"PreSchool Practice"

Today, Fayth, headed to Cello Kids Club to practice going to "peeskool" as she says. The center recommends that they come 3 times before starting. In January, she will be going two days a week in the morning for a few hours. It is a very unique place and does yoga, gym kids, language both English and French, arts & crafts, ballet, piano, swimming and so much more! They actually bring in a ballet teacher once a week and a piano teacher too. When I heard this it was a done deal. Now mind you...I know they aren't going to make her a "sugarplum fairy" at age two but the introduction to dance and the fine arts was a a deal sealer for me!

Boy O Boy...how the table has turned however! I got up this morning and kept saying your going to school, dressed her in a school girl outfit, packed her "bakpak" (backpack), and we headed out the door. It is about a five minute walk from our apartment. I prepped her the whole way there and she has been ECSTATIC about going. We even ordered Elmo Goes to School last night to prep her on our I TV. Anyway, I of course took a few dozen photos, laid on a big fat kiss, and knew to escape rather quickly. She ran after me, started crying and saying Mama mama. NOW...I AM NORMALLY THE ONE SAYING TO THE PARENT, "She'll be fine, just be on your way and have no worries! We will take good care of her." Well, hell...it's a lot different when you are the parent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I walked, stopped and listened, walked back toward the door, turned around, called Jon...felt better...and knew I had to leave. Now, she LOVED daycare in Cary with Miss Amy, however; this is all new and it's not MISS AMY. We live in a different country and all she's had for three months is US! Plus, she is so much older now and knows what is going on. So, yes, she will be TOTALLY fine and it will be VERY good for her socially & emotionally. Plus, she is a busy girl and needs the stimulation. But wowie wow wow...It was not as easy as I thought!!

So, here comes the apology...for all those parents out there that I (laughed behind your backs) and thought..."GET A GRIP"...I apologize and now I have joined you...the parents side!!

I will never make another comment again!! I promise!!

The last picture is her passed out cold on our walk home. So precious! I transferred her to her bed and she didn't even flinch. PEESKOOL wore her OUT!!

Blankie Back-Up

Fayth has a sage blankie that she just loves...she calls "that one" her blankie. It was a gift from a former family of mine at Briargate...the Cummings family. She has a bunch of beautiful blankies...handmade ones, embroidered ones, little ones, big ones...but the Little Giraffe sage one is her ultimate blankie. So, Jon and I decided we better get a back-up! Most of you know how I am with my blankie and she has inherited that from me! So, I went on the web site Little Giraffe...and much to my surprise... there was Suri Cruise, Apple Paltrow, "little Garner", and Angelina Jolie's children promoting the Little Giraffe blanket. So, yes, my little galpal has great taste!! Anyway, the website is just about the products you can't buy them on the site. So, I sent and email to customer service asking for stores in Dubai or online and got a quick response within 24 hours of four online stores...Well...this is the main reason for this BLOG... Jon is in BIG TROUBLE...One of their recommendations was www.laylagrayce.com and I have died and went to heaven. I want one of everything on the site and NOTHING is cheap!!!!!!!! It has amazing furniture, jewelry, robes, bedding, and it's all my style!! Shabby Chic and adorable...So, this blankie-back up is going to cost a fortune!! I am saving now so when I return my next home can be filled with things from this fabulous store Layla Grayce...This is the kind of store I'd like to own! Not to mention I LOVE LOVE LOVE the name and like Fayth...they both have y's in them. All I Can Say is it Was Meant to Be!!!!

Camels in the Manger...

Received an email today with this picture and it made me SMILE...This camel "family of five" made it home with Gramie as "souvies" from Dubai for my sister, her husband and their kids. They weren't the easiest things to get through security (heavy hard metal... :-) but they are now in Nebraska celebrating Christmas with baby Jesus and the manger scene!! So, a touch of Dubai will be with them when they host the holidays for both families this year!

Christmas Spirit??!!

Not to be a "Debbie Downer" but I've been asking myself...do I have that Christmas Spirit??!! I can honestly say without the cold, snow, and lights & decorations on all the homes...I'm not really feeling it!! Yes, some people in Dubai have lights, trees, and festive Christmas things but it's just not the same. So when you're driving down the street this year... don't take the snow, beautiful trees, festive homes, and all the decorations for granted. They truly make you feel the Christmas Spirit...not to mention the yummy hot cocoa and candy canes...It's just not the same.

Although, Gammy has been sending us beautiful singing X-mas cards and gorgeous scenes by Jacquie Lawson...so this has been helping our spirit. Fayth looks forward to these cards and says "more, more, more!" I am also using the line, "Santa is watching you...better be nice and not naughty!" So this shows some spirit, RIGHT??!! I think I say this a few dozen times a day. Those terrible two's are quickly approaching!!!!

Anyway, from Sunny Dubai...we truly wish you and your families a wonderful Christmas & Happy New Year! Only 12 days and counting...Merry HO HO!!!!

Maroon Five

Oh, yeah...that's right...Maroon Five...for FREE!!! Well, kinda FREE!!

While returning a dress to the Gap a few weeks ago I asked a sales person what was all the ruckus?? He looked at me and said...are you kidding...people have been camped out since the early am hours for Maroon Five tickets that the GAP, Dubai Mall, is sponsoring! Well, a few phone calls later, Dana's taxi speeding to the mall, and spending only 125.00 US on Gap merchandise (which is so easy to do) we landed two back-stage passes, VIP treatment, front "row"and a night out as wanna be 16 year olds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The story gets better and better.

So, we get our VIP phone call during the day reminding us on where to be and what time. Jon and Alan come home from work early for us to allow us plenty of time. We got there, got a beer, and went to the tent where we were to wait. About an hour and 1/2 later they took about 50 of us (like a herd of cattle) to the back of the stage. Now mind you, Dana is 38 and I'm 33 (for another 30 days :-) so we are calmly walking not pushing-shoving like all of the groupies...just walking at the tail end of the "herd." We get to the gate where you enter and the security guard puts his hand out and says, THAT'S IT!! Literally, we were the next two to get in. Well, even though we really didn't care too much, we of course, made a HUGE stink!! After a gazillion phone calls & texts by the security guards and Gap associates a Gap Manager came out to speak to us. She felt very badly and said, "Sorry ladies don't know what happened they just said no more in to the guards and the concert is going to start. What can I do to make this up to you?" So, after negotiating, we scored her signed picture from the band and made a quick trip to her car to take whatever GAP loot we wanted. Jon has about seven new caps in various colors, four T-shirts and I got a cute purple tee and cute hat...I was really hoping for a hoodie!!! We will be "walking marketing" for the GAP. Then, we quickly headed back to the concert and entered VIP where the news and media people are and had a really great time. We walked in and the concert started. Maroon Five is REALLY good. The concert was awesome and we were so stinkin close we could see the sweat dripping off of their faces, kinda cool! I didn't realize how popular they are and many songs I knew!! So, thanks to Gap and the band we had a super night out and the weather was perfect!

A Day Off With the Dads!!!

Today is still part of the "Eid holiday" so Jon has been off of work since Friday. Eid is a Muslim religious holiday and kids are off of school and businesses are closed through Tuesday. So today we planned a day with our friends Dana, Alan and Max. It was beautiful here today...about 76 and sunny! We started at our apartment and walked to have coffee and goodies. Then we headed towards the big Dubai Mall. Dana's husband had yet to see it so it was fun for Jon to tell him and "show" him the ins and outs of the mall. Dana and I loved the fact that we just walked & talked and had NO responsibility...so this time Dana captured a great photo of the guys from behind. They did look so cute pushing the strollers!! After our tour of the mall, we headed into the Birkenstock store for the 100th time, I swear. Dana and I have tried on every pair of "birkies" in every mall for the past few months. The store manager at the Dubai Mall is sick of us...really sick of us. EVERYONE in Dubai wears them and we just couldn't decide if they were comfortable or NOT!! Instantly, Jon found a fabulous pair and wouldn't take them off. So then Dana's wheels were turning...she said if we all bought shoes could they work us a deal?? Well...the rest is history. So once again, we tried on black patent, hot pink, gold, white, cream, bronze, teal, lime green, just about every shoe in the joint. The guys were the judges...and over an hour later (mind you...kids were both conked)...we FINALLY bought a pair...and not only do we each own a pair...we now have matching colors!! They are silver thong...oh, how cute!! Yes, we have fallen into the "fad" of Dubai...and now we can look like real residents. Alan tells us we can join the "tree huggers" and "smokin' group...if ya know what I mean??!! Our shopping experience will be a memory I have forever. Damn it...our feet better not hurt. They better be as wonderful as we've heard...otherwise we've wasted $71.00. So they say, you need to break them in??!! I'll keep you posted. Our final stop on the way home was a fabulous little Italian restaurant in the souk near our home. The kids did great in their high chairs sitting by one another and reading books & playing with toys. We enjoyed getting different dishes and tasting a little bit of everything. My favorite was the fungi pizza. Yum Yum!! All in all, it was a great day with the dads! Wish it could happen more often on a Monday!!

DIE-HARD "Junk Collectors"

Yes...as most of you know...we love antiquing and finding various treasures. Well, about a month ago Jon read in the local paper "Flea Market" the first Saturday of every month. Since then, I've had dreams about finding cheap "McCoys"..."wonderful quilts"...and the list goes on and on. It was a countdown in our home until Flea Market Day!!! So, this past Saturday, we loaded up the stroller with snacks and headed to the local Safa Park for junking, as we call it. The sky was gray, I mean heavy sheets of Stratus Clouds (my former 1st grade students will appreciate that) covering the sky. It was getting darker and darker as we got closer and closer. But Jon assured me...it was not going to hit just yet. He said, "Even if we only spend twenty minutes there it will still be worth it to see what it's like." I agreed but just knew we were destined for disaster. Well, you know how this story ends. We parked, paid, walked in, and as we hit the first booth it started to sprinkle, the second it started to rain, and by the third booth, as I was negotiating a price for a table runner and two matching pillows, it poured like CATS & DOGS...and I mean down-poured. We laughed, got our bargain, and got the "heck" outta there. We were soaked from head to toe (underwear and ALL)...and princess Fayth...well, she sat like a Queen Bee and kept saying rain, rain, rain...and we just laughed and ran some more. So, will we go back next month...ABSOLUTELY...and I can't wait. We jacked up the HEAT in the car...we were freezing...sped home and couldn't wait to hit the HOT shower!! Worth it...Oh, yeah!! Can't wait for the next Flea Market!!!

An Afternoon at the Races

Well it may not be 3 degrees here like it is at home...however; I had on jeans, a hat, and a "fashionesta" scarf today and Fayth had on a sweatshirt for the first time. It was about 73 degrees here today and "cool" in the shade. We spent the afternoon at the Jebal Ali Race Track. It wasn't quite like Arlington...but we didn't care. We really just wanted to see "horsies" and it was a way to escape our apartment and get some fresh air for a few hours. The stands and grounds were filled with "nationals" lying on blankets with their families hanging out & munching on food. Kids were playing and running around and everyone was just enjoying the races. (Races here are just for pure enjoyment...there is no betting or money involved) Fayth being the ONLY porcelain skinned girl around was a big hit!!! Little boys and girls kept coming up to us and pinching her cheeks. She loved all the attention and was thrilled she got to see the "horsies!" It was a fun afternoon at the races.

"Tats"

I guess watching Miami Ink isn't enough in our house. So today daddy had the honor of putting a tattoo on Fayth. I usually put them on her arm or hand...well not daddy. Need I say anymore!

National Day

Today's blog...a history lesson... Yesterday marked the 37th anniversary of all of the emirates becoming the United Arab Emirates, one country. The countries late founder was Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan. He was the ruler of Abu Dhabi since 1966 and the President from 1971 until his death in 2004. It is a day for Emirates and expatriates to reflect on the remarkable achievements of the past four decades. It's like our "4th of July...combined with Christmas lights!" The city was lit up with lights, fireworks, exhibitions and families gathering to celebrate the phenomenon of the UAE and it's four decades of progress and development. Dubai was a fishing town with a landscape of barren desert and now is a "stand out" country known all over the world. It was really pretty driving down the "main drag" called Sheikh Zayed Road. It was a national holiday so we got to spend the day with daddy. We headed to our friends home for an afternoon filled with food, friends, and good laughs.