2 mos ago

This is my favorite expression of Nadia. Taken at the Binder Park Zoo.

Sari the disaster

I cut the grass in the afternoon while Nadia was sleeping. I tried to cut it and also push all the leaves back to the wetland. It was so much chilly at that time after the really nice sunny day... I was too late, Tried to make it fast, I only could handle the backyard.. it has already taken me about 1 hour 15 minutes just to cut the backyard. I will save the front yard for tomorrow if it's nice out. I also dragged Nadia's playground to the corner near the sandbox with the tractor.
While I cut the side of the wetland, I noticed that the trees were not so much bushy.. so I said to myself : "Hey, this is the opportunity to cut the grass which I couldn't reached because of the bushy trees in the summer" So I cut it a little bit further, then I bumped on the branches, then I lost control, I crashed on one of Ammar's landscape light real badly with the mower blade... Oh boy!!!!! I felt so sorry because last Spring Ammar did every single landscape lights all by himself, and it really looks wonderful.. and he was so proud of it.....
I called him and he said it's okay.. it's not a big deal but he kept teasing me about it......

Lunch date with Daddy

We woke up, seeing the layer of ice outside. It was freezing, but at lunch, when we had a lunch date with Daddy, it turned out to be a very sunny nice warm day. We picked Daddy at the hospital, and we also had lunch with Daddy's assistant, Martha, we called her Daddy's friend, Martha. For some reason, maybe Nadia is still sick, she was not herself today, she was so hyperactive, maybe she got excited to see Daddy.... but she didn't eat at all. The whole time, she only ate goldfish crackers. After dropping them back to work, Nadia wanted to go home, she fell asleep right away after Tylenol Mommy got her.
We did a lot of stuff today, sorting all her clothing to be packed for the trip to Indonesia and also sorting her outgrown clothes... we do need a serious cloth shopping for Nadia.

Planting the bulbs

Morning, Nadia and I really bundled up (real cold, really!) to plant the tulip bulbs around the house. Nadia loved to help by putting the bulbs down in the hole, then mixed the fertilizer with the soil, cover the bulbs with it... then go to the next one. We did it together only for about 10 bulbs, then we had to put Nadia inside, it was so cold. She ate her lunch good.
Daddy got home from the store and after we ate lunch together (yes, Daddy is taking another day off the work), we tugged Nadia in the bed, then Mommy continued planting the bulbs, while Daddy installing the window cover around the basement outside, so we will never have any turtle got trapped there like last year, and also, the leaves won't get in there. We had a real nice night together, just relaxing.

No CNN

On the way back from La Shish today, Nadia kept asking for candy.
Nadia : "more candy, please... candy ? Candy ?"
She loves the minty candies from the restaurant.
Mommy : "I don't have anymore, you just ate my last one."
Nadia : "Daddy ? Candy ?" in a very funny expression ... she is just so funny.
We both laughed to see her begging cutely.
Daddy : "I have one last one"
She was happy.

Intro : Nadia always argue with Daddy when he got home, he would switch her big screen TV to see CNN or any other channels other than Nadia's children movies. We don't really mention CNN, he always says :"Nadia, can I watch my news ?"
If she is in a good mood, she will say :"Yes, daddy, it's your turn now" if not, Daddy has to wait.. hahaha
Today, she watched movie on the way back home from her daddy's car. Her car seat usually sunk in so she can't see outside, so we decided to give her treat, putting her TV in Daddy's car.
Nadia (watching Dora) : "Daddy, there is no CNN in your car... Only Dora" (with full of winning smile!!!!)
At first, Daddy didn't get it, then when her realized, he was laughing hard thinking that his little girl is teasing him!!!! Clever!!! and how in the world she knows the news channel is CNN ? Maybe because she watches it too.... hahahah

Ied Mubarak 1427 H (2007)

 
Thank you, Tete (grandma) for the beautiful sweater. She showed her rooster sweater to everyone.

 
After praying we stopped at Toy's R Us to buy toys for Nadia on Ied Celebration. She got to choose her own. She wanted a car, we said : "Wait Nadia, we will buy you one on your birthday"

 
Ate together and exchanged gifts with Miss Mehar's family (she is Muslim, too) at the La Shish Restaurant. We had a wonderful time. Both Miss Mehar and Nadia skipped the school today. 

Happy Ied, Everyone!!

Ied Mubarak. Finally the whole 30 days fasting days is over, and it's time for the Fiest. This is my 2nd time praying Ied with Ammar after got married 4 years, last time when I was pregnant with Nadia, now I am pregnant, too... Living in the US just make it hard to take the day of exactly on the Ied due to Ammar's crazy work. Thanks God, this year, he takes 2 days off from work, not completely because he still got some questions from the work, but at least, we are gathered together to celebrate. This year prayer is at U of M Chrisler Arena at the Stadium. It was freezing cold walking from the parking to the Arena. Nadia is such a wonderful kid, she loved the praying.. she also loved the sweater her grandma made for her.

 
Nadia with her cover for Ied Praying. A little bit big, kept falling, but she doesn't mind.

 
Nadia stays with Mommy while praying, then she got to be with Daddy again after it finished. She loved seeing lots of people there. She even introduced herself to several women. "Hi, My name is Nadia"


 
Different expressions during prayer.

 
With daddy again. 

We winterized the Sprinkler Systems ourselves

We are lucky to have a very handy man in the neighborhood. He arranged most of us to work together winterizing the sprinkler system. He rent a big pump to pump all the water out from the sprinkler system. Nadia got so excited to see the mist came out of the sprinkler system around the house, more excited to hang out with the big guys!!!
The landscaper company who we banned kept wandering around the neighborhood. We all laughed to see them, yeah, they won't get money from us anymore!!!
While she was busy, Mommy just hid in the garage, shooting her with her new zoom lens. It came out wonderful, because she didn't know whe was being shot.. once she found out, she kept coming to put her face down on my lens.. hahahhaha. Nadia, this is not a fish eye lens like Middy has....
 
 
 
  

My little Saturday Model

 
 
 
  

Hell, Michigan

We live not far away from Hell..
Anyone wants to go to Hell, I will take you there. It's only 15 minutes drive.
  

Photo shoots on the road

After dropped Nadia at school, Mommy drove about 1 hour to go to this awesome asian grocery, the view on the way there was so nice. I really enjoyed the folliages...
 
The farm near the house

 
Folliages

 
New hardy mums we just planted last week at home.

 
Corn field, taken from the car. 

Go to school today.

At the circle time, with her ducky sleepers.
 

It's Ryan's birthday today. Nadia got really good cupcake at school.
 

I put the shoes on her, she insisted that she would do it herself. This is how it looks like on the 'unlucky' days. She didn't care they were flipped.
 

  

What Nadia thinks about Georgie.

I am eagerly wants to know how Nadia feels about sharing space, and mommy with a little one. When Georgie was with us, Nadia was a bit jealous, but she still shared her toys with him, the only thing she got upset is when Georgie touch her precious pillow (yes, it's her teddy bear)... I kept telling her that the pillow is too big for Georgie to take away from her. She calmed down.

When Georgie was being picked up by his mommy, Nadia didn't know, she was napping. She slept really good 3 hours, yes after all this shot and the crying, I bet she was tired. She woke up happily, after she drank her milk, I put her in the toilet, the first thing she asked : "Where is Georgie, Mommy ?"
I thought, hmm... she cares about Georgie... so I said : "Georgie is at home, he went back to his mommy. His mommy picked him up when you were sleeping. Do you like Georgie, Nadia ?"
Nadia : "No......." (yeah. like I believe you)
Mommy : "Why not ?"
Nadia : "COZ... I like Bella... and Georgie is too small to play with me" (this is the exact words she said to me that it stunned me that at her age now, she is really wordy, wow Nadia).
Mommy : "Well, when you have your baby brother, he will be even smaller than Georgie, and he can't play with you, too because he is too small, until he got so much bigger and can play with you."
Nadia (quiet.. thinking about what I said)... : "Okay, Mommy." I like Georgie. He is cute."

At home, after the shot

  
Nadia wasn't very happy with the shot. Mommy promised her to get the Curious George movie and Over the Hedge, too. She still got upset because her thigh hurt her... but she let Georgie sat next to her while she was watching the movie... Georgie seems to like his 'new mommy' and 'new sister'. Sorry, Sara and Zoe....
When I put Georgie to bed, I cuddled with Nadia and Nadia asked where Georgie was, I told her that Georgie was asleep.
Sara picked Georgie up at around 2 pm while Nadia took her nap.

Come on, Georgie.

In the morning, before we went to have her flu shot, Nadia got a chance to play with Georgie. She has been so good to Georgie. She felt a bit weird because she usually play with Zoe (Georgie's big sister) and Bella, this time it's only Georgie.
Mommy also still get a chance to take pictures close up with the new lens....

 
Nadia put her chairs lined up like train, then asked Georgie to climb up the chair and jump over the sofa ..... hm... Georgie only could sit up and stand up, Nadia.

 
Look, Georgie, like this.....

 
Come one, Georgie, you can do it.

  

Today, I have 2 kids.

was a little bit nervous that I have to bring 2 kids to the doctor's office for Nadia's flu shot appointment. I am sure it will be hard for Nadia to get the shot.... It turned out okay.. Nadia cried a bit, then I got to get Georgie back on the baby bjorn, holding Nadia on my left hand, helped her pick up the sucker.... then walked to the car. Nadia got upset because her thigh hurts her while she tried to climb up the car seat. I got to help her. We went to buy Nadia presents after the rough time. Georgie and Nadia were so good in the car... I am noticing that Nadia felt so weird to have Georgie sat next to her... They almost fall asleep when we got home, then I told Nadia that I was going to put Georgie to bed.. she protested and said : "But Georgie is too small for my firetruck bed..." I told her.. :"No, Georgie will sleep in the crib.." She was okay. It turned out that both kids were awake when they got home....
In the morning, Nadia eagerly waited for Georgie to come to the house. I told her since last night that Nadia had a company.. temporary baby brother....

 
Nadia shares her favourite harp to Georgie. Good job, Nadia.

 
Once in a while Georgie help himself for his milk

 
I can play harp while drinking my milk, too.. I guess.

 
Look Georgie, I can draw!!!

 

Got my lens today

Middy convinced me to get a 70-300mm Nikon lens instead of the 18-200mm I'd really wanted for a much cheaper price. It came in the mail while Georgie was asleep. These are my very first shot. Not bad.. Thanks Middy.
 
  

Wednesday baby sitting

Sara, Zoe's mom, sent me e-mail the night before, but I just got it in the morning after I dropped Nadia to school. Zoe goes to the same school. We also put some boots for Zoe.... and I went to say to Sara that we put the boots in Zoe's cubby, then I read this email that Sara needs help for me to take care of Georgie the whole day from 9 am - 5.30 pm today and tomorrow, too.... because her grandpa is having surgery and on Thursday her grandma is having dialysis.... I was a bit nervous about Thursday because Nadia has flu shot appointment... but I told Sara to bring Georgie....
So here I am, baby sitting someone's child for the first time since I lived in the States.... (now you know, Sara.. hahaha) but Georgie is really taken care of. Don't worry...

 
Taking a bath... at first Georgie cried, but then he played in the water... I also massaged him with the lotion and put some cologne on him.. hm.. yummy, Georgie. I fed him the cereal, he seems to like it, and trim all her finger and toe nails....

 
All clean and full tummy, he sleeps in Nadia's old crib and future baby brother's crib.

 
Drowsy Georgie.. Sorry Georgie, have to take the picture for your mommy.

He slept so good for 4 hours nap.. I had to wake him up to get him to his daddy at Nadia's school (Zoe's school, too), before that, I had to bring him along to go to post office to send our family Indonesian visa applications.