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Life's little gifts:

Today I:
1.  Took Pickle to SKMC for his final appointment with Dr. Hobeldin.
2.  Went for a coffee with my friend Naureen.
3.  Came home to a lovely cupcake birthday party with my family.
4.  Survived a COLD swim in our pool with the littles.
5.  Ate a tasty birthday dinner at Jones.
6.  Opened a creative gift from my eldest:  a square napkin (which can also turn into a diamond shape if you rotate it) and another napkin, folded into an envelope style 'purse'.  I also enjoyed the 'regifting' of my throw-pillows (with the littles collection of faces) from Magoo.
7.  Let my littles open a fabulous camel teapot cover from my friend Farzana (I LOVE it!!), who thoughtfully bought it and gave it to me in advance of her trip back home to the UK.
8.  Watched two episodes of 'The Office' (cannot believe that my brother does not watch that show!!  It's a travesty!).
9.  Ready for bed.  Tomorrow I have something at the gym (we'll see in the morning what it turns out to be) and then a massage with Tod in the afternoon.  PERFECT!!

Spring Breakers

Our second week of Spring Break was great (even though Pickle, Magoo and myself were inflicted with awful phlegmatic cough).  We kept things easy, and filled our holiday with little things.  

Posing at the Shangri-la.

Peter flew back from Switzerland and met us at the Shangri-la for breakfast.  Pickle was so engaged in looking for his father (whom he spoke to on his hand-held...well....hand phone all the way down the stairs), he did not have time to cry when the valet took away our truck to park it (which has been a bit of an issue).  I enjoyed when I tried to hold his hand..er...phone, so that he wouldn't fall down the stairs, and he yelled "hey!  don't touch my phone mama!".

Tips & Toes

Pickle rocked a shade of navy blue, just so he could be included with his sisters, sporting Mermaid's Hair and Rock Star.

"Happy Bananas!" is a song that Little A has invented.  Here are the 'twins', their own version of happy bananas (with actual bananas). 

Porch swing at ACE Hardware

The best place to swing is in the hardware store.  No bugs, no bird droppings, and it is climate controlled.  Here are Pickle and Little A having a snack after our exercise trip to IKEA.

Yesterday we took Pickle to see Dr. Eeva (which kind of sounds like Dr. Evil...especially when the kids say it).  They have a nice waiting room for children, which both Magoo and Pickle enjoyed.

Today, everyone (except Magoo) is back to school.  I have had a few hours to myself, to post some 'for sale' items and to blog.

Life is good.  

Fire and Rain

 (enjoy the music Aumi...the older, wiser JT whom you love so much).

“Bottom line is, even if you see 'em coming, you're not ready for the big moments. No one asks for their life to change, not really. But it does. So what are we, helpless? Puppets? No. The big moments are gonna come. You can't help that. It's what you do afterwards that counts. That's when you find out who you are.” ― Joss Whedon

On March 20, during my appointment with Dr. Zeinab, I could have used Joss and his wise words.

I have been neglecting my blog.  Just realized the other day that it has been almost two months.

My friend Hanim recently decided to start wearing the hijab.  This is a big change for her (and for me as well--Hanim has beautiful hair, and I confess that I miss seeing it whenever I see her), and I am proud of her for following her beliefs.  I am so used to seeing women wearing the hijab, and yet this is the first time I have had a friend who has moved from being uncovered to 'covering'.  I appreciate seeing that she is a full-grown woman (30-something) and that this is clearly HER choice.

She managed to unite a group of her friends for a "Mum's Big Night Out" in early March.  We all went to 18 degrees (in the Captial Gate Hotel), and shared some great food and company.

Phinn made a new friend, Samer from Pooch Parlour.  Samer is the UAE's answer to Cesar Milan.  He grooms dogs, in a little hole-in-the-wall in Mohammed Bin Zayed City.  He is a lovely man, and has a real way with our Phinn.  He managed to calm him down after he jumped off the table (and split open his lip and then was limping around like he had broken a leg as well), and sent him home calm, content and gorgeous.  After trying several grooming options here, Samer is THE ONE!!

N continues to enjoy his days at nursery.  Here you can see him all packed up and shaking hands on his way out the door.  He has just been accepted to go to American GEMS school (with his big sister) in the fall.  I am really sorry not to be able to keep him at Redwood for another year.  That place is a REAL gem.  

We had a lovely visit with Ajay and his mom (pictured above, having a pedicure at Tips and Toes).  She is SOOOOO nice.  When we spend time together, it feels like I am with my own family, and that I have known her forever.  She bought the children all some beautiful Indian clothes, and Shylah loved her Minnie Mouse birthday card.  

We also went to the beach at Al Muneera again.  It is only five minutes away, and even better now that I have a friend there, which allows me to access the guest parking.  Here's N pretending to 'sleep' in the water.  What a change from the little boy who used to cry with every step he had to take on the sand.  

Do the terrible two's really have to start on your BIRTHDAY Magoo??  I was trying to do her hair (after I woke up quite nauseous and sickly on the 24th), and she wasn't very cooperative.  Sadly, I also did not have very much extra patience.  We managed to have a small FAMILY party--catered by Cinnabon.  Note to self:  Cinnabon only makes good cinnamon buns.  

Thanks Uncle Pete for making two girls happy with one birthday gift.  The clips were a big hit, and little A LOVED the turtle (with the rabbit ears).  

Another four months, another haircut (we really like to make our 35 dirhams work).  Pickle started out in the car, but soon moved onto my lap.  He was not a fan of the electric razor, but very politely sad "oh! thanks man" for ever scissor snip.  His 'stylist' (see above) still does not speak any more English than he did two years ago, at N's first hair cut.  

A side of mayo comes like THIS in Abu Dhabi.  So pretty--I had to take a picture.  This was the day I took my friend Farzana out to Jones for breakfast (after I went to Yogalates).  We had a nice visit and managed to pick up our new ARG resident cards as well.  

Usually we are joined by our friend Amar(jit)--but she is currently off climbing mountains in Malaysia.  What a star!

Finally--the CHANNEL ROAD to Al Raha Mall has opened--it has only taken 4 years of our life to see Al Raha Gardens connected to the Al Raha Mall.  In the past, this has been a 20 minute drive.  Of course, I had to test it out for myself yesterday.  I loaded all of us (plus Malou) in the car, for an adventure.  We learned that the Lulu there doesn't open until 9 am (but I have written a suggestion in their box to open earlier).  I expect they will get a lot more traffic now that people can easily access their mall.  Hoping that they also start sending better produce to that location as well.  

This weekend we experienced our first 'sandstorm advisory'.  All the radio stations were alerting people to severe sandstorms, and telling people to keep indoors.  If you had to go outside, it was advised that you wear glasses and masks.  On Saturday night, the storm broke, with some thunder, lightning and rain (apparently even flooding in areas).  The atmosphere still had sand yesterday (which I realized AFTER I packed us all up to go to Lulu), but today we have blue skies once again.