HAPPY DECEMBER TWO!

HAPPY DECEMBER ONE!

Today was the GLORIOUS December ONE - the very first day of our family advent calendar!  Recall that this year we made the switch from mini treats to family activities and the whole thing is a big surprise for Phil and Nory.  As of today, the morning routine now goes:  find Crimson the Elf and then head to the advent calendar!

The first activity read:

Writing the cards up was a BIG, BIG job this weekend.  I think I wrote 42 cards total and it definitely wasn't a one-time thing.  I had to write them here and there with Phil away and I was pushing myself to do so in order to keep up with my December 1st tradition!  Nory did her best to help me out with this task, but after tonight's GIGGLE FEST, it's obvious that she finds the delivery of the cards much more amusing.  Check it out:

Yep, she's into that SLAPSTICK sort of humour that involves things falling to the ground.  Thanks to Phillip for capturing it on video and THANKS TO THE INTERWEB (and my hardcore Googling persistence) for FINALLY figuring out how to upload my videos to the blog once again.  (It's an app called YouTube capture.  It's FANTASTIC!  Message me if you want details!).

Speaking of FANTASTIC things.  Cookies for breakfast is a really good idea.  Especially when it's a special day like today.  Especially when the cookies come in gingerbread family form.

HAPPY DECEMBER EVERYONE!!!! xo

THE NORNADO in ACTION.

Circa 5 p.m. tonight.  (Also applicable to 4 p.m., 3 p.m., 2 p.m..........)

Last Day of NOVEMBER / Last Day of MOVEMBER

Ever since Emily told me about this sweet little restaurant called Q Cafe, I have been dying to attend.  She has gone quite a few times now and is always talking about the delicious food, the adorable servings of tea, and most importantly, the MOVEMBER decor.  I marked it on the calendar for this month with the intention of going, but you know how time is.  It kinda slips away and before you know it, it is November 29th and you don't think it's gonna happen.

But then.

SURPRISE!

It does!  

OH SISSY - this is an art attack waiting to happen, right?!

Check out all of the different mustaches displayed on the clipboards!  So much MOVEMBER INSPIRATION!

Emily took me yesterday morning and it's true that I am in love.  I'm convinced it should be a worldwide franchise except for the fact that it's existence in Kuwait-only makes it THAT much more special and THAT much more appreciated. 

Adorbs.  The scrabble pieces.  And Emily's Christmas nails.

Gem - you were BANG ON with your reviews of the place.  Thank you for taking me!

Phil should be home in 4.5 hours!!!!!

And I really don't think I could be any more excited for it!  I just put Nory to bed and I keep looking at the clock, hoping the minutes go by quickly so I can give him the world's biggest hug ASAP.  He's been in Abu Dhabi for three days now and I think I reached my Phil-less limit 2.95 days ago.  I mean - I miss him when I go a whole school day without seeing him, so you can imagine the SERIOUS AMOUNTS OF MISSING HIM that have been sweeping through my heart over the weekend.  It's SUPER SERIOUS.  And it's SUPER SERIOUSLY going to make my heart jump out of my chest the minute he wakes me up with a prince charming kiss later tonight.  (I could be a bit hopeful about our dreamy reunion, as I also foresee an overtired, just-wants-to-go-to-bed hubby walking through the front door.  But a girl can dream, right?!)

All cozy beside me on the couch the other morning.  I love this 5 minute cuddly period.  It's hard to catch it, but when you do, it's the ultimate day-maker.

Despite all the Phillip-homesickness I suffered over the last few days (ha!), Nory and I made out pretty swell. We had Kumari come in so that I could get some Christmas shopping done (way easier without Nory in tow), but when I sent Kumari home each day, Nory was as good as gold.  We danced around to Christmas music, did some laundry, read stories (the same ones, on repeat), played tag and hide and seek, watched some Disney Junior, made towers from colourful cups, shot some hoops, splashed in the bathtub, and snuggled (for as much as she would let me).  We also wrote out all of the Christmas cards (she wasn't so much of a help here) and enjoyed screaming in admiration of the Christmas lights that Cathy and Shahid put up in the hallway.  It was a jam-packed schedule when the two of us were alone together, but I don't so much mind the non-stop activity when it's accompanied by such a gleeful little soul.  Nory makes life as a 'single' mom quite easy really and even the 4:30 wake-ups were just my cup of tea as soon as I saw her big grin peeking over the top of her crib.  (Side note:  If another child exists in our future, there's NOT A CHANCE things will go this smoothly).  Anyways, it was rather nice to bond as a duo and it's nice to know I can handle things when Phil's not around.....

That being said, it is OBVIOUSLY EASIER when my husband is here too.  We can trade off and take breaks and assist each other when needed.  It would have been much easier to clean up our poo-laden child this afternoon if Phil was here also.  I don't know HOW Nory looked the way she did post-nap, but it was everywhere and she was laughing at me as I tried to figure out the best way to clean her up.  She's got a good sense of humour, that one.  So does her Daddy apparently.  When he's out of the country and excused from such scenarios.   

Nory is now asleep and this is the first night I haven't gone to bed immediately after her.  I must be a little excited about something....

OHHHHHHHH I have butterflies just thinking about him.  This love we have is a good one.  I MISS YOU BABES! xo

P.S.  I wonder what presents he found for me on his mini-vacation.......(haha)

MUCH BETTER than Kanye's New Vid.

Celebrating a BULLDOGS WIN with THE WORD OF THE YEAR

What a great two minutes this was!

For the record, THAT FACE THERE is our "BULLDOG" face - initiated by Eleanor Douglas / Summer 2013.  Also for the record, ON THE RECORD, who says a SELFIE has to be all GLAM GIRL KIM K?  In this house, SILLINESS RULES!!!!!!!!!!

And, what the heck, we might as well add this too:  GO LEAFS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy EARLY BIRTHDAY to ME!!!

Check out the AMAZING iPhone case that Emily surprised me with at school yesterday.  Apparently she picked it up as part of my birthday present (still weeks away), but seeing that we don't really know how to keep a surprise from each other, I got it the day after purchase.  HOORAY!

I'm not sure anyone else quite understands the significance of this gift.  Well, perhaps Kelly Culhane does.  Phil might get it too.  Only because both men have witnessed our side-by-side texting behaviour (rude and inappropriate and....we know)......

Thanks GEM for my early birthday, un-surprise!!!  I was SOOOO surprised!!!!!! Haha.

XOXO

Christmas!

Is ONE MONTH AWAY!!!!!!!!!!

Talk about the best conversation piece of the day.  

It would be an understatement to remark that Christmas is in full swing at our house.  We are more appropriately deemed "CHRISTMAS CRAZY" (more-so me, less-so Phil) and have been rocking out to Christmas tunes for quite some time (I repeat, more-so me, less-so Phil).  The tree lights are on every second that we are home and we have our fresh balsam candle burning equally as much.  Stockings are out.  Christmas books have been read.  Christmas cookie-making materials are in the cupboard.  Festive earrings are lined up in the jewelery box.  Festive hairbands are near the door (as a reminder to sport them A.M.A.P. - as much as possible).  So ya......we were ready for the greatest day of the year YESTERDAY.

My GRAB & GO hairbands :)

I purchased Christmas cards over the weekend and in order to keep with Parkinson tradition, I must write them all out this weekend so I can deliver them to people on December 1st!  It's a big job, but I intend to make the world's largest hot chocolate after Nory's asleep one night and get to down to business.  Phil will be in Abu Dhabi Doooooooo starting Wednesday so I won't be distracted or more inclined to cuddle......

Yesterday I prepared our family advent calendar.  I've changed things up this year by placing activities (rather than small treats) inside our advent calendar wall hanging.  Only December 1st to December 20th are covered (as we leave Kuwait on the 20th), but during these days Nory and Phil will get to reveal each day's activity in the morning - right after we locate "Crimson" of course.

 CRIMSON.

Let's talk about that chap.  He's our little Elf on a Shelf (thank you STEVE!!!!) who has been hanging out, taking notes for S.C. this past week.  If you aren't familiar with the Elf on a Shelf idea, I STRONGLY suggest you look it up and embrace the tradition yourself.  The elf is at our house during the day, but returns to the North Pole at nighttime to report back to Santa.  The thing is, you aren't allowed to touch him or his magic will go away.  Well, wouldn't you know it, we came home after Day One with Crimson to find him smack dab in the middle of the living room amongst Nory's toys.  Surely he wasn't laying there untouched.  But how does one go about telling their Sri Lankan nanny that you aren't to touch the Christmas Elf because his magic might go away forever........?????  That Crimson is REALLY BRILLIANT, though, and has been hiding in the highest places ever since this incident (think top of fridge, top of a shelf, etc.).  

HIP, HIP for ONE MONTH!  Emily and I are going on a Christmas shopping frenzy (a.k.a friend-zy) this weekend.  Should be fun :)

HAPPY HOLS, Y'ALL!!!!!!!!! 

Today I UNKNOWINGLY dressed my daughter in a controversial shirt.

It wasn't until we visited the neighbours with a big "FREE HUGS!!!" entry that I heard about THIS.  Impeccable timing, right?!  YEESH!  Thankfully we laid low at home today ;)