Ahmed's B-Day Breakfast @Cocoaroom

Yesterday was Ahmed's Birthday and we will be celebrating it until mid next week I think.
Anywho, the boy wanted breakfast at the Cocoa Room. He wants their cheese and mushroom omelet and their chocolate pancake.
So we went. While placing our order he told the waiter that it was his birthday and that he was turning six. The waiter congratulated him shaking his hand. Oh Ahmed was very pleased.
I was planning to order their chocolate pancake after the boys finished their breakfast and I even brought candles with me. But the staff surprised us with a plate of pancake with peanut butter and caramel sauce and chocolate sauce on top, and they sang happy birthday to Ahmed. The rest of the diners also clapped and cheered wishing him a happy birthday.
Ahmed was really taken by surprise and overwhelmed.
"Mama how do everybody knows its my birthday!" He exclaimed.
He made his wish (he wants to be the invisible man so he can go choke people. Just don't ask) and enjoyed his pancake very much!
So thank you Cocoa Room <3 br="">

Blowing his candle

I really liked these pancakes loved the chocolate,

 peanut butter and caramel combo.

And here is birthday boy so happy!

 

 

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New Year... New School...

Yep! I've transferred the boys to a new school... Hopefully better. So far I'm impressed by their organization and school system structure. Inshallah khair.

However we have to leave the house very early because of traffic. The ungodly hour I wake them up to get them ready is exhausting on them and me. By noon I could hardly function let alone them...my poor babies.




So I guess I have to improvise. Instead of wasting time on breakfast as we usually do, I just have to prepare for them food to eat on the way to school. Going through my cook books I'm searching for some inspiration, ways to serve them something different and interesting. The school also has restrictions on what food to pack for the kids. No chocolates, cookies, Nutella, candy, chips, chocolate drinks and soft drinks for the kids. I feel it's like a challenge to come up with new stuff the past few days, especially that Abdulaziz is a picky eater and drives me crazy when it comes to meals.

So what do you pack for your kids? And do they have breakfast at home or on the way to school? What do you prepare for them?


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The Search is Over

The search is over and I found the bike I wanted...

Well not exactly but close enough,

now I'm searching for a basket to go with it

I can't wait for the weather to get cooler

 so I can go cycling with the boys.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Summer So Far

Since the beginning of the summer, my kids got a very strong flu. First it started with Ahmed, and then Abdulaziz followed right after him and now me. I'm hoping Fahad will not catch it, inshallah. It is taking forever for us to recover. Ahmed started with antibiotics but they didn't do anything, he was given a three days of injection for the virus and the awful cough which takes his breath away and turn his lips blue from lack of oxygen. If you are a follower on instagram then you would have seen the pictures of my baby at the clinic.

 Abdulaziz is on his second week of antibiotics, he is doing a bit much better, alhamdullah, although the dry cough hits him hard in the evening. I'm giving him two kinds of cough syrups, alternating between the two and barely working.  

Now I am sick. Same symptoms as my kids had. I have an event today which I've been looking forward to attend but I had to cancel because my cough is so bad. I'm wheezing as I'm typing this post! Cough! Cough! I'm sick of being sick!

Adopting the Kesha!

Since I'm not socializing at all... so what's the point in doing my hair… right?

Well the reason I'm not blow drying my hair is I want to give it some rest by leaving it to air dry. It isn't nice when it's frizzy. I look like a mad crazed woman, especially when I lose my temper with the boys and my hair flying all over the place like the snakes of Medusa.

Well… not that dramatic.

Some friends told me about a couple of clinic which are specialized in hair therapy, I'm going to check them out. My hair needs rescuing it is falling none stop. Sometimes I want to shave it off and work on nourishing the roots and scalp and let it grow all over thick and healthy as it used to be.  What do you think… should I go a la Britney?

Apart from being sick, I have put the boys in summer school at KES. It is a four week program and unfortunately each of them attended only two weeks of it. Ahmed missed the first two weeks and Abdulaziz, if he isn't getting well soon he will miss a second week and last of the program. But they are having a lot of fun there and making new friends.

When I ask Ahmed "How was your day?"

He answers, "Ajeeeb!!!"

At home I'm concentrating on English since I have finally transferred them out of the French School. We are reading lots of books in English and I got them Summer Bridge activity book and we're doing exercises everyday… just keeping them busy!

Well that it's folks… just a short summery of what I've been doing and I hope you're having a better time than me ;)              

No No Nanny

No No Nanny

Since last November I don't have live in help. Actually the only help left in our service is the driver and he will soon leave on his yearly vacation next June.

How did I end up in this situation? Well when the nanny left it was on the understanding, which we reached, that she would come back. She even left a lot of her things behind. Anyway, her leave was at an end there was no news from her. When we finally reached her, she was making excuses, and it was obvious she wasn’t intending to come back.

When she first left  it was a bit chaotic at home. It took me a couple of weeks to get my bearings and manage my schedule to be there for my kids and work and at the same time maintaining a social life. Thank God my kids are not small. I was put in a similar situation when they were younger and it was a nightmare, and it always made me wonder how mothers without help managed. But now they are old enough to take care of themselves, maybe the only problem I'm facing is I'm always rushed and I find myself short on time. However, I'm lucky to have the support of my sisters who are there to help whenever I need them. Actually, now my kids spend their weekends at my parent's home. It gives me time for myself and slow down for a couple days. I guess it is the only thing which is keeping me sane.

I have a contract with a company who comes during the day twice sometimes three times a week to clean up. The rest I do myself and my kids also pitch in. That is the best part of not having help in the house. My kids are more responsible and pick after themselves. They are calmer, their attitude has changed to the better.

It isn't that I've ruled out having help, right now I'm enjoying playing the domestic/superwoman part, but since I might be traveling soon leaving my boys and their father behind, I guess they will need some help around the house. Well… we'll see how it will go.

Happy Birthday Abdulaziz

Happy Birthday to my Baby... and now not really a baby...

but a little man...

but to me always my baby...

Abdulaziz!!!

Born 11.04.2001

Unfortunately we haven't celebrated his birthday yet.

He was having tests and we were revising so inshallah soon

we'll have friends over and celebrate him.

Young Chef's Academy

Last Friday we spent the whole day at Discovery Mall with the boys. After lunch the boys wanted to play at Goal. However the game wasn't to Ahmed's liking. He thought it was like his birthday, he gets the ball to himself. So what does cranky Ahmed does? Yep he throws one of his "Super Tantrums" which I ignored until it passed. People passed by looking at him wondering why this kids was speaking to himself. "Te7el6em"!

So after he calmed down I suggested to him to try "Young Chef Academy" since he liked to cook. I know it has been opened for a while but I haven't taken the kids to it. I convinced my cranky "Petit Gourmand" to check it out. So after going through their mini menu from making pizza to decorating cupcakes and other yummy items, we decided to try out the Oreo Truffles.

Ahmed was shown into an open kitchen after washing his hands and given a very cute apron. Chef Jake, a very sweet man, assisted him and guided him through the recipe. I can see he was enjoying the experience and his bad mood evaporating. Oh yes!!! The boy is finally smiling!

It was a simple recipe and after he was done the chef told him he had to wait at least 15min for the chocolate to cool off in the freezer. Ahmed didn't want to go anywhere fearing someone might take his truffles ;p

When he got his truffles, Chef Jake gave us a paper with the recipe. Of course "Petit Gourmand" didn't want to share. I had to trick him to get one truffle!

It was a very enjoyable experience, and I'm really contemplating of inviting some of his friends and take them there.

 Is Mr. Cranky smiling?

Look at that cute apron!

 Cracking the cookies

and venting his temper...

wallah a very good tantrum management

therapy ;p

 Mixing and Mushing the ingredients together...

another very good type of therapy!

 He wouldn't let me take a pic of his mixture!

 Moulding the truffles into little balls.

 Et voila!

 Covering the Oreos in chocolate

 Yummy!

I wanted to have one 'cause I felt it will be goowey

and extra sweet because Ahmedan made 

them with his own hands!

 Putting extra crushed cookies on the truffles.

AlNathafa min AlEman!

 Mercy! 

A really smile!!!!

And he didn't want to share his truffles!

The Party!

If it came to me… I'd order a cake… have Caesars Pizza and goodie bags and have the party at school.

But Nooooo…. Ahmedan wants a party! And of course he went to his father, "I want a Party Baba!"

Fahad is still feeling guilty because we weren't in Kuwait last year during Ahmed's birthday. My sisters had for him a small party with close friends but he didn't want to celebrate with them… w 3afar 3alaihom 3afra… only because we weren't there, and I remember he called us crying, saying he doesn't want his aunties and wants us back! It really stuck with Fahad.  

"Give him the party he wants!" The big boss commanded!

Really!!!! Not in the mood for a party and the chaos which comes with it!

*sigh!*

"Ok baby, what kind of party do you want?"

"I want a football party!"

Oh God! Help!

So we set on preparing for the event. I wanted it to be an outdoor party, and was planning to rent one of those football fields and have some catering and a DJ, but during that time the weather was very chilly and unpredictable. So I went to Goal and Ahmed was super excited on having his party there! Unfortunately the only open date for the event was on the 31st a week after his actual birthday…Not a problem! I also checked around different bakeries seeing what kind of football themed cakes they had and he chose the design he liked best from Mr.Baker with the flavor he likes…chocolate on chocolate!

I also wanted the invitation to be extra special. So I ordered football cookies from Safi… they are so cute and so yummy! Yep I had a taste ;p The cookies were distributed with the invitations. I saw the kids were so excited about the party when I went to pick up Ahmed from school. I just hope they'd come.

Day of the party… was raining so heavily and I was really nervous that no one will show up. But alhamdullah 25 out of 30 kids we invited showed up. The kids had a blast! A bunch of 5 year olds all running behind the ball and it didn't matter which goal they kicked the ball in, even the girls played! I also asked them to provide us with a free style ball performer. The Gentlemen at Goal did a great job in involving the kids in the game and keeping the cranky birthday boy who loved all the attention happy!

Their dinner was at Chillies which was right next door. I chose Chillies from McDonald's because their menu was better. They had a choice of cheese burger, chicken crisps or pizza.

All in all it was very good :) Except I lost my voice for two days ;p

I want to send a very Special and Big! Thank You! to my sisters and cousins who were there for Ahmed and me! They were there to help me and make sure everything went smoothly.

And I leave you with the pictures ;)

Football Lollipop cookies from Safi, Nuzha.

The invitations ;)

Goodie bags...

I found football themed goodie bags

at Party Land with foot ball themed goodies,

I just added extra chocolates and candie ;)

Free style preformer.

The timing was right. By that time the kids were a bit tired and needed a break  and they were agog from all the tricks he did for them!

Here is Ahmed doing his own tricks.

Chinna sij!

All the kids had a turn :)

Another trick by Ahmed :)

The kids lost it here when Mr.Goal came out.

Some were hyper excited and others were terrified!

Ahmed & his BFF cousin Yazan ;)

And here is the cake...

design chosen by Ahmed from

Mr.Baker

Happy Birthday my baby...

Al3omer killa inshallah...

 3asa allah ye7afthek w yebale'3ni feek ;***

Happy Birthday Ahmed

Happy Birthday Ahmedan!!!

5 years ago I died and lived after giving birth to you!

Don't you forget it!!!

You're such an old soul

that sometimes I forget you're only Baby

my little man!

May God Bless and Protect You!

Love you always!

I Got The Moves!!! ;p

 I can't get this song out of my head! For the 5 days I'm moving around humming and singing

"I got the moves like Jagger!"

and Abdulaziz and Ahmed would roll their eyes.

"Please mama you're embarrassing!" Abdulaziz would say. :s

Happy Birthday Fahad!

Happy Birthday my Darling Fahad!!!

Love you w inshallah rabi ya7fethek

w ye5aleek lena.

Like every year, he asks for my devils food

chocolate cake with chocolate fudge icing

which I make from scratch!

No shortcuts there and it tastes amazing!!!

It was sprinkled by Ahmed who was

back home from school when I was

assembling it :)

Picture of The Week

Long story short...

Ahmed wanted to have Mac n' Cheese past his bed time hour.

I tried to convince him to go to bed and will

make for him Mac n' Cheese for breakfast ;p

He was stubborn about it...

When I came to check on him

I found him sleeping in front of his food ;p

Christmas Gifts

 The boxes, the cookies & of course the cards.

This one is signed by Ahmed.

Abdulaziz didn't show me his cards.

Every Christmas I try to think what to get to the teachers as gifts. I don't want to get just anything that I'd expect other parents will get. As usual I was looking for something different, and at the same time get the boys to participate in making them.



I was inspired by Martha Stewart, a cute box filled with cookies…right? What do you think? Crazy idea! Because after getting back home from work I had to start on them, especially that my main oven isn't working and I only had the small oven which only takes one tray at a time :s It was exhausting!


Few days before I prepared my list of things to do and prepare for. Then with the help of the boys (a bit chaotic at times) we started our baking after the homework and revision were done.


The cookies we made: Sugar cookies with colored sugars, candy cane chocolate chocolate chip cookie squares, chocolate & peanut butter chip cookies, Ginger sugared cookies. I also wanted to add something Kuwaiti so I placed an order from Homemade for their famous pistachio Ghraiba.


I really hope the teachers appreciate this labor of love. I know that my kids and I really enjoyed making them and so did my family and friends who I sent for them some of the cookies to try out ;)

 I'm thinking of introducing this cookie at Gelato Italiano.

Would you buy it?

 Note: I don't have pics for Abdulaziz,

because he is like a Tornado in the kitchen.

He doesn't give me a chance to think of snapping a pic of him.

Homemade Ghuraiba

House P2

 Dana didn't follow a certain theme in choosing the décor and furniture. She didn't stick with certain colors, she mixed champagne with royal blue and a rainbow of muted shades, gold and silver gilded for the formal rooms. She also mixed the modern, classic and ethnic popped them into the blender and came up with great elegance and luxury.

Unfortunately the pictures to the formal living room aren't clear so I'll post them later. In this post you'll see the dining room and guest bathroom (w ento bkaram).

So what do you think?

House P1

 My sister Dana took upon herself the herculean effort of renovating the family home. The process of meeting with architects, designers and the whole renovation thing took almost a year, but the results of her efforts are breathtaking! Never doubted her, she has great taste!



These are snaps of the outside terrace (pics not giving it justice), the Entrée, and the Syrian room (my favorite room in the house).

The Terrace

 

The Entree

The Syrian Room

What do you think?

Stay tuned for more ;)