Mommy and Poppy Go to the Movies

It was a big day for us.  The last time we were in a movie theatre, we lived in Edmonton, little A wasn't even walking yet (she was still not even a year old), and we attended a Stars and Strollers presentation of "Mama Mia" (she bounced and danced up and down the stairs--still one of her favourite movies!).  

This was our FIRST MOVIE in the UAE (over four years now).  We waited for a good one, and we found it.

We left the house at 9 AM (yes...in the MORNING...because we just cannot handle late nights anymore...as we just tried again on Thursday night...and waking up is a killer!).  The movie start time was 10:15.  

There were actually people in line ahead of us (if you can believe it), and Peter grumbled about the amount of time it took for the ONE cashier to serve everyone.  He was really disgruntled when the other cashier came out and didn't open another register to serve us (please note:  Peter is the last person in the above pictured line).  I had to laugh when we got up to buy our tickets and spent about EIGHT minutes getting ourselves sorted.

Here is a sample of ticket prices in the UAE.  We decided to enjoy the 3D Max experience for 57 aed.  I was skeptical after hearing the radio dj's discuss whether it was worthwhile for this movie.  However, after seeing it for myself, it was completely worth it!

Three kinds of popcorn??  Kitsch cupcakes??  When did this happen?  There was even a 'cafe' style kiosk on the other side, with fresh sandwiches and coffees.

And then these bong-like contraptions for 75 aed...

Splurging on popcorn and pop (nobody ate the galaxy bar).

Ready to watch 

The movie experience was fantastic!  I am not sure if it was REALLY that great, or whether it is just because I haven't been for so long.  Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed myself.  Was annoyed by the two phone calls I had to take from SKMC telling me that Pickle's blood test has had to be re-scheduled (could they not have just called ONE TIME when they were sure what was going on??).  Also--half an hour of previews and ads...can that be right??

The we got to come home and splash around with these three lovelies, who missed us so very much.  It was like we had been away for years (instead of just four hours).

38

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.

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!