We are back!

We are back midnight! Nadia was exhausted. She went straight to bed, and she LOVES her bed. She has been asking to go home since the last 2 days of our vacation in Sedona. She just love her home so much.

Verde Canyon Train Ride

Nadia is just super easy to make friends. While waiting to go aboard, in a blink of eyes, she made friend with a boy who travels from London.

Trip to Arizona

promise to keep you up to date

Hi all, we are in Sedona, Arizona. It's Nadia's 2nd time here and Aidan's first time. We love the Red Rock in Sedona, beautiful and most importantly, we just in time running away from the snow storm back home in northeast. When we left, it was about to start, our flight got a bit delayed and we arrived in Phoenix, AZ a bit late, and unfortunately we got a bad rent a car and had to return it back to the airport and waited for a good 1 hour there to get the replacement. But we got a good car, for what's its worth.

On Monday, Nadia's preschool was closed due to the bad storm, good thing Nadia is safe and warm in Sedona, I wonder if we are home, we must be just got stuck at home.

Nadia loves swimming in the hotel. She got her own sofa bed, and Aidan slept in a mommy made crib for a day until he got his playpen. 

We had a 4 hours train ride at Verde Canyon and she made friends just like a blink of an eyes. 

Once we are back, mommy will put some pictures on this blogspot.

The weather is so nice, about 30 in the morning and night, and raised to 60s when the sun out. 

On the traveling, Nadia has been very good big sister by entertaining Aidan in the car, Aidan loves Nadia so much.

Daddy is home

Finally, Ammar came home from Atlanta. It has been very busy days, during his traveling, we went to visit Uncle Bill and Auntie Lisa. When we got home, Nadia thought that her daddy was home, too, but when she found out that she had to wait another day to see her daddy, she got so all sad. Her daddy called her, she didn't want to talk on the phone with him. Then I talked to him in the kitchen, so sudden Nadia came to me and hugged my legs and cried so sadly. She missed her daddy, and finally she talked on the phone with him crying so much and said how much she missed him.

Ammar called again at night, and told her that he has present for her..

Nadia : "What is it, daddy ?"

Ammar : "It's a suprise! You will see it when I fly back home tomorrow. I promise I will pick you up at school early"

Nadia : "Is it a horse daddy ? I know it, it's a real horse. You promised to buy it for me.. yes, it is a horse daddy!!!"

Me (oh Gosh, it's way so different than horse.. they are 3 books....)

When we picked up Nadia from school, She was so excited with her present, she had Ammar read the whole books from Dr. Seuss while I am preparing dinner. She loves her books.

Today, when Ammar went to work, she asked her dad to buy her another present... a HORSE...

That's the life of Nadia... the horse lover.

Try to get away from sleeping

Nadia sneaked out from her bedroom, came to our room, and said : "I need a hug and kisses from you, mommy, daddy!"

Ammar gave her a big hug and kisses.. she were not planning to go back to bed... excuse..excuse...

Ammar said : "Nadia.. you got your hugs and kisses! Go back to bed, please!"

Nadia (blinking her eyes... acting like she was so scared!!) : "But Daddy!!! I am so scared from the monster. The shadows in my bedroom looks like monster, with 3 fingers, right hand and left hand (showing her 3 fingers right and left, and moving them around)... it's so scary, Daddy!!!"

Ammar : (he can't hold his laugh, he laughed and gave her a big hug) and said : "Come one, I take you to your room"

FYI : Nadia now sleeps with the light on.. I wonder who she takes after... MOMMY FROGGY!!!

Great playdate

Nadia is just plain happy today. Her best buddy, Uncle Bill came over with Auntie Lisa. We went to the Natural History Museum and the planetarium, leaving Aidan and her Dad home. We also ate pumpkin donut on the way back home. Yum!!

Regretfully, Mommy forgot to bring the camera with her... 

Check out the picture of Nadia with all the companies, except Mom (who took picture, who else ?) 

White Thanksgiving

Ammar is working on Thanksgiving day. But when he got home, we finally went out to enjoy our fresh snow of the day. Nadia gleefully and cheerfully played outside, after begging both of us to go out and play the whole day...finally we agreed that she could play outside with one condition that she only can scoop out snow but not eating it, BUT she just can't stand not to eat the snow.. She kept saying that she had great time with Grandma (Owan), my mother, when it snowed and she got to eat the snow with Owan... oh Dear!!! The girl always loves to eat ice!!!!

You are so boyly

We were in the car, driving to get my new set of pans. Daddy teased Nadia by tickling her legs.. while he was driving. Nadia screamed and asked him not to do it.

Daddy : "You are so girly, Nadia."

Nadia : "I am a girl, Daddy, and you are so BOYLY!"

Daddy, are you okay ?

Daddy always call home when he was on the way back home from office. Usually Mommy put the cell phone on speakerphone so both of us can talk on the phone with Daddy. If Nadia is not too busy coloring or playing, she usually eager to talk to him.

While we were talking, Nadia kinda moved the cell phone and dropped to the carpet... I still talked to Ammar because it was not hung up. I noticed that she was so quietly and gently pick up the phone and put it up on the table again... and she whispered : "Daddy... are you okay ?"

Ammar on the other hand who didn't know what was going on, he answered : "I am okay, Nadia!!!"

I couldn't help not to laugh.... then Ammar asked : "What happened ?" 

I explained, and Nadia, who listened, she started to laugh, too.. realizing that when the phone was dropped, it has nothing to do with Daddy got dropped down... hahahha.

Tractor, Daddy and ME

For the first time, Ammar let Nadia rides the tractor. He was not mowing, just sweeping, pretty safe. Nadia enjoyed every minute of spending time with her Daddy.

Monster

She loves this monster book and she decided to draw monster all by herself.... isn't it cool ? She also wrote her name in this masterpiece. Nadia, this girl is funny. If you just let her draw the whole day, she will do it.

Happy Halloween, everyone!

I took a picture of her at school when they had a parade, then paste our pumpkins as the background. Pretty cool, huh ? Well, Nadia enjoyed being a Phillipe for the whole day.

4 things

Nadia just gets so scared of anything right now. She is afraid of being alone in her bedroom, so she kept coming to our bedroom.

She talks.. talks... and talks.

One that was really really funny was :

Nadia : "Daddy, do you know things that make me healthy ?"
Daddy : "What ?"
Nadia : "Eat, sleep, jump and play, AND.... Watching TV. Those made me very healthy."

On the road

On the way to Milla's 4th birthday party, I stopped on the side of the road, just to take picture of the beautiful red maple tree.

Nadia : "Mommy, why you went on the grass ?"
Me : "The tree is so beautiful. Look at those really nice tree. The leaves are all red!"
Nadia : "It's Fall, Mommy."
Me : "Yeah, isn't that beautiful ?"

Then I started driving again.
Nadia :"Mommy, you are the best ever!!! You save our life, you took the car out of the grass!!!!"

Another conversation :
Nadia : "Mommy, when It will be snowing ?"
Me : "Another 2 months, Nadia."
Nadia : "Remember me and Daddy made snowman ?"
Me : "I remember, the snowman was so cute!"
Nadia : "And the chocolate was so good, too."
(Note: I provide them with chocolates for the snowman's eyes and buttons!!!)
She still remember!!!! It was 10 months ago and we never mentioned anything about it.

Other :
Nadia : "mommy... we live on the earth. There is so many stuff on the earth. There are cows, houses, windows, lakes, sea, whales, forests, .... on.. and.. on.. and on... and on......
(Wow, Nadia, you learned so much from school!)

Nadia is so talkative and full of imaginations, a little clown she is, I can't even remember everything she says every single day.

It's a secret

I picked up Nadia at school. Miss Andrea told me that Nadia didn't take a nap, then I got a phone call, Amora told me that he has so much work that he would come home late finishing up the paperwork (FYI, he is in service until the next weekend, when he is in service, I am in service, too... working harder than usual, taking care of the house and kids).

Aidan slept at 7 pm. I changed Nadia's pajamas, then I fed her dinner, she told me that she was tired... Great! I sent her right away to her bedroom.

I read her book, I rubbed her back and singing her sleeping song (we created sleeping song just for it, my version is a bit different than Amora's version). That's what we do every single night.
I sat in the corner of her bed, thinking that maybe she would be scared again from the leaves shadow from our house lights. Her bedroom's window has the top half moon glass window which is not covered, so Amora's house light centered to the tree up to her window, making shadows.

Nadia : "Mommy, why you sat in the corner."
Me : "I am just here to watch you so you can go to sleep right away"
Nadia : "Why you need to watch me, Mommy ?"
okay then... I thought no need to do that...
so I said : "Good night, Nadia. I love you."
Nadia : "Good night Mommy, I love you too."
When I opened the door....
Nadia : "Mommy, I am scared of the shadows"
Me : "It's not scary, they are leaves"
Nadia : "Okay"

I called Amora at work, telling him that the kids are sleeping, so he could come home and eat his supper.
I prepared meal for us. He came home 8.30 pm.
After we finished eating, I heard Nadia called her daddy from her room.

Amora : "I am tired.. should I come to get her ?"
Me : "Wow, she must be waiting for you."

Ammar went to check on Nadia.

He came back, and told me : "Nadia told me, she is hungry, she said Mommy didn't give her desert. Is it true ?"
Me : "Yes.. it's true..."
Ammar : "What should I give her ?"
Me : "Let me warm up some milk and you can give it to her."

He went upstairs and gave Nadia milk. He came back so fast, with a big smile.

Amora : "Look, she finished it so fast."
"Do you know what she said, too ? She said : "Now, Daddy, can you give me desert ? Something round and sugary ?" and I told her that I want to ask mommy first... then she said : "No, Daddy, don't tell mommy, it's a secret!!!!"

While I was cleaning the kitchen... I can't stop laughing, hearing the story...

That's a nice thing for the end of the hectic day tonight.

God Bless you, Nadia. You are such a funny girl.

Nadia's turn getting her presents

 

 

 

She got Belle's tiara, Belle's dresses.. thank you so much, Debbie.

Eid Morning

 

Nadia got so happy finding out the minute she woke up that she got Eid Present, the whole complete set of 10 horses with the stable barn.

 

On the way to Cleveland, OH with one of her horse.

Something wrong

We got back yesterday from Cleveland, OH.

On the way back home, when her daddy stopped at the gas station, filling up the tank, Aidan made baby noises, looking at Nadia who was drawing and laughing so happily.

Me : "Nadia, Aidan is talking to you. He is so happy. He likes you so much and wants to play with you."
Nadia : "Mommy, Aidan can't talk..... Hi Aidan."
Me : "Aidan can't talk, but he is trying to talk to you."
Nadia : "Mommy, there is something wrong with his brain. He can't talk"
Me : "Hahah... Nadia, there is nothing wrong with his brain. He is still a baby. He will talk when he grow up."

Eid Mubarak

Projects from school

This is how Nadia writes her name : N A I DA, I am now worry that she is dyslexic like her dad.


Miss Andrea, her school teacher gave her a kitty cat hardboard, then she has to trace it with pencil. She did a good job.


This was given to me when I picked Nadia up from school. Miss Andrea thought the coloring was amazing for a 3 year old. I agree.

Do you love me ?

Now, every time I said something telling Nadia that I don't like what she did/does, she will asked if I still love her. Of course I love her so much no matter what!... She is quite happy and said : "Daddy loves me, too Mommy!"

15 horses

There was a guy from Glass company came to estimate how much it will cost us to replace our window's glass which was broken by a bird last weekend.

Nadia : "Hi!!! Are you here to play with me ?"
Guy : "Hi... I come to see your window"
Nadia : "Oh.. it was broken.. there was a bird flying there and the bird looks like a shadow"
Guy : "Wow... what's your name ?"
Nadia : "My name is Nadia. I am 3.5 years old, when I grow up, my daddy is going to buy me FIFTEEN horses!!" Do you want to see my horse ? Her name is Sugar."
Guy : "Sure.... "

So he checked on the window, did some measurement... he walked out to the door and ..
Nadia : "Are you going to come again and play with my horse ?"
Guy : "You bet I will. You are very friendly!"

Jenny's Farm

It was nice day, so we decided just to go out to the park for Nadia and Aidan to play...

On the way to the park, we passed Jenny's Farm. Nadia saw lots of kids playing on the hay maze...

Nadia : "Daddy....!!! Please stop.. I want to play there."
Ammar looked at me, and I said .. : "Okay.. that's easy!!!"

We stopped there, Nadia ran to the hay maze, started to hunt for kids to play with.

I overheard Nadia said : "Hi.. MY name is Nadia. Can I play with you ?"

In minutes, Nadia has 4 friends to play with.

I am busy hunting pictures .. and she was running around avoiding the paparazzi..

After that, we just stop by at the ice cream parlor, Nadia finished her ice cream ... of course, she shared it with Aidan.

It was one success day to entertain the kid, and we don't have to drive long..

Something she interested

Nadia : "Daddy, do you love me ?"
Daddy : "Yes! I LOVE you so much, Nadia."
Nadia : "Then will you buy me a horse, Daddy ?"
Daddy : "Yes, when you grow up."
(Daddy, you have no idea how much the real horse cost... hahaha)

On the other occasion, morning before going to school
Nadia : "Daddy, can you buy me a horse ?"
Daddy : "Nadia, when you grow up, you will have a lot of money that you can spend for buying a horse yourself"
Nadia : "When I grow up I want to be a doctor like you."
Daddy : "That's great. You will have money.. that's why you have to go to school every day"
Nadia : "Daddy, are you going to share your money for me to buy horse ?"
Daddy : (teasing) "No way. I am not sharing MY money for you."
Nadia : "Daddy!!! YOU have to SHARE your money. You have to share EVERYTHING!"
Daddy : (still teasing) "YES, I will share EVERYTHING, but NOT my money"
Nadia : "NO, Daddy, you have to SHARE!!!"
Daddy : (laughing) "Of course I will share my money, Nadia. Anything for you"

I love my baby brother

On the swing, eating pumpkin donut

Pumpkin donuts, and a funny girl

I don't cook today. Ammar went home bringing pizza, of course, I made salad, buffalo chicken with dressing, and celery stalks.

Nadia ate 2 pumpkin donuts I bought from Jenny's Farm. Actually it is the yummiest donuts I have ever tasted. Nadia at one at Jenny's farm today, then she ate another one after dinner.

She is so sweet today, she sang for us, just looking at her eating.. we were so happy. I cleaned up, then I saw Ammar opening up his mails. I gave him a big hug.... he hugged me back.

Nadia : (with funny eyes) "Why are you guys hugging ? ...... long pause.... What about me ?"

We both laugh, and I went to give her a BIG hug.

Organized ?

Nadia has been so good taking off her shoes and put them right away in the place. One time, she even organized her shoes in order... I am so proud of her.
She also very meticulously doing things with her stuff. I found this after she spent fun time playing with stickers and of course, each of us got some stickers on our shirts!

Camera Ham

I turned my child to be a camera ham. Usually Nadia doesn't like to be taken pictures of, with obvious reason. Having a mom like a paparazzi, it's not fun sometimes, haha. No school day today, we played in my room, Aidan stood up having interest in her cheese crackers, Nadia shared. She also asked me to take pictures of her. The sun came from the window made me eager to take picture without flash. They came out as a relish!

BMW

Ammar : "Nadia, will you promise that you will stay with Daddy forever ?"
Nadia : "I promise, Daddy."
Ammar : "Eventhough you are in college, will you promise ? If you stay with us, I will buy you whatever you want, even BMW for school"
Nadia : "I promise, Daddy"
Ammar : "If you go to college and not staying with us, you will go by bus, okay ?"
Nadia : "Yes, Daddy. I promise I will stay with you"

Bath, before and during.

Arabic songs

This is a story Lisa shared about what happened.

When Nadia rode in the car with Uncle Bill and Auntie Lisa,

Nadia : "Uncle Bill, can you play Daddy's song ?"
Uncle Bill : "I don't have your daddy's song, Nadia. I am sorry."
Nadia : "Can you sing the Arabic song, Uncle Bill ?"
Uncle Bill : "I can't Nadia. I don't know how to sing Arabic Song"
Nadia : "No, uncle Bill. Everybody sings Arabic Songs"

My cousin, Adnan

Adnan is about 8 months older, he is 4 and they both love each other.

Iftar at the mosque

Lousy story time

It's the first day of Ramadan, means Ammar and I are fasting. It is so hard to explain to Nadia that I couldn't eat and drink during the day. Nadia kept trying to feed me this morning.... hm... maybe she will get it later on.

We went to the Barnes and Noble for the story time and at the same time getting some new books for Nadia. The girl who read the book was the lousiest reader ever!!! I, as and adult didn't understand what she was reading, although Aidan was a good listener.. he sat down nicely....
Nadia... on the other hand ... gave me a look... as if she said : "What is THAT!!!!!" She was nicely enough not to say anything that would embarass me in front of people.

For sure, we will never go back for story time. The library ones are much much better and the rival, Border is way better, too.

I am glad that I finally came with Nadia and not feeling guilty in the future when we missed the story time there. Haha.

Enough candies

I am glad that even though I have never put tough limits on her candies intake, she is so responsible with how much candies she eats.

Here are 2 examples :
At the wireless stores, I gave her candies, I gave her the whole bag of candies, Nadia held and asked me every time she wanted to eat more. Until one point, I thought it was too much, so I told Nadia : "Nadia, this is the last one, okay ? If not, you are going to be so jittery" (I shook my body so much and laugh). I put this jittery example for being so sugar high.
Nadia looked at me, laughing, and said : "Okay, Mommy. No more candy so I won't be jittery"

When she took Aidan to have his shoots, I got 2 baby lollipops, I gave one for Nadia, and I opened one for Aidan just in case he cries so much. Nadia didn't like the orange one, she asked for Aidan's which is strawberry. I switched. Then after the shots, Nadia got to get another lollipops from the pediatrician. She was happily eating the second lollipop. In the car, since Aidan didn't "eat" his lollipop, I still had the left over lollipop, I asked Nadia if she wanted to have some more candy.
Nadia : "No, thank you, Mommy. You gave me too much of candies. "

Conversation

Dr. Sandvig talked to me about Aidan. Nadia sat down nicely in the office room.

Dr. Sandvig : "So, does Aidan get any formula ?"
Me : "Oh no.. Aidan ? No way. He doesn't even suck on pacifier."
Dr. Sandvig : "That's great, but it's a bummer for you, huh ?"
Me : "Yes, but I don't mind. He eats good solid food, too."
NADIA : "BUMMER ?" (with sparkling eyes, looking to Dr. Sandvig)
Dr. Sandvig (covering her mouth, smiling, laughing, scared!) "Oh.. no.. I should have not say that word."
Nadia : "Bummer!!! Hahaha"
Dr. Sandvig : "Nadia, do you know what bummer means ?"
Nadia : "oh no..."
Dr. Sandvig : "Yes.. it's like saying Oh No.."
Nadia : "I like bummer!!!!"
Dr. Sandvig : (Saying it to me, laughing...) "I just taught her new word.. hahah"
Nadia : "I am cotton candy the horse" (sitting up on the chair)
Dr. Sandvig : "What does the horse say, Cotton Candy ?"
Nadia : "Bummer!!!!"
Dr. Sandvig (laughing) and we both watching her turning around on the chair.
Nadia : (she was looking down as if she was on the cliff) and said : "Oh... boobie trap!!!"
Dr. Sandvig : (laugh outloud, she was so entertained by Nadia ) "Oh, she is so much fun and so funny"

Domino's Farm

This Domino's farm is huge. The one who built it is the one who was the pioneer of Domino's Pizza. It's a non profit organization, and on the weekends, they offer the pony rides. Nadia had a blast with both of us riding on the hay ride (with Daddy, of course), and ride on the pony, twice!!
Aidan is having fun, too riding on mommy. Lisa, this is the ergo carrier, an awesome carrier compares to baby bjorn.

Crazy little girl

This is how she behaves most of the day when she is goofy, and especially when I started to take pictures of her. She had a bad hair day after napping, waiting to get a bath before bedtime.