Our little McNadia, a horse crazy girl, wishes to have real horse.

Technology in the classroom.

2011-02-14T10:12:00.003-05:00

I moved Nadia from a fancy private school in Ann arbor half way down on her kindergarten level, I felt that the school, although it is great but it doesn't have a warm feeling all around. Nadia grows up with lots of hugs and kisses, touch, and lots of love. I heard about this school from someone, in a city that I never thought about going there, because we are just stuck with Ann arbor for private schools.
My husband thought we should have sent Nadia to public schools. Our public school systems are one of the best in the country, but I felt that Nadia, a dreamer girl, she will fit much better in a much smaller school environment with one on one attention like Montessori system. I know, it is a waste of money considering you pay so much money for property tax in public school system.
Since Aidan kept bugging me that he wanted to go to school with Nadia when Nadia starter her Kindergarten, her school she was attending doesn't have pre school, they do have it at the other branch which is too far of a drive for me. There was another awesome school, still a montessori system private school, which is 40 minutes away.
I started to think that maybe sending Nadia to public school is a great idea, you don't have to drive her to school, the bus will pick and drop her off. I called the public school, they said she will spend about roughly 1 hours in the bus, that means 2 hours or more of her time in the bus, which the school is only 15 minutes away. For me it doesn't make sense. I would have to drive her then.
So this school that my doctor told me about, she sent her kids there and I remember correctly that she was so surprised that I sent Nadia to the "D" private school, she said : "Why D ? It's so expensive and the school that I sent is comparable if it's not better. I know because my friend is a teacher there at D" At that time I had already paid her tuition half a year in full. I couldn't back off.
So after half a year done, I called this new school. I went to visit with Nadia, and Miss Kathy, the head of the school is just a doll, very warm, friendly, and it really obvious that all the kids in that school LOVE her. That was a great impression. So Nadia stayed for half a day in the kindergarten class room, I noticed the kids were a bit advance from her in writing. That was a surprise since "D" school is pretty much a wonderful school (It should be with the tuition that much). I came to pick Nadia up, then I asked her if she likes the school. Nadia said she does.
Lucky me, they have early 3 and preschool there. SO it goes from preschool until 5th grade. I signed Aidan up for 3 day a week early 3 class.
Aidan was in love with his teachers, Miss Sandy and Miss Cindy. Nadia was in love with Miss Kathy.
Unlike at "D", which has 'cold' environment (for example, on our first kindergarten orientation for parents, we have all new parents in a room, and not one parent I saw come to each other and talk and introduced their names. I said hi to one of the parent, just because I know them before and started to talk, that I found it is reflecting the behavior of the kids. If we are in the environment of people who can afford this tuition for their kids, means, they are well above average to afford things, let's call it 'Richie'. No, I don't want my child to be around people who are snobbish because of they think they have money), the new school is so 'warm'. On my first week of dropping Nadia and Aidan off in the morning, I was asked by lots of parents, asking if I was Aidan and Nadia's new student. They introduced their names, and said what their names are and their kids names. What a 180 degree change. I saw the kids got hugs and kisses, not only from their parents, but also from their teachers. I feel that it is a blessing to have found or have told about this new school. It is still a montessori private school, but I found it is exceeded my expectation. The drive is the same as I go to drive Nadia up at her old school, with less hectic and prettier roads.
This is our second year, Aidan went to preschool and his fave teacher moved with him to his class, and Nadia really love her 1st grade head teacher, Miss Bonnie.
I loved it that when I picked up my kids, the parents said hi to each other, the teachers (although they are not necessary in Aidan or Nadia's class) come to me to report what they saw about my kids, e.g. "Hi Sari, guess what Aidan did to Miss Sandy today ? He is such a lovey boy, he gave her a shoulder massage when she was putting the kids boots today.", or "Sari, you got quite an artist and sweet girl! She just drew a dinosaur and everyone loved it and we made photo copy of it and distribute them to the whole class." something like that, something that I wouldn't even get it from the "d" school.
Because of her art gift, Nadia is personally invited by her art teacher, Miss Cindy to expand her talent and gifts at her home studio to draw more, no charge whatsoever. She fell in love with this gifted child.
Aidan got his best friends from this school, and I love their parents, the same as Nadia. I found lots of loving parents in this school. Every one knows every one, I guess my doctor was right. It is a gem in our backyard, not lots of people know about it, only the blessed people, I guess.

I took picture of Nadia's 1st and 2nd grade classroom from outside, she learned so much from the school software and technology that they put into the school. Amazing. They put up the huge touch screen interactive monitor on the wall, just like a writing board with chalk, but it is also hooked to the computer system using macintosh system. They have 5 macbooks in the classroom for the 25 kids (1st and 2nd) to use on their project time. As a montessori school, kids got to choose their own project and their own progress. Miss Bonnie just personally told me that Nadia is a great writer. She used to be sloppy when she writes but she expanded so much and she put every detail of her story with drawings, too.

For Nadia with Love. From Mommy

2010-11-19T13:56:00.003-05:00

After Nadia was invited by her art teacher, the urge of drawing rushed in my blood. Aidan came with me to Michaels to buy the set of pencils and watercolor paper. Of course, Aidan got to pick a car for himself. On the way back home, Aidan fell asleep, got in garage, Aidan was still sleeping. 30 minutes did the sketching while Aidan was sleeping, I came up with this. The horse Nadia always wanted. Hopefully in the future she would have her own real one.
I framed it and put it on her side table by her bed. She always put a horse next to her bed. A surprise for her once she got back from school and her girl scouts activity tonight.

I love you, Nadia!

Horse back riding, finally!!!!

2010-10-17T21:01:00.000-05:00

After waiting for 2 years, finally mommy gave up and found an awesome horse back riding place near the house. Nadia was so excited, for the first month, she rode on her bike helmet, then on the 5th lessons, seeing how serious Nadia was with her horse back riding, I finally invested on an expensive horseback riding helmet for her. She looked so cute in it.

Proud Mommy

2010-04-19T09:44:00.002-05:00

Nadia is a very sensitive, kind, and generous girl. She is the one who will come to her friends if they ever got sad at school. I got teacher's report on this.

This morning, she lost her 4th tooth, and she got $10, she said she would put it in the piggy bank for her project to pay tuition for guatemalan kids. This project is a non forgetful project, Nadia would rather put the money she got in this guatemalan piggy bank than her own piggy bank.

Since she started this awesome school with Aidan, it has been only 3 months, she has raised $30 from tooth fairy for her 3 lost teeth, and $15 from doing tasks around the house from me. All went to her fundraising project.

I am so proud of her, I am so proud of what she has become.

I love you so much, Nadia, please don't change. Keep up the great work

A stinky Doctor

2010-04-17T20:34:00.000-05:00

Ammar went to work on Friday morning, and didn't come back home until Saturday afternoon. When he got home, we were in the bathroom taking a whirlpool bath. He went to shower, came out of the shower, and said : "ahhhhh.... it's great to feel my body clean."
Nadia said : "What Daddy ? Why you said that ?"
Ammar : "Because I didn't take shower since yesterday. I worked so much for you guys!"
Nadia : "Ah... so today you are a stinky doctor, daddy. Poor your patients"

Lost her 4th tooth on the cruise

2010-04-16T12:48:00.004-05:00

We flew to Miami, FL to go on the cruise ship to Carribean Sea and ended up in Mexico and came back again to Miami, and fly back to Detroit. We spent 2 days in Miami back and forth, and what so funny about Nadia is that she is so easy to make friends everywhere she goes. This trip she got really clicked on a girl named Lauren, 2 years older than Nadia, she has fabulous parents whom we really like, too. It's like a destiny, they stayed one night in Miami and one night coming back, and they lived about 1 hour from our house, and we ended up in the same plane coming back home.
We saw each other again in Mexico beach, when the cruise was docked, and in 2 occasions, we bumped each other again on the theatre's shows on the boat after formal dinners.

Nadia really had so much wonderful time, she had counted the days before we left for vacation. All the teachers in her school knew about the trip and they got all so excited for her.

The first night we spent on the cruise, her top front tooth came out. Tooth fairy came to the cruise to get her tooth and left some money. Nadia got sooooo excited!
Nadia is really a true traveller, she always lose her tooth on the trip, either on the plane rides, or this time, the cruise ship.

We also got so lucky to be called to the pilot's room on the way back from Miami. While Aidan got so busy looking at the buttons on the cockpit, Nadia was asked to make announcement to the passengers, dictated by the pilot.
Here is what she said :
"Good afternoon everyone. This is Captain Nadia speaking. We are going to fly from Miami International Airport directly to Detroit Airport. The flight will take about 3 hours. The weather is nice and sunny. This is Captain Nadia, enjoy your flight."

Here are the pictures of Nadia when she got in the cruise ship, the tooth still intact and the next morning when she lost her tooth.

Check out more pictures of the trip on the link above

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

2010-01-14T12:26:00.002-05:00

Nadia is learning to write and she made the card for my mother, a drawing of her and my mom, building a snowman like when she came to visit us here in the US. She also wrote something without my help. I found it so cute that she managed to write things which sounded like the real words...

She also called her and sang her happy birthday song loud and clear and made my mom teary.

Thank you, Nadia

Sweet girl

2009-11-25T14:37:00.002-05:00

Nadia is off school today until friday for the thanksgiving break. I was making the sandwich for Ammar's lunch.... and Nadia talks to me.

Me: "Nadia, did you hear those bad boys upstairs ?" (teasing... and hearing those noisy "boys" upstairs)
Nadia : "Yeah... and do you know who is nice ?"
Me : "who ?"
Nadia : "Me. I am a nice girl, and my mom is really nice mommy. I am so lucky to have her as my mommy"

6 year old molar

2009-10-13T19:27:00.002-05:00

Nadia starts to sprout her 6 year old molar. She is 5 years 7 months and I start to feel the cusp of her tooth #3 (upper right first permanent molar) out of the gum. The left, and bottom ones are big budge....

She has been running fever, only at night, since Saturday, and I am worry sick because there is no signs of runny nose, cough, sore throat, ache, only high fever. If she is not getting better tomorrow, they want to see Nadia at the pediatrician's office. As of today, she has not gone to school for 2 days now.

the school with homework

2009-10-04T12:39:00.001-05:00

I enrolled Nadia at the Sunday school at the mosque. Today is the second week.
Me: "Nadia, go get ready, you are going to school today."
Nadia : "Mommy, is it the school with homework ?"
Me : "yes, sweetheart!"
Nadia : "I haven't memorize the homework yet."
Me: "I will help you up."

Nadia's currently enrolled at the Private Montessori Kindergarten, the Montessori method doesn't give homeworks to the students....

hehe

Go to the office

2009-09-04T07:29:00.002-05:00

Ammar has been longing to bring his little princess to his office. Today is the last week before Nadia goes to Kindergarten, and also his light day (no clinics), paper work day in the morning.
So, off she goes with her daddy, excited, because her daddy also wanted to teach Nadia how to use microscope at his office.
Have fun Nadia. I will pick you up with Aidan at the hospital and straight to have fun in the pool.

Love,
Mom

Quite an artist

2009-08-29T04:52:00.002-05:00

I see close similarity between Nadia and her cousin, Zhara, daughter of my belated brother. Zhara is also Pisces, her birthday and Nadia's are very close to each other.
Zhara is very talented artist, she won a whole bunch of trophies in any drawing competitions. She also is very smart, always the first in her class. I saw her report card when I came to visit her, it was a jaw dropping, from all the subjects, she only had the lowest of 88 in sports, the rests are above 90.
She is also prays 5 times a day, ... anyway, looking at her, it's like a dream of every parent wants their child to be.

Nadia is a wonderful kid, she has been since she was born, but she is not perfect.

Lately, I have seen some resemblance of her drawing talent towards Zhara's talent. She loves to draw under the breakfast table in our great room, and she colored perfectly with pastel, and instantly, the drawing reminds me of Zhara's.

It's holy month... I will pray for what it takes that Nadia grows up to be like her....

I love you so much, Nadia.. for me you are perfectly imperfect that I wouldn't trade you with anyone else in this world.

First lose baby tooth

2009-08-18T12:41:00.000-05:00

Just right before she lost her first baby tooth!

Lose Tooth

2009-08-17T19:02:00.002-05:00

Nadia is almost 5.5 and she told Miss Andrea, her baby sitter that she has lose tooth when they were playing at the tree house.
Miss Andrea came back home and told me about it. I checked on her tooth, and found the tooth number 66 came lose, and her new tooth was pretty big compares to the older one it will be replacing soon.

Wow, my baby is getting bigger!

Quip

2009-06-11T14:18:00.002-05:00

We went to pick up strawberry at the strawberry farm. Nadia and Sam had wonderful time picking the berries together while Aidan was busy eating the strawberry and making strawberry mustache.
Sam never wanted to try strawberries, but Nadia made him try... and he loves them.
We found funny shapes of strawberries and they tasted so good.
Nadia : "Hey, I found this Daddy strawberry.. it's hairy!!"

half japanese

2009-03-01T22:51:00.000-05:00

Nadia has been very interested in her racial root.

Ammar and her went to the store, she talked to the cashier and said :

"Hi, my name is Nadia. I am 4 years old, but I am going to be 5 soon. My mom is from Indonesia and my daddy is Syrian, and I AM half japanese."

Such a sweet little girl

2009-02-21T22:07:00.002-05:00

Nadia, the more she grows up, she turns out to be such a sweet hearted girl. She would help me out with the diapers, emptying the dish washer, folding laundry, or just kiss me every time I hurt myself. She always says : "You are the best mommy in the whole world!"

She loves her little brother and always says how sweet Aidan is and how much she loves him.

She loves to write a love letter for her daddy. Her hand writing is rather good, and she loves drawing and playing make believe.

Sometimes I am amazed to see how she grows to be a very cute little girl. I don't consider myself pretty, cute maybe, but not pretty, but Gosh, every time I see her, she looks very pretty.

I hope God will help her, protect her, and bless her whole life.

She is a precious little girl and I am so blessed to be her mommy, I am so glad that God picked me to spend my time with her, and trust me to take care of her.

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, MY LITTLE PRINCESS

Zetta, the new betta

2008-12-07T20:23:00.002-05:00

After stopping by at the toy store today, and Nadia got the mozaic craft thingy, she ended up choosing another betta fish. I got her the whole set of aquarium for her. She decided to name the fish Zetta A (with our last name, part of the family, supposedly).

She had a good time today.

Trust

2008-12-05T07:33:00.002-05:00

When we got home from vacation, our neighbor, Andrea who took care of Colorfulla (Nadia's fish) came by to tell that the fish just couldn't make it (passed away) the morning when we came back home. For some reason, Ammar told Nadia that morning before we got the news that Colorfulla may not make it... so she was just fine, took the fish from the fish bowl, and chose to flush it down in the toilet for the funeral.

The next morning, Nadia, the chatterbox who woke up 4.30 am for the last 2 days talked to her daddy :

Nadia : "Daddy, do you know that I can trust only Mommy, you and Aidan ? You cannot trust strangers. You can trust Miss Janet (her school teacher), Mommy Melissa (Milla's mom), Mommy Maria (Luca's mom), not people around on the street. I also can trust Colorfulla. "

Ammar: "Colorfulla ?"

Nadia : "Yes, she is my pet, so I can trust her. ... (pause)... Oh no.. I can't trust colorfulla anymore because she is dead. Mommy is going to buy me a new beta fish"

She also been making human body puzzles and wrap them up as presents with bows for her friends at school. Of course, she draws them from my human anatomy book.. the real one. She is so interested in human body. She spent hours working on it.

Smallest brain

2008-11-10T07:01:00.001-05:00

Before bed time.

Nadia : "Daddy, do you know who has the smallest brain in our family ?"

Daddy : "Aidan ?

Nadia : "No, Daddy. It's Colourfulla." (PS: Colourfulla is our betta fish)

Quote of the day

2008-10-03T07:53:00.001-05:00

Ammar drove Nadia and Aidan to school this morning. He called home and told this :

Ammar : "Should I open the window or put the heating on ?"

Nadia : "Just drive, Daddy!"

Studio Session

2008-09-13T21:42:00.002-05:00

Today, she seriously went to her room, got dressed and picked this favorite "princess dress" of hers and wore it. My chance was to take picture of her for the first time in my studio at home.

She definitely look so much bigger than her age in this photo.

Busy watching TV

2008-09-11T08:36:00.000-05:00

First day in Canada

2008-09-05T20:41:00.000-05:00

It has been a year since Nadia saw her cousins the first time in Syria. She instantly remembered them, Malaka, Noor, and Adnan and happily played with them.

Big Sister

2008-09-04T22:44:00.000-05:00

Since we are in the holy month of Ramadan, we learnt our lesson that it is too chaotic to have both kids while we break our fast. The time is around 8.15 pm, pretty late. So Ammar and I decided to have both kids to bed before 8 pm, good thing is that Nadia will have more sleep than she usually does. She usually sleeps around 9pm, sometimes she tries to push it to 10 pm. She quits her naps a long time ago, almost 1 year, so the good night sleep is the only sleeps she got.

For Aidan, sleeping at the same time, seeing his sister in bed at the same time he is sent to bed helps. But tonight, he still wanted to play with Daddy, he cried in his crib. I told Nadia to talk to Aidan while she is in bed, while the connecting doors between their bedrooms were open.

While we were eating, we enjoyed our time listening to the monitor in Aidan's room. Nadia ended up talking with Aidan in HIS room, she was so sweet to him, and she asked lots of questions which most of the time he answered : "NO". Unlike Nadia at her age, Aidan doesn't speak much. He is interested more to the physical, motoric, and problem solving more than saying "eyes, ears, car, etc". He just says things he really needs, like "More, Nana (banana), Nani (nadia), Mommy/mama, daddy/Dada, Andrea (his teacher), No, hi and bye"

Since Aidan kept saying "NO", Nadia sweetly replied : "Uh......... (Daddy's way)"

After a while she came down, asking us what to do with him, because he kept asking Nadia to play with him in his bedroom. We asked him to pretend that she was Aidan's mom.

She came back to his room and said : "I love you, Aidan" and start talking again.

15 minutes later, we didn't hear anything in that room. After eat, I checked on him, tuck him in his blanket, then I noticed, Nadia was sleeping in the twin size bed in Aidan's room (used to be my bed when Aidan was so small), she fell asleep waiting Aidan to fall asleep.

Before bed we discussed how much we are touched by Nadia's reliability, love and care for Aidan. We are so proud of her.

After bath

2008-09-02T13:01:00.000-05:00

Crazy 'bout Frog

2008-08-30T22:18:00.000-05:00

Nadia the Belle

2008-08-28T21:55:00.001-05:00

My first chromakey background and studio light photo

2008-08-20T21:47:00.000-05:00

Today is the happiest day of my photographic life. I finally opened up my boxes, the studio light and the chromakey background. For those who don't know what chromakey is, it is the color of the background (blue or green) which was originally used in the TV for weather channel, so if you had gone to NYC and had a tour at NBC TV station, they explain everything about chromakeys, so the weatherman/woman will be shot in front of green background, and the green background will be digitally changed to the map, etc. Now you know why the weather man never wears any green color clothing article of having green eyes.. because with the software they are using, the green eye will look transparent.... hahaha.

So my kids were the first model for me to try the first shots of my studio lighting.

After extracting the background and change it to the brown muslin background.. here it is.. it's very cool.

Indonesian's Independence Day

2008-08-17T20:41:00.000-05:00

Nocturnal

2008-08-08T10:50:00.000-05:00

I have been very happy with Nadia's and Aidan's Montessori School which is located 2 minutes away from our home and which Nadia has been attending for the last 1.5 years.

She learned so much about space, continents, world, animals, plants, flowers, math, reading, drawing, crafts, etc.

Sometimes she just came up with something like this :

Nadia : Daddy, do you know what nocturnal is ?

Daddy : What ?

Nadia : Nocturnal is when the animals are so active at night only, like owls, wolves, bats.

Daddy : Where did you know something like that ?

Nadia : From Miss Janet. She knows everything and she teaches us everything.

Daddy : That's cool. Do you know anything about Nocturnal Urination ?

Nadia : No.. what is that ?

Daddy : That's a disease sometimes it happens with kids, when they keep wetting their bed, pee in their pants at night. Thanks God you have been so wonderful never wetting your bed.

Nadia : I am so good, Daddy!

Finally

2008-08-05T04:56:00.000-05:00

Nadia has been very very sweet with Aidan for the last 4 months, since Aidan is playable with.

She usually tells stories to him, gives him kisses, hugs him, and reporting to me if Aidan doing something bad/dangerous, following my request to 'drag' him from dangerous thing, etc.

I over heard her saying : "I am finally in love with you, A!!"

I laughed and said... " After all this time ?"

My little helper

2008-06-08T19:40:00.000-05:00

This morning, Nadia asked me if I do everything.. I said yes... and she said to me that she will do everything, too so I could just relax.

After dinner, she offered me to empty the dishwasher and put all the dishes back to the cabinet.. On the top of it, she rinsed all the dishes and pans and I helped her put them out in the dishwasher.

She told me : "Mommy, don't worry, just sit and drink your tea, relax, and I will just do this for you. I will do everything. And when I grow up, I will be a very good mom, just like you and taking care of my kids"

Nadia was 4 years 4 months when she helped me in the kitchen with the help of the chair to make her higher.

Do you like my 'goatie'?

2008-06-01T22:22:00.000-05:00

The room is cleaned, but I am tired!

2008-05-31T22:26:00.000-05:00

After the party, Ammar told me that Nadia's room was a mess. I told Nadia to clean up her room, she went upstairs for a long time, so I checked on her, she was almost asleep when I found her room was so neat, just like usual, I praised her and she said : "Mommy, I am tired after I cleaned my room the WHOLE DAY!" "I am a good girl, right ?"

Custom made teddy bears

2008-05-15T19:27:00.000-05:00

Aren't they adorable ?

Nice surprise

2008-05-15T19:26:00.000-05:00

Our neighbor sitter, Alicia asked me yesterday if it is okay not to baby sit the kids today. I said, that's fine. She and her little sister came and it was really nice surprise as they just went back from Teddy Bear Factory in Chelsea and brought 2 teddy bears, with custom named shirts with it, one for Aidan and one for Nadia.
It was really neat. They just made my day today. Thanks so much!!!

you are my love

2008-05-08T11:09:00.001-05:00

I always call Nadia " sayang " (in bahasa Indonesia means honey) or just plain old "love"

Nadia has been noticing me calling her more of 'love' to her...

One time she told me she was not love, but she was just regular Nadia.

I explained to her that it means I really love her, that's why I call her 'love'

Lately, when I call her 'love', she answers me back : "okay, I will do it, my 'love'. You are my love, too"

Sweet!

Tough!

2008-05-02T19:29:00.002-05:00

Ammar started his call schedule again since yesterday (.. and I am not even done recuperated from his last one less than 2 weeks ago). It means he will be working late hours, come home at night, and still sits down in front of his computer dictating and work from home until 11 pm, also not counting working saturdays and Sundays. This call will be done in another 2 weeks, means I also have to work extra, too, especially during weekends means no rests at all.

Ammar : "Habibti (means my love in Arabic), should I cancel my tennis next week ?" (tennis means, he even will come home at 10 pm then sit on his computer when he got home, then crashed the next day and still have to work early in the morning)

Me : "Yes, I think you should"

Nadia : (listening) "Why you should cancel your tennis, Daddy ?"

Ammar : (kidding) "Because your mommy doesn't love me anymore. She doesn't let me play tennis."

Nadia : "You should play tennis, Daddy"

Ammar : "What should I do, Nadia ? Do you think it is hard if Mommy doesn't love me anymore ?"

Nadia : "Yes, and it is even harder if mommy still have to live with you."

Ammar : "Sari, did you hear what she say ?" (laughing)

Her third 6 months dental check up

2008-04-28T21:18:00.003-05:00

Today, we switched the dentist. The dentist I recently found and very pleased with. I moved Nadia from her pediatric dentist to see my new dentist and has been pleased with them still. Nadia loved it, and it was pretty easy. As a dentist myself, it is very hard for me to find the dentist which qualify my 'passing' line (yes, I am that high standard hah!)

Nadia was still remembering about "by the cheek camera" the old dentist did for her and she was nervous because the x-ray film was poking her mouth.

She had an easy and pleasant visit, she also got a birthday gift from them because her birthday was just recently.

I am proud of her, she is a good child. She made 2 drawings and they put her drawings in the patients' room.

Dr. Nadia Hamouda was so excited to see her, and Nadia was so excited finding that the dentist's name was also Nadia.

In the chair, Dr. Nadia asked Nadia if she wanted to be a dentist, and Nadia said no.... she said, she just want to be a regular doctor... the doctor who fix skin....

(just like daddy, huh Nadia ?)

Finally

2008-04-23T07:39:00.002-05:00

My mother bought this Power Wheel battery car for Nadia and Aidan a year ago when she visited us. Nadia got so excitedly driving it, but big mistake that the Daddy did was : "letting Nadia ran to the flowerbed and not trying to stop it before it happened".

Nadia freaked out and she didn't want to try again and ever since, she never drove it.

Now, a year pass by, spring is here, the weather is awesome, Daddy tried to make Nadia drive again. She did drive, but she was so scared and told him that she doesn't know how to drive and was afraid to run to the flowerbed again. (yes, she still remembered).

After 2 weekends, finally Nadia got over her scare to drive and she could drive better and even parked the car back in the garage, with Aidan as a passenger.

Yay, Nadia.

Playdate with Nina

2008-04-21T23:42:00.000-05:00

Nina wants to have hair just like Nadia, so I braided her hair and she loved it.

Say good bye

Running around the backyard

use this, Nadia.. the bug spray

On Thursday we got really nice card from Vicki, Nina's mom from school. Nina told her mom to invite Nadia to have a playdate with her because Nina fonds of her. We accept the invitation and came to her house late afternoon before we picked Aidan up from school.

The kids had a great time, and coincidently, Nina's dad is also a physician, but he is a pediatrician.

Lion King hair

2008-04-21T22:48:00.000-05:00

Nadia had this really tiny curls on her hair when I took the braids off. Relaxing with daddy in the sunroom before the sunsets.

Going to dine out

2008-04-20T23:41:00.000-05:00

Nadia gave up her car seat and she got this brand new cool big girl car seat. She loves it so much and it is fun. This is the picture taken on the way to go dinner downtown, enjoying the beautiful warm and spring season. Finally we can wear summer clothing.

Sunday morning pose

2008-04-20T11:50:00.001-05:00

Aidan is sleeping, Nadia as usual busy watching TV, this is how she is sitting down on her little sofa, then she told me stories and laugh, and posed to my camera... Click!! Then of course she had to take 2 showers because she ruined all her clothing with the sands in the sandbox

Something so sweet

2008-04-15T22:11:00.000-05:00

I picked up Nadia early today just to hang out at Java Jungle.

I came to her classroom and her teacher, Miss Janet approached me and told me that when they were doing project, so sudden Nadia, in the middle of her work, saying out loud : "I LOVE my mommy sooooo much!!!!"

She told me how much she got goose bumps from what she said and she had to tell me about it.

I thanked her for sharing that to me and it feels so warm in my heart knowing that my little girl adores me so much.

I told the story to Ammar and he was jealous and said : "Nadia.. HOW about ME ?" haha

Skating practice

2008-04-14T11:26:00.003-05:00

It's our special Mommy-Nadia time again every Mondays while Aidan is away. Nadia enjoys the special days every time. What a difference since she is having these special days when she has her mommy all for her, she became such a wonderful big sister to Aidan and loves him very much.

So we went out today, to go to practice Nadia's ice skating with me. There was no one in that rink, all for us, and Nadia enjoyed it very much, sliding on the ice holding my hand.

While I am typing, Nadia came and asked me if she could type, too.. here are what she wrote :

nadia aidan sari ammar

phillipe (her favorite horse's name)

more vocabulary

2008-04-14T10:08:00.000-05:00

Nadia stayed at home today, she played and as she plays, she usually chats with me.

Nadia : "Mommy, do you like Dinosaurs ?"

Me : "I do... do you like them ?"

Nadia : "Yes, but Dinosaurs are extinct" "Do you know what extinct is ?"

Me : (waiting) "What is extinct ?"

Nadia : Extinct means they are no longer live anymore.. no more Dinosaurs, that's what Extinct is"

Something she learns from school

2008-04-13T10:22:00.002-05:00

Daddy is working, I was feeding Aidan and Nadia was drawing.

Then Nadia told me all about this topic:

"Mommy.. do you know that alligator is a cold-blooded animal ? Snake, and all the reptiles are cold blooded"

"And do you know that horses are warm-blooded animal ? They are mammals and people are mammals, too. They usually have hair, sometimes on their bodies, and they have babies!!!"

(of course, her hands moved around trying to express herself)

Happy 5th birthday

2008-04-12T22:28:00.000-05:00

Nadia was so sweet and she asked me how old I was, so I answered that I was 4 years old.

Sometimes when I answered honestly, she responded : "Wow!!! That's a lot..!! I am only 4"

With the 4 year old as an answer, she responded : "Really ? Are you sure, 4 years old ?"

Me : "Yes, I am 4 years old, pretending..."

Nadia (thinking, not sure) : "Mmmm... Maybe you want to be 5 years old, Mommy ?"

Me (laughing inside... she doesn't want to be as old as her mommy) : "Okay.. I am 5 years old"

Nadia (happily) : "Okay.. then I will make you a present and cake with 5 candles"

She worked so hard for 2 hours, gift wrapping a gift, covered in copy paper, wrapped with sticky tapes, and draw the gift wrapper, pink color with light blue polka dot, and a tiny card for me.. writing her name on it. She also put all the birthday invitee (all her plush horses) lined up on the dining table, ready to have me blow candles on the cake. How sweet was that!

That!!! Makes me feel it worth every minutes to have and taking care of those kids!

More babies, please!

2008-04-10T10:25:00.000-05:00

Nadia jumped and jumped, and she almost jumped on my stomach.

Me: "Nadia, be careful, you might hurt my stomach, Love"

Nadia : "Oh, I am sorry, I will be careful. Mommy, if your stomach hurts, you won't have babies anymore grows there, right ?"

Me : "Yes, you are right, Nadia"

Nadia : "I promise I will be so careful with your tummy. I want another baby, please"

Me : "Really ? You want baby ?"

Nadia : "Yes, a baby sister, please!"

Me : "Why don't you tell Daddy about that... you want to share your mommy more to your new baby ?"

Nadia : "Yes, please"

(Readers: Don't even think about it.. we are all DONE with 2 kids.. hehehe)

Museum of Natural History

2008-04-09T14:12:00.000-05:00

2 best friends, having fun and share the same interests. Brendan is a very sweet little boy. He is almost 6 years old.

Nadia and Brendan

2008-04-09T14:09:00.000-05:00

We 'borrowed' Brendan to go to the U of Michigan Museum of Natural History. The kids had blast, and Aidan enjoyed watching them. Sue, stayed home finishing her project. 11/24/2007

My little helper

2008-04-08T11:32:00.003-05:00

I am so blessed to have a chance from God to take care and give love to this one of the miracle little girl.

At 4 year old, she has been so responsible and clean after herself, very polite, very outgoing, friendly, and kids magnet.

After the party, she told me that she wanted to get her pillow from her bedroom, she didn't come back for a long time, while I was cleaning up the mess after party, I checked on her and found her cleaning and tidying up her bedroom. Wow.. I was so impressed, the room was completely a mess, and after she was done, it was perfectly tidy as usual.

She also a regular 'cleaning' girl for the living room, whenever I asked her to clean up the living room, she does it perfectly.

She also quite an artist, she usually has some project, like last night, she didn't want to go to bed while both of us were so trashed, so we said good night to her, she was still cutting paper and drawing, and she came up after she finished her project, and turned off all the lights and cleaned up her cutting mess on the table, then we sent her to bed.

As much as we feel that we are blessed with her, I am still amazed how responsible the girl is, she also put her plates and cups in the kitchen or dishwasher right away.

Comparable to other kids, they are still making mess and not cleaning up after themselves, especially kids from my country... even compared to my niece and nephews who are way older than her (sorry kak Ezzy.. hehehe).

150% pure girl

2008-04-04T07:50:00.003-05:00

Today is a portrait's day at school. Nadia insisted on wearing her dress, the one she wore as a flower girl at Auntie Lisa and Uncle Bill's wedding reception. We tried to show her pants outfit for her, which is more suitable for her at school and she said : "NO!!!!"

So we came to the agreement that Mommy would send her changing clothes so after the photo shoot she has to change her clothes. So there she was this morning, with a very girly dress and she said : "Hm... I LOVE this dress!", then she also wore white tights, and she reminded me to put her dressy black shoes on. She also wanted me to give her a flowery headband but we misplaced it somewhere.. so no headband...

Aidan is wearing the outfit that his grandma gave for him. For him.. no fuss....

On the way out to the garage, I reminded Nadia to put on her Jacket.. it is still 35F outside, and she said : "No, Mommy, the jacket will RUIN my dress... I will be fine in the cold"

So this girl, since day one she was born, she is too feminine, now it is more obvious...

Ammar : "I LOVE GIRLS!!!!"

I remember, I grew up to be a tomboy.. I hated wearing anything girly, and I used to go everywhere with shorts and played with boys..

Aidan, in the other hand is pure a boy, their names spelled backwards, NADIA-AIDAN, and we are wondering now that they are complete the opposite personality to each other, because of their names are the opposite... well.

I am so blessed with those 2 kids... Nadia is an angel, sweet little girl, friendly, outgoing, and so feminine. Aidan is so boyish, always smiles yet has a short fuse, active, loves to cuddle, and delightful.

I am wondering how the photo shoot is going on... let's see the results in 3 weeks.

To be one of us

2008-03-30T22:48:00.002-05:00

Nadia is now aware of being half Arabic and half Indonesian. Sometimes she says she is an American, it all depends on her mood.

This afternoon we just went out to downtown to get some ice cream. On the way, Nadia requested her daddy to put Arabic song.

Then she said to me : "mommy.. I like Arabic songs... I can teach you some Arabic so you will be one of us!!!"

(I can tell how proud Ammar to hear her saying that... not that he taught her to say something like that.. it's something we never said or think.. it's just pure out from her)

We still talking about it until bedtime. Laughing

Ok, I will eat it.

2008-03-29T20:08:00.002-05:00

Nadia was so happy back home. She loves to see the snow from the window the first minute she woke up and see out of the window.

She is also become less finicky eater, just because Aidan, who eats table food, eat the same thing she eats and no complains.

She will say "Okay.. I will eat, too"

Do not scribble

2008-03-27T11:43:00.002-05:00

We are at the hotel room and Nadia was drawing. Aidan came to Nadia and started getting all the crayons aggressively and wanted to draw, too.

Nadia : "Aidan.. stop scribbling!!!"

Me : "Nadia, Aidan wants to draw, too, just like you."

Nadia : "But, Mommy, he is not drawing.. he is scribbling"

Me : "Okay, then... give Aidan another paper from your book, so he can scribble"

Nadia : (tearing her beautiful pony drawing paper) "Here Aidan!!"

Aidan started to scribble... he loves blue crayons more than any colors....

We are in Florida

2008-03-23T11:42:00.000-05:00

We celebrate Easter Sunday at the Miami Seaquarium. It was a lot of fun. Nadia and Aidan had a blast. It was raining but who cares!!!! It's better than snowing and cold...

Photos come soon.

Love you

2008-03-18T23:03:00.001-05:00

Ammar has been coming home very late ... so most of the time, I fed the kids dinner and bath them then put them to bed.

Aidan had already taken a bath tonight, so since Nadia loves taking showers, all by herself, in Owan's room (my mother, actually it is the guest room's bath) so we didn't bother Aidan's sleep if we take showers in the kids bath, I asked Nadia to take showers there.

I helped her taking off her clothes.

Nadia : "Mommy, I love you so much.. this much (extent her arms sideways), and I love Daddy this much (not to much extent...)..

Me : "Hm.... why is that ?"

Nadia : "Because Daddy is always busy and not taking care of me too much. You feed me, you bath me, you comb my hair, you put lotion on my body, and you dressed me up."

Me : "Oh, thank you, Nadia. Daddy is just so busy lately..."

Nadia : "I know.. I love Daddy THISSSSS much" (extending her arms so much).

after shower :

Nadia : "Mommy, look at me !!!"

Me : "yes, love ?... " (I look at her)

Nadia : "Look at my eyes, closely!"

Me : looking at her eyes, very very closely to her face

Nadia grabbed my face slowly and gave me a big kiss on the lips, and whisper : "I love you so much, Mommy"

Well... sometimes I want these mommy-daughter bonding are recorded on the photos or something, but having a husband is not too 'memory' kind of guy, he just not a technology geek, especially photos... cameras...

I always have to remind him to get the pictures of me and the kids, but then the moments are gone!!

Nadia, when you grow up, you won't see lots of pictures of me and you having fun.. just in our memories, okay ?

Sticky tapes

2008-03-15T19:06:00.000-05:00

Ammar got so irritated when he had to take all the balloons and all the decorations in the house left over from Aidan's first birthday party. For some reasons the double tapes I used were so sticky and it was so hard to take them off.

Ammar (grumpy) : "Why you use the double tapes ? Look how difficult to take this 'stupid' tape off!!!!!"

Nadia : "daddy, you said bad word!!"

We worked again...

Ammar : "I hate this 'stupid' tape!!!!!"

Nadia : "Daddy, you said bad word again. Besides, it is not 'stupid' tape, it's 'sticky' tape"

At that time Ammar was not laughing... at night when I mentioned about it, he laughed and laughed.. both laughed until days after.

All the talks in the whole world

2008-03-14T19:49:00.004-05:00

Nadia always so talkative, funny, and if you just have to listen to her the whole day and write it down on her blogspot..it will be so much in no time and I have to make another blogspot.. or make a very thick novel of all she quotes in a week.

She is always full of imagination, very content, well absorbent, and fast learner.

I have been so busy so being so bad for not putting all her funny quotes in this blogspot, I will put just two of our very favorite quotes recently.

1. Nadia talked on the phone with her friend, Luca and she asked him all about the earth and the lava, and of course her birthday party celebration at Jungle Java.

Nadia : "Luca, do you know what's inside the earth ?" then she answered right away without giving Luca a chance to answer : "Lava".. then blah blah blah.... telling everything about lava, volcanoes, etc.

Then it came to her birthday party : "I hope you are gonna come to my birthday party because every body in the "Whole wide world" are coming!"

2. Aidan has ear infection and got so cranky. After I bathed both of them, I dried Aidan and put the clothes on Aidan first, usually I dried both of them, and put the article of clothes one by one of each child. Aidan cried and cried... thanks God, Ammar came.. so he took over Aidan.

I came to Nadia who hid under the towel... patiently watching... then she said : "I am so naked and I will be naked for the rest of my life" "I won't be able to go anywhere when I am naked"

Morning, before going to school

2008-03-05T08:30:00.000-05:00

My balloon

Kitchen with Mommy and Aidan

It snowed again at night

Palm tree (supposedly)

Before bed time

2008-03-04T20:51:00.000-05:00

My favorite movie at this time (smurf)

My daddy

Birthday celebration at school

2008-03-04T20:44:00.000-05:00

Nadia and her friends had fun taking lots of picture with Nadia's new camera. She brought the camera Mommy and Daddy gave as birthday present for show and tell and everyone had a good time with the camera.
Off the record: she wanted a PINK camera. Mommy got her the Fisher Price durable kids proof camera. The quality is not too good, but she LOVES it! It is so easy to use, using 2 view finder, and the buttons are so children friendly, and even it you drop it, it won't break.
I want her to get used to the camera first, then she will be graduating to real camera.

When I got home from school

2008-03-04T17:30:00.000-05:00

Mommy is feeding Aidan dinner

My favorite toys

My horses

The backyard

Nadia's first camera

2008-03-04T07:40:00.000-05:00

It is Nadia's fourth birthday. Happy birthday, Love!

It's morning and Nadia opened her presents from Mommy and Daddy (camera) and dinosaur (from Aidan).

It is a school day, so we brought some helium balloons and some cake to celebrate Nadia's birthday at school. The party it self will be held on Saturday at Jungle Java... FUN!!!

Now, I am taking picture of you, Mommy!

The birthday gift from Aidan

Mommy took picture of me with my first camera.

Picture of the house, according to Nadia

Skating update

2008-02-25T11:07:00.000-05:00

Nadia progresses so much on her ice skating. She asked her coach to teach her to turn around, and it brought the idea to teach her group how to turn around. She fell back on her head so hard, thanks to the helmet I got for her, she was completely okay. She could stand up all by herself easily now. She slides and skates from one point to another with her friends smoothly, and she could do the hockey pokey at the end of the lesson better... She still loves Ice skating and I think we are going to sign her up more for the next level.

Stop taking pictures, please

2008-02-24T21:12:00.000-05:00

Okay.. now you can take picture of my bump..... "Can I see it, Mommy ?" (this is what she said, then once I pointed out on her face again, she ran down and showing her bump on my camera again... again and again.

Can you see the cherios inside my mouth, Mommy ?

2008-02-24T09:13:00.000-05:00

Eating Cherios together

2008-02-24T09:10:00.000-05:00

Aidan is so interested with anyone eating or drinking something, so big sister Nadia fed him up. Once he is satisfied, he went back to the tent and played with the fishing pole.

Seriously watching TV

2008-02-24T09:09:00.000-05:00

One of those lazy weekend while Daddy's at work

Going on 4 years old

2008-02-23T13:20:00.002-05:00

Drawing

2008-02-21T17:06:00.000-05:00

This is Alicia, our neighbor sitter who comes only once a week for 2 hours. Nadia and Aidan loves Alicia, she is the daughter of one of our favorite neighbors. Aidan happens to be so tired and fell asleep while I picked up Nadia from school. Nadia came back home finding she had Alicia all for herself, she was so happy and draw a picture of her and Aidan for Alicia. I was so surprise finding her drawing, I though it was Alicia's drawing or Alicia helped her up with the drawing, but Alicia proudly said that it was all Nadia's work. She brought it home happily. I managed to take a picture of her drawing before Alicia brought it home and show it to Ammar. The girl is really talented, I think. What do you think, readers ? This drawing is made 12 days shy from Nadia's 4th birthday

Ice skating lesson

2008-02-04T23:12:00.000-05:00

It's the second lesson Nadia had. She made big progress, she could stand up all by herself and make tiny steps on ice. I promised Nadia that I would jump right after the lesson finished for the 15 minutes they allowed. Nadia was so happy to see me on ice, too. I made her practice stepping and got up by herself again. She was so happy back home and ate really good dinner. Aidan stays with Ana, the sitter and he was so happy to see us back home from lesson.

I got her the giro ski helmet and she loves her helmet. I can't let her use the helmet they provide since they are soo big on Nadia's little head. Little heads run in the family, I guess, but don't question the quality of our head.. ha..ha.. they are pretty smart.

I promised Nadia that once she is good on ice, I will buy her the new pair of skating shoes, of course, she chooses pink ones.

Doodlebop Show

2008-01-20T23:04:00.000-05:00

We got 2 tickets to see the DoodleBop show from Melissa, Milla's mom. It was a really nice present. We enjoyed the show really much as Nadia recognized the Doodlebop's crew : Rooney, Deedee and Moe from the TV.

Nadia's Daddy was just so worry that we drove in a frigid cold weather for 1.5 hour to get to Auburn Hills and thinking about walking from the huge parking lot to the show, made him drove us to the show, dropped us up right on the door and he ended up having a good time at Starbucks Coffee with Aidan and picked us up right on the door again and went home.

The weather was unbearably cold. We went outside just for 2 minutes and our head were just freezed!

We came home and Nadia fell asleep happily without eating dinner... she was just so happy and tired.

Milla, Melissa, thank you so much for the show.

Plowing and Nadia had fun!

2008-01-05T23:15:00.001-05:00

Finally

2008-01-05T22:37:00.000-05:00

Nadia hates to be taken pictures of. She won't see the camera... or she would run away, or just playing deaf.

I finally showed her the picture I took in September when she was out of the blue asking me to take picture of her and literally posed in front of the camera! Then I showed her the pictures I took which was almost all blurry, or not looking, or just a fake smile but still not looking at the camera.

I convinced her to take just some pictures and asked her to sit down against the window and asked her to LOOK at the camera and smile naturally. I asked her to sing one of the song from Sound of Music... Here it is.. finally I got the nice picture of her again.

Another quote from her today :

Ammar: "Let's go out, Nadia."

Nadia : "Okay Daddy, but tomorrow we are going to go out in the snow BUT only for playing, Daddy. Don't clean the drive way or working. We are going to play in the snow...."

(aaaaahhh.. finally my complain to Ammar got the support from my little girl.. hahaha)

Nadia's snowman

2008-01-04T22:50:00.000-05:00

This time, there is no Ammar's involvement in the making of snowman. It was Mommy Nadia time, of course, when Ammar was plowing the snow with the tractor, we played with the snow. The snow was too dry and powdery, it was kind of hard to make the balls from it, so we just shovel the snow, and carve it to be snowman. The snowman looks good, we think. Nadia was satisfied, and the neighbors can see because this year, we made snowman in the front yard instead of the backyard.

This is the picture of the snowman on the 3rd day, melted a bit, but not much.

Happy New Year 2008

2008-01-01T15:09:00.000-05:00

New Year January 1 started by waking up and cuddling together in our bedroom, watching how much snow we had from the snow storm overnight starting on the new year's eve.

Our drive way is just soooo long.. Ammar needs help from the neighbor to help out to make the path for his tractor. The wheels needed to be chained but it has not been, so he got slipped several times in the snow.

Lots of snow, so me and Nadia decided to make snow in the front of our house, not in the back yard as we always did. It was hard to mold, because the snow was so dry and powdery. Nadia didn't care, she ran in and dipped herself in the snow, licking the snow, doing lots of snow angels, and of course... making snow man. We had to continue the next day because the snow was just too powdery.

We went out to do shopping once Aidan woke up from nap and Mommy bought Nadia the snowman set, and the snowman looks so awesome... it was really nice that Mommy don't have to bring out chocolates, candies, and carrots for the snowman's attributes, instead she just bring everything out of the box to make snowman's eyes, hat, scarf, etc... voila..

We are back!

2007-12-24T15:03:00.001-05:00

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

2007-12-21T00:16:00.000-05:00

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

2007-12-20T23:39:00.001-05:00

promise to keep you up to date

2007-12-20T12:49:00.000-05:00

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

2007-12-12T09:12:00.001-05:00

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

2007-12-01T11:50:00.000-05:00

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

2007-11-24T23:13:00.000-05:00

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

2007-11-22T12:43:00.000-05:00

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

2007-11-18T15:53:00.000-05:00

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 ?

2007-11-16T15:55:00.000-05:00

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

2007-11-15T13:28:00.000-05:00

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

2007-11-15T13:09:00.000-05:00

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!

2007-10-31T19:15:00.000-05:00

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

2007-10-28T21:26:00.000-05:00

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

2007-10-20T20:26:00.000-05:00

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

2007-10-19T20:46:00.000-05:00

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

2007-10-16T10:59:00.000-05:00

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

Eid Morning

2007-10-16T10:52:00.000-05:00

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

2007-10-15T09:25:00.000-05:00

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

2007-10-11T13:51:00.001-05:00