The cost of bragging about a spectacular Sunday, Monday and Tuesday on the interweb?

A "fairy house", you guys.  A BLEEPING FAIRY HOUSE!!!!!!

Sigh. 

I SCREWED UP.

Nory and I were making some artwork on Tuesday night using everyone's ultimate craft supply: GLITTER!!!!!!!  Now, as it is with this type of crafting material, I AM USED TO a little glitter here and there around the flat.  It's not uncommon for me to have glitter specks on my face at work or to see Parkinson Glitter in the elevators of our building because......there's just always A LITTLE GLITTER wherever we go.  But the thing is, I'm not so used to glitter being ALL OVER THE FLAT.  Like, ALL-ALL OVER THE FLAT.  Like, OH MY GOSH THERE IS SO MUCH GLITTER, IT'S AS THOUGH YOU LIVE IN A "FAIRY HOUSE", as a colleague phrased it. 

Turns out I left the glitter container open on the kitchen table that evening.  Turns out our two cats also like crafting.....

You can imagine how displeased Phil was when he went to make us coffee early Wednesday morning.

WHOOOOOOPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A heartfelt apology to Phil for being so....understanding (LOVE YOU!).....and the world's BIGGEST THANK YOU to Kumari Poppins for getting rid of glitter like I've never seen before :)

In other news, Nory is starting to make faces on her artwork and sometimes she has me write little notes that go along with her pictures:

Cute, right?

Wishing you all the energy required to put away the glitter when bedtime finally strikes! 
XOXO

A SUNDAY to TUESDAY HIGHLIGHT REEL

A highlight reel doesn't typically coincide with the work week, but I think this week might be the exception of 2016 for the most unexpected reasons.....

1)  On Sunday, a student delivered AN ENTIRE POUND of Reese's peanut butter cups to my classroom.  AN ENTIRE POUND.  (Dana, how jealous are you?!)

2)  Our apartment has been having water issues for about a year now.  We always have water in our kitchen, but the other side of the flat has no such luck.  It's been a serious cause for frustration and, in addition to crying approximately every other day about being unable to shower, I've been using dry-shampoo as though I'm an official spokesperson for Batiste.  The GOOD NEWS is that after THREE DAYS of replacing pipes and other expensive parts, WE FINALLY GOT WATER YESTERDAY!!!!!!  THE EVEN BETTER NEWS is that we finally have water at a time when THIS ARTICLE ABOUT BATISTE was released.  PHEWFFF!

3)  Today there was a sandstorm and I was so excited!  Normally, they give me a headache.  BUT TODAY, I didn't even think about my headache because the dusty weather reinforced the importance of cilia and mucus in our science lesson!  It was the perfect day for learning about the respiratory system :)

4)  Nory made me a picture while I was at work yesterday!  She showed it to me as soon as we got home and my heart melted.  Times a billion.

5)   Today Phil bought me FIVE (5!!!!) AMERICAN, APRIL 2016 magazines from a magical place in the desert.  FIVE!  AMERICAN!  APRIL 2016!  MAGAZINES!  For my Canadian friends, it's as though I have a mini-Chapters in my very own living room!!!  Eeeee!!!!!!!!!  Thank you, Phil! xo

In addition to all of this, Juliet is going through a dress-up phase (EXTRA FUN!) and Nory is saying words like "mysterious" and "diagnosis".

These. are. the. days.  

XOXO

NARRATING the CAMERA ROLL....(the "OTHER THINGS we did while Daddy was in Thailand" edition)...

I told Phil I would try to blog every day while he was at the conference.  He wanted to know what we got up to as a trio and, with the time change and his busy schedule (and the fact that Nory and Jet scream over who gets to talk to Daddy on FaceTime), reading about it on the blog made it so much easier. 

Well.

The documentation online says I gave a valiant effort in the first couple of days, but clearly dropped the ball thereafter.  WHOOPS!!!!!!  It's just that binge-watching Degrassi on Netflix was much more appealing than writing and uploading photos.  Sorry, Babe!

What's MORE WEIRD is that this week was a blur as well.  I didn't see Phil until Tuesday night and with parent-teacher conferences, along with a baby shower hosted at our place, we haven't had much together time to chat.  So, Dearest Phillip, here is the information you've been waiting for........

 ^^^  Uncle Steve came to see us on Friday and Saturday.  One of the first things we did was arts and crafts.  Jettie made a MARKER MASTERPIECE (and didn't even eat the markers this time!) and Nory made some spring flowers :)  They aren't hung up in the house because the girls gave their pictures to Uncle Steve!

^^^  Then we did this thing that you would have REALLY HATED because it was messy.  We put dish soap, water, and food colouring into the blender.  Repeatedly.  So we could fill up the green tub.  The girls had a blast!

^^^  We also made some SNOW outside in the sunshine.  I told Nory it was our April Fool's joke because we were playing a trick on people :)  

 ^^^  We made pizza for dinner and Nory decided to put both tomatoes and onions on hers.  If only you were home, Daddy, to have a piece....ha!!!  While the pizza was in the oven, Nory was acting LOUD and WILD and Juliet thought my hip was the perfect place to be :)

^^^  We did lots of playing outside with friends.  The weather was beautiful and Nory loved being with kids of all ages.  In this picture she is showing off her cone/sidewalk house :)

 ^^^  Em got home from Amsterdam on Saturday and she surprised us with multiple souvenirs!  The girls were happy to snuggle with Auntie and also to resume their Snap Chat game.  I refuse to get Snap Chat, so it's a real novelty whenever Auntie is over :)

^^^  There was also time for Nory to play quietly on her own.  She loves having her dollhouse in the living room and, now, I'm convinced it's the ABSOLUTE BEST PURCHASE we've ever made.  After the Ergo.....

 ^^^  We played in the sandbox lots, too.  Juliet no longer eats the sand and actually refuses to get out when it's time to go.  The girl could stay in this piece of heaven forever!  Nory served me multiple cups of sand tea and I only had a few small fits about sand in our sheets in the middle of the night.  

^^^  It appears as though someone used my phone to take pictures of Mickey Mouse too.  But I'm not sure when that happened.  Or who did it.  

Overall, we had a great time together.  The days were busy, but fun, and the meltdowns were kept down to an age-appropriate amount (a value I made up in my own head).

Glad you're home, Daddy!!!!  We missed you!!!!!!!!!!!! XOXO 

CONVERSATIONS with NORY....

While wandering the streets in search of the new souq....

Nory:  (confused) Are we going to America?  Like they do in the movies?
 

__________________________________________________

During pretend play with princesses......

Nory:  Mommy where's Prince Trauma?

Me:  Who's Prince Trauma?

Nory:  From Cinderella.

Me:  Ohhhhh.....you mean Prince Charming!!!!

__________________________________________________

While washing her hands...

Me:  Nory, you only get ONE MORE PUMP of soap.

Nory:  Ohhh, but I want lots of soap!

Me:  You have lots of soap!  Only ONE more pump.

Nory:  Okay, Mama.  But I'm going to need some privacy..........

Haaaaa!!!!!!  I wonder why ;)

CAMP UPDATE ;)

We're ALIVE and I didn't cry today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We did it!  Another successful day (ah-hem, approximately more smiles than screams) in the MOM vs TWO CHILDREN arena.  Coco didn't come to attend the day's events (claiming her life was "in shambles"), but we survived anyhow and had a wonderful time exploring two new activities.  Oh, and Coco, I'm KIDDING!  If one of my good friends had a NORNADO, my life would be in shambles CONSTANTLY ;)  (Kidding again.  LOVE YOU!)

So besides the usual (toys/tubby/courtyard), we decided to do a couple of things that are MESSIER and WAY MORE EXCITING than our norm.  These MESSY and WAY MORE EXCITING things are a good choice for when Daddy isn't home.  Reason being?  Phil finds these sorts of activities MESSY and WAY MORE EXCITING.

1)  First up, we did "SCIENCE"!!!!!!  All that was required was a big container of baking soda, some colored vinegar, and an enthusiastic "GO!!!!!!!!"  Nory was amazed at all the bubbles she was able to make as she dropped spoonfuls of vinegar into the container of baking soda.  However, being the BIGGER/STRONGER/FASTER child that she is, she eventually learned it was EVEN MORE FUN to move spoonfuls of baking soda into the vinegar bowls because the reaction was THAT MUCH BETTER :)  Once the bubble-making was finished, she got some of her small characters to come and play in the "rainbow playground".   

2)  Later on we tackled some "Spin Art" for the very first time.  This activity is also super simple and one that Juliet could enjoy too.  Into a salad spinner you place a piece of paper and some globs of paint, then you SPINNNNNNNNNN until your heart is content.  We all took turns spinning and then I elected myself to be the paper-remover :)  We had so much fun that we made nine tiny pieces of artwork!  We also had so much fun that we needed to have a tubby immediately afterwards :)

They turned out really fun, right?!

A big thank you to PINTEREST for helping to plan our camp activities and a big thank you to KUMARI POPPINS who is the kindest soul you'll ever meet and, not only took the girls when I needed a moment of sanity, but also BOUGHT ME DINNER LAST NIGHT.  She is so, so thoughtful and sweet.

Today, we're looking forward to a fun-filled day with Uncle Steve!!!

P.S.  I'm slowly learning how to be selective with my Pinteresting.  I'm learning to see past the "ANYONE CAN DO IT!" claims and choose to replicate the pins that can't possibly lead to FAILURE.  Once I reached this level of realization, my Pinterest game has gotten SO MUCH STRONGER :)  If y'all remember my Grinch cookies from Christmas, you know it's true!!!

PHIL! / DADDY!!! / DADDA!!!!!!!!!!!

I was really hoping to leave a post for you about what we got up to today, but I'm falling asleep and I'm not going to make it.  Instead, here are some SUPER ADORABLE PICTURES of the Sweetest Girl on Earth. 

(And, Phil!  Although you're going to want to hop on the first plane ride home, she's ALL MINE TO SNUGGLE until you get back on Tuesday.  Don't you go getting any ideas!) 

This girl. 

I tell ya. 

I love her so much my heart hurts.

BEAST MOM cried today.

Multiple times, in fact.  And it was all Phil-is-about-to-depart-for-Thailand related. 

Dramatic, I know.

I mean, I get it.  It's ONLY for six days, I've done it before, and I have Kumari Poppins (and other people of SUPERHERO status) a door-knock away.  However, this trip is one that I have been anxious about for WEEKS and I just couldn't shake it. Worst case scenarios have been sweeping through my mind and it took Phil walking out the door before I was finally able to pull myself together.

Then I knew it was time.  

Time to wipe away the tears and put on my CAMP DIRECTOR hat (the hat I wear every time Phil leaves the country.)  For some reason, upping my ACTIVITIES GAME FACE during his work trips makes the time go by more quickly and keeps everyone happy for longer.  Or maybe I just LOVE CAMP.  

CAMP PARKINSON is in session, you guys! :)

The first 30 minutes were touch and go at best.  Jettie had just woken up from a nap and, as always, wanted an hour-long cuddle session before being put down to play.  Of course, this is prime "BUT I WANT YOU TO PLAY WITH ME MOMMY!" time and the conflict resulted in Nory staying in her bedroom all by herself.  I sat in the living room and listened as she programmed this DELIGHTFUL TOY FROM GRANDMA (!!!) to sing the lyrics "MOMMY IS NOT NICE":

So that was a good start.

I decided some quiet time would be best for all parties.  Along with a fresh pot of coffee....

Nory played with her dollhouse, while Jettie orchestrated her very own game of hide and seek, and I drank a cup of hot coffee on the couch.   

When it seemed like we could get along as a trio once again (THANK YOU, CAFFEINE!), we tackled some chocolate chip cookies in the kitchen.  We only had one slip and cry (from Nory jumping off the kitchen stool), but the cookies turned out marvelously well and we got to enjoy them with Coco when she came over to visit.  Coco and Nory played with some kinetic sand type stuff, while Juliet and I played with the toy kitchen.  We were totally IN OUR GROOVE, us four.   

Once it was dark outside, we took some glow sticks (THANK YOU, MARY!) and flashlights to the courtyard.  The glow sticks were really fun to hide and throw and push around in the wagon.  It was perfect weather and LOTS OF EXCITEMENT :)

The night concluded with a meltdown regarding ice cream desires (Nory, not me), which led to a discussion about what makes people mad and sad, followed by an episode of Max and Ruby in Mommy and Daddy's bed.  Coco persevered through all of the drama that any night with a 3 year old and a 1 year old entails and even remarked that she would come back for more fun tomorrow!  I wonder if she'll sleep on it and change her mind.  Ha!

By the time the girls were in bed, Phil had messaged to say he was safe at the Bahrain airport.  He didn't say it, but I know he totally wishes he was back home already.....

LOVE YOU, PHIL!  

Here's to a great 6 days of camp for the gals and a productive few days of learning for the Sir :)  

HAPPY EASTER!!! // OUR BUNNY BRUNCH :)

Another holiday is here and it's one of the BIG ONES, you guys!  (As opposed to the ridiculously small ones that nobody knows or cares about because they don't follow the same Instagram accounts that I do.)  I'm so glad we're all on the same page for celebrations this holiday around ;) 

HOORAY.  FOR.  CELEBRATIONS!!!!!

In honour of Easter this year, we decided to host a Bunny Brunch with friends and family that happened to be stay-cationing for spring break or weekending from work.  The gathering was smaller than usual (with so many of our Kuwait friends out of country!), but it was special nonetheless and that is what we aim for with all of the traditional gatherings we miss out on back home.  Phil and I really want to make sure the girls feel the BIG DEAL that comes along with the MAJOR HOLIDAYS, regardless of how celebrated they are in the desert.  Basically, if our family in Canada is rushing to get showered, dressed, and into the car for a road trip to a Great Aunt's house, you can bet that we'll be scrambling to make a special day happen in Kuwait too :)

Saturday morning was the BIG DAY :)  We did our best to delay the egg hunt until all of our guests arrived, but clearly we're more optimistic than the average parent and you can only distract a three year old from EGGS EVERYWHERE for so long.  Luckily, Grandma Barb came early and she got to participate in the hype of a threenager's hunt :)  The Easter Bunny rocked it this year, leaving eggs in the cutest places.  In her dollhouse, her play kitchen, her bookshelf, etc.  WAY TO GO, E.B.!!!!

For breakfast, we had a yogurt and croissant bar along with some freshly baked goods from some of our guests.  It was DELICIOUS!  Also, I got to use my fancy new THERMOS which makes serving coffee SO MUCH EASIER.  No more of that making a pot of coffee and immediately putting on a new pot of coffee.  There's a pot of coffee in the thermos and one sitting in the coffee maker.  The rushing around scenario is GONE-ZO and I'm pretty sure I want to spend the rest of my week serving coffee to those that want to get caffeinated :) #dreamcometrue

Both of the girls were wearing bunny shirts for the occasion, but do you think I could slow either of them down long enough to sit side-by-side for a photo?  HA.  This is the only picture I have of them together.  And they aren't even looking.  And you can't even tell that they are both wearing adorable bunny shirts.  But.....at least they look like they are getting along!  You can't have EVERYTHING ;)

Half-way through our bunny brunch, Nory's mind was set on having a tubby, which meant Juliet's mind was set on having a tubby, which means Phil's mind told him it was easier to just HAVE A TUBBY.  So, I chilled with our guests while my entire family abandoned us for the bathtub :)  Oy.

This time of year, we also feel a little homesick.  It's SO CLOSE to being June, but also SO FAR AWAY.  And when your child is hyped up on chocolate it feels FOREVER and EVER away.  (So that last part is our fault, but whatever.)

We miss you, CANADA!  We can't to see you for other major holidays!  Like Father's Day!  And Nory's half-birthday!   Ha ;)

XOXO