HO HO HO...

Merry Christmas...said the big jolly Emirati Santa!!! Last night, with three other couples, we headed to the Madinat Jumeirah, to the holiday "winter wonderland!" It was about 78 degrees and beautiful out...hardly a winter wonderland but we had the best time ever!!! Fayth sat on Santa's lap and said, "My name is Fayth." "I want DVD's for Christmas, Mickey DVD's." "And "amminals" for my farm...the farm I am getting for my birthday!" She was so funny...I was dying!! She was right on...she IS getting a farm from us for her birthday and GOD I hope some animals from Santa!! I think "Gammy" Mrs. Santa has this covered...or at least Ben and Chloe's old ones wrapped under the tree...she'll know no different!!! She has four animals already that she got this summer from Gramie at the fair and LOVES them...she is all into this farm thing!! So her "passion" right now...baby stuff and clothes "for baby" of course, princess stuff, Disney & dress-up, and THE FARM!!! Great combination I must say...very well rounded in the toy department!!!!

We not only saw Santa, we had some beers while listening to X-mas carols and over looking the Burj Al Arab (Boozie Suzie danced a bit), and had dinner AT MY NEW FAVORITE PLACE...The Noodle House!! Yum Yum!! Fayth was in heaven since she LOVES to eat rice!!! It was a wonderful evening with all our "little buddies" and their families!!

A Lucky Little Lady...

Aysun, our friend, is so good to Fayth. Yesterday she came over bearing Christmas gifts. She is Muslim and doesn't even celebrate XMAS but knows we do and had to bring Fayth some presents!! We had invited her to make cookies with us but she had a friend come by and wasn't able to join us. She stopped by later and gave Fayth a Hello Kitty stuffed animal, which Fayth loved...she LOVES Hello Kitty & some cotton pajamas. The cotton jammies are an "inside joke"...the long and short of it...I got "yelled" at because I had Fayth sleeping in silky jammies or polyester and Aysun said she needed to have cotton to whisk away her sweat at night...she told me this was why Fayth kept getting a cold last "winter"...not because of ALL the GERMS at preschool!! Anyway, she bought her new jammies to make her point clear...it was hysterical and Fayth stripped down to her undies and put them on right away. She loved her two gifts!!! I also got a present...I LOVED a sweater Aysun had on when we went to tea, the other afternoon, and commented on it a few times. I was going to head to Zara and by it myself...well, wa-la, she bought me the sweater, which was totally uncalled for, but I LOVE IT!! So, once again, we are lucky to have such wonderful new friends in Dubai!! Fayth really loves Aysun and was a gracious gift opener!! Thank goodness!! She even went running out after Aysun because she didn't want her to leave. We sent her home with some freshly baked cookies that Fayth picked out!! Aysun and Semih, thanks for being so thoughtful and kind. We appreciate your friendship.

***As I've blogged earlier...their baby, Aras, is still in the NICU. He is gaining weight and getting stronger...just happens at such a snail pace. Aysun just wants her "little man" home to hold & love. This has been very hard of both of them and they have remained very strong & positive. We wish them only the best and continue to give our support whenever we can!

Sugar Sugar...

do do do do do do do...oh, honey honey...do do do do do do...you are my "Baker Girl!"and you've got me "Bakin' with You."

We have so much fun in the kitchen together and GOD do we make a MESS!!! It was exactly 6 1/2 hours from the start of the "making of the cookie dough" to the cleaning up after the decorating took place. Thank goodness Jon came home to help with clean up. I could hardly think straight, not to mention stand much longer, and it was such a mess!! Mind you, a little person napped during my preparations and pooped out after awhile of rolling and cutting! We baked about 100 sugar cookie cutouts and decorated them with frosting, sprinkles and colored sugar! We have made plates for Santa on X-mas eve, Santa when we visit him on Thursday night, our families (they are being frozen), our friends in Dubai, the concierge, Jon's work, our cleaning lady, and of course...Ourselves!!! It was a fun "festive" day. And when it was all over, I remembered I wanted to play Christmas music while baking and FORGOT...Oh, well...there's always next year!

Babysitting...

We have had our littlest friend, RY RY, overnight the past two nights. He came over on Thursday night so his parents could go to a Palestinian wedding in Abu Dhabi & then on Friday night as a "pay back" for when they had Fayth overnight when RA and Tom were visiting. We have had loads of fun and the kids have really been good. The "octave" level is much higher with two kids but they truly have behaved nicely. Thursday night we headed to the mall, via foot with TWO strollers, had dinner at Chili's, ate ice cream from McDonald's, exchanged some Crocs daddy had bought for Fayth (needed a bigger size...she is growing like a weed right now) walked past the "Rally" car show downtown, watched Barney's Christmas DVD, read some Xmas books and headed to bed. They slept in the same room...NOT THE SAME BED. Ryan had Fayth's toddler bed and did a really good job in it. They woke up at 6:20 and were ready to PLAY PLAY PLAY!! I made Mickey Mouse pancakes for breakfast, they played some more and then KellyAnne came to take him back for a few hours before he returned at 3:30. Then, after his nap, he came back to our place for another sleep over. He is a good boy and we have enjoyed having him. He has so much energy it's SICK...wish I could bottle it...but he is always happy and is a nice little boy!! He is a loving little one!! At 4:00 we headed to our friend's house for Roast Dinner. Cara, Craig, and Crue wanted to have us out for "The Last Supper" before they head home for the holidays and stay in Canada before their move to Houston. I AM GOING TO REALLY BE SAD AND MISS THEM A TON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anyway, we were in HEAVEN, it was like a meal my mom cooks and so so good!! Roast with the best gravy, mashed potatoes, corn, cooked carrots, rolls, wine...yum yum yum!! Jon was in heaven and went back for seconds. I think he would have had thirds but would have been embarrassed!!! Once again the octave level increased a bit, three kids this time, but they were really good and had a ball playing together. It was a great evening. The noise didn't seem to bother me...after downing a HUGE cocktail!!! Ha Ha!!! Thanks, guys for such a great night!! We didn't have to say our "goodbyes" just yet...we are seeing them for a few holiday events, scrapbooking, and park playing!! So...all in all...we had a wonderful time babysitting Ryan and he is welcome anytime. We've decided to try to take turns monthly and give the parents a "date night." Seems like the kids love it and so do the parents!!

National's Day 2009

THIS POSTED A DAY LATE...SORRY...NATIONAL'S DAY WAS YESTERDAY. Today in Dubai marks the 38th year that the emirates came together to make it the United Arab Emirates. That is as old as Jon!! How crazy is that?? So, we were lucky enough to have the BIG hometown parade in our "neck of the woods" on the Burj boulevard right down the street one block!! A bunch of us grabbed our kids & strollers, headed to the boulevard, and didn't know what the heck to expect!! Well, it was something else. There were a few floats, jumping clowns, camels, big blow up balloons (like HUGE BLIMPS), all of the fire, police, and civil defense forms of transportation, bag pipes and so much more!! They brought in bleacher stands in one area and the first few rows were lined with GORGEOUS dining room chairs fancier that any I've ever seen with HUGE rose arrangements on the tables in front of the chairs. It was like a fancy reception, outside, on the street. All of this took days to set up and we have been watching the huge production. The parade lasted 45 minutes and that's it!! Tear down was right after from about 5:00p.m. onwards. (Last night after ladies night out...us gals passed the bleacher tear down at 1:00 am and there were TONS of workers still on site!) They work around the clock in this country and go to the extreme for everything. It was a fun parade and beautiful day outside. Some of the pictures will be ones we hold on forever. Especially, since we were literally 'parked' with our strollers right across from the Burj Dubai. It made for a great backdrop. Enjoy the slide show...I am sharing quite a few!!

Morning Routine

We have started our Advent Calendar & one little lady is super excited!! She really only cares that the "Barbie" one has chocolate in it & she gets to start her morning with a little piece of heaven!! She loves chocolate!! Only 22 days to go...YIPPEE!

"At The Top"

Yes, Jon has been lucky enough to be training the staff of "At The Top"...what will be the observation deck on floor 124 of the Burj Dubai. On Monday, of this week, when he was doing a walk through he took a photo of the man that was cleaning the windows on the 124th floor. Oh, my...can you imagine?? Now that is a job they couldn't pay me enough money to do!! The "At The Top" will be officially opened when Sheik Mohammad visits it on January 4th, 2010! We can't wait to take that elevator ride up and see the city!

When It Rains, It Pours...

we now have bumps, bruises, and even sores!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, no virus anymore, but the worst accident to date for our little lady. She was getting off the couch to get her daddy a napkin, slipped on a pillow that was on the floor ( I know PJ...those damn pillows) and fell smack dab on the coffee table between her two eye brows!! Mommy freaked out of course, while "calm daddy" was caring for two crazy girls!! She is alright but is beat up pretty badly. However; she's LOVED sporting a Dora band aide...gotta love this kid!!! What a trouper she is!! Christmas pictures this year will be memorable with a big bump and bruise!! I think Santa will feel extra sorry for her and bring her tons of presents!!

Thanks to the slow mail...our little package from Gramie couldn't have come at a better time. Really...She woke up looking forward to adding snowflakes and window clings to the apartment windows not worried that she had a HUGE egg and bloody scab on her face!!

Taken the Plunge...

YES, I felt like I was missing out on ALL OF YOUR LIVES and just broadcasting my own on this blog...SO, I'm now the proud member of Facebook. However; I will not be posting and doing all that jazz since I do this blog already ( I say that now, we'll see). BUT, I will be looking at your photos & family events!! Just means I'll have to stay up past 9:00 p.m. to check out FB. Thanks to Cara, she set me up today... both Cara & KA have been harassing me for months to join...not to mention all the "accept friends" notes I receive. So, now I will have to navigate through the site and learn something new. Can't wait!!