Mamma Mia! Dubai

I have a dream, a song to sing...

Yesterday, we took all the kids to a 4 pm matinee showing of Mamma Mia! (the musical) in Dubai.  This has been one of Little A's favorite movies, since we took her to the Stars and Strollers viewing, at Kingsway Mall, in 2008.  She couldn't walk yet, and I remember having to sit with her on the stairs, holding her up so she could bounce to all the music.  As she grew older, the movie quickly became one of her favourites, and she shared her love with Pickle and Magoo.  We were very excited when we found out about it from our friend Linda (who, as I come to think about it, seems to always be 'in the know' as far as the goings on around here).

We spent the morning running around, doing errands.  Peter is making a bed (I kid you not) for Ms. Zoila--she is Pickle's TA at school, and she is going to live in our second maid's room.  However, we need a custom bed, as the room is too small for any pre-fab bed to fit.  It is shameful--truly, how small the rooms are (Malou has the bigger one), but she has seen the space, and is really looking forward to reducing her commute to work (she currently rents a 'bed-space'--translation:  one bed out of six bunks--on the island, and commutes over an hour each way, by bus).  She is such a positive and lovely lady, and we wanted to help her out.  Our main concern is that Malou will be okay with a room-mate, and since Malou is the one who suggested the idea, I think she is interested in making a connection.  I am  hopeful they will be a good match (and that Zoila will guide Malou out of her current drama:  the American soldier).

While we were in IKEA, Peter found a mattress, and I found a lovely piece of lace fabric (for 21 aed--about $7).  Since we were going to Mamma Mia--I thought that the lace would make gorgeous wedding veils for the girls (who wanted to dress like Sophie).  We already decided that Pickle would get to wear my Mamma Mia t-shirt (the one I got when the musical came to Jubilee Auditorium--possibly in 2006).  SIDE NOTE:  to my husband who I love so much, and who bought us all tickets to go--I did not LOVE your comment asking when I was small enough to ever fit the t-shirt.  Ask Pussy-cat video uncle--I am sure he remembers that I used to fit that t-shirt...

I digress--so, Pickle got the Mamma Mia official t-shirt, and the girls felt a bit down (I only had ONE shirt), so I thought the lace (curtain?) would cheer them up.

They seem pretty happy, don't they?

They loved their veils (even though they kept falling off their heads, because I had them attached with clips), and I had so much leftover, that I added long skirts to their dresses.  Magoo said to me afterwards, "My dress was prettier than Sophie's".

We had great seats (Platinum section) but because we were on the floor it was hard for shorter people to see (which was pretty much all of us except Peter).  Magoo and I had a little window between two ladies heads, and Little A sat on daddy's lap.  Pickle seemed content with his view (and sometimes he seemed more interested in opening and closing the chair beside him), he was dancing and clapping at appropriate times, so we let him enjoy.  

What can I say about Mamma Mia! that hasn't been said before?  Not much.  It was an amazing experience, we all loved it (even Magoo, who kept her ears plugged the entire time because it was too loud).  We were all very tired, and hungry as we faced our 90 minute drive back to Abu Dhabi (did I mention there was school tomorrow?), our saving grace was the cd we purchased from the Merchandise Vendors.  That, and the cheese sandwiches and bananas that were packed for the kids to eat.  

I love the music, the musical and the movie, and I feel so lucky to be able to share it with my kids.  I look forward to taking them again (when they are older), maybe in New York (Magoo tells me knows New York, because that is where Giselle lands when she falls down the well, in Enchanted).  I loved watching all the kids dance it out at the end, when the cast came out for "you want another one??", and I loved hearing them sing down the halls as we walked back to our car.

I am also grateful to have a new CD to listen to over and over again in my car (because I am so tired of Lion King!).

ON A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT NOTE OF THANKFULNESS:

I am also so grateful for all of our friends who send Christmas wishes (the old-fashioned way) every year.  A visit to the post-office box yesterday, yielded most of these treasures--we love the collection of Christmas cards that we receive every year (no matter when they arrive).  Thank-you so much for taking the time to send them to us--we treasure them!  

 

our treasures

Happy New Year-2015 Edition

Don't worry--there won't be any excessive wisdom shared today via my blog.  All we'll do is have a little catch-up, and then be on our way--so much to do, isn't there?

Seems we left off around Diwali, and since then, even though so much has happened, I would be hard-pressed to tell you what it was.

Yes--there was Thanksgiving, National Day and Christmas....but as for IMPORTANT things...

the biggest in my books:

1.  Pickle turned the big Oh-Five (so...he's FIVE now!).
I felt like a pretty negligent and lazy mom, throwing together his birthday party in under a week (in hindsight I realize I am super-mom and children's birthday party goddess, don't worry!).  I am not sure what I was planning--to let his birthday pass, without a special celebration for my special boy?  So, with the help of a close (small) group of friends, we had our little party.  With ornament painting, gingerbread man decorating and a trip to the playground--I think everyone had fun!

I love how Little A is holding him back from the flame

Afterwards, Peter and I were talking about our friends "Uncle Pete" and "Aunty Zana"--they have attended almost all of the birthdays for all of our children--they have known them their entire lives.  Uncle Pete picked Little A and I up at the airport when we first arrived in Abu Dhabi (and in fact, we had met him for a coffee before his flight home, the day Pickle was born).  Aunty Zana was one of my first friends who I met at a Khalifa Ladies Coffee morning (the group has long since folded), and she used to accompany me to my ob appointments when I was pregnant (that was how we managed to squeeze in visiting time).  They have both been such good friends to us, in our time here!  We are so grateful for you both, Peter and Farzana!

2.  Peter turned the big Three-Nine (so...he's 39 now)
The brief window where Peter no longer has to defer to me as the 'older and wiser one' is now open.
We took some butter tarts in to work (he STILL doesn't understand why they need to have raisins), and we had a very fun evening at ROGO's, the Roller Coaster restaurant at Yas Mall.  We all loved watching everyone's food get delivered (we were at the tornado table--the loop-de-loop one was amazing too!)

2.  The Reem Island Ghost
If you didn't hear about it in the news, this event shocked us all, here in 'the bubble'.  I was very shaken by the story (which we learned about through conversation with our American friends Brian and Linda at our lovely dinner at the Easter Mangroves).  We have come to feel so safe here...and after this incident, I can only imagine the increase demands on security companies and CCTV suppliers!  Here is the link (warning--it is FREAKY and not suitable for children):
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT5-j9YUGt4

3.  Our beloved "Kitten' died

For my children who may be reading this blog in the future as a way to connect with your old mom in her younger years--who have not been told the full story of how she died--you will find it here.  I apologize for keeping it from you, but I was unable to handle it as a 39 year old woman and I have no idea how you would have dealt with it.  Daddy and I opted to give you an easier explanation for Kitten's death (which was equally true--but just not as painful for me).  

Through the looking glass--I always envied her sleeps

Having to make the decision to euthanize this beautiful cat was probably the hardest thing I have done in my life.  If you remember--Kitten was the perfect cat for an allergy sufferer like myself--an OUTDOOR cat.  We fed her and gave her affection, and health care and in turn, she entertained us and interacted with us, through the glass (who am I kidding--we went out with her and gave her a snuggle or a play multiple times during the day).  It was always so cool to look out and see her there, sleeping paws up in the kids' play house, hunting birds, or just watching us through the glass.  We couldn't settle on a name for her, and "Kitten" stuck.

Unfortunately, she developed a habit of eating plastic, and we had already had surgery for her in April to remove foam (and the plug from Malou's flip-flop) from her stomache. She started to show signs that she was unwell again (there was a place she liked to go and hide in the bushes, under the water sprinkler), and so I had taken her to the vet.  He was shocked by the hard, corrugated plastic piece he removed from her stomache (he said he asked them to check the x-ray machine because he thought it was inaccurate--he couldn't figure out how she swallowed it and got it down her throat).

I was supposed to pick her up on Wednesday, but then she started having a fever, so the vet opted to keep her.  Wednesday night they called me and said her eyes were jaundiced, and they wanted to run extra tests to figure out what was causing it.  As the costs were growing, I asked to speak to Fadey (who owns the clinic) to see if he could offer me a discount.  When I spoke to him the next day, the decision I had made (en-route, in tears, while talking with my friend Shariza), was that I would pay whatever for the tests, get her fixed up, and re-home her to a sanctuary in Al Bahya, where they could keep her away from plastic.  However, during my visit I asked to see Kitten--and upon seeing her, it became very obvious to me that she was suffering, and that there would be no recovery for her.

 Kitten's pretty pink pads, and nose and lips had all turned pastel yellow.  Her yellow eyes were rolled back in her head, and she could barely breathe.  She vomitted blood on the table (though she couldn't lift her head to do it).  I doubt she even registered the sound of my voice, or my touch.  Through tears, I asked Fadey "can you fix her?" and he told me "it's not very likely....the kindest thing you could do for her now..."and he didn't have to finish, because I already knew.  I sat with her while they injected her with the liquid to stop her heart, and then for a few minutes afterwards too, stroking her soft ears, and trying to remember all the details of our Kitten (my favourite will always be that black mark on her nose, that looked just like a mole)  Just under ten seconds, and she was gone.  It was heartbreaking, and even now, I am filled with sadness.  However, at the time, despite how sad I was to let her go, I knew that at this point, letting her die 'naturally' would be so cruel and painful for her, and our Kitten didn't deserve that.

It is still awful, thinking about it.

The vet continued to assure me that it was the best decision.  He said there was a very slim chance they could have fixed her--all the tests they wanted to run were just to know what had caused her very fast decline.  Could've been that she had feline HIV, and that a virus got activated by all the stress of being sick and having a surgery.  Also could have been that the plastic did more damage than they realized and hurt her in more places than they could fix.  Which is what we chose to tell the kids.

That happened on Thursday, December 18, about 2:30 pm.

On Saturday, Peter went to the gym in the morning, at Garden's Plaza.  He came home and reported that there was a little homeless kitten there.  We debated about bringing her home...did we really want another cat?

In the end, we welcomed "Jonesy" (named after Jones the Grocer, the cafe where she was found) that evening.  She is a three month old Arabian Mau mix. Though she did not ease the children's pain, when they discovered that Kitten had died (the euthanization is the only detail we held back), she has helped them heal a lot faster.  Jonesy has helped them to remember Kitten (who lives in our hearts now), and to heal and make new experiences.

I think pets are amazing for children's development and growth.

And kittens are ADORABLE (and it doesn't hurt as much when they bite and scratch you!)

Jonesy ended up making our Christmas much happier (otherwise it would have been turkey and tears), which we shared with friends (new and old).

Peter and I shared a quiet New Year, watched Love Actually, and had a "family sleepover" (all five of us slept in one room--by CHOICE). 

As for 2015...I don't know what will happen.  I know that some of our friends will move away, and new friends will come into our lives.  I know that the children will keep growing and having their life's dramas, and my world will revolve around it.  I know I will spend a lot more time at Yas Mall (grocery shopping) than Mushrif (it's TEN MINUTES door to door!).  

We are looking forward to a lot of things:  more birthday celebrations, seeing my parents in Austria this summer, Magoo starting school in September (both a joy and a sadness) and having good friends come and visit us in December (Sandy and FIONA!!).  I will NOT be attending the Michael Buble concert--I have been trying to get tickets but the site crashed as soon as sales were open--and somehow, though I have never managed to connect even ONE TIME--the concert has SOLD OUT.  

And I am sure there will be lots of other events that we will be grateful for throughout the year (perhaps a wedding???).  

I am no longer into 'making resolutions' and feeling guilty when I fail to keep them. I know I need to make some changes in my life, I know what they are, and I need to make a commitment, have some discipline and do it.   Sending best wishes for 2015 to all of our family and friends, near and far--we love you and are grateful for your love.  

A Diwali Potpurri

First Writing

THE FOLLOWING WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ITS OWN POST--A FEW DAYS BACK:

I find myself always winding my way down to the water, while I wait for A to finish her ballet class.  The breeze here is amazing--complimented by the sounds of the waves plunking and thudding against the marina--almost like being on a boat!

The temperature, when you are out of the sun and in a breeze as I am now--perfect!

Today was a really busy day.  I checked out the services of the Capital Health Screening Centre--it is visa renewal time again!  I was very impressed with the new company--at every point it was much better than the original.  The location, next to the Al Jazira Stadium (tower a)--great--not in the heart of the city, for us suburbanites.  The parking lot--well--I accidentally parked in the bus lot, so I had a lot of extra space!  Up the elevator, greeted by staff who asked for my appointment number, and gave me a ticket (9064)--and then directed me to the ladies waiting area seats...which did have a few lads in them.  And some of the people forgot their deodorant that morning...but after about 10 minutes I was through to some more waiting...which was minimal.  As soon as I sat down and settled in to read my nook, I was called to get up into another line.  Blood test--check (bless the nurse for using the smallest needle she could find--at my request--and nailing it in on her first try!).  X-ray--check!  Good-bye!  I barely had time to read a thing!

Malou was surprised when I returned home before noon.  Ms. Magoo was very happy to wake up from her nap and find me home.  Door-to-door--in under two and a half hours --including 25 minutes driving time each way.  Much better than the experiences we have had in the past.  Not sure if making an appointment helped (mine was for 9:44)--but it seemed I was moving as fast as everyone else.  Way to go Abu Dhabi--good system improvement!

Today has been a busy day with a lot of in and out.  Out for visa process,  out to give A lunch dose of antibiotics, out to pick -up the pickle (who actually requested to go pee BEFORE we left the classroom--hurray!), out to help A transfer over to her ECP (fun with food) with minimal stress, out again to pick her up (where I ran into my friend Yeen who gifted me some of her most delicious scones!), and out again for ballet.  So--my eyes are burning a bit and I don't really want to do anything tonight.

Except just enjoy this breeze!

Above: Daddy's Famous Stuffing
Below:  Making Crust for Pumpkin Pie

I have been worried a lot lately...the big ones are ISIS and Ebola...what's a world supposed to do?  I wish I had a time machine so I could travel to the future and see how these things get resolved.

Dr. Ana and the cavity

Other little worries melted away a bit when I picked Pickle up from school today.  As we were walking to the car, I noticed that I had his hand in my left and he had Magoo's hand in his left--they were holding hands! They would let go, for one of them to push back a hat, or brush a hair out of their faces, and then reach naturally for one another again.  It was a sweet moment...a memory I want to keep...

Cutest cats!

BUT I DIDN'T FIND THE TIME TO POST IT!!

Instead, it comes to you along with my best wishes for Diwali--the festival of lights.  Lighting up all the darkness in our lives--vanquishing fear and hate--with love and light.  

Little things make little ones so happy--
Thanks Aunty Aumi!

After hunting around (in the car and on the phone), I feel so lucky to have finally found these boxes--coming right to my doorstep, through little A's classroom.  Every year they run out!!  THIS year we managed to participate!  All our little ones packed their own boxes (their own way).  This is a great way to teach the little ones to help out those who are less fortunate.

THIS, on the other hand, is NOT a great way to help out those who are less fortunate (though if you want to contribute, please send something to the number listed).  I never received anything like this when I was in Canada...does it happen now?

We will be heading out to the Peppermill tonight for a family Diwali dinner.  Abu Dhabi has disappointed me with their lack of child-friendly Diwali offerings this year.  The Indian Cultural Society has a function that begins at 8 pm...and none of the Indian restaurants are doing anything--SHAME!!
I am off to Lulu to do my part.  Looking for diyas to give out to A's classmates--teacher gifts have already been distributed.

Thanks Dharmvir!

With our rangoli 

ROAR!

Rose--here is the homework assignment we promised you would get completed over the Eid break:

Last year when A took Choral (as an ECP--Extra-curricular programming), she LOVED it.  I have always loved singing myself, and so I was thrilled that she shared this with me.  It was one of the few activities that I didn't have to push her to attend.  She sang at school events, with pride.

She was also exposed to different music, and one of her favourite songs was Katy Perry's "Roar".  I confess, when I was sitting outside the class waiting for her to finish, I had no idea what the song was, and googled the lyrics ('eye of the tiger' made my ears prick up--80's kid).  Thus, after many years of KP being on the scene...she finally had my attention (through the ears of my six year old).

Ms. Karen did not show Katy's video in class ('b/c some of your mummies and daddies wouldn't appreciate it').  I you-tubed it and did not object to the 'you-tarzan-me-Jane' costume, complete with the overflowing cuppage.  Little A and I spend a lot of time talking about real faces and bodies, and photoshop--lots of images of 'with no make-up'...b/c the world she grows up in will be very different from my own.  I appreciated the empowerment theme--though I think little A likes this song b/c she thinks it is about befriending tigers...

Fast forward to the present: her teacher gave her a homework assignment to find a song that makes her feel happy.  She picked KP's "Roar," and last week daddy filmed her singing the song.  THIS week's homework required her to choreograph a dance to her happy song....


SO...please enjoy the above video.

Consider it my Eid gift to the world!

My Summer Holiday

Seriously--grab a drink for this one...you'll thank me at the end.

This summer, we all flew back to Canada.  It felt wonderful to reconnect with so many of our friends--and family too (which should go without saying).

The travel itself was not hard--but it was awfully long, and that in itself can become a hardship.

Watch this little video I made of our trip from Abu Dhabi to Orlando (which essentially took us about 26 hours, door-to-door).  We arrived in Florida around midnight, and were seen shopping at the 24 hour grocery around 1 AM (with all three kids alert and singing).  Business class is not a hardship, by any stretch of the imagination--the children were great and well-behaved the whole flight.  I was perturbed to discover a grey hair (the first I have ever found) in the bathroom mirror, on our first leg of travel--damn french braids!


Abu Dhabi to Orlando
(**Warning--I haven't upgraded to the PAY version of the replay app--and the music is slightly annoying--but a lot of cute pics of the kids counterbalance it.**)  

I really enjoyed Orlando.  Florida was a lot more green and lush than I remember.  I got to finally see the words "Spanish moss" and "magnolia" come to life, travel to one of the groves that produces the orange  juice we buy in Abu Dhabi (what we were thinking was a knock-off Tropicana box--called Florida's Natural), and of course, the highlight of our trip was celebrating little A's seventh birthday with FIREWORKS (as we had always hoped for our fourth of July baby girl) at DISNEYWORLD!  We were lucky enough to be joined by our most favourite college student (now a University gal at UCLA), Jasmine.  Jasmine and I both did a lot of work with our hands this holiday--she was the balloon artist, and me--I worked with gauze ;-)...lots and lots of never-ending gauze....Our dear friends from West Palm Beach also drove up to spend some time with us--we all get along fabulously and it was thrilling to see the love carry on through to the next generation.

Monster Truck

Anthony and the banana spider

Magnolia

Three princesses

Until next time--the Hillbergs

Princess tea time

Ready for my birthday fireworks!

Resurrecting Disney

Ready for F1

It's a Small World was
Magoo's favorite ride--at the end she stood up and shouted
"Again! Again!"

Go Bruins!!

From Orlando, we flew to Calgary, via Houston.  We pretty much spent an entire day in transit--why can't they have a connecting flight? (hint:  probably something to do with Air Canada and their monopoly being threatened...oh wait...we don't have monopolies in Canada...put THAT in the 'things that make you go hmmmmmm' box...).  We stopped in Calgary for a night, and then head off to Edmonton the next morning.

Celebrating A's bday in Calgary

Grandpa's backyard--with Grandpa's special tools

Looks just like daddy--but hairless!

JPP Class of '93 reunion

Discovering dandelions

Lunch with the Boers

Peter spent about two weeks in Edmonton with us, and then went back to Abu Dhabi.  While he was gone, we spent the time in Calgary.

With the cousins

A gift from Grandma to Naniji

Mushroom pickers

My favourite day--Big Hills Spring Park (thanks Andrea!)

Here is another little video to share what we got up to while we were there:

Six weeks in Canada

(**NB:  the music is the same and just as annoying).  

I really enjoyed the time with my family.  Our simple days involved dog-walking, raspberry picking, trips to the library and nearby playgrounds, and joining the Cookie Club at Superstore.  We managed to also see so many friends, more than we were expecting!  And the summer storms--ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!  I LOVED them!  Only could have been better if I had a quiet room, a blanket and a NAP!  I managed to become a runner, for one month, running regularly around my brother's neighbourhood.  Calgary is a beautiful city--even a former Edmontonian such as myself has to admit it.  I celebrated my ten year wedding anniversary with my three lovelies in the Canmore Butterfly Spray Park--we had a blast!  And we managed to win over the heart of one very stubborn little pomeranian (yes--I am talking about you Snuggles!).

And then we drove back to Edmonton again--and it was quite emotional for me, because I knew it meant my time with my parents was almost done--just a few more days at the end of the trip, before we were gone again.  However, we had some more friends to catch up and THE FAMILY REUNION (in capitals to express its importance).  

Count 'em!

BFF's

Make way for the ducklings...

Clowin' cousins

yawn or roar?  you be the judge

From Edmonton, back to Calgary, and then onwards to Ontario.  There we saw the Niagara Falls, stayed in cottage country, in Muskoka, and then spent some time in Toronto, before heading back home.

row, row, row your boat...

Girls of summer

marhmallow masters

ribbit

Then it was back to Abu Dhabi, where we were launched immediately into our old lives, complete with starting school (one week late!).  This meant no transition for Pickle--who was started EY1 (FKA Pre-K) at little A's school.  Magoo suffered the worst jet-lag (and by association, I suffered along-side her as her go-to person...).  Thus cementing for me why we don't go back home every summer...it was a rough week back...

So--thank-you for getting this far in the "My Summer Holiday" entry.

For everyone who made our time back in North America so memorable--our families and friends--I thank-you!  Thank-you for all the lunches, the dinners, the coffees...for all your time, and for picking it all up so easily...just where we left off, six years ago...

For Malou, who gave me the two hours I needed to update this blog, I thank-you too!

Eid Mubarak!