through the two most recent I just finished!! Wondering why Walgreens DOESN'T keep them in order. URGH...when you order in bulk, a few times a year , it takes longer to put them in order than to put them in the stinkin album!!!

Welcome Home DADDY!!

SURPRISE...!!! Literally...more like HOLY SH**!!! We were expecting him late tonight and at 8:45 am daddy came "crashing" in the door!!! See...the door was unlocked because we had started making a "Welcome Home Sign" and just hung the background to the sign at about 8:00!!! Well, in walks daddy and I think I "wet" myself!! I felt my heart jump out of my body!! Fayth...she went running!!! So, after 15 long days in the USA for business and some pleasure ,too, on the weekend...daddy is back (well kinda)...he is sick, run down, and so so so exhausted and we are so happy!!! All Fayth wanted to do was jump on him, chat with him, and play with him!!! All daddy wanted to do...was die!!! I got him some "drugs" right away, and he retired to the bedroom for about 5 hours!! He needed it!! Fayth and I hit the pool to give him some peace and quiet and then had Subway for lunch!! Then, Daddy and Fayth went back to the pool this afternoon while I worked on bows!! Dinner tonight...PIZZA...we're all pooped and it sounded good and easy!! We missed daddy while he was gone but really had a great two weeks of "girl time!" not to mention full use of the car!! Woo-who...it was fun!!

Best part of the trip for us gals...all the "loot" I've shipped to the Evenson/Splinter house knowing he was going home!!! We have deodorant, shampoo, razors, clothes for Fayth, shoes for Fayth, photos, photo albums, Flip-Flops galore and 25 more pairs waiting to be brought back this summer, bow clips and so much more!! Also, the "presies" from Gramie & Papa for a little lady!! Thanks...she loved em!!

Best part of the trip for Jon...seeing his family, sister, and kids & staying with them at the Lake house, golfing in the Rick Rand outing with his buddy Tim, dad, and co-workers, and stopping to see my folks...especially "mom" after her knee surgery and being able to 'hand deliver' some "get well soon" flowers!! He had a nice trip home but is paying the price now!! Hopefully in a few days he'll be in ship-shape form.

SOOOOOOOOOOOO...WELCOME HOME DADDY!!!

Out To Dinner...

and well deserved!!! Jon has been traveling for the last 15 days and we've missed him here!!! Mommy was looking for a "little break." So, last night, I decided to hire Mary...our lovely babysitter...and go out to dinner with Lauren and KellyAnne!! An Outback Steakhouse has opened here and we had "vouchers"...so we decided to go check it out!! I couldn't wait all day...I love OUTBACK and could taste their yummy salad & coconut shrimp~~!!! So, we headed out to dinner, just us three, and had a great time chatting about girly stuff!!! The salad was good but no comparison to the great salads served back home. We did get the loaf of bread and it totally tasted the same!! The shrimp was great and the french fries yummy!! All three of us chowed down as we hadn't eaten much all day waiting for our dinner out!! After dinner we hit the Dubai Mall's, Kikki K. store, that is going out of business. I am the proud new owner of five binders, tabs, cutie boxes, page protectors, stationary, pens, a pen holder, etc...for when we move home someday!! Stuff was dirt cheap and I LOVE the store. Everything was 70% off and we all went nuts!! I love organizing and this stuff will make it even that much more fun!! I'd love to have a kitchen desk someday or white Pottery Barn Hutch, and these things will be perfect for it!! So, we left at 7:00 and home by 10:30. A great night out and all funded by "the bow fund!" Gotta love it!!

TOO Much of a GOOD thing??

Is there ever "too much of a good thing?" Well, when it comes to picture frames, my answer,

"Hell No!" As most ALL of you know...it's just "in my genes" to love photos, pictures, and frames!!! See...I have these skills coming from every direction possible...any one of the Berlin, Easton, Evenson, Grass, Schlee, and Splinter Family Homes are COVERED with pictures!!! We all just love pictures and keep Walgreens & Kodak very busy!!! So, anyway...while living in Dubai...there hasn't been much of my style available in the "old frame department!" However; JACKPOT at the Dubai Mall Index Store today!!! Yippee...so...how many of the same frames did I buy...5...of one kind and 2 of the other...do I care that they all match...nope!!! Love em!!! Love, Love, Love Em!!! I guarantee these cutie white frames will be coming home with us someday!! I actually thought a "cluster" of the 5 would be adorable on a wall in a powder room, laundry room, or bedroom!!! Am I excited...just a little!!! Oh, the little things in life that make me SOSOSO happy!!!

Just Lovin' her Babies!!!

When I got out of the shower today and walked into the family room...she was patting the backs of her babies and bunny was sitting next to her!! It was so adorable...I quick grabbed the camera and took a few photos!! Then, I made her pose for the last ones!! Gotta love the outfit!!

Sidebar...had to adjust the jeans a few gazillion times...First they were too tight, then too big, she is so fussy about "binding clothes"... she is so use to loose outfits, dresses, and sandals!! IT ALL has to be soft and the tags have to be cut out of everything...oh, wait...once again, something from me...I HATE tags, too!!

Just wait until we move home next fall and she's wearing jeans, corduroys, and long underwear under her clothes!!! Talk about binding...I may need Prozac to handle that!!! Robin knows...I'm not kidding...we had a MAJOR meltdown over a swimming suit when she was here!!! Fun times...see this blog isn't all rosy...I am normal...there are days "things" drive me CRAZY!!! But 98% of the time...she's perfect!!! Yeah, right!!! :-)

The Adorable Flip-Flop!!

The finished product!!! It did turn out totally cute...and YES, I did help!!!

Some Cards and ArtWork...

The last few weeks when I've dropped Fayth off at school...she is like a celebrity and waves to everyone and says "hi" or "good morning" to the security guards and ladies at the front desk of the Hayya Club. (Her preschool is located inside of the Club). They ALL know her by name and she is always just so friendly. Wonder where she gets that from??!! :-)

I talk to everyone and even the walls sometimes!!! Anyways, Fayth and I chatted & decided it would be nice to make a few cards for the guard and ladies at the desk!! So, wa-la...here they are!! Today when I scoop her up...she is going to hand them out!! Always good to teach kids about giving and making others feel good!!

So Big...

but yet so Little!!! This is my munchkin at nap yesterday!!! Gotta love it!!! She loves her animals all so much!!! I love how Elmo is HUGE and she's holding onto him for dear life !!! Just cute!!!

Swimming Lessons

This summer, I thought Fayth was ready to have some swimming lessons and really be able to follow directions. We started private lessons, right here in our "backyard" on Sunday night. She was a little scared of the instructor at first and didn't want to go...but after warming up to him, she did great!! However; next week, in order for her to continue she needs to go under the water!! Ya...good luck with that. She loves the water...she is actually a great little "dogie paddler"...she floats on her back...she jumps in with or with our water wings in the small pool...but going under water, for her, is a HUGE scare!!! So, we'll see how that goes. I've decided I need to leave the pool area when lessons are taking place. She got out of the pool three times to RUN over, kiss me, and run back in to listen!! It was sweet but "Stephen" is a serious instructor and his time is precious. A ton of us use him and we're lined up like like cattle...every half an hour a new child has a lesson!! So, yeah for you Fayth...Keep up the good work!!

Put in Your ORDER... :-)

I've had a bunch of personal emails regarding my bows & if they are for sale?? So, what I've decided to do before my next show is lay them out and let you shop via this blog. I am running low on colors so "get em' while I've still got em'" I will be ordering more ribbon to scoop up this summer while I'm home. So...All you have to do is click the picture to enlarge it and you should be able to see the various color combinations. I won't be able to deliver them until late July or August when I am home this summer. It is much too expensive to ship home. They are 5.00 a korker, 2.00 a small bow, and 5.00 a large bow. The flowers are 5.00 a flower and each head band is one inch thick and is 1.50. They come in various colors and stretch to the size of any head!! All the bows and flowers are on a two inch alligator clips. The bow clips are covered in the grosgrain material as well. All the bows and flowers are made detachable so you can interchange any bow with any headband. The clips do not snag your child's hair and stay put rather nicely. I still tend to use a rubber band first and then slip the bow in the hair. Most of the "korkers" I have pairs of so you can use them for "piggy tails!" (some of the duplicates aren't shown but I have them aside) I will keep them laid out for one week on our kitchen table. So, just shoot me an email SOON (by Thursday, June 4th), only if you are interested, and tell me what row and what number korker you like...and I'll bag em' up for you...make a receipt...and deliver this summer. Thanks for the interest!! Happy Shopping!!

My email is suzanne.c.evenson@gmail.com

Please use that address to place your order!!

Karl's Birthday Party

Fayth's little friend, from school, had a "Burger King" party in the Function Room of our towers this weekend. Talk about a well organized party. From start to finish the "hired BK workers" threw a happening party. We sang, danced, played games, did tug-o-war, adults did contests, a magician came, face painting, "Snaps" the dressed up girl arrived, and the list goes on and on!! And to think Fayth had a well organized party...well, I have risen my expectations for myself and have until next year to prepare!!! It was such a great party and the kids had a ball, of course!! They even asked each child what kind of meal they'd like and then they were delivered hot (mind you...well, I guess we do live in the desert) the last 20 minutes of the party!! WOW!! The only thing it didn't have going for itself...earplugs for the parents to "lessen the pitch about 10 octaves!" Other than that...a perfectly wonderful 3rd birthday!! The coolest thing, like most events we attend, we were the only Americans and I get to mingle with all the parents from all over the world. A pattern I've noticed about myself, I tend to always "hang" or "really like" the Lebanese or Turkish people!! Just an observation, I've made!! I like "everyone"...but tend to flock to them!!

Final thought...for those of you who have three and four children...what the heck...are you at a birthday party LIKE EVERY WEEKEND or perhaps even two a weekend... and are you broke??!!

P.S. Karl's daddy is the man I referred to in an earlier blog as the Cartier manager!! Didn't have any time to shop talk...wanted to hear about his job!! To bad the goodie bag wasn't something a small box filled with something shiny!! Shucks!!

Oh, well...a girl can always DREAM!!

Thanks, Karl...we had a blast!! And that cake...OH, MY...to die for!! (Got the name of the Lebanese Lady who has a business out of her home and makes the gorgeous cakes...may need to sell a few thousand bows so we can have one of those cakes next year...bet she does an AMAZING Barbie!)