Gong Xi Fa Cai

Happy Chinese New Year! Hope the Year of the Rat is a good one!

We celebrated with a Chinese dinner out with the Beales family, with whom we're joined at the hip. Too many similarities between our families to mention.











Here are photos of the hyped up kids. To their delight we finished off the evening with a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts!
(Matilda is under the table...)

We've been waiting for this!

Isabelle finally lost one of her front teeth! It's been hanging on for a while, and voila, it popped out on the weekend! The hairy tooth fairy visited and ate the piece of cheese that she left out...

My 30th Birthday 'S' Party

Good friends, good food, cocktails & music.
What more could a girl ask for?
In case you're wondering, I am a School girl & Brendan is a Smurf. We had a really fun night, and there are too many photos, so I've put them all on a slideshow.

(If you missed it, click on the x in the top right hand corner twice.)

Samantha turns 30!!

On the eve of my birthday, Rob, Gem, Brendan and I went out for dinner at the Ramada. Champagne cocktails (yes, I finished a whole one!) followed by a scrumptious Indian banquet. Check out my birthday gift - pearl necklace and matching earrings. Thank you darling!

The next day after a lazy breakfast we headed out on our boat. Can I tell you, the wind & water were bloody freezing! Crazy Londoners decided to take a dip, and then not to be outdone, Brendan suggested waterskiing! That's me, all rugged up!

Boys doin' their thang...

The afternoon activities included a puff in our private Shisha lounge (it's apple tobacco, I promise!) and eating cake with my co-birthday girl Elsie (her sister Ruby is Isabelle's best friend, we're practically family).

The boys and their harem.

Brendan, you look like you're enjoying that!
Rob & Bren cooked up a spectacular spaghetti marinara while Gem & I watched Oprah's 20th Anniversary 6 DVD collection (just the first one...). We ended the night with a game of Monopoly (you're supposed to let the birthday girl WIN, not LOSE!!). A perfect day. Thank you!

Post Christmas activities

Wednesday, Boxing Day: Arab horse riding at Sheik Faisal's farm. Even Matilda got a go.

Moroccan dinner out at Souq Waqif.
Spiral mosque in souq area. Rob & Gem were slow starters, but soon got the hang of shopping & bargaining.
Thursday 27th: The girls just watched Nuruyev & Fonteyn's Swan Lake. Can you tell?
Still eating leftovers. Yum. I had to arm wrestle Rob for the other turkey drumstick.

Christmas Day 2007

Presents galore!! It was a tough job opening them all, it required stamina and frequent snacks!Surprise girls! Look what Santa brought this year! Rocking horse for Matilda and Lego doll house for Isabelle.

Ah! Happy customer. Team White produced an incredible feast, I must say. The result was Rob & Gem announcing that they don't need parents anymore.

You go Rob! Mmmm, turkey...

The fun continues...

Sunday 23rd: Brendan took Rob & Gem 4WDing across the dunes to the Inland Sea between Saudi & Doha. Anyone say camel?Two White boys on top of a sand dune...Brendan gives it two thumbs up! Sandy pants.Gemma, Queen of the Desert.Monday, Christmas Eve: We managed to gatecrash a Swedish Christmas dinner. Thanks Anette & Martin! At least I brought some bacon! Brendan & Martin get up to no good behind the bar.
Mohitos anyone?This one is for Grandma.Well, when else should I wear these red leather pants?Jultomten makes a special appearance.

Sad news...

My morfar (grandfather in Swedish) passed away yesterday. He was 86 years old. I am thinking of my grandmother, and hoping she is alright. We are all so glad that we made the trip to Sweden last Christmas and spent some time with them both. The girls were lucky to have met great-grandparents. Here's a photo from our visit.

Rob & Gem are here!

Friday 21st morning: We hit the ground running with a picnic & play at the Corniche (Gem is excited that she got a bit sunburnt after dreary London).

Brendan announced he wanted a BIG lunch, so where better else than a complete pig-out at Johnny Rockets (chocolate & peanut butter shake anyone?).

In the afternoon we headed out to the Singing Sand Dunes for Christmas Carols. Very expat.

Saturday 22nd: The next day the boys went mountain biking in the US Army Firing Range (don't have photos of that...), while the girls baked a mountain of gingerbread.

We then hit the shops (Gem couldn't believe her eyes when she saw the indoor canal & gondolas, let alone all the nice shoes & handbags you can buy) and met the boys for lunch at PQ. Spent the afternoon resting and playing racquet ball. Yummy beef stroganoff for dinner & David Attenborough for after dinner entertainment.

A giggle for you!

This is so funny! Go on, have a laugh at our expense! We got elfed!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1385224835

China dolls!

Matilda and her bestie Shannon in matching Cheong Sam outfits. We are going skiing with Shannon's family in March, woohoo!!