Doraemon is complete!

Ali finished his project last night! This morning on the way to school he told me he was so proud and that he kinda wanted to keep it!! I told him those are the best gifts to give!

Final approval from Uki!

He is giving it to his friend today.  I hope she loves it!

Ali is quite the crochet guy!

I'm posting from my iPhone. I hope I can figure this out. You would see a lot more of me for sure!

Ali is profusely working on this little DORAEMON crocheted doll or toy for a friend.  This kid is amazing.  I'm so happy to see his tenacity at finishing things.  He has inspired me to reach out for help to finish off his blanket I started with him and my Mom three summers ago.  At this very moment; he has the head fully stuffed and complete; the body is crocheted and affixed to the body and one arm is crocheted and on.  Can't wait to show you all!

The last several months...

 Beach in a new resort town called Siffa.  Very beautiful with great seafood from these waters!  That's my new crazy friend Hanadi.  Love this name!

Ali at his 13th birthday party with his Momma.

Ali's 13th birthday party with friends at the local bowling alley.

More photos of his party.  Check out the beady white eyes!!   F R E A K Y!!!

Ali wears other clothes, I promise.  He organized our home to be used for a going away party.  This is just some of the kids.  There were kids here I had never met.  The Asian girl standing next to him on his right is the gal that has left.

The kids checking out Lizzie our Tortoise of 10 years.

The cake Ali made and I decorated.

Cutting the cake.  I have NEVER seen a cake disappear as fast as this one did.

Amal being tested on her skill level by several of the musicians and the director on the right.  This was all leading up to her second performance.

Ah, there she is. YES!  She passed!

On the way to her second performance.  I still have to post the first one.  She is asleep as she is very tired and nervous.  We had professional makeup done.  She asked me for more 'grown up' as in 'smoky' eyes this time.  The first time the artist wanted to do the whole smoky thing and I said, 'SHE'S ONLY FIFTEEEEEN!!!'

So beautiful my baby girl.

Uh huh...

This is her with her new glasses!  This is also her teacher, the BEST OUD player in Oman!!  He will be performing this month at the Royal Opera House with the Macedonian Philharmonic!  We can't wait!  The Association was taking down names cuz you get a discount with 20 or more people and she put me down and I said, 'but I'm not a member' and she smiled and said, 'yes, you are, wink wink'.  I guess my winning smile and sunny disposition paid off!

Now they were playing together.

There is so much more but I need to get to bed as the Winter break finishes today.  School starts tomorrow and I can't wait to tell and show you all what I got myself into now!! Hmm... I just noticed this is a movie. Oh well!

Thanks for stopping by!

I had a GREAT day today! How about your day?

What a great day I had!  I went to Hardanger (every Sunday) and sadly we said goodbye to Sylvie, our French wonderwoman!  She is incredibly kind and amazing and giving and one of those people that everyone loves!  I had tried to organize a group Hardanger/Quilting project with the group but it did not work out.  Hardanger takes A LONG time to complete.  In the end, everyone basically just did what they wanted.  Four of us got an eyeglass chain made for Sylvie.  It was made with garnets and Omani silver beads.  I wanted her to remember us on a daily basis and she L.O.V.E.D it!  She is wearing it around her neck.

From the left to the right and front row:

Rajashree, Anisa, Shirin (hostess) Sandra, Megumi

Back row:

Supriya, Sylvie (leaving ={), Moi (adjusting the scarf!)

Another shot.

Shirin surprised me to bits!  We had done a very 'Omani' themed wall hanging quilt with the Muscat Quilt Guild.  It has been a project we have been doing for a few years.  I haven't made it as I am married to it, ya know?  Not interested but for the expats, they will take it away as a nice reminder of their time here in Muscat.  I really liked the bed sized quilt and I think Shirin did a great job.  She still has some work left on it and it is very detail oriented and she has done a lovely job!

After I finished at Shirin's, I ran home (the kids were home sick) to check on the kids.  Hubby was home and never questioned where I was.  Heehee... I was home for about 15 minutes and then ran out the door and he asked where I was going and I told him I was going to a friend's house.

I ran out the door and did not come home for 4.5 more hours!  Ali decided to cook dinner but I had to go to the store to get the ingredients.  He made a lovely spaghetti with meatballs!  Wow, and, and, AND he cleaned up the kitchen!  Wow!  Whatever I did, said, threatened WORKED!!

He set the table too but a picture would have had to include both kids and neither wanted their pics taken!

So, now it is 9:25pm and I was entertaining a cup of coffee with a piece of cake (that Ali made!) but I weighed in 15 pounds less today so I don't want to gain just because I want a piece, ya know? Plus, I wanna sleeeeeeep!  I think I have mentioned before that I have insomnia!

Thanks for stopping by.  Really...

A look over time....*weep, weep*

The kids started school last Monday.  Monday is our 'hump' day over here as the week starts Saturday and goes to Wednesday with Thursday and Friday being the weekend.  Pretty different, huh?

I wanted to post my pictures of the kid's first day of school when I got the idea to find as many pictures so you can see how they have grown.

I think this is Amal's first day of preschool.  We lived on a compound in Saudi Arabia during this time.  Ali was born there.

We jump to Muscat, Oman and many years later.  The kids were at an Omani school called Al Sahwa.  Gee, I am missing so many pictures but I gave it over an hour searching and am done!  Anyway, this looks like it might be Ali's first day of Kindergarten or KG1.  This is 2003.

The kids are still at Al Sahwa and because Ali has on a disdasha and kuma, the traditional Omani dress for all males; I am assuming he is in first grade.

I think this one is at Sultan School, still an Omani school.

Then, here we have their first year at the ABA, the American British Academy.  We are so much happier here.  Amal would be in 7th grade and Ali in 4th grade.  They kept him back a year due to how his birthday or where his bday fell on the calendar.  At first we were outraged but it has been better for him.

This would be their 2nd year at the ABA.

  

Their 3rd year, last year.  Look how much Ali has grown.

This year.  Wow.

So there you have a small timeline of my kids at school.  Thanks for stopping by.

Birthday Time!

I've been busy lately and have neglected my blog!  Yikes!  Here are some photos of my daughter's 15th birthday party about two weeks ago!

Amal painstakingly cut out the numbers and letters on the wall.  We could not find the heavy duty blade.  It was frustrating but she put glitter on it and once it was done, as in many things in life, she was happy with it.

Back up!...This was on her actual birthday.  Her Dad and I bought her the Oud and the Oud lessons (which are going fabulously!  I'll get an update up soon!) for her present but when the actual day came, we HAD to give her something!  I knew she wanted the fiberglass or hard case for her Oud and the 'cool' looking one, so I took Ali in to see Khalid and we bought it.  I asked Khalid not to say anything to her because it was a surprise.  The next time we came into the shop for the lesson; she noticed right away and was like, "Aw, somebody bought it!!!"  *frown, frown* and then, "Khalid, do you have ANOTHER one???", yadda, yadda and he only smiled.  I was dying inside.  It is a good thing he did not steal a glance or I would have cracked up!

So, here is her brother presenting her with this lovely case.  See the pink ribbon he put around the neck? Awww...  PS.  Don't look at my room....

I got her this necklace that says her name in Arabic.  It is all the rage with the expats here!  It is sterling silver and she loves it.

Ok.  Back to the party....here is the GUITAR cake I made.  Three layers of vegan chocolate cake.  The chocolate frosting is a Mocha Chocolate Buttercream.  Yum-o!

The kids enjoyed looking through Amal's baby photos.  They really looked at them.  Such nice kids.  We have from the left, Baqar, Amal, Dzaf, Hareth.

They are making jokes and having a great time.  Here is Dzaf, Hareth, Heron and Charlotte.

There are 15 candles on here, look closer!

Hareth is always animated and here he is telling a story!

Ali was such a great help to me!  Thanks honey!  Here is Becky taking pics of the 'epic' cake!

edited to say:  See my quilt in the background on the wall?!!  It looks yellow-y but still!  See the matching pillows too??!!

She is ready to blow out the candles.  My quilt looks so pretty!!

Here is a group shot with Ali.  I like the smaller groups.  These kids are great.  They asked me to come and sit and chat with them.  What 15 year olds do that?  They are great to Amal which is the most important thing and they are very kind to Ali.

Group shot.  Of these kids, only Charlie is leaving.  This is very sad.  Amal and Charlie take Oud lessons together and have gotten very close this past year.  Charlie is going back to her home country of Holland.  We will ALL miss you sweetie!

Here the boys are trying to recapture some stunt they pulled at Amal's bday party last year.  I got a series of action shots but this is lengthy as it is.  This is the final accomplishment!  See my Happy Birthday banner in the back??

edited to say:  See the missing blind?  Waqar did it.  He hit a golf ball into it and broke it but I am happy to say that we have replaced it now!

Here are the kids posing one last time before the parents came to pick them up.  Amal had a great party!

Thanks for stopping by and I have a few more pics to put up; come back soon!