Playing at the Park

Yesterday Cara, Crue, Fayth and I headed to the "GREEN" Safa Park! It really makes you feel like home. The kids had a ball and Cara and I had fun taking photos of the two. Fayth of course tried on Crue's hat & shoes and then we put Fayth's hat on Crue. Sorry, Craig...your son does look SO cute in that hat!!! he he he!!

It is starting to get HOT here. We were all sweating something fierce yesterday when we left around 11:30. We've decided our Mondays are going to be "Pool Days" for the next four months...TOO hot to do the park...the pool is a much better option!

The last picture cracks me up...that's the mess we make wherever we go!! It was fun cleaning it ALL up!! The birdies will be eating banana puffs for days!!

It was a fun morning Playing at the Park!

When in Doubt...Accessorize!!!!

I believe this is Fayth's new motto. My little "Sarah Jessica Parker!" We were headed to the mall yesterday to buy a, congrats you're having a GIRL, gift for Lauren and Aaron and to meet up with our friends Dana & Max. Fayth put her necklace on herself, insisted on the poodle pouch purse, and asked for her candy bracelet. Yes, JON IS IN TROUBLE!! Now there are TWO of us and I love it!

These are some of my new favorite photos...I've changed my screen saver!!

P.S. The middle two shots are of Fayth POSING in front of Subway...we eat there all the time!! She did this on her own...she is something else!!

A Walk Downtown

The weather is now beautiful at night and we are going to start taking advantage of it. The mall is beginning to "hop" at night and the outdoor mall boulevard is like the Boardwalk in Disney. The best part about it is there are shooting fountains three times the size of the Bellagio in LV. There are located directly in front of the Burj Tower. They aren't truly up and running just yet, however; we got a sneak peak on our walk the other night. Just imagine they are shooting and dancing to Arabic music...very cool!! The fountains are gorgeous and it may be a nightly ritual to take a walk to see them. It's about 10 - 15 minutes from our apartment. The bridge you see connects Souk Al Bahar and the Dubai Mall. It is the way we walk to the mall most of the time. The waterways are going to have abra boats to take you from the Palace hotel and Souk to the mall and other routes as well. I'm sure Fayth is going to love that!! The last photo is our 6 apartment complexes. We took it on our way home. We are the one that is on the far left.

My First Ponytail!

Fayth donned her first ponytail. Cute??!! Well, being that her head has been in the mid 90% for her whole life...can't say I LOVED it!! However; loved the outfit from Kathy and Karen (mother and daughter friends). They know I love pink, brown, and polka dots. The outfit is just too stinkin cute! The ponytail...I think she may grow into it!! Shame on me...I know!!

College Basketball

Jon's life would not be complete unless he was able to watch "buckets!" Well, he is doing just that and has been since Thursday night. He was able to attach his computer to our television and watch some of the games. Now mind you...we are nine hours difference so when you are viewing at night time it's about 6:00 am our time and vice-a-versa. However; this isn't stopping JON!! Last night we had Lauren and Arron over at 8:00 p.m. for some R & R and buckets! The three of them had their NCAA brackets out and were fiercely highlighting and talking "smack!" (I was drinking wine and pretending I knew what was going on!) SO...even though we are 7000 miles away, to Jon it feels like home! Well, except he doesn't have Papa Dick (his dad) there to yell at the TV with him! But believe me, his Blackberry has been going off many times! So, you ask with Papa Dick...NO with Gammy! She is just as nuts about college buckets and keeps up with all the scores! So "Happy Tournament Times" to all of you. Does this mean I have to bake cupcakes...??? It's considered a "holiday" in my home!!!

Dana's 39th Birthday!!!

Wednesday was Dana's birthday so I volunteered to plan a little "Girls Night Out" to celebrate!!

I did some research on HOT SPOTS of Dubai and we've already been to the Barasti, which won the number one spot, so we tried the runner-up...It's called 360 degrees. I LOVED it! It was very swanky and had a cool atmosphere. This is not a place you want to go if you are not looking your best!!! It was great for people watching, high-end cocktails, shisha (basically a bong you can smoke flavored tobacco out of...also known as "hubbly bubbly" and just the most incredible view.

The bar is located on this little "island" right next door to the Burj Al Arab and is part of the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. There is a long walk-way to the bar but most guests, including ourselves, took a "buggy" aka golf cart from the Jumeirah Beach Hotel to the bar. The Jumeirah Beach Hotel is another icon of Dubai and a gorgeous resort known for it's wavy appearance. We passed by HUGE yachts...you'll see in one of my photos! I'd like to know who owns these boats and what they do for a living?? There is not just one...their are hundreds and hundreds...and they are bigger than our previous home!!!

We had a super time and even got to sit on the couches. LONG STORY but quick version...To reserve 2 couches looking at each other for the night it was 5,000 AED or about 1,369.86 for the evening. Lauren, my one friend is pregnant, so when we arrived I said we have a "prego lady" here...They told us we could sit until someone who bought the space showed up! Needless to say, we were never kicked out. We got there at about 8:00...and left by midnight! THE swarms of swanky pankies...and beautiful ones were arriving as us "OLD FARTS!" were leaving!!!

It was the most stunning 360 View of the city!! The Burj Al Arab has sparkles, light shows, and changes colors all night long! The JBH had blinking lights on it as well and was so beautiful! Just a great night of fun!! Thanks Girls...when are we going back?? KellyAnne...your birthday is next!! I really loved the place!!

A "Make-Up" Session

In school, when you miss homework, you have a make-up session.

Well, today in Dubai, we had a "make-up" session. Forget St. Patrick's Day...make up by baking

PINKALICIOUS cupcakes. I must say we feel so much better today it was the perfect way to start out our day. Thanks to Gramie Lynn, we had on our Pinkalicious pj's and ingredients to bake our special treat! I have been waiting for the perfect day to use our stash!! Today was that day!!

Fayth had a ball and she loved the fact we made them PINK just like the story. She even remembered Mia had Pinkalicious cupcakes for her birthday party this year! So, after baking them, I let her have TWO...I figure I have a lot of making up to do!!

A Gulity Feeling!!!!

Let me start by saying Fayth has tonsillitis and was running 103.5 yesterday and I have sinusitis and NO voice (which Jon loves!) So the story goes like this...Gammy, Jon's mom, called to check in on Skpye, yesterday afternoon our time, and when I answered she says "Happy St. Patrick's Day!" I looked dumbfounded and completely forgot is was St. Patty's due to the fact we are miserably sick! Fayth looks at Gammy and says, "Cupcakes...presents!" Yeah, my child...wonder why...Maybe because every other holiday or celebration we bake cupcakes or cookies and usually get presents. Well, Gammy laughed and I felt terrible!! As a kid my ENTIRE day would have been filled with Green things! I would have had green eggs, green milk, and green toast, with green cream cheese, cookie cut in the shape of a shamrock & green sprinkles on top...lunch, it would have been TOTALLY green and the hit of the cafeteria...every little thing in it, and dinner, well you know how it goes. Not to mention a homemade green shake would have been included somewhere during the day. And, we are not even Irish!! So, poor Fayth she missed out yesterday...SO, A Guilty Feeling, ABSOLUTELY...more so after I read PJ & Kristen's blog last night and Gilbert had green eggs for breakfast! However; our Irish Gammy sent two email cards for Fayth...so she didn't miss out COMPLETELY! Thank goodness! All I have to say is, Sorry Dewey...It won't happen again, I promise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fayth is going to regret that I forgot this holiday...........just wait until those first grade lunches...he he he!!!!!! I'm going to start planning NOW!!!

No Kissy Kissy In Public...

No see through clothes... No mini-mini skirts... No G-string bathing suits... No swearing... No alcohol outside... and NO sex on the beach... Well I may as well pack my bags and move home then...he he he... Thanks Dionne for an awesome article entitled, "New Rules for Dubai seek to tame Foreigners" If you are interested just type in www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29723610/from/ET or click on it if it works. (Remember, I am a computer moron) The sign like the one at the top of the article is very visible at all the malls and PDA is for sure a big no no...I sometimes tell Jon when we meet for lunch, no kissy kissy as we say good-bye...we'll get busted!! Very interesting...surely rules like this wouldn't fly in the USA..now would they??!!

"Nookie Fairy"

Doesn't sound so good does it...he he he...well the Brits and Australians call the pacifier "the dummy"that's not any better...anyway, Jon, the "Nookie Fairy" went shopping for some presents. Fayth and I had been feeling a bit under the weather and daddy saved the day!!

The letter the fairy left read like this:

Dear Fayth,

My name is Natalie, the "NOOKIE" fairy. I am so proud of your for sending some babies your nookies. You are a BIG girl now and the babies are so happy to have their very own nookies because of YOU. As a thank you present, I am bringing you some things that are very special. I hope you like your new camel bank, fairy jewelry box, and stuffed turtle named TEX. Way to go, BIG GIRL!

Love, Natalie the "NOOKIE" fairy!!

Of course, Jon said, Why does her name have to be Natalie...that's stupid! I was going with the "n" and "n" thing. Oh, well...it worked. Fayth was thrilled the next morning as she listened to the letter and opened her gifts.

TEX is now called Crush though, the jewelry box was junk and I've repaired the cardboard thing two times, but the camel bank was the biggest hit! Her potty money now has a new home.

Don't want to jinx ourselves; however, she has been doing great and not a tear since Sunday. She's asked a few times and I just say, remember...the babies have them! She smiles!