To those of you who said she was too young for it.......

Well.......I guess you've never lived in the moment!

HI MICKEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our Trip to DISNEYLAND PARIS!

Nory is napping, Phil is at work, and I'm DETERMINED to ONCE-AND-FOR-ALL tell you about our trip to DISNEYLAND PARIS! 

First, I've mentioned our rough start to the trip.  The flight issues en route to France and the Nory injuries upon arrival.  I think I even mentioned our flight issues on our return to Kuwait:  zero stroller for a five hour layover, a random desert thunderstorm just before take-off, a WAY TO LATE arrival the morning before work?  Well, ya.  So there were those things.  And I might as well get the other rough parts out of the way now too.

There was the time she fell out of bed for a second time.  There was the time we bundled up to walk to the pool complex only to arrive and be told a child had just vomited and the pool would be closed for 24 hours.  There was the time that the "It's A Small World" ride (MY MOST DESIRED ATTRACTION!) would be under renovation our entire visit.  There was the time we planned our day around the Disney Junior Live performance, only to be told that the show that was initially in English was rescheduled to be a French production.  There was the time we ran 1.5 km in the pouring rain to - YET AGAIN - see Disney Junior Live only to hear they were having technical difficulties and the show was cancelled.  There was the time our "teatime treat vouchers" only worked from 4-7.....and there were LITERALLY no "teatime treat venues" open during said hours.  There was the time it poured rain EVERY. SINGLE. DAY (but was sunny and nice the week prior to our arrival).......

Okay.  Enough of that.  Onto the trip highlights.  Because we shall not let these other mishaps form a massive storm cloud over our Disney adventure!  Here they are....in pictures (ah-hem, a way easier form of blogging)....

It sounds silly....but it's REALLY nice going at our own pace on a trip.  Whenever Nory needed to nap, we would hide out in the nearest quiet place, grab a hot drink and a treat and just relax and chat.  It gave Nory time to recharge and the two of us a chance to just talk.  Can you tell we're at a new place in life now?!  HA!

The daily Harvest Parade.  The music is so darn catchy and we felt like we were celebrating FALL for the first time in YEARS!

Nory's requests to play inside her "FORT" with her cat and a bag of Cheerios.  She's a real little person now.  The girl's got likes and dislikes like you don't even know.

And if the above activity included wearing her "princess dress" - MY GOSH IT WAS TOPS!

When we got matching Minnie Mouse Ears and she actually kept them on without me asking her to!  Matching is awesome.  Wait until there are THREE OF US!!!!

This happy soul strolling down Main Street during the extra magic hours offered to resort guests!  It was so wonderful to be OUTSIDE and not dripping with sweat!

Her very first ride EVER - and this picture that makes me burst into laughter every time I look at it.  Of course, Nory wanted to stand on the horse the entire ride......

Running around the Alice in Wonderland maze - an activity that all three of us could enjoy :)

That ONE HOUR of sunshine, fall leaves, and Nory's new found passion for glasses. 

Orbitron - Nory's absolute FAVOURITE RIDE!  She still insists  on "flying" around the house!

Nory and Phil sharing a milkshake at a 50's diner.  SO ADORABLE.

Cleaners talking like Donald Duck, servers that draw Minnie Mouse at your breakfast table each and every morning, and the most hospitable concierge staff that draw Mickey Mouse as requested by a 20 month old.  There really is magic everywhere.

Finally seeing that Disney Junior show!  Nory loved it so much that we returned TWICE!

The Disney Magic parade - with Mickey AND princesses!  It was Nory's dream come true!  (And maybe mine too!)

Meeting the cat "Marie".  A day-making moment!

Nory running up to this guy here and yelling "EYE!!!!!!!!!!!!"

So there you have it!  Our favourite moments at Disney.  It might not have been the SMOOTHEST trip we've ever gone on, but the joy of traveling still came through.  We can't wait to add another passport holder to our entourage :)

Next family trip?  Canada!  WITH BABY #2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  (Should I start getting scared about the journey home now or later?  HAAA!)

It looks something like this:

(when you haven't seen your daughter in 48 hours).

You'll do ANYTHING.  ANYTHING!!!!!  She orders you to wear Mommy's Minnie Mouse ears?  YOU DO IT!  She asks you to chase her around the flat while dragging a red scarf with white polka dots?  YOU DO IT!!!! 

He's the best Daddy.  And if you were in the car with us on the way home from work yesterday.....listening to him describe his much-anticipated Nory Reunion with "like I'm going on a first date" butterflies.....your heart would STILL be in a giant puddle on the floor. 

We love you so much, Phil!!!!  Even though you're booked solid all weekend, you make every FAMILY TIME second count! XOXO

Canadian Thanksgiving. Ah-hem, The Real One ;)

Three cheers for having a sister in Kuwait!  HIP, HIP!!!!!!!

Last weekend, Dana, Phil, Nory and I hosted Canadian Thanksgiving.  Wait - perhaps I should rephrase that.  It was mostly Phil, Nory and I providing a venue for the event and Dana working her tush off in the kitchen - making not one, BUT TWO turkeys, homemade cranberry sauce, and two kinds of stuffing.  I suppose I threw in a few "YOU GO GIRL's, along with some festive decorations.  And I suppose Phil kept Nory occupied and out of the chef's way.  But other than that, it was 100% D. HOIT!  GOOD WORK, DANA!  I can't wait for us to host Christmas together too!  Haha. 

Our Thankful Turkey!  You know you're at a teacher's house when........

Our guests also contributed many DELICIOUS dishes.  From appetizers to mains to desserts......there was quite the spread of food at our place :)  We had leftovers for days and I didn't mind eating the exact same thing every single meal either.  It was simply THAT YUMMY!  

This was only ONE of the tables!  Thank you to Emily for making the sign :) xo

Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate this holiday with us.  We are lucky to have found such wonderful family abroad. XOXO.

WAIT. STOP. PAUSE.  

I can't end this post just yet.  I completely forgot to mention.....

Kumari Poppins.  Another GIRL WHO GOES!  Thanksgiving is SO MUCH EASIER to host when the house is spic and span 30 minutes after the final guest departs.......

We love you, K POP!!!!!!  Thank you for making life easy-peezy every chance you get :)

We hope everyone back home had a family, fun and food-filled Thanksgiving, too!  We miss you!

TWO MONTHS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go ahead and roll those Grinch eyes all you want.  Christmas is coming and not even this bowl-full-of-jelly I've got going on can stop me from jumping for joy :)

It's game time for decor starting November 12th.  Christmas cookies, hot chocolate, and holiday movies will also be out in full force!  I CANNOT WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NARRATING THE CAMERA ROLL....

A bedtime ritual.....tucking in her toys for "night night".

I'm so spoiled.  But I realize that!

Last week's dust day.  There's something about them I kinda like.....

Proof that it TRULY IS getting cooler here.  I might have purchased a maternity jacket at the mall yesterday....

We had full intentions of having a "date night" last night.  Then this little monkey climbed into bed with us and we couldn't resist some evening snuggles :) 

A massive decaf coffee.  I was hoping I would benefit from the placebo effect, but that was a bust.  Alas, I got lots of work done at school anyhow and baking has been done for the week!!!

The writing's on the wall.  Don't leave pencils close to giant canvases.  Toddler will find.  Toddler will use.  Toddler will be as quiet as a mouse while doing so.

The neighbour's dog playing in our Canadian backyard.  All those beautiful fall colours make me homesick.  If we could just sneak home for a couple of hours even....

10 DAYS?!

Since I last blogged?!  OY!  I'm sure you've heard every single teacher/mom/teacher-mom you know use the terms "I've been busy", but the fact is.......that phrase is always SO TRUE!  Busy.  This week I found myself at school at times when people should simply NOT be at school, awake at times when people should simply NOT be awake, and asleep at times when people should simply NOT be asleep.  Luckily (for my sanity), as I was packing up my bag to leave yesterday afternoon, I remembered one very smart professor saying to our education class, "teaching isn't over until you say it's over".  And like that, I declared it officially OVER.  I picked up not a SINGLE PIECE OF WORK and decided to enjoy my Thursday night/Friday with family before sneaking back into work on Saturday for a few early hours. 

So here we are.  Friday morning.  An empty work bag, a decaf coffee and a charged up computer!  Phil and Nory are snuggled up beside me and we are heading out to have breakfast with Dana soon.  The perfect way to start this work-less day :) 

On today's WAY MORE FUN agenda:  finding Halloween costumes, a potty (gasp!), a picture frame to replace a picture frame that a certain toddler smashed at a friend's house (gasp!), and some pregnant lady tights for the cooler weather that is (dare I say this out loud?) HERE!

I feel like I have so much to tell you (PARIS PICTURES?! THANKSGIVING?!) and I hope to have some time to do it this afternoon.  If not, know that I am enjoying our moments as a family - rather than working - instead!

XOXO

If only I were a little piggy...

...that went "weee, weee, weee!!!!" all the way home (rather than "BOO HOO HOO").

Today was not the friendliest of sorts.  Yesterday afternoon I started to get some serious pains around my belly button and I had a hard time sleeping because I felt like I couldn't move side to side without experiencing a real OUCH.  Well, it continued throughout today - mostly when I transitioned from sitting to standing or twisted my body in either direction.  By the end of the day I was close to tears and made the last minute decision to head to the doctor - just in case.  I called the doctor's nurse to explain the situation and she so kindly squeezed us in before the evening patients (with appointments!) arrived. 

The FANTASTIC NEWS is that the baby is perfectly healthy (HIP, HIP!) and we got to see her sweet little face on 3D ultrasound!  The other fantastic news is that other than some pain (that I will have to just suck up for now), I am also A-OKAY.  The doctor said I have a "minor umbilical hernia" (words that freak the heck out of me), but that "inshallah" after pregnancy it will return to normal and all will be fine once again.  I have to "relax" (HAAAA!!!!), support my belly when coughing/sneezing, and not carry anything heavy WHATSOEVER.  This means that.......I am officially BANNED from carrying Nory.  Sob.  I went totally PREGNANT LADY over that news and cried the ride home to Mahboula :(  She's my girl.  How can I resist her sweet little face when I walk in the door and she says "up, mama!"?  I swear it's going to be impossible, people.  Heart = broken.

Oh well.  I cried it out and, in the end, we are just SO, SO FORTUNATE that the baby is doing well and that my body will allow her to keep growing strong!  I can suck anything up if it means these two things stay true! 

About 13 weeks to go!!!!!!!!! We can't wait to meet you, Goose! XOXO

There's nothing like a time crunch to spark some productivity!

What "not bringing any marking to Disney" looks like the day you get home....

Phewf.  Got home at 5 a.m.  Slept til 9 a.m.  Played with N.  Power-marked three class sets of tests and three class sets of labs until 1ish.  Made a study guide for an upcoming test.  Entered all grades (for all six classes!) online.  Phil picked up groceries, found a turkey, got a haircut, and ran to the pharmacy for Kumari.  Nory napped, played with every single toy she left behind, visited some friends with Phil and put as many stuffed toys as possible in her new big girl bed.  The three of us popped over to the neighbours (very briefly!) for a Thanksgiving celebration (which was absolutely wonderful and very, very thoughtful!).  I made lunches for the three of us tomorrow.  Made two batches of muffins (one with pumpkin, of course).  Loaded pictures to Facebook.  Blogged a little bit.  Yawned a lot.

I think it's BED TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Goodbye Eid holidays!  Come soon, Christmas holidays!!!!! Ha!  

Another rough one, but we made it!

Let's just begin by saying there's a new airline at the top of our "never, ever, EVER fly with them again" list.  Here's why:

1)  When we called to file a complaint regarding the hassles we experienced getting TO Paris in the first place, the airline told us to ask to speak to a manager upon arrival at the airport.  Well, the manager on call was "too busy" to come see us and told the lady at the check-in area that we could wait to see him if we really wanted, but he would be AT LEAST an hour.

2)  The manager was so incredibly helpful when he finally arrived to speak to us.  He said there was nothing he could do, nothing the other airport could do, or nothing the Kuwait airport WOULD do. 

3)  A two hour delay on leg #1 - not communicated to anyone until we were trapped in a room with zero food options (other than chocolate bars and chips) and broken "free wifi".

4)  A five hour layover WITHOUT a stroller.  Yep, the airline decided it was best that we chase/carry our toddler around for five hours because it was easier FOR THEM to check our stroller right through to our final destination.  We've never had this happen.  EVER.  So much for pleasing the customer!

5)  Priority boarding should be a real deal, people.  Those passengers in wheelchairs, the elderly, and those with small children should definitely not be at the back (or underneath) a massive line of  bullies. 

6)  Pregnancy paperwork should only have to be filled out ONE TIME.  If you ask me for the doctor's note at check-in and make me fill out paperwork there (before you give me a boarding card), then perhaps you should give that paperwork to the people at the gate.  And then again to the flight attendants on board.  Or just make it clear that if I have a boarding pass, I was APPROVED FOR TRAVEL!!!!!  I love talking about my bump, but when you ask me to ONCE AGAIN pull out a doctor's note and fill in the SAME FREAKING paperwork at 2 a.m., it's just not going to end up happily.  For anyone!

7)  A whole flight of passengers seated.  Ready to go.  But wait!  There's all of a sudden a severe thunderstorm with zero visibility - IN THE DESERT! - and all planes are being held.  For at least an hour.  (Okay, okay.  I realize this part was not the airline's fault.  But at this point in time, I was completely irrational towards the company.  The more calm and relaxed version of me says that point #7 is a little bit unfair.)

I suppose I will end the airline rant there. 

And continue with our arrival rant!!!!

There was the part where my fingertips were so cold that the fingerprint machine claimed I didn't have fingerprints.  The part where our luggage came out last.  The part where the line-up for taxis was unlike any other time we've seen it.  The part where it's your turn in the taxi line (finally!) and they decide to be selective about districts and refuse to take you to yours.  The part where the taxi driver you DO get drives like he's in a high-speed chase despite your constant reminders that there's a baby on board (two, actually!) and to please drive with care......

Oh well.  Another adventure that will become funny (or so I hope!) by the time Friday morning rolls around and we don't have to get up at 4:30 in the morning for work!  This week is going to be a tough one, indeed.  However, I suppose I should add that in the name of Thanksgiving - none of this silly business matters.  What matters is that we had a whole week of FAMILY TIME at the most magical place on earth!  Nory is still talking about and asking for "mickey" and "princesses" and has a GREAT BIG GRIN on her face while doing so.  For this, we are SO, SO THANKFUL.  Let's choose to ignore my journey-home rant and focus on that instead!  FAMILY!!!!!!!!  (AND DREAMS COMING TRUE)!

Wishing all of our loved ones a VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING back home!!!! We miss you!!!!

XOXO

The "BIG GIRL BED"

The day before we left for Paris, we received the most INCREDIBLE, THOUGHTFUL gift from another couple in our building - a homemade bed done up with girlie colours!  All we had to do was purchase a single mattress and a guard rail and VOILA, our crib baby is (soon to be) a memory of the past.  How did that happen?!  ANYONE?

We've been thinking about transitioning Nory out of her crib for some time now.  She sleeps like me (ah-hem, in a way that makes it ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT to find a soul mate), so we figured it was time to eliminate any legs-and-arms-caught-in-the-bars situations and to give our 'sleeping' starfish a little more wiggle room overnight.  She hasn't officially slept in it yet (an early wake-up for the airport was stressful enough), but she played in it NON-STOP all afternoon/evening the day Phil made the switch.  She kept yelling "BED!!!!!!!!" and would demand that you "COME...............PEASE!" as she dashed down the hallway and climbed into her new (favourite?) space.  It was the sweetest thing.  And the most terrifying.  Mostly because she's into jumping unexpectedly off of things right now.  And it seems to coincide with those times that you're preoccupied and not giving your all in terms of supervision.  (Now we can see where the head dive at the airport hotel came from.  The "two, two" count she had leading up to it would have been much cuter had she have landed on her feet.)

She also demanded for certain stuffed toys....and shoes....to join her for playtime on the bed.

Of course she believes the route of MOST resistance is the best choice.

Wish us luck as we reluctantly embrace a new era of freedom....with a child who's as energetic as all get out.....even when she is sleeping.  Also, I'm pretty sure NOBODY was joking when they told us that, after becoming parents, we'd never sleep again.  Thanks for the heads up.

That time we booked a "stress-free" vacation to Disneyland Paris....

It was all going really swell.  Phil and I woke up at 3 a.m. Saturday morning.  Nory woke up at 3:30 - happy as ever and ready to go see Mickey.  She snuggled into me the whole cab ride to the airport (which is SUPER UNUSUAL) and even fell asleep in my arms before we arrived (GASP!!!).  The airport was empty.  We checked in and were through customs in less than 15 minutes.  Bassinet seats for both legs of the journey were secured.  We got to the gate.  Met one of the friendliest Kuwaiti men ever.  Boarded the shuttle bus for our plane and enjoyed some Eid Mubarak sweets as we did so!  Nory continued to smile and wave and say hello to everyone - winning over passengers left, right and center.  I'm pretty sure there were butterflies and rainbows and Disney-shaped clouds around us too.  HA!

Then.  Then.  THEN, the shuttle bus pulled up to our plane, did an immediate u-turn and dropped us back off at the gate.

Here are some of the COLD, HARD FACTS that existed throughout the next 8 hours - YES, EIGHT:

1)  A crew member accidentally opened one of the emergency exits on board which is the reason for our delay.  Apparently this is no easy fix, but we were assured we'd be airborne in one hour and make our connecting flight anyhow (due to a "cushy" three hour layover).

2)  A man came to collect our passports about two hours later (ah-hem, NO we didn't board the plane in that one hour ETA) and then finally returned to tell us that we had been re-routed and were one of the "lucky ones" that would take a different airline to Paris.  We were told to "just wait 5 minutes" and he would return to give us more information.  

3) Five minutes became another hour and a half.  Some important-looking man came in and wondered why we are all still sitting at the gate.  Apparently the entire flight had been cancelled and not a single person was made aware of it.  We weren't too bothered by this until they told us to go to the transfer desk and book ANOTHER flight to Paris.  Ummmm......didn't you say you did that for us already?!

4)  Imagine an entire plane of passengers body-checking their way to the SOLE transfer desk in the entire airport.  Lines?  Ya right.  I went to cry in a corner (with visions of the BEST VACATION EVER.....shattered). 

5)  After waiting amongst chaos, we were redirected to yet ANOTHER gate to book a ticket.  More fake lines.  More yelling.  Lots of cigarette smoke.  Not a single happy person in sight (with the exception of Nory - or Miss Cinderella - who was happily polishing the floor in her Mickey Mouse pajamas, tummy-style).  We were EVENTUALLY booked on an inferior airline , with much worse seats.  Thank you to the person-who-decided-to-open-the-emergency-exit on our initial aircraft :)

6)  After waiting some more for the next flight, and finally making our way ALMOST onto the plane, I was pulled out of line to re-submit pregnancy paperwork that wasn't transferred from the previous airline.  Ay, ay, ay!  Let's get in the air already!

"Wait a minute.  You want me to sit IN ONE PLACE for HOW LONG?!!!!"  The MINUTE the seat belt sign came off, Girlie was on the go (and we were too!).

 Once we were flying, the flight was fine.  Except for that Nory decided to sleep on schedule (while we were at the airport) rather than on board as originally planned.  So up and down the aisles we went - making friends and collecting treats of all sorts.  She was snatched by a Sri Lankan family, a Kuwaiti family, an Indian family, and an Egyptian family.  Of course, she snuggled up to these people, played with their iPhones, got in their family photos, and ate some of the snacks they brought on board.  We arrived in Paris several hours after we anticipated, but had booked a hotel at the airport and were able to crash as soon as we checked in.

Speaking of crashes.  We didn't have a cot for Nory and guess who woke up at 4:30 in the morning only to face dive off the king size bed onto the floor.  You guessed it!  NOT Phil or I!  Tears, blood, bruises.  Gah.  A "stress-free" holiday.....our last one as a family of three.....just didn't seem in the cards for us.

And we remained right for a bit longer.  Turns out our trusty green stroller didn't survive the flight as well as we did.  And the family I sat beside on the train ride to Disney decided to beat their child before me.  And it was pouring rain.  And when we finally arrived at Disney - exhausted and defeated - the nice gentlemen at the counter told us that "today's weather will be the best weather all week long!"  And Nory decided to jump face first into the cot in our room - cutting her lip and adding to the "fight club" look she already had on her wee little face.....

Not even a SMIDGEN of SUNSHINE?  REALLY?  Refresh, refresh, refresh.....

Sounds like a great time, doesn't it?!  The funny thing is that it TRULY has been.  (Circa AFTER EVERYTHING MENTIONED IN THIS POST).  Times are looking up and I've got some pictures to prove it!

Three cheers for family travel!  Haha. (And all those nasty little stories that will become funny eventually).  You're lucky to be where you are, Goose!  This ride would have been so much wilder if there were four of us!  

ONE. MORE. WORK. DAY. UNTIL. NINE. WHOLE. PLAY. DAYS.

So sometimes it happens that you've only been back to work for 4 weeks and you feel like it's been AT LEAST four months.  You're dragging yourself out of bed at 4:30 in the morning, keeping your eye on the prize of "THURSDAY" and the one week holiday that follows it.  Progress reports are thrown into the mix, some last-minute visa issues with the nanny are too.  There's the construction noise that woke the little one a few times in the night and the big-old cry session that ensued after waking up at 5:40 a.m., only to find your parents heading out the door at 5:45.  Big bummers all around.  But then you get home from work as soon as that faculty meeting is over, ignore the millions of lab papers you brought home to "mark", and head downstairs to play outside with the people that you love most....

The sandbox and playhouse were all good and fine until soapy water started pouring out of a nearby pipe.  Nory made a run for it.  Or a dive.  And with a smile like this, we decided that this likely-disgusting puddle of dirty water was a swell way to spend the remainder of the evening.  Clothes can be washed.  Shoes can dry.  And this picture - of a child in their truest form - will last FOREVER and EVER!

God bless puddles.  And washing machines.  And these little people that have the power to make life seem completely impossible and 100% manageable all at the very same time.  

(P.S.  Tonight I MAY have let Nory use markers on the tile floor on purpose.  I needed a second and watching her "clean up" the mess with a wet towel was genius on my behalf.  CLEAN GIRLIE, CLEAN!)