Kid Mashups

My kids say words that I hope they never correct:

a. hanitizer for hand sanitizer

b. jump-o-line for trampoline

c. bathtize for baptize

Henry Higgins is not allowed to visit until I get my fill of chuckles. Chuckling does a mama's heart good.

Asa's Preschool

The days without Dona have made Asa bored and ready for something new. He has talked about going to school ever since she left. I have tried a daily singing and dancing routine but he was unimpressed. I have completely lost my mothering mojo. I've petered.

Asa started school while all the other kids were still on their holiday break. As he was preparing to leave he kept saying to all of his siblings, 'Say good bye to me. I go to school now.' The first time was calm and sweet. It wasn't until all the kids completely ignored him he yelled, 'SAY GOODBYE TO ME! I GO TO SCHOOL NOWWWWW!!!' Being the youngest Bromley requires a demanding personality. You have to get a proper send off somehow.

Asa was brimming with confidence when he arrived. He told us that when he goes to school he will meet friends, play at the playground, and shoot ghosts. I am surprised he didn't add spin webs and drive batmobiles. Apparently, he is a vigilante in training.

Everything was fine and dandy until Asa arrived in class and realized, um, wait, I don't know these people. The look of horror showed up on his face. There wasn't a Dona, Heavah or Xavier in the entire room. What to do? The fear subsided when he was chosen to be the line leader. All his worries melted away. Leading a bunch of kids is up his alley. The boy likes to be in charge.

Asa is sold on this school thing. Everyday since he has asked to go back to play at the playground (I am told the ghost shootings don't happen until next term). To show his appreciation, he has been fully potty trained. He has also had a smile plastered on his face something akin to this:

Made ya laugh, didn't I?

High Tea with Dona

This week I held an impromptu tea party for my girl who loves all-things-pink. Heavah was too busy outside making serious cash with her lemonade stand (business before pleasure) so it was just the three generations sitting straight and acting proper.

A twirl session was on the agenda. I twirl far too little nowadays. Shame on me.

Sweets were a must. Ours were purchased at the hoity toity cupcake store in the hoity toity mall. Dona doesn't get enough hoity or toity in her life.

The discussion focused on friends, boyfriends (or at least the classification of boys-being-friends), the color pink, and shopping. We clanked our glasses to being a girl.

Sedona was a lovely guest of honor, and she kept the hour lively and interesting. The event was refined and classy thanks to the No Boys Allowed policy, which was strictly enforced by the pint sized girl herself.

We also painted our fingernails a light shade of pink. Grandma was a great manicurist. She has the best nails, hand model worthy. No one was more qualified.

Other than a broken glass and spilled juice, the occasion was flawless. Sedona expressed the need for more tea parties in her life. I couldn't agree with her more.

Nepali Ornaments

Staycation Pastimes

Where else can you see a gigantor carrort? Only Doha, I say.

Our trip to Jordan was botched. We showed up at the airport packed and excited only to find out there was no plane to take us to our destination. The next flight didn't leave until 24 hours later. That was the day we were going to spend in Petra. Going to Jordan and no Petra? Why even bother. Instead, we had a lovely staycation in beautiful Doha.

Asa doing the victory dance 10 minutes before his ball even reached the pins

Part of our fun was spent playing cosmic bowling. Who doesn't love throwing a neon ball down a lane? Asa won for the slowest bowl and grandma won for the most gutter bowls. In fact, the Camilleri gene pool is seriously lacking in bowling skills. We all remained on the bottom of the list with or without a bumper.

We visited the new Cultural Center in Doha. There was a vivid and candid Africa-in-Pictures exhibit. One third of the exhibit displayed landscape, another third displayed poverty and famine, and the rest displayed boobies. Some of the photos were moving, some were shocking, and some were disturbing. You can guess which ones were which.

The Cultural Center also has an Islamic Art exhibit. Two of my favorite works are displayed here with the addition of my two kids for added beauty and quirkiness...

The animal souq was a must during our staycation. Axel attempted to make a strong case for purchasing another pet. Every man needs a parrot according to him. His iPad doesn't need to be fed or pet, therefore it is not a real present. I tried to show him the Talking Tomcat app, but he is not quite convinced.

Skating was a popular activity to pass the time. Grandma attempted to skate for the first time in her life. After admitting this, I was sure the secret Canadian police were going to take away her passport. She made up for it by learning very quickly and only falling once.

Sedona was a close second when it came to picking up the sport. She maneuvered her little body with such steadiness and concentration I couldn't help but constantly squeeze and kiss her, ultimately making her fall flat on her butt. There is pain in cuteness. My children are all just going to have to live with that reality.

Heavah and Xavier were the best of friends on the ice. Xavier is showing some serious skating skills, thanks to his devotion to hockey. Heavah is crippled when on the ice. The idea of falling is catastrophic. For once, she is dependent on her little brother and he took his job very seriously. He's an expert after all.

Just before Grandpa left Doha, he got to see Xay practice hockey at the Villaggio. Grandpa even gave Xay expert advice. Who knew you had to have both hands on the stick at all times? I didn't. I am a useless sportsmom.

Of all the things we did on our staycation, the best part was the grandma & grandpa time. Even floating in the Dead Sea can't compare.

Santa's Deliverables

We keep things fairly low key in the Bromley home during the Christmas season. Last year we spent the holidays in a less glamorous place. It could only go up from there.

Heavah got the bunny of her dreams. She lasted 12 hours and by Christmas Evening she became worm food. There was really no reason for it, maybe excessive love. I am convinced miniature bunnies have a life expectancy of 7 days. It could be that she died at the sight of our ferocious 2 pound yorkie dog, Shylock, but I doubt it.

Heavah was a good sport about it all. She woke up and requested that we go to the souq again and this time buy two bunnies, one that can die and one that cannot. She was wise. There is a second grave site in our back yard. Spots has pulled through, Chinchilla did not.

It takes very little for Sedona to be delighted. Santa brought some Littlest Pet Shops, Melissa & Doug cookies, candy and...done.

Axel scored the biggest present of the day. Santa delivered an iPad straight from Canada. Everything is so vivid and large. Scale is important when you are throwing angry birds at obnoxious green pigs.

After a scavenger hunt to find the prized bunny, Xavier felt a little gypped. It wasn't until dad cracked out a PSP that all smiles returned. Xavier needs more gaming in his life. Eye-hand coordination is important don't cha know.

We finished off Christmas morning at our pool. I love that we don't contend with snow during this time of year, but I pay for it dearly in the summer. I am reaping right now.

Merry Christmas from us all (including my freakishly muscular 7 year old son).

Sewing Squares

For the past three months, I have been attending a quilting class. The night before I started the class I realized I did not buy any fabric for my quilt. Finding fabric at the fabric souq in Doha is an impossible task. It requires a lot of time and patience. At the time, I had neither. So I grabbed the only fabric I had in my supply that *slightly* matched and began.

Our talented and patient teacher taught us how to make a beautiful and complicated sampler quilt. During the passing weeks, I realized that my quilt was probably the most hideous thing I have ever seen (okay, besides the tie quilt my mom made in the 70s). I abandoned the project. I couldn't stand looking at it any longer. It made my eyes sore.

I finally uncovered some bright and colorful fabrics out of my reject pile for a quilt for Heavah and Sedona's room. I picked up another project and started working on something entirely different. This one took me 1/3 of the time and turned out 1000 times cuter:

The colors may see odd, but they match perfectly in my girls' room. When I finally get their room the way I (ehem, I mean they) want it, I will display the whole ensemble. I know you can't wait. It's going to be fabulous...or something.

Our clean, organized and tidy art room. Martha Stewart would be proud.

The holidays have been a little slow so I have started two more projects. Axel has also been painting up a storm. There is nothing better than a new Lie to Me season on disk, a sewing machine, and a canvas that is ready to go....