August 26 - September 6
I took a week off writing last week to celebrate my 31st birthday. Yes, I am proud to now officially be in my thirties. I have never felt better, smarter or more beautiful. Okay, so I actually did feel smarter when I became a teenager, but that was because I didn't realize how dumb I actually was. For my birthday Rich bought me a new car! Actually, the need for a new car coincided with my birthday, but because Rich wrapped it up with ribbons and bows I consider it a wonderful birthday present. We bought a very cool Nissan X-Trail which you cannot purchase in the States because it doesn't meet US specs. For example, it lacks a few minor parts like a catalytic converter and brakes, and the steering wheel was optional. Other than that, it is a swell car. Rich also took me to the Burj Al Arab, the tallest and by far the most gorgeous hotel in the world. On our special tour of the place, we saw the standard room which runs at about $1,200/night. All the rooms are two-storied and have fantastic views of the Persian Gulf. The flatscreen TV in the room was set into a triple layer gold-leafed frame. Everything in the place was gold-leafed. Unbelievable. It was truly the most beautiful building I have ever been in. The nicest room in the place goes for $10,000 a night and is already booked for the next nine months. Too bad, I guess you'll just have to stay with us when you come and visit.
This last week we also took a much-needed family vacation to a mountain resort outside of Dubai. It was great to see some mountains again. We went swimming at least twice a day, played some ping-pong, and slept a lot. We borrowed some games from the rec room and Christian had a good time playing SNAKES and Ladders. No kidding. Sort of like Fear Factor meets CandyLand I guess. On the trip Christian not only added the R back into Henry's name, but he added another letter as well. Now instead of calling him Henny he calls him Hendry. So Rich started calling him Hendry Jimmix, and you should have heard Christian try to say that one. Christian is also waxing more eloquent in his prayers now. For example, tonight during the prayer, between thanking Heavenly Father for Henry's ability to drink water and the peas, he favored us with a beautiful rendition of the children's classic, "Are You My Mother?"
Henry also learned how to do something new on our vacation. He claps his little hands together now and by golly if it isn't the cutest thing since the cute thing he did last week. He claps them together really softly and smiles really big. It makes us feel good because no matter what we are doing, we know that someone is clapping for us.
We miss you all. Please keep us updated on your lives.
Amy Rich Christian & Hendry Jimmix
"Can I borrow your towel: my car just hit a water buffalo."
Fletch F. Fletch
Shepherd