NARRATING THE CAMERA ROLL......

But before we begin, I LOVE ALL THE GREEN IN THIS SET OF PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Phewf!  Here is Nory at the Sheraton hotel, after 20+ hours in transit!  Think she was tired?!

Eight degrees and WE DON'T CARE!!!!!!!!!  Our first walk in Lakefield and none of us could be happier :)

You're looking at a sun hat success story!  I really had my doubts that she would EVER keep a hat on all summer.  But then she started to really enjoy the whole idea - so much so that she INSISTED her yellow hat be worn inside the house too!  Let's hope this trend keeps up......

Exploring the backyard with Grandpa / Working on their calf muscles together......

Making new friends at the park.  This afternoon she finally met Coco who is more of a horse than a dog, really.  I will try to take some pictures!!!!

Hmmmm.....what are all of these noises?  Nory has been a little afraid of all the new sounds in Canada!  Birds, lawnmowers, motorcycles, etc....

This shot screams JOY!!!!!!  It breaks my heart to think we'll be heading back to Kuwait all too soon :(

It's SUPER NORY!!!!!!  This superhero cape was a gift that Aunt Dana brought back from the Philippines!  Thanks Auntie! xo

Learning about the greatest symbol of all time - and finding them in the yard!

YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, we survived (or ROCKED!) the trip home to Canada for the second time with Nory.  I really don't know how it's happened on every.single.flight we've ever taken her on.  I mean, is it luck?  Is it good karma?  Is it Nory's AWESOMENESS?  Is it strategy?  Is it a mix of everything? Who knows!  But if it does have ANYTHING to do with strategy, here are our main lines of defense when it comes to keeping Nory (and all other passengers!) happy during these long flights:

1)  Our number one strategy is "acting relaxed and calm".  It sounds silly, but it's amazing how quickly Nory can sense anxiety and take a turn for the absolute worst.  When we're stressed out, it just so happens that she is too.  (We've learned this lesson TOO MANY TIMES and are DETERMINED to never, ever learn it again).

2)  Hop on board with a CHARGED iPad - loaded with the best FREE Fisher Price apps you can find!  For some reason they allowed us to use the iPad during take-off AND landing (woot!) and keeping her buckled up during these times was less of a problem than ever before.

3)  Don't forget your imagination (to accompany the random plastic items in your vicinity on board)!  That vomit bag makes a really good puppet.  And I wonder how many little pieces we could rip it into if we tried.  How about those water bottle instruments?!  Or the blanket bag monster?  (For the record, we know kids can suffocate if left unsupervised with plastic bags.  We supervise her 24/7 while flying.  DUH!)

4)  Make friends.  You'd be surprised how a baby can turn a shy, broody teenage boy into a kind, outgoing soul.  Or how joyful a little game of peekaboo can be for an 85 year old lady two rows back.

5)  Chocolate continues to solve all.  British Airways is a fan of giving out KitKat bars when they bring around snack boxes.  Nory had never tried one before, but she was quite excited that we let her on the flight home!  It gave us the little happiness boost that we needed :)

I'm still waiting for the day that Nory joins the elite "screamed an entire flight home" crew.  I feel like as much as we've learned about flying with a baby, there are always THOSE DAYS and we fear the day that one of THOSE DAYS coincides with a travel date.  Eek!  

Meet Wael.

Nory's newly found, Palestinian Beau :)  It all happened - this head over heels, don't take me away from him kinda love - in a time span of about two minutes.  Which is weird.  Because she usually takes more than two minutes to warm up to strangers.  And it usually takes HOURS (at least!) before she's this over-the-top about it.  Anyways, I have a few theories about it - all surrounding the fact that Wael was here to install the internet. 

1)  Perhaps Nory just LOVES the internet.  Interweb love could certainly be genetic.    

2)  Perhaps there's a correlation between mommy's mood and having a wifi connection.

3)  Perhaps she's as smart as a whip and knows that in 2014, it's not kind for ANYONE to be without internet for five whole days.   

Whatever it was, it sure was CUTE.  I've know her for 16 months now and I admit to a smidgen of jealousy regarding this afternoon's visitor ;)

Oh Nory.  You're the GREATEST. xo

Here's What's UP!

***  The movers arrived five hours late on Sunday - with one truck instead of two - but the point is that they ARRIVED and we were all moved in to our new apartment by about 10:30 that night.  It was pretty hectic the first full day here, as the movers had to return to reassemble things they took apart and we scrambled to unpack so that Nory had SOMEWHERE to move.  She wasn't the happiest camper in the beginning, but as the boxes disappeared and the space opened up, things got better.  Now that she is a little more familiar with our new surroundings, both her clingy-ness and whiny-ness have gone away.  HOORAY (and thank GOODNESS)!  Too bad we'll be going through the whole "new surroundings" process again after our long flight home to Canada tomorrow.  Oh well, maybe she will adjust more quickly on round two!

***  Did I tell you that Kumari Poppins moved in with us too?  Since the commute from her old apartment to the new apartment is so long and expensive by taxi, we decided it was best she stayed in our flat - where she has her very own room with her very own bathroom (unlike her current living situation which entails WAY TOO MANY PEOPLE in one room).  We had her pack up her things on Sunday and were quite embarrassed (MORTIFIED, actually) when she showed up to the house with nothing more than a purse and a carry-on suitcase.  It made the TWO TRUCKLOADS of junk we've accumulated super, super awkward.  Sigh.

***  On the topic of awkwardness, having a live-in nanny is definitely something we have to get used to.  And having us as employers is definitely something Kumari has to get used to.  For us, it's strange having someone on hand every hour, constantly inquiring as to what more they can do (once they've already taken the initiative to complete all general household tasks).  It's also strange that she INSISTS on carrying any bags or boxes (like on the walk home from the mini-mart this afternoon).  For her, it's strange that we tell her to "go have tea" or "eat something" or "relax for a while".  It's also strange that we invite her to eat at the table with us (which she absolutely REFUSES to do) or that we ask what sort of groceries we should pick up for her (another thing she REFUSES to do).  And it's especially strange that we get home from work and take her off Nory duty.  Bath her?  Nope - we got it!  Put her to bed?  Nope - we got that too!  Hopefully with time we can all feel a little more comfortable with the new living situation.  Fingers crossed! 

***  Sleeping at the new apartment has been a different experience, too!  We are used to living right on a busy highway, where we somehow became accustomed to all-night sirens, honking, and other random street noise.  We also got used to the kids that would run around like crazy throughout the building, unsupervised by any parents or even nannies.  At the new place, you really have to listen (or at least we do!) for the sounds of the main road and even with construction happening right smack outside our window (and all night long), we've managed to get in some peaceful Zzzz's :)  Funny that we heard such horror stories about the construction before we even arrived.  I suppose living on a busy highway has its perks once you relocate away from it! 

***  We are being picked up tomorrow morning at 5 a.m. for our flight home.  We aren't completely packed yet, but I'm sure we'll get motivated to get off the couch once we realize THERE IS NO OTHER OPTION.  Nory has just fallen asleep and once Phil and I have some time to CHILL, you can bet those suitcases will be ready at the door, SMILING even.  We can't tell you how excited we are to be going HOME!!!!!!!!!  (And I relish this feeling because coming back to Kuwait for the school year is always accompanied by the utmost sadness....)

Okay.  Time to take a breather and then GET TO WORK!  See you soon, Dear Canada!  I can ALMOST TASTE those real-deal, plain timbits that I love so much yet get heckled for because others (ah-hem you know who you are) believe that plain timbits are strictly for dogs.  Kraft peanut butter is also up there...

LOVE YOU! xo

Today we are moving.

Or at least we are supposed to be moving.  The moving trucks were SUPPOSED to be here at 9 a.m.  Phil decided to call them at 9:40 when they had yet to arrive and the manager asked if we could "do it tomorrow....maybe....instead?"  If you know my husband, you know this question was a COMPLETELY unacceptable one.  Especially because they were already 40 minutes late.  Especially because WE had to CALL THEM before being asked this question.  And so......the trucks are supposed to be here TODAY at 10:30.  This is why I have time to sit here with my laptop on this "we might be moving today day".

The weekend was a bit of a whirlwind.  Friday afternoon we hosted Emily's birthday party - cat-themed in honour of her favourite thing in life:  CATS (don't ask!).  Turns out I took little proof of the celebration (what's WRONG with me?!) and so the only evidence I have of this so-called cat-themed party is the cake made by Steve and I:

MEOWWWW!!!!!!

I'm not sure how I missed photographing Nory's carefully coloured cat pictures on the door to the apartment.  Or Steve's sweet little dinner plates with cat ears on them.  Or the birthday girl enjoying herself at her own fete.  Oh well.  The memories won't escape me :)  We had a great time!

Saturday we decided we should start packing (HA!).  Now, if you recall anything from our move to Lakefield last summer, you will recall how much Phil HATED the entire process of packing and moving.  He was stressed to the MAX and it was an unpleasant day overall.  Well, the weird thing is, he's been very laissez-faire this time around.  We didn't start packing until YESTERDAY, PEOPLE!  And there my husband sat at a Father's Day lunch out, cool as a cucumber.  In contrast, I've been the stress case this time and neither of us really understand how our roles switched so drastically within only a year.  I suppose as long as one of us is calm and collected, we'll survive the move!

We have been very lucky to have the help of our friend Steve these last few days.  He has been a real champ - helping Phil move things, watching Nory, running out for subs, doing WHATEVER to assist with our transition to the new building.  We really can't thank him enough for his dedication to TEAM PARKINSON.  But we will try.....

THANK YOU SO MUCH STEVE!!!!!!  WE LOVE YOU!!!! (Yes, even Phil!)

This morning Phil began his Father's Day by an early wake-up.  He made Nory's food for the day and then continued to pack up some things around the house.  We took off to our new place as soon as Kumari Poppins arrived (6 a.m.) with some PB on toast for the road!  After picking up Steve, we drove the 20 minutes to Mahboula (our new district!) to learn that the keys to the apartment were not with the people they were supposed to be with.  A little frustrating, but we waited it out and some kind people helped to solve the missing key mystery!  Phewf.  (P.S.  Do the moving Gods NOT want us to move today?  Are these all signs?!)

Anyways, into our new apartment we went with lots of excitement and big box of cleaning supplies.  Since our apartment remained occupied until last night, there hasn't been any time for the cleaners to get in there.  We went room by room to take out furniture we don't need, to throw out things that we wouldn't use from the previous tenants, and to dust the cabinets, sweep the floors, etc.  By the time we left, it was looking much better and Kumari Poppins is scheduled to do a big clean later today :)

But now we wait.  It's 10:25.  Five more minutes until the movers are supposed to be here.......

Odds on us moving today?  If you think their slim, lie to me.

Oh - and HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to all the Dads and Dads-to-be out there!!!  To my own Dad, well.....I called her "Eleanor Douglas" for a reason.  To Phil, I couldn't have asked for a better father for our daughter.  To Grumps, cheers to a relaxing day on the lake!!!  You men RULE!  We love you so, so much!!!!! xoxo

I think I made it to the 26 second mark before tearing up....

(And I bet you'll tear up too before the video comes to an end!)

ONE WEEK from today and I will be giving my Dad the WORLD'S GREATEST HUG!!!!!!  Hurry up June 21st!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OH NO....

I just realized that today is Friday the 13th when I previewed my previous post.  I HATE FRIDAY THE 13th (which I'm sure I've told you before).  Even worse, I think it was a full moon last night...

Proof of how WACKY both things are?  Nory AND Phil are still sound asleep and it is 6:08 a.m.  WHAT'S THE DEAL?!!!

I'm hoping to get through this dreadful day like this:

*  preparing for Emily's birthday party at our place this afternoon (involves some cake-making with Steve Q)

*  packing up the apartment (please don't ask us any embarrassing questions regarding our progress....)

*  playing with Nory (the best distraction known to man)

*  enjoying this afternoon's birthday festivities with wonderful friends and delicious food :)

Wish me luck...............

HOT, HOT, HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is a random screenshot of my weather app from Wednesday this week (and the car's temperature gauge strongly believes it was 50+ degrees most days this week!!!!):

I'm not sure when Kuwait last had these sorts of temperatures, but I really don't recall being here when things were THIS BLAZING HOT.  It's the first time in 4 years where I dread getting to the car (because, you know, it's about 7 meters from the elevator) and where I get that whole "face-dripping-with-sweat" thing after being inside the "already been air conditioned for 15 minutes vehicle".  It's intense, folks!  And seeing as Nory sweats like Phil (QUICKLY and somewhat IMMEDIATELY upon warmer temperatures), Nory agrees that it is indeed intense.  Take yesterday's outing, for instance.  We put her in the car seat.  Within seconds her upper lip is soaked and her cheeks are flushed the brightest shade of red.  We get to the mall 15 minutes later, and her outfit is all wet!  Poor thing.  Thank goodness she likes a good swig of water, along with some Baskin Robbins ice cream ;)

The big joke going around social media over here!

   
I am hopeful it doesn't get much hotter before we leave ONE WEEK FROM TODAY.  Qatar has issued heatwave warnings (for temperatures between 44-49 degrees), as they haven't seen such June temperatures in 52 YEARS!!!!!!!!!  I am quite curious to get a similar statistic for Kuwait :)

Onto cooler, greener, less-dusty pastures soon!  When we say we're looking forward to it, WE MEAN IT!!!!!!!! xo

When Things Aren't Fair.

Recently we've learned that life can be 42 years long, 17 years long, or even 4 months long.  We've been trying to make sense of it all over here, trying to talk it out and think of reasons for why and how and WHAT THE HECK.  Why do such horrible things happen?  How can such cruel things happen to such beautiful people?  Or anyone for that matter.  How can such cruel things happen to ANYONE?  It just doesn't seem fair.  

We haven't been able to come up with any answers.  I'm not sure you can turn nonsense into logic.  No matter what perspective you use, in the end, they all seem to lead back to the confusing state you started with.... 

What we have been able to work out is how grateful we are for each other.  For our family and friends in Kuwait and our family and friends back home or elsewhere.  We are grateful for every time we get to hear Nory laugh or run around or say a new word.  We are grateful for the many adventures we've had together and the opportunities we have for more travel in the future.  We are grateful to have careers that we are passionate about and a new house back home waiting for memories to be made. 

If we've come up with ANYTHING during our hours and hours of sorting through the mess of these tragedies, we've decided it's best to be grateful.  Love like you've never loved before.  Be kind.  Forgive people.  And enjoy every single second you have because, unfortunately, you just never know.

On that note, we'd like to wish everyone a safe and happy summer, wherever that may be.

Love,
The Parkinson Family
XOXO

Just Like Christmas?

The World Cup is FINALLY here and you wouldn't believe how excited our students are about the whole tournament.  It's the thing that kept them from focusing on their exams (and the last few weeks of classes!).  It's the thing that had me confiscating iPads and laptops like a crazy person (are you SERIOUSLY on the FIFA website AGAIN?!).  It's the thing that had me "tied up" at recess with TOO MANY 11 and 12 year old's who fought - day after day - over who had the pleasure (task?) of explaining the tournament bracket to me.  It's the thing that had us rushing to "Soccer Scene" at the mall for official team jerseys (because "WALLAH, MISS!  YOU NEED AT LEAST ONE!").  It's the thing that.............IS A REALLY, REALLY BIG DEAL!  It's LIFE!  It's EVERYWHERE!  And it is totally freaking awesome to be in a place that loves the game of football THIS MUCH.   

In our Brazil jerseys - the only team jersey that had a size for each of us!!!  I guess we are cheering for the host country ;)

This afternoon we went for ice cream at the mall and Nory and I were both wearing our jerseys.  It was exciting to pass people supporting the same nation and equally as exciting to pass people supporting other nations.  The cupcake store was cheering on all of the teams, with window decals to represent each country.  Several restaurants and shops followed suit, with fan-crazy mannequins or garlands of flags.  And the information booths were giving out free World Cup booklets to keep track of the scores, with all scheduled matches listed in KUWAIT TIME!  It's crazy isn't it?  And this country didn't even qualify for the tournament! 

The whole hype gives me memories of hockey playoffs in Canada (which we have missed for several years), Olympic hockey (which just isn't the same with only three Canadians in the room), and the World Junior Hockey Tournament (which made up for every single ounce of feeling "left out", as a whole crew of Canadians relocated themselves to Malmo).  Hockey is our game and football is theirs.  I'm hopeful that SOMEBODY in Lakefield - perhaps at The Loon! - recognizes a soccer jersey when they see one this summer ;)

8 more days until we are HOME.  Oh - and Nory is 16 months old today!!!  And, finally, GO BRAZIL!!!!!!!!

IF YOU WERE HERE FOR TEA.

*  You wouldn't believe that I had to actually DUST OFF my laptop before opening it to start writing this post.  GASP!  (My laptop has never seen such little love.....EVER).

*  My exams are marked, my report cards are done, and my classroom is (for the most part) packed up!!!  Tomorrow we have an appointment at the new school to see our classrooms, meet some colleagues, and get some transition materials.  We can't wait!

*  After delaying the shipping appointment an embarrassing number of times, our shipment to Canada was FINALLY picked up yesterday afternoon.  We have a shipping allowance from our current school and we thought, what the heck, we might as well use it!  Now that we have a house back home (eeeee!!!!!!), we have somewhere to keep all of the random things that accumulated in the past four years.

*  We get our new apartment next Sunday.  The movers are expected to arrive at 9 a.m. for what is guaranteed to be a fun-filled Father's Day.  Haaaa!!!!!!!!  (So, so, SO much packing has to be done before this day.  Wish us luck.  And many kind people who want to help us). 

*  Steve Jobs was a real A$$.  We watched a movie about him the other day and I couldn't believe how much money I've spent on a company led by the world's most insensitive leader.  To be honest, I didn't watch the entire movie (after about 45 minutes, I fell asleep).  But I'm assuming Mr. Jobs didn't miraculously turn into some grand-O humanitarian who appreciates that everyone is a person.  Too bad he produced such quality products.  There must have been a kinder way to go about it....

*  Mistresses is BACK!!!!!!  Another trashy summer tv show to add to the list!  YES!

*  Sometimes you hear things that make you want to lock your doors and spend EVERY. SINGLE. MOMENT snuggled up with the people you love.  It happened this week and one might have thought a cuddle competition was in full swing!  I am so grateful for Phil and Nory.  And I am so grateful that we get to bring Nory home to visit with all of you again.  She's a whole new person (one year later!) and I can't wait for you to get to know her :)

*  It's HOT here.  When I say it, I think it has a little extra credibility - seeing that I NEVER, EVER say ANYTHING is "too hot".  So, I repeat, IT IS HOT HERE.  The car said 52 degrees on the drive home....during which time we couldn't really touch anything or breath or do anything but focus on staying conscious.  It was awesome.  And I'm lying.

*  Nory has three adorable new dresses in her wardrobe!  Thank you to the Hussain family for the lovely surprise gift this weekend!  I can't wait for Nory to wear each one :)

*  A new character is debuting on Doc McStuffins next week.  Who do you think is most excited about it?  If you guessed Nory, you're wrong!  Haha.

*  12 days until we fly home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

CONGRATULATIONS SENIORS!!!

Last night we attended high school graduation to support all eleven basketball family members of the graduating class.  We were lucky to receive invitations from one player in particular, who happens to be heading to Stanford in the fall.  His entrance speech was basketball related and I'm not surprised it resulted in UNIVERSITY ACCEPTANCE at all!  (Refer back to ANY basketball team related post I've written....EVER.....and you will feel similarly.)

The ceremony was long (we didn't get home until 11 p.m.!!!), but worth attending indeed!  Phil and I gave eleven standing ovations (obviously) and several more as the boys were called up for individual awards.  Six of the boys won best male athlete (I wouldn't have been able to pick just one either!), two of the boys won awards for positive contributions to the school community, two of the boys graduated with high honour roll with distinction (4.0+), and one of the boys was VALEDICTORIAN!  Seems to me like this group of men are also all-stars OFF the court.  Ah-hem, if you ever doubted the correlation between athletics, academic performance, and character - THINK AGAIN!  These boys are a shining example of that.

WAY TO GO BULLDOGS!  Thank you for inviting us to your big night.  We are SO, SO proud of you!

Here's Something Strange...

Today my students were GREAT.  OUTSTANDING, really.  We were doing exam review about the circulatory system and my students were working hard in partners to prepare for Thursday's big test.  I gave them a few mandatory activities to complete first, but they were able to review in their own way after completing the things I had prepared for them.  During their personal study time, many of my 6's made "quizzes" for their peers (and some even set up mini "classrooms" for their pupils), played science bingo in teams, and made silly songs and verses to help each other remember key points.  It was so nice to see because these kinds of days - these really productive USE YOUR TIME WISELY days - don't happen very often.  Especially when it's June.  Especially when you want nothing more than for your students to focus.  But it DID happen.  In ALL FOUR CLASSES it happened.  And it was awesome.

So, why then, did I come home from school in tears?  Questioning my job as a teacher.  Questioning what I'm teaching these kids or if I'm even teaching them anything at all....

Sigh.  All I will say is that there is a lot more to being a teacher than the enthusiastic groups of young souls that learn in our classrooms each day.  I will also say that husbands rule.  Daughters rule.  And Kuwait-Mamas-Across-The-Hall rule too.  I sometimes wonder what those of you who go home to a quiet house do in these situations.  You simply must rule too.

Here's to a better day at work tomorrow.  It's our last teaching day of the school year and the kids (and teachers!) couldn't be more excited!  Exams are still to come, but as I tell my kids in the most DISNEY-IS-THE-BEST-PLACE-EVER voice:

STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, let your BOOKS be your BUDDY!!!