Salam wa aleikum




....thanks for coming to read my blog.


I hope that you will enjoy keeping in touch with our lives, and that one day, you might even make the trek out to come and visit with us (**NB - VISA's upon arrival for Canadians once again!!).

Grab yourself a nice cup of tea (Make mine JTG's Blue Mountain, mixed with a hint of French Earl...but get something that suits your fancy), and let's catch up...

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Fighting the good fight...

I am NOT giving up.

These ants and cockroaches are NOT going to win.

I bought some D-10 gel--I am optimistic.

Had the Punjabi Carpenters come today and silicone seal up the holes (of course--we've missed a few...but I will call again if necessary).

Made a lovely new friend at breakfast yesterday. Yang Li is a Chinese lady from Germany (or is she a German lady who is Chinese??). We'll find out...

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Walking and Rolling...

Just a small-town girl, living in a crazy world...

Welcome to crazy town!!

Baby N is walking all over the place and I really enjoy it when he springs up from a crouching position, stands up, balances, and starts walking...stops to re-balance and then continues walking some more. Today he walked up behind me and gave me a hug (he also pulled out a fistful of my hair and had bitten NB S on the toes...but those are forgiveables). He has also become MUCH more demanding, and this 'walking' gig has unleashed a brand new 'mah-mah' demon (that, btw is what he says when he wants something--he points and says 'mah-mah').

NB S is rolling all over, from back to front and then front to back (all by way of her right side). She is also talking up a storm and disgusting Peter with how she's continuously gnawing on her fingers, and fist, creating a perpetual wash of slime down her chin and onto her shirt.

Speaking of Peter, it seems that though he continues to send me emails on the wonders of plant-based diets (if it's good enough for Wolverine, it's good enough for me), sadly, he is back in the world of the omnivores. Thankfully, for him, he's re-joined the meat-lovers just in time for Friday breakfast buffet!!

I have been busy creating an on-line garage sale to sell some of the things that are cluttering up our home. I've had to find things, take pictures, upload the pictures with descriptions, and then put the link up on various chat forums. Let's see how it goes.

Little A has gone to bed tonight with Phinn's kennel in her room. The last two nights she has asked that I move his kennel into her bedroom, so that he would sleep with her. Maybe it's his haircut...he looks soooo cute!! So, tonight is her lucky night and they are both sleeping in her room as I type (though he has to come downstairs to go pee outside before we all turn in for the evening).

Today has been quite productive. I managed to FINALLY get back my bottle deposits on three water bottles that I've had since villa 525 (yes--I hung onto the original invoice!!). After about ten phone calls over two years (and I think it was the threat to cut off their service to the Al Raha compound with ONE phone call), I am 75 aed richer today. I can't wait to see how pleased Malou will be when she gets back, as I know she didn't think I was getting my money back. Also, I have also managed to get NB S's swing serviced (the motor stopped running yesterday). They claim that it will be ready in 3 days (do I hear an 'inshallah'??).

Here is a video I made of NB S talking. Please note that I am holding her AND the camera is in front of me, so that I am using little A's judgement to determine how good my angle is. I think it worked out pretty well...




Saturday, August 13, 2011

First Steps...

Our inaugural visit to Mushrif Mall Lulu


Looks like Baby N was just waiting til we came home to our un-carpeted, hard, cold and unforgiving ceramic tiled floors before he decided to take his first wobbly steps around. I can't describe how my heart smiled watching him take six (or more) shaky steps in my direction, while he was playing in his bedroom just before bed-time. He was super-excited, and he was more trying to run than walk. Since then, he's been attempting to walk around more and more, and is getting better at balancing himself before he starts moving. Just one less thing to worry about!!

On another note, looks like Peter has just had a newsflash--being VEGETARIAN is a healthy lifestyle choice. He picked up a copy of "The Food Revolution" by John Robbins, and is now filling my ears with all the reasons that I should...umm...become vegetarian?? give up meat??? I'm not sure what his intention is, but every so often I hear him come out with another 'pro-vegetarian' comment, and I just have to give my head a shake. Perhaps he has forgotten that he is singing to the choir...?

Vegetarian-baby

It seems that we have recovered from the jet-lag and now I just need Malou to return from her holidays, so that our lives can get back to normal. Her replacement is...umm.. VERY sweet, kind, happy and plays great with the kids. However, she has really made me appreciate the helper that I have.

Beep! Beep!!

We made a trip out to Mushrif Mall yesterday. This is the mall that is soon to be home to Abu Dhabi's ONLY Tim Horton's (there is much excitement on the chat forums from Canadians who need their fix of double-double). We were VERY lucky to find this CARt waiting for us in the (poorly laid out) parking lot, as it seemed to be the only one in the entire store. The store was quite busy, but we (I) decided that for the extra bit of driving, this Lulu is NOT worth the trip. I will stick with my own Lulu at Mazyad Mall.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Student Driver


Earlier this week (I believe it was Thursday morning) baby N hopped himself up on the Plasma Car and started driving it around. I was amazed not only that he chose to do this himself, but that he managed to sit down and maneuver himself around some very tight corners too.

Of course, we only have ONE Plasma car (so far), and so, now that baby N is using it, little A has suddenly developed an interest in it as well. Here they are 'sharing' the Plasma car, while our friend Lisa (welcome back Lisa!!) holds NB S.

The pitter patter of tiny little feet

DISGUSTING!

My friend Lisa came over for dinner on Friday night, and I decided to try out a recipe for fried halloumi cheese (which I know is her favourite) and pomegranate salsa. We were also cooking up veggie burgers and smashed potatoes (thanks Andrea) and apple and pecan salad with honey mustard dressing. Fortunately, the above word does NOT describe the results of my meal--which was delicious and enjoyed by all.

Rather, 'DISGUSTING' refers to what I found living under our kitchen sink. COCKROACHES! I found myself retching as I reached for some garlic and saw something dark move amongst the dried onion and garlic peels. I ran outside looking for the spray, which is for OUTDOOR USE ONLY, but at that moment I couldn't think straight. It was all I could do to remove the food items, before I fumigated the space and promptly slammed the cabinet door shut--promising not to open up until Sally returned the next morning (a promise I kept).

We made a trip to IKEA on Saturday morning and LOVED! LOVED! LOVED! to find that their Ramadan hours were 11 am to 11 pm (as opposed to 10 to 10), and it was 10:28. So we killed some time having tea, mango juice and breast milk (me, Peter, little A and NB S respectively) as the Yas Hotel. We returned to IKEA and picked up a whole bunch of storage containers, intended to protect our food from our unwelcome guests. We also looked at some shelving options, as it's obvious that we need more space to keep food than we have been given (or I have to become a super-organized grocery shopper--not likely to happen anytime soon).

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

And now...what we've ALL been waiting for...

It happened on Wednesday night folks. Baby N took his first REAL steps across the room, several times, from papa to mama and back again. It was just before his bed-time and he was dressed in his sweet little pj's and playing in his room. I came up the stairs with little A just in time to see him tottering across the room (a good six or seven steps).

I was (of course): thrilled, proud, relieved and so very, very happy!

Another thing to check off the list!

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Look What I Made Today...

This is my first attempt to make a paratha (homemade--not frozen as I've made those several times). Please note the effort I put into making a SQUARE shape (like my mom made for me when I was little).

Little A got accustomed to eating these in Calgary, made expertly for her by my mom or her mamiji. Though they are fattier than a regular roti, they are also made from whole wheat flour, so better (I think) than a bowl of pasta.

We are still recovering from jet-lag. Hopefully it will be a better sleep for us all tonight.

Going to attempt potatoe parathas later.