World's Richest Running Event

Only in Dubai....The world's richest running event took place today with a million dollars in prize money plus a one million dollar bonus if the world record is broken! The marathon started at 6:30 am and the famed Ethiopian running legend, Haile Gebrselassie, was primed to break his own world record of 2:03:59!!! This was a chance of a lifetime to watch him run in.

I woke everyone up at the crack of dawn so we could get good seats in the spectator stands (Drew was not pleased)! This is our view every morning out our bedroom window...

The Ethiopian flags and cheering fans were in abundance.

The winning video (well picture, because after 2 days of trying to upload video, I gave up)...he did not break the record but finished in 2:05:29! He was running so fast I could hardly keep the camera on him. Believe it or not, it was pouring down rain and 56 degrees...very unusual for Dubai! And due to the fact that it doesn't rain very often...there wasn't an umbrella to be seen!!

Afterwards, the drowned cold rats went to a cafe for hot chocolate and a warm breakfast!!! Both kids thought it was a neat experience to watch and asked, "Mom, why didn't you run?" ...maybe next year!

Jacob's Bowling Party

I can't believe I have a 9 yr old!! Where does the time go...Jacob chose to have a bowling party and invite a couple of friends from school. They bowled and played arcade games. The Porter's also came along with Steve's boss, Saeed, and his son, Majid. Majid and Drew enjoy playing together even though he is only 3 yrs old but as big as Drew!

From L to R, Jean (from the Phillipines), Jacob, and Johann (from Sri Lanka)

Drew enjoying the arcade games!

Jacob chose a triple chocolate mousse birthday cake from Cho'coa. This is his new favorite dessert!

Singing Happy Birthday!

Jacob received a RC car, clothes, books and gift certificates to Virgin Megastore. He said it was an awesome day!

AC Milan

We headed to the big game at The Sevens Stadium for Jacob's 9th birthday (Boy, do I feel old). The weather was a frigid 62 degrees and we were dressed in jeans, long-sleeved shirts with fleece pullovers (except for Steve who had on shorts!) Snacking on hot dogs and steak pies we watched a great game! Everytime Beckham had the ball the crowd went nuts. It was a great experience to see some very famous players. Jacob had a great time and is gearing up for a bowling birthday party this weekend with a few friends from school.

Tidbits...

(Sunrise out our bedroom window)

OK, so I have finally caught up on blogging. I will try and do better, it is just that the internet service here is not great. I am maintaining sanity but still miss everyone and cant wait to come home. It is nice here but just not the same. We are back to perpetual sunny weather. And they have declared that winter has arrived with temps in the 70's during the day and 60's at night. I did get to see the movie Twilight in gold class seating at the cinema. The seating is over sized leather recliners, you have a full menu of food that is delivered by a waitstaff and they pass out blankets. I did not take pics because I would have looked like an idiot, but it was very nice. We have spent our holidays watching movies (Bedtime Stories was good!) and bowling with friends. Also, we watched the grand opening of the Atlantis on the palm islands. Since we live so high up we had a great view of the fireworks. The entire palm was lit up!! I have a video of this too but I didnt want to wait 2 hrs for it to post. The Dubai Marathon is this month and we are going to go watch the famous Kenyans win it! The Dubai Shopping Festival starts January 15 and there are supposed to be mega sales-woo-hoo!!! Mom arrives on the 22nd and we cant wait to see her and dhow her around. My dad actually got a passport so maybe there is hope yet that he and Paaty will make it out here, too. I hope all is well with everyone and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL THE JANUARY BABIES-Shea, Scott, Jacob, and Lacey!!!

Beckham is hot!!!!

The soccer team AC Milan does their winter training here...and Beckham is on loan from Galaxy SO we went to an open practice to see all the stars. Our seats were very close to the field.

Too bad Beckham didn't take his shirt off...I took a ton of him but didnt want to bore you.

Ronaldinho is NOT attractive, but he is incredible to watch with the ball!

Little does Jacob know we are presenting him tickets for his birthday to the AC Milan vs Hamburg game which is on January 6th. Pictures to follow...

Holidays in Dubai

I did not intentionally leave out Thanksgiving pictures, but since that is strictly a US holiday and the kids were in school and Steve was at work; it was pretty much a normal day here. We ended up eating Asian food for dinner. I was not going to attempt to cook a turkey in this kitchen.

Christmas Eve we went to a party at Ross and Rachel's house (not kidding with the "Friends" names). Afterwards we came home and opened presents. The kids said they got everything they wanted...this is due to the fact that family sent me money to get there gifts here. Christmas trees were not in abundance here and due to lack of storage buying a fake was out of the question. So we went to good ol' Ace Hardware and bought poinsettia's, mini trees and stockings.

Christmas morning seeing what Santa brought.... Drew got cars, a tribot, and a Monopoly game...and lots more hot wheels cars!

Jacob got a skateboard, a robo-boa, and a remote control helicopter.

We lounged around Christmas Day and that evening went to the Burj al Arab for Christmas dinner. Gethin, a friend of Steve's, came along too.
The family...behind the tree is a large aquarium.
The Burj was decorated very nicely.

All the gold you see in the hotel is real.

We had a five course meal ( the kids had to eat this too, since there wasnt a kids menu)
I forgot to write down the menu but it all was very good. We even had turkey with cranberry sauce.
Steve and Gethin at the table.

Drew and Jacob did have a different dessert than the adults because the adult version was loaded with brandy. I actually would have rather had theirs...it was a chocolate ball that was filled with chocolate mousse. When they brought it to the table they poured hot caramel sauce on top.

New Year's Eve was very tame. The Sheikh of Dubai ordered a toning down of activities due to the war between Israel and Palestine. We went to Ryan and Catherine's house to eat, play games and have champagne. The kids fell asleep in their sleeping bags and then Catherine and I fell asleep on the couch...she is 5mo pregnant. The guys woke us up around midnight and we headed home.

Water park in December????

Going to Wild Wadi waterpark in December felt very strange....the temperature was in the low 80's and very comfortable. Everyone was off work and out of school for Eid al Ajha (sp?). We went with friends Catherine, Ryan and their 1 yr old, Calum. We spent the entire day there riding rides and getting a good tan! It is a lot like White Water with a wave pool, kids area, and multiple tubing rides.The kids area backs up to the wave pool.

The concrete is brown to resemble rocks ( a wadi is a rock valley that when it floods fills with water).

Drew is about to get taken out by a wave!!!

You have a great view of the Burj al Arab from the wave pool. Just an FYI, if you are booked a room at the Burj, when you land in Dubai you are picked up at the airport via a helicopter and taken straight there...see the helipad up on top.

A giant waterfall that you can wade through.
Catherine and Calum enjoying the water!

There is a simulated surfing area that Jacob and Ryan braved ( I had a video of this but it wouldnt load)....Jacob also went on the ride that shoots you straight down (he said he would never do it again!)

The next day we headed to Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa. You can pay for a day pass which includes a buffet, access to 4 pools, and of course the beach. It is only 15 minutes from where we live, but it felt like another place. The guys played golf and Catherine and I went to the spa. While there, I decided to get my eyebrows "threaded". The technician uses a piece of thread to pull the hairs out. I am sure there is a video on youtube you could watch...but let me just say after 15 minutes of "threading" I could hardly open my eyes and the tears just kept coming. They say it lasts longer than waxing, but I would rather take the 5 minutes of quick pain!!!

Rain, rain, come our way!!!

Ok, I know I sound ridiculous asking for rain, but I havent seen it in 3 months and I needed a good grey day! There is only a small "rainy season" here i.e. two weeks of occasional scattered showers. So when the first real rain drops hit I had to take a picture. We actually had a few nights of thundershowers with hail and thunder which is a little strange 38 floors up. The already bad drivers here get much worse due to flooding areas and having no idea how to drive in the rain!!!

Soccer=Football= Amoeba Ball !!!!

Drew finished his first season at the International Football Academy. He, of course, is the smallest player out there but that doesn't stop him!! They have drills and a game once a week. His coach is actually a pro-baller from the Scotland Premier League. Drew has learned all kinds of new terms for the sport: soccer=football, field=pitch, zero points=nil. At first he had no idea what the new translations were...now he has the hang of it.

The look of determination!

Running in one big group around the field=amoeba ball!!!

GOOOOOAAALLLL!!!!!

On the last session, Drew was the star player and received a cap, then they handed out medals!