Nory's FIRST Play Date!

In Kuwait, there is an online mom's group for expats. I joined while I was pregnant with Nory but I admit that I haven't been too involved until this past week. I mean, I browse the forums to see what's up but I haven't actively reached out to other moms. Until last week! And VOILA! Nory had her first play date this past weekend.

This seven month old beauty is Amirah.  Her mother is from El Salvador and her father is Lebanese and the family just moved here a couple of months ago.  It seems the adjustment - both culturally and new-mom-ly - has been a difficult one for Amirah's mama, so I wrote her a message to see if she wanted to meet up.  HOORAY, SHE DID!

On Saturday morning, our little family of three met their little family of three and we connected in a way that only brand-spanking-new parents can!  It was fantastic.  We related on so many levels......The lack of sleep.  The non-stop judging.  The worrying.  The cluelessness.  It was wonderful to laugh away our stress and be reminded that we're not the only ones navigating this parenting thing.  The girls were quite adorable to watch also.  So curious about each other.  I could tell they were both thinking, "WOW!  Someone else MY SIZE!"  Seems as though all acquainting members found someone they could relate to during our date.

Nory will be playing with Amirah again this Wednesday afternoon.  And GUESS WHAT?!  Remember Tallulah from two hospital visits ago?  Well, we are meeting with that sweet girl on Saturday morning.

Talk about a busy social schedule.  And you likely won't believe me, but Phil is the ringleader in this event planning!

How things have changed.  

You've Got a FRIEND in ME!

                                                          Patches + Nory = BFF's  :)

Narrating the CAMERA ROLL.....

On Wednesday afternoon, Nory returned to the pediatrician for a check-up.  She's grown 4.5 cm and now weighs 14.5 lbs!!!  Dr. Roland gave us some cream for her dry knees (that's a Hoit trait, for sure!), some special shampoo for her cradle cap, and some tips on how to survive the airplane and the teething process. 

Most of you know how much I dislike McDonald's.  Phil knows I would NEVER, EVER agree to eat there, with two exceptions only:  for McFlurry's and for COFFEE.  Yep, I LOVE THEIR COFFEE!!!!  In fact, I had such a craving for it the other morning that I gave Phil permission to eat a greasy, greasy breakfast - just so I could have some coffee.  BAHA.

Who doesn't love a surprise delivery on a Wednesday evening?  Sparkly ones are TOPS!!!

Here we are in what I like to call the "Cuddle Bug Bakery".  The event doubled as fantastic "airport" practice too.  Nory's really starting to like the Ergo, THANK GOODNESS!  I think it will be beneficial to navigate the airport with two hands.  Plus, Nory's getting quite heavy and I find it much easier to carry her around this way :) 

Ever since we moved to Kuwait, I've had this dream of wanting a Juicy Couture tracksuit.  My dream came true on Friday morning with Emily, Steve, Phil and Nory by my side!  Here Phil is carrying out that beautiful, BRIGHT PINK bag!

It's important to pick up English books as you see them here - otherwise your library will look rather glum and boring.  Pottery Barn Kids happened to have a wide selection the other morning, so we picked up "How Loud Is A Lion?" for Nory's collection.  I think we've read it about 8 times already!

WAY TO GO, DADDY!!!!!  Phil's basketball team won first place in the league on Friday afternoon.  He came home with a flashy medal and a big grin.  Of course, Nory had to share in the excitement by wearing her Dad's new hardware :)

Rattle socks.  With her ninja-like kicking, she really could start her own musical group! 

Be forewarned, Nory is bringing some friends back to Canada with her.  Patches, Tabitha and Simon/Simone will be making the trip to Ontario too.  As you can tell, these three toys never get a rest in the toy box. 

Another surprise visit from Haitham!!!  The perfect way to conclude any weekend. 

THIS is what TEETHING looks like......

Here's a quick clip of our dolly.  It captures a few seconds of what has become increasingly common the past few days.  Poor thing. Let's see these teeth already!!!

I suppose she could be bothered by a few other things as well.  After all, she is missing out on a COUSIN DAY at Nana and Grandpa's.  The whole gang is there for Nana's 50th and I'm sure she's feeling a wee bit left out.

Don't worry darlin'.  In 11 days, we'll be part of the crew :)

My New Cap.

Phil:  Are you going to wear that hat while you're gardening this summer?

Lindsay:  (giving an "are you serious?" face)  ME?  GARDENING?  Phil - I receive flowers and I wear flowers.  I do NOT grow flowers!  

Stacks and stacks of unmarked exams.......

NO LONGER EXIST FOR THIS GAL!!!!!!!!!!!!  I suppose locking yourself away for hours and hours in a stimulus-free classroom works magic for productivity.....

Speaking of stimulus-free.  Today one of my students remarked:

"Miss.  Your classroom is like plain vanilla.  Before it was with cherries and a waffle cone and "sparkles" and butterscotch sauce..........."

Haha.  What a great analogy he used! 

BEST SOUVENIR EVER!

I found this little pink shirt through a Kuwaiti boutique I discovered on Instagram.  I ordered it through WhatsApp (a new experience!) and it was delivered to our door right after school yesterday! 

We can't stop laughing about it.  The description read something like, "for the chic little baby with a busy social schedule".....HAHAHAHAHA!  It's the perfect item to reinforce Nory's roots ;)

In other news, everyone in this house was sound asleep by 7 last night!  What a way to celebrate my first day without tutoring!

One more day at work before our three day weekend begins.  HIP, HIP!

Here's What's EXCITING:

1)  Kim and Kanye are having a GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!

2)  Tutoring is FINISHED for the year!!!!!!!  YIPPEE-YA-HOO!!!!

3)  Today my students wrote their science exam.  I have marked 42 so far and they are doing AWESOME!

4)  Phillip surprised me with flowers this morning.  And he marked my multiple choice/true and false/fill-in-the-blank pages.  BEST HUSBAND ALIVE!  XOXO

5)  16 days until we are HOME SWEET HOME!!!

6)  We have a long weekend this weekend!  I hope to finish my marking and reports tomorrow so I can fully ENJOY these days off :) 

7)  Back to #1.  It certainly doesn't seem valid to place it as #1.  But I just finished my daily People.com tour and re-lived the excitement of another Kardashian girlie.  Who run the world?  GIRLS!

Such a contradiction. Or NOT?

The end of the year is finally here!  It's the time of year that you start thinking about on the first day of school in September.  The time of year you look forward to more and more with every passing month.  The time of year where you can finally say "ahhhhh", take a deep breath and RELAX!  So why oh why does it look like THIS: 

Colourless.  Quiet.  Empty.  

It's strange.  I just took everything down yesterday and I already miss my bulletin boards, student work, encouraging posters, and STUDENT-FILLED DESKS!  Yes, that last part - about the 21 bodies that breathe laughter and life into this four-walled room - it's true.  How is it possible that my little, sweet 6's are already moving on to grade 7?!  How is it possible that summer is here?  How did we get here?  And how did we get here so darn quickly?!

Don't get me wrong, I am PUMPED for the summer and all it entails.  But these final few weeks are just so bittersweet.  Year after year, I fall in love with this thing called TEACHING.  What a blessing it is to enjoy my workplace.  I am SO VERY THANKFUL!

Just try to give this little chicken a bath!