Day 34: 24 April - God's Answers His Own Way

I prayed. I researched. I prepared. I negotiated.

In the end, I didn’t get what I really wanted…but God still answered my prayers.

It may not have been in the way I had asked, but if you add everything up, I’ll be getting the equivalent.

And for this, I am grateful.

Day 33: 23 April - Omelette Paratha

A very affordable, yet filling breakfast

not spicy...just the way I like it

Day 32: 22 April - Tasks Accomplished After All the Drama

First task: Cut pictures to decorate her school project
Second task: Clean the big mess she made
Third task: Remove the hair ties from her unruly hair

These three tasks are simple to do. But for a 5 year old who is a Daddy’s girl and is used to having others do things for her, it’s frustrating when her Mommy tells her she needs to do everything by herself.

However, that’s what happened, and no matter how much or how loud Caila cried, begging us to help her, I made sure that no one lifted a finger.

It was a sight to see her over-acting to show us how much she struggled, trying to convince us that she couldn’t do those things, but we all ignored her.

Finally, when she realized her cries and “performance” were falling on deaf ears and blind eyes, she started doing them. Sure the pictures weren’t cut properly and some parts were cut in the middle, but at least she did it. And sure there were a couple of places on the table that were still a bit sticky, but at least most of the mess was cleared.

And seeing her proud and happy face when she realized she could do all of these by herself was just priceless.

Day 31: 21 April - Yummy Breakfast

Yummy breakfast to start my workweek

almond croissant and hot chocolate

Day 30: 20 April - Snakes & Ladders Game

Easter Day!

I took a day's leave from work to spend it with my family.

Enjoyed a game of Snakes & Ladders with Gabe and Caila.  Even though I lost to the kids (because I kept landing on the squares with the snakes), I still had fun.

Day 29: 19 April - No More Fever

Caila had a fever since Thursday night, which reached up to 40 degrees the following night. Finally on Saturday, the thermometer read that her temperature was back to normal, allowing us to breathe a huge sigh of relief.

Day 27: 18 April - Surprise Rose

I wasn’t feeling well so I stayed home with the girls while Hubby went out to buy some groceries. When he rang the bell, I opened the door and saw him with a long-stemmed rose between his teeth. It was so unexpected and so sweet!

Day 26: 17 April - Easter Egg Hunt Preparations

Joined the other PCs and PSTs in stuffing the 500+ easter eggs with candies and chocolates for our monthly activity.

Day 25: 16 April - Identical Sisters Outfit

Until recently, I found it really silly when I would see kid brothers or sisters being dressed in identical outfits. If they were twins, I’d understand…but for siblings who obviously didn’t look alike?! Sheesh! What’s the idea? To help describe the kid’s clothes easily if one of them accidentally gets lost?

But then when I came across a dress in Tchibo at Mirdif City Centre last Wednesday, and it came in sizes just perfect for my daughters, my outlook changed (only slightly though) and I realized the concept is actually cute.

It would have been great if the dress came in different colors (like pink and purple) but it only came in one color.  Now, I’m all for matching outfits for siblings…but preferably not identical, because they are different people and have different personalities (even twins for that matter!). Wearing the same design but in different patterns or colors than the other, which complements at the same time, would be better. That's why I said my outlook slightly changed.

Anyway, I’m just happy I bought these dresses for Caila and Sophie.: their first identical sisters outfit:

won't they look adorable in these?

Day 24: 15 April - Unexpected Contribution

Any help (no matter how big or small, whether time, talent or treasure) is always appreciated and will go a long way in making the kids enjoy the activity.

contribution by a Tito for our upcoming activity

Maraming salamat po!

Day 23: 14 April - An Indian Who Enjoys Filipino Music

As I got into the car beside our Indian driver who was going to take me to the WETEX, I noticed that the radio was set to Tag 91.1 (a Filipino station). Initially, I thought he had set it for me, but as he drove along, I noticed he was tapping his fingers on the steering wheel. Apparently he enjoys listening to these songs! He doesn’t understand anything, but he loves the beat of Pinoy music.

The song playing that moment: Magdalena by Gloc 9.

 Ang kulit!

Nakakatuwa!

Day 22: 13 April - Dilis

Back to basics: dilis for dinner 

I so missed this!

Day 21: 12 April - Boodle Fight at Asian Flavors

My first boodle fight

And everything was super delicious and super sulit!

There were 4 different boodle fights to choose from, which are good for 4 to 5 (or 6, depending on your appetites) people, and they all include drinks and dessert…for only Dhs199.

And fortunately for me and Hubby, they allow take-away if you have leftovers.  You didn't think the two of us managed to eat everything, did you?! =)

Asian Flavors

Baghdad cor. Damascus St., Al Qusais

Phone: 04-2359690

Day 20: 11 April - Mama Mary's Visit

Mama Mary arrived at our home, and she’ll be staying with us for 2 weeks.

Our Lady of Lourdes

Day 19: 10 April - Indian Goodies

Received a bag of goodies from India from a work colleague

fresh jackfruit, bananas, mangoes, jackfruit chips

Day 18: 9 April - A Birthday Party at McDonalds

Last Wednesday night, we attended the 5th birthday party of our friends’ son Hans at McDonalds, Al Bustan Centre in Qusais. And we all had a blast!

Since we’ve attended so many parties, Caila knows that there are usually games, and when there are games, there are prizes, and in order to get prizes, she has to do her best to win. Which is why she really gave her all in the games. First was the longest greeting where she was one of the 3 winners. The second was a group relay, but unfortunately, her team lost. Then the Bring Me game, where I supported her by searching through my bag for whatever was being asked for. She got 2 prizes for that.

Sophie, on the other hand, enjoyed the party by walking around, smiling, dancing, waving to the other guests, and eating. Whatever we gave her (fries, cake, nuggets, pieces of bun), she eagerly put in her mouth.

All of the guests enjoyed the Thumbs Up/McDonalds Happy Birthday song because the crew/host requested all of us to dance along with it, but what made the party complete was the arrival of one of their mascots, Hamburglar. Fortunately, my family was able to take a picture with him before he left…but unfortunately, it was blurred and there was no time for another one. Oh well.

It was still a good party and we all went home smiling.  And on the way home, Sophie had remembered one of the games her sister won and decided to copy her by saying “Haaaaaaaaaa! 2..3… Haaaaaaa! 2...3… Haaaaaaaaa!” It was so funny!

Day 17: 8 April - PNG Flag

Papua New Guinea is not a popular country (for work or for pleasure) so you can’t expect to come across anything related to it unless you research on it.

Which is why I was so happy when I saw its national flag while I was sitting in the bus on my way home, bringing back memories of my childhood.

PNG will always hold a special place in my heart, and I hope that one day, I’ll be able to go back again…for a short visit at least.

Day 16: 7 April - McDonalds Date with My Girls

Instant date with my girls!

While Hubby was working overtime at the office, I decided to take my daughters to the nearby McDonalds restaurant where we munched on burgers, fries and McBites.

And while we were enjoying our meal, one of the staff approached us and gave each of them a balloon that had been twisted into a dog.
Unfortunately, the green one burst before I could take a picture of Sophie holding it.

Oh well.

Day 15: 6 April - Sticker Pox

My daughters saw some calendar/date marker stickers lying around our home, and decided to decorate their faces with them. I wanted to scold them for wasting the stickers and for looking like they had measles or chicken pox, but I just couldn’t stop laughing at how adorable and silly they looked. 

That’s motherhood!

Day 14: 5 April - KFC Fellowship and Performance

Our morning yesterday was spent at Mamzar Park with the rest of the other Parent Coordinators, PSTs and their children of our KFC cluster. As the newest PSTs were the ones in charge of the fellowship, the only things the rest of us had to bring for the picnic were disposable cups, plates and utensils. It was a big spread of sinangag, menudo, bacon, scrambled eggs, tortang talong, dinakdakan, fried lumpia (which the kids hoarded by themselves), dinuguan, fresh mango and bagoong, banana bread, kutsinta, and I can’t remember what else. Everything was so delicious! And when Marlon and Jhan arrived, they brought with them homemade siomai! Happy tummies again!

As soon as everyone had had their fill and rested a bit, the kids and their daddies or nannies walked to the pool area and enjoyed swimming and splashing around. During that time, the mommies had a meeting to discuss our monthly activity. We didn’t let Sophie swim, but she kept herself entertained by chasing the birds and butterflies that she saw flying around the park.

Yesterday night was the CFC Community Mass and Assembly. We reached the venue just as the KFC kids were singing the last few lines of Seasons of Love, making Hubby and I panic and rush to the stage wings because our performance (the one we had been practicing for last Thursday night) was next. I was supposed to be with the group who entered from the right, but because we were in such a hurry, I ended up joining the other group who entered from the left and just blended in with my original group. Good thing I was in the back so I don't think many people noticed. And because of our nervousness, there were a few steps some of us…ok, a lot of us…forgot. By the time Pharrell Williams’ song "Happy" ended and we had exited the stage, we were all laughing at ourselves and from relief that it was over.