Merry Christmas 2011

I have had Christmas songs in my head for the past week or so. Lets just say the Christmas Music Playlist has been getting a good workout!

The kids woke at a very civilized 7am which may have been a result of the two Christmas DVD’s we let them watch last night until late, hmmm I will remember that one for next year.

After the initial Santa Sack raid we headed downstairs for some breakfast before returning to open our gifts. We were all very blessed this year.

I was still half asleep mind you!

And who doesn’t like to start the day gnawing off Santa’s head?

And then of course the bigger kids thought little Eyad needed a bit of help  

Eyad and Sami both have a cold so Ali was on snotty nose patrol, ewwwww.

It was so nice to have Mum with us again this year.

Each year we hang chocolate decorations and candy canes and then the kids go on a tree hunt. Here they are collecting the goodies.

Before sitting down to a fantastic lunch we tried to take a nice family shot. Ha ha who was I kidding trying to get everyone to look and smile at the same time!

I don’t think we will ever be one of those families that sends out a yearly photo!

My Mum made the most awesome lunch for us all. I helped but really I was a little commis assisting the Executive Chef.  Thanks Mum xxxx.

(sorry folks not a great shot of anyone there but it was a great spread for sure).

Here is the Chef …

I dressed the kids in their Chinese silk pajamas that my sister brought over last year. Don’t ask me why, I was just feeling a little silly I guess? Sami does not feature in the dinner photos as he had two mouthfuls of turkey and declared he was “done”.  I just didn’t have the energy to argue and I was looking forward to a nice quiet lunch so I let him go.

Eyad was an angel bless him, thank you bubba!

Finally as the night wore on Laith tackled his super dooper Lego set while the others watched some Christmas TV.

It was a lovely Christmas and I really do feel so lucky to have a wonderful Mum, loving and kind husband and four gorgeous children.  Of course having my brother and sister here would have been fantastic. The oceans may divide us but my heart is with them always.

Merry Christmas and thanks for stopping by …

Ice Skating

Yes folks it is official the new (and now only) ice rink has opened in Muscat. We visited there last Thursday to have a little icy fun.

The kids loved rugging up. And  my darling Sharon (a.k.a. Aunty Sharon) do you see what Lulu is wearing? Yes it the jacket you got her that we thought she would never wear given that we had no plans to visit any cold countries soon!

Laith had been once earlier in the week with a few lads from his karate class but he was much more confident second time around.

Lujayne just “got it” and in no time was skating along with no help.

I slowly remembered how to push off and keep going, albeit quiet unsteady on my skates, and I had a great time until THUD I had a major crash and then I called it a day. Hey I think 60 minutes was a pretty good effort for this old duck!

Oh and Sami was not with us as sadly he did a runner on me earlier in the day his punishment was no skating. I hope to post some pictures of him skating soon.

Thanks for stopping by …

It is starting to feel a lot like Christmas.

Yesterday was our Tree Decorating day, December 6th, which is the feast day of St Nicholas (and the day he died). But after a long day the kids were not in the best frame of mind and things went pear shaped fairly quickly so we postponed until tonight.

We have talked a lot about St Nicholas and what he use to do. We also talked about the fantasy of Santa Claus and how that came about.

It was nice to decorate together as a family even with a few “sibling moments” to deal with from time to time.

Being a Muslim family it is a rocky road we travel with the whole Christmas thing but we celebrate it each year “for my family” as there is always someone visiting us over Christmas.

We had a lucky draw to see who would place the St Nicholas at the top of the tree. And the winner was …

The tree this year needs to be protected with a baby gate as our little man Eyad would have it down in bits in no time left to his own devices. And don’t get me started on this kids ability to climb … anything!

This is nothing, he scales a tall ladder in seconds!

Thanks for stopping by …