For Leo...

We have been up to our eyeballs in snot around here.  It has gotten SO bad, that I have started to use the Snotsnucker (a device which I swore I would NEVER use) myself...mostly because the guy who promised HE would do it NEVER does.  

I know...when she grows up she will HATE (bad word) that I put this photo up.  For right now, though, she is little enough to appreciate that even with a stream of mucous coming out of her nose--she is still so beautiful (to me).  

Frog legs

 I loved it when Oliver used to lie like this.  Then one day, the arthritis got too bad, and he couldn't do it anymore.  I hope Phinny can do this for a long time.

Proud Canadian

I have been busy with the International Food Festival at our school (where our Team Canada consists of two other moms).  Second Cup (thank-you Khaled, Masab and Abdul Aziz) was an amazing Canadian contributor to our table.  In addition to bringing coffee, tea, cold smoothie drinks for the kids, AND muffins they also sent two great guys (Luverne and Gilliard) to help us out.  Tim Horton's (see Timmy's--no link for YOU) finally DID contribute hot chocolate and Timbits (and it was wonderful) but I was disappointed by how difficult it was to get them on board.  

I was also extremely disappointed by the help from the Canadian parents to run our table (and based on the faces who showed up at our table to eat all the free food there were quite a few of them).  There are apparently a lot of PASSPORT CANADIANS at our school (you know, the kind who come to Canada, get the passport and all the benefits of being Canadian and then get out...until of course they need something, and then they are back!).  I really wish that if Stephen Harper does NOTHING else...he could do something about these people who really don't want to be Canadian--just the passport please.  

Brass camel

Thankfully, it is over.  We spent one night at the amazing Bab Al Shams.  It was enough to make me forget about all the stress I felt leading up to the IFF.  I really enjoyed myself there.  Everyone did.  I would love to go back there one day...but it is really expensive!

All Aboard!

Went to pick-up Magoo's Canadian passport (can you believe our embassy is located in a MALL here?).  Then I took this cutey shopping at the Co-op and she discovered a new way to ride (and she was REALLY good at it too).

 On Monday night, I learned that little A's school was having a 'dress-up' day called "NERD DAY".  When I first learned about it (after-school, the day before, from another parent) I felt a tightening in my stomache.  I mentioned my concern to the teacher, who agreed it was offensive, and told me that she had changed the title of the day for her class (Einsten day).  STILL--it bothered me.  I couldn't go to sleep until I wrote an email to the principal and CEO of the school, expressing my feelings about the inappropriateness of this day.

After I finished writing the email, I was so keyed up, I couldn't sleep.

I was so pleased with the response from the CEO, who emailed me at 7:30 the next morning.  He was very supportive of my email, and assured me that this sort of activity would not be repeated in the school.  He completely agreed with everything that I had written, and had spoken to the people involved (I believe it was a brainchild of a grade 5 leadership team--which must have at least ONE teacher attached to it, non?).

To celebrate Little A's cooperation (she was disappointed that she wasn't dressing up...though you can see what she wanted to wear below), we had our own dress-up party at home.  Peter and I took her (and just her) to the Observation Deck at Etihad Towers, where we all had High Tea (a first for all of us) at 300 m up in the air.  She loved the cucumber sandwiches (with red capers crushed into the cream cheese), the juice and being with us.  She does understand the reason she didn't get to participate today:  we don't participate in things where other people's feeling might be hurt.

My little victory (wrt Nerd day) is dedicated to a Mr. Leonard H.  I went to Junior High and High School with Leonard, and cannot imagine anyone who suffered more during those years (except maybe his sister).  I was NEVER a participant, but at that age I don't think I was his champion either (although I do remember a few occasions where I spoke up).  I have no idea what happened to him, but the fact that he survived the school years is a testament to just how strong his spirit must be.  

Chinese New Year & Api-CAE Gourmet

We finally made it to see the Lion Dance at the Shangri-La Hotel.  The children all really enjoyed it, and it was great to see them all at an age where the drumming didn't make anyone cry.

The staff were happy to see our little ones, and they even got some great pictures of all of us on their Facebook page.  Here were some pictures from Malou's phone:

One pose for mommy

One pose for daddy

Snuggling with Malou

Dumplings made with Aunty Yang

Pickle was much too busy dancing and eating dates.  The hotel managed to get some nice pics of him though.

Today, Little A's class had a field-trip to APi-CAE Gourmet, where they engaged in age-inappropriate activities (word searches for children who cannot spell) and had a great time making and eating pizza.  I am glad that I was able to join them, and the free valet made it easy to drive in and park (otherwise that area can be a mess).  I was lucky to enjoy a free latte and the most flaky and buttery croissant I have ever had in my life--it was perfect!!  I even brought home some profiteroles for Peter this evening.

Planning stage:  adding basil leave and tomato sauce

Top chef

Hat won't stay on during the kitchen tour

Heart-shaped pizza

Even in my quasi-retired state, activities like this reinforce for me my beliefs and classroom practices, with respect to teaching.  I actually like to be involved with the children, and I always ensured that parents who volunteered did the same.  I always made sure to guide parent involvement, especially as some parents don't know HOW to help.  

The finished product

Enter the snake

Well, the year of the snake is upon us.  Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Pig

Other than having our decorations up, nothing has transpired at our place to celebrate the new year.  We tried to attend the Lion Dance today, only to learn that the Abu Dhabi Week magazine had misprinted the date last week (and I haven't had time to read the correction in this week's edition).  Thankfully, I hadn't gotten out of my truck and left it with valet...so basically, we just took a drive to the Shang and back this morning.

Ox

I did, however, take some time to dress up the kids.

Rabbit

On Friday, when 'the littles' were asleep, A and I painted a pizza box (take-away from our dinner the night before at Frankie's--with Mirah and Harris).  She asked me if I would paint with her "like we used to do when I was little".  BIG SIGH--I did used to have a lot more time just to sit around an paint with her.  We also used the time to make lemon-mint popsicles (of which she could only stomache half today).

destined for the walls of CPK

 

Today, in lieu of the outing to see the lion dance, we went back to what is fast becoming our favourite park in KCA.  I was thrilled to see Pickle attempt to walk across the swing bridge (successfully).  Magoo even managed it, with a little help.  A told me that she was a professional, and indeed, she was quite confident and practically leaping from step to step.  She was even sweet enough to stay close behind Pickle, using her body as a human safety-net for him, in the case he lost his footing (something I realized after repeatedly asking her to give him space).

Living Doll Collection

Peter will be back tonight.  Though I was a bit apprehensive about all three kids with no help (on Friday especially), I must admit that the children were amazing.  I am a lucky mom!

Dear Universe...

Are you effing (with a capital F) with me?

I took Pickle in for his blood test on November 29.  I waited--scared, anxious--patiently, for two months.  I called the hospital on Monday, to discover the lab results were back, and surprise!  nobody had bothered to call me.  Though I was informed that either the doctor (who only is available Mondays and Thursdays) or the nurse could give me the results, when I finally got through to the nurse (after one disconnection and another re-route through the switchboard), she told me only the doctor could tell me the test results.  She said she would take a message and that he would call me back later that day, or on Thursday.  So, I waited again...all the time TRYING to stay positive and channel my energy, and the energy around me to get the results I wanted.
This morning, I called again, and the doctor picked up on the first ring (shocking!).  He took my details and promised to call me back.  Which he did.  Only, the news he gave me was that they had run the WRONG test on my little Pickle.  Instead of running the follow-up test, as we had discussed, they in fact REPEATED the old test.

I guess the good news is that the test results were consistent with the first test.  Still negative.

However, I am still left feeling a bit like my head might explode...the big pressure system has not actually been unleashed...it has nowhere to go!

So--I gotta ask...WTF??

Is this a case of "YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!", and so you are trying to let me live in my la-la-land where my son just has a few delays and is going to grow out of them?

Or are you just giving me more time to channel my energy better to create the result I want?  Perhaps my efforts of the last two months weren't enough...

Either way--message received.  I will work harder and focus more on receiving another NEGATIVE report from the hospital (on the new test that Pickle will be giving blood for in the upcoming week).  I will NOT allow worry to creep into my heart or mind.  I will be sure that all of these experiences were just that...experiences to grow from.

I will worry when I have something to worry about.

******************************************************************************

Yesterday little A was so very proud of the cookie that she iced in class.  It was a digestive biscuit, and she had used yellow icing and alphabet sprinkles.  She was soooo proud that she kept jamming it into my already full hands, while I was talking to the new dad in the class (doing my classroom mom duties).  I asked her politely to stop and wait.  I showed her my full hands.  She just kept pushing it at me and WHOOPS!  It flew off the plate and crumpled into bits on the floor.


She was sad.  So was I.  She didn't cry at all though--THAT'S my girl.

When we got home, I whipped out the icing from the fridge (the one that I know little kindergarten students haven't sneezed, coughed or licked), added a drop of red, and she was such a happy big sister, mixing it up and icing cookies for her siblings.

Digestive biscuits have never tasted
quite so good before!

The weekend is coming.  Peter is flying off to KL with Uncle Ajay, and the kids and I will celebrate Chinese New Year without him (honestly--he's not THAT big a contributor to the celebration anyways!).  On Saturday we will go to the Shangri-La and see the Lion Dance (which has become a tradition for us).  My friend Yang will come and make dumplings on Sunday--and it will be lovely.

I love the weekends.  This will be an especially easy and lazy one.

New Park in KCA

Check out this new kid's park in KCA--it is FABULOUS!  Sun-shades?  check.  Recycled tire ground-cover?  check.  Equipment that is not covered with peeling paint that could give my child tetanus?  check.  I am so impressed.  Magoo and went and explored the park this morning.  

Sand-box and covered picnic area

Climbing wall in the back

Walk the plank

She loves to bounce...

...she does NOT love to swing

I feel like I am dying inside, waiting for the dr to call me back.  I wish he had called yesterday.  I am trying to channel all my power and the energy around me to make the results what I want them to be.  I will keep trying, and look forward to hearing that my efforts worked when I get that call...whenever that might be...

Family Photo Shoot...the girls

This is really an authentic Abu Dhabi style family photo shoot.  We are all (even my already beautiful little girls) photoshopped.  My colouring is CRAZY in this picture (and why couldn't they shave off a portion of me, if they were doing that sort of thing anyway?).

THIS is little A's favourite picture.  Suffice it to say that the swing was NOT moving and there were no magical stars or butterflies there on the day of the shoot.  

Dog Days of Abu Dhabi

We have just been busy hanging around and doing the little things that make up one's life.  Pickle is adjusting to nursery (and today was another day without tears...I think it is Day 4 of NO TEARS now).  He is definitely trying to articulate more, and has come home with the expressions of "Oh my goodness!" and "Oh dear!", which are apparently used by his teacher Ms. Lindsey.

Earlier in January, we went to see the return of the GIANTS OF GOLF tournament in Abu Dhabi.  Tiger Woods (having already been pre-paid for his visit here, regardless of his performance) decided to pack things in early and did not play on the weekend.  I envision Tiger lying on a beach in Dubai thinking "THIS is the life!".

  

It does feel a bit strange to have only THESE TWO around the house all morning.  Initially, I wasn't really all too sure what to do.

One day I was THAT lady--the one who WALKS with her child from Al Raha Gardens over to the Spinneys at Al Bandar.  I thought something was a bit unusual when Magoo's head kept bobbing around, and there was no noise...but the grip she had on the milk carton confused me.  I thought for SURE if she was sleeping, she would have relaxed her fingers and dropped it...but NOPE!  As I reached home, I discovered that on the 17 minute walk home, she had fallen asleep...and she didn't even spill a drop of that milk--what a star!

This is hands down Magoo's favourite jacket.  Thankfully, the weather has been unusually cool (and last week it was VERY foggy), and she has had a chance to cozy up in it.  Our friends Norman and Lisa sent this jacket to us when Little A was born, and I loved it so much--such good quality and so cute--I am pleased to have had another little girl to wear it (which is not to say that Pickle didn't....).  

I am Canadian (and Chinese...and Indian....)

During a much needed clean-up of my closet, I managed to find the salwar pajamas that go with this kameez, for little A.  She was so excited, that she wore the outfit two days in a row (here she has jazzed it up with a bhindi, en route to the Shangri-La for brekkie).  Magoo has decided to keep it simple, and honour her Edmontonian roots, with this pink jersey (go Oilers!).

Peter and I are managing to get out a bit more.  On Thursday night we went out for dinner at Nolu's with our new friends Naureen and Naveed (Canadians who may soon be heading back to Toronto).  Then on Saturday we went to De Thali, where we both remarked on a decline in the food (sigh!).  Yesterday morning Little A had a play-date with her friends (which started at Dalma mall and ended up at Al Bandar for ice cream).  This morning I found myself driving out to Saadiyat Island, to visit my friend Amar in her St. Regis apartment.  I can't wait for warmer weather, to go back and try the private beach!

I am putting off a call to the SKMC--I have to so that I am just not prepared to received any bad news at present.  I like things as they are, where Pickle is developing and growing, slowly but surely.  He has become a pro at sleeping in his big-boy-bed and the only problem now is that he literally picks apart the foam mattress in his room (the one I use to lie down beside him while he falls asleep) upon waking.

First day of school