Happy 3rd Birthday Eyad

A happy boy today ...

At nursery he celebrated with his friends and some yummy chocolate cupcakes (no pics sorry), then he came home to open his gifts and have some fun playing. 

We had his favourite foods for dinner ...

And then The Cake!

But he was sure to push the others out of the way, haha.

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Lulu the Genie - Halloween 2013

Aunty Sharon sent two costumes for Lulu's American Girl Dolls, Kit and Meliss, for Halloween. Once Lulu received them she was sure she wanted to look like one of them. Given that trying to get tights or leggings to match Melissa's costume I was thrilled when she chose Kit's genie costume to copy. 

I use to love the show I Dream of Genie and I watched a few clips on You Tube to get some inspiration for the head piece. 

Melissa looks ready to Trick or Treat in her gorgeous outfit.

But Kit is ready to bop her head and grant your wishes!

Here is Lulu in her Fall Festival Halloween costume ...

Lulu is so funny about smiling at the moment as she is conscious of her missing teeth, too cute. 

Here are the girls together. I got her to laugh so now you can see her teeth!

If I was a really awesome Mom I would have made a head piece for Melissa too but right now I am DONE and with cupcakes and birthday cakes waiting to be made downstairs I am hanging up my scissors. 

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The Flash - Halloween 2013 Sami

Yes it is that time of the year again ... Halloween a.k.a. Fall Festival!

This year Sami wanted to be The Flash.

Naturally there is no Flash costume available in Muscat and believe me I would have happily paid for one. So I looked through the internet to get some ideas and then got started on his costume. For my sewing friends I used  Ottobre 4/2004 Long Johns and an Ottobre 301 T-Shirt pattern with a simple red jersey and then applied some felt appliqués to make the main costume.  He is super happy with the outcome as you will see below. He says he is a bit scared about wearing it at school in case the kids laugh at him but I am sure he will be ok once he sees the others in their costumes. 

He really wanted the yellow boots that Flash wears but after he saw my pretend felt wrap around boots he was happy enough. 

The mask is a red swimming cap with a red felt mask and felt ears. (Do you know how hard it is to sew felt on to something you need to full stretch!)

I should have Lulu's Genie costume ready by tonight. The school's Fall Festival is on Thursday and it is always such a great night. For Eyad I will dipping into the dress up box, thank goodness he is still young enough to be happy with that. It is his 3rd birthday tomorrow which means this afternoon will be spent making cupcakes for his nursery tomorrow and getting started on his cake as tomorrow is also the school Parent / Teacher conferences and I can't imagine I will get much else done. 

Today Lulu and Sami are home (day 1 parent conferences - they get 2 days off) and Eyad is home too so it has been a fun yet noisy morning. Lulu put on Christmas music and they are all dancing around getting into the Christmas spirit - WAIT it is too early for that ... or is it? 

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Eid Mubarak

Tomorrow we will be in Al Hamra With Ali's family for Eid so I thought I would post early to wish you all a very blessed Eid. 

As we are away tomorrow we gave the kids their Eid gifts early much to their delight! 

Lulu was reading the card but it was a bit hard to get everyone's attention. 

We have been busy making treats to take to Eid. 

I had the kids pit the dates for the date balls. A little quality control was needed but I was not about to criticize after all who ever wants to pit sticky dates? 

Cookies ...

Eid Mubarak and may you be protected, loved and live a long and happy life. 

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Climbing High

Ali is trimming the trees in the front of the yard over the weekends. The kids love "helping" ...

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Lulu's Story

The other day I was at school and Lulu's teacher and I were talking about how much Lulu loves school. She then showed me a story Lulu had written in class that day. They were asked to write about something that had happened and she suggested they think about writing it from another person's point of view. She was very surprised and delighted at Lulu's story which is Eyad's birth from the point of view of Eyad. 

(Eyad was air-lifted out via c-section)

Lulu is like her Mom not very interested in spelling, haha, but you get the gist of the story.

I love her mind!

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Half Day Playdate

Last year when I was working I was lucky to have some wonderful Mom friends who would take my kids home on the half days while I stayed and worked. This year I wanted to be able to return the favour. Our first opportunity to do so was last Monday and Lulu wanted some of her friends to come over and have a little American Girl playdate. A few of the girls had AG's and few had an extra so there was enough to keep all the girls happy. 

(Shhhh Secret Girls Business)

The kids made their own pizzas.

Laith had Aleric over too and they just disappeared into the office with the iPads and I couldn't blame them as the noise level was pretty high.

Zaynah, Tenika, Camila, Lulu, Athina, Aleric, Laith

Earlier in the day Eyad had Hanna over to play and we had up the little bouncy castle in the lounge and when the "big" girls saw it they all wanted to get in and bounce too.

Eyad was sure to keep them all safe!

Sami was over at Robert's enjoying his own playdate.

Great friends, great times.

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