We had a short and sweet visit to Canada for Christmas. Jet lag seems to be affecting us more than usual, so I am happy we have a few days back in Kuwait to get over it before work and school starts. I am anxious to get back to my studies, and the girls are excited to head back to school, Jessie gets to meet new friends in the Hippos class.
I am not a fan of New Years Resolutions, as I know the typical 'eat better, exercise' thing is always on my mind, and with this nutrition course I am taking, I am hoping that it will all fall into place, as I 'practice what I preach'. I do have a few goals...
1. Get rid off all the plastic-ware the kids use and have them use regular cutlery at the table. In will bend the rules for sippy cups in the vehicle.
2. Keep on top of the clutter, especially the toy room. Now that we have a fresh stock of new toys and activities from Christmas, I plan, with the girls help, to weed out the items we don't use and donate them. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people and places in need of our un-needed and excess items. Happy to help them, clean the house, and teach a lesson at the same time.
3. Spend more time doing crafts and activities with the kids. I don't like going out much here, so the extra time at home can be better spent with activity books than shopping tom' kill time'. Jessie's increasing attention span should help this goal...
So, these are all easy to attain goals. I hope everyone has a great start to 2011!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Holiday Letter
Here is our Christmas letter and photo for 2010!
Click on each image for a larger view!
Click on each image for a larger view!
Monday, November 29, 2010
Happy to make my Housekeeper smile!
We found a great, reliable housekeeper. She actually started out as our cat sitter, and now does a once weekly cleaning of our apartment. She is here with her husband and has a little 1 year old boy. So, as far as that goes, she is one of the few who are not here away from immediate family, on a sponsored visa that makes her work for a Kuwaiti family and get treated like dirt etc... so she is always in relative good spirits and just a nice person.
She asked a while ago if I knew of anybody selling a used, inexpensive washing machine, as she has been doing laundry with a semi-automatic, labor intensive one. I didn't at the time, and never really thought much about it. Robb's company had downsized from 2 company apartments to just one, and was in the process of selling the furniture and appliances. He felt bad as just the week before Kumari asked, they had sold the washer/dryer. Well, he found out today that the buyer never showed up! So....he has offered the washer AND dryer to her free of charge. She was very pleased and appreciative. We are going to deliver them to her in a few days. She is so nervous, she does not want us to see her apartment, she says as it is very small. I told her we do not judge, and are just happy to help out.
She asked a while ago if I knew of anybody selling a used, inexpensive washing machine, as she has been doing laundry with a semi-automatic, labor intensive one. I didn't at the time, and never really thought much about it. Robb's company had downsized from 2 company apartments to just one, and was in the process of selling the furniture and appliances. He felt bad as just the week before Kumari asked, they had sold the washer/dryer. Well, he found out today that the buyer never showed up! So....he has offered the washer AND dryer to her free of charge. She was very pleased and appreciative. We are going to deliver them to her in a few days. She is so nervous, she does not want us to see her apartment, she says as it is very small. I told her we do not judge, and are just happy to help out.
Hi!
It has been over 1 month since I have posted. We had a great time in Dubai, my studies are going well, when I find time to sit and study!. My trip to Singapore never happened, as we are in the middle of residency paperwork here in Kuwait, and I was not able to get my passport back in time. I still hope to make it there soon!
We are on the countdown to even MORE travel. Dec 15th we fly home to Canada for Christmas, where we will spend some time in BC and Alberta with the families. The kids are super excited to see everyone, have already made their Santa list, and the winter and Christmas crafts have begun! I am hoping for much better weather than in the last two, as it had been very cold and not fun!
I now have a Dodge Durango that is being used exclusively for trips to from school and the grocery store. Taxis and buses are not a viable option here, especially when it comes to kid safety and car seats. Plus, it makes life a bit less stressful living here (except of course, the stress of actually DRIVING it on the roads here!). We had not planned on spending the money on a vehicle for me while here, but some things you cannot plan for, and safety of the kids and the family do not have a monetary value. As my dad says, You can't take the money with you!
We have become part of a small group of kids/moms that hang out fairly regularly, with two playdates this week...one for Christmas crafts! So, the socialiation factor is improving. Robb and I are going out for a Christmas Party this weekend, and it will be the second time EVER we have had a for-pay babysitter. I have asked a 17 year old daughter of a friend to watch the kids, as we know her and trust her, and the kids have met her several times. I have a hard time leaving my kids, even in our own house, with a stanger that may not know how to communicate properly in an emergency. Wish we lived closer to Grandparents!!
I will TRY to be more proactive with posting, time seems to speed up sometimes!
We are on the countdown to even MORE travel. Dec 15th we fly home to Canada for Christmas, where we will spend some time in BC and Alberta with the families. The kids are super excited to see everyone, have already made their Santa list, and the winter and Christmas crafts have begun! I am hoping for much better weather than in the last two, as it had been very cold and not fun!
I now have a Dodge Durango that is being used exclusively for trips to from school and the grocery store. Taxis and buses are not a viable option here, especially when it comes to kid safety and car seats. Plus, it makes life a bit less stressful living here (except of course, the stress of actually DRIVING it on the roads here!). We had not planned on spending the money on a vehicle for me while here, but some things you cannot plan for, and safety of the kids and the family do not have a monetary value. As my dad says, You can't take the money with you!
We have become part of a small group of kids/moms that hang out fairly regularly, with two playdates this week...one for Christmas crafts! So, the socialiation factor is improving. Robb and I are going out for a Christmas Party this weekend, and it will be the second time EVER we have had a for-pay babysitter. I have asked a 17 year old daughter of a friend to watch the kids, as we know her and trust her, and the kids have met her several times. I have a hard time leaving my kids, even in our own house, with a stanger that may not know how to communicate properly in an emergency. Wish we lived closer to Grandparents!!
I will TRY to be more proactive with posting, time seems to speed up sometimes!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
So much happening!
So much to update on!
Leanne hitting the books:
I have decided to do a two-year distance education program from the Canadian School of Naural Nutrition. I will obtain a diploma in Registered Holistic Nutrionist. I did it for many reasons. Firtly is to get my health back - practice what I preach so to speak. I have had a rough few years being sick and losing hair from my colitis. I want to feel healthy again. My family will get healthier in the process as well. I also did it to 'pass' the time here in Kuwait. i can do exercises and reading while the kids are in school and at night. Once i return tothe US, I have to take two upgrade courses in order to be recognized by the Nutritional Assiciation there. I feel it will be a great field to work part time, in any one of a number of areas/. This way I can still be around for the kids, but have my own thing going on for me. In fact, my books just arrived today, so tonight I will start the course!
Heading to Dubai:
In order for us to get our resident visas here (me and the girls) we have to do a medical test outside of Kuwait and get it certified by the Kuwait Embassy before re-entry. So, we will be spending the first part of November in Dubai dealing with this, as well as making a small vacation out of it, as we will be there over the weekend. It works out well, as Robb has to stay for a few days longer for work meetings. Jessie will turn 3 while in Dubai, so we will have to plan a special activity for her, as I wasn't planning a party or anything for her. I may send cupcakes into school for her classmates. Saige spent her 4th birthday overseas and flying, so it is fitting that Jessie gets to do the same :)
Leanne is OUTTA HERE!!!
One of my great friends from home has been living in Singapore as an expat for a year now. I was wondering if and when I would get the chance to see her while she was there, as it has been years. Robb told me the other day that he gets 10 days off of work in mid-November for a national holiday, as do the kids. SOOOO, a well timed Skype call convinced me to see if I could pull some strings...and as a result, a spur of the moment, 5 day kid free trip to Singpaore is in the near future! It worked out great, I was able to use reward miles and it is basically a 'free' trtip, and Robb doesn't need to take any time off of work to watch the kiddos. It would have been nice to take the whole family, but I decided that I needed a few days for me. Darlene and I have always made a point of trying to connect when we can, as she moved from BC to Ontario at 23. I have made a few trips to see her there, once for her wedding. Robb's extended family lives near her, so I am able to meet her whenever we rarely head there (for weddings and funerals). She has made the trip to BC to visit several times as her family is still there, plus has driven to see us in Kelowna while we were vacationing in BC as was she. I made a trip to go canoeing/camping with her as part of an extended work/visa trip to Toronto. She made it to Houston to visit me while we were both preggo (our daughters were born 1 month apart). I barely missed seing her this summer when we were both home from overseas. and finally, it has been years, we will CONNECT IN PERSON! No more Skype, facebook, emails, phone calls. OK, yes, I am excited.
Halloween will be celebrated with some parties at school and the Mom's Group. We won't get to trick or treat, but I think enough fun and candy will be had by all so they won't miss the door to door so much.
Leanne hitting the books:
I have decided to do a two-year distance education program from the Canadian School of Naural Nutrition. I will obtain a diploma in Registered Holistic Nutrionist. I did it for many reasons. Firtly is to get my health back - practice what I preach so to speak. I have had a rough few years being sick and losing hair from my colitis. I want to feel healthy again. My family will get healthier in the process as well. I also did it to 'pass' the time here in Kuwait. i can do exercises and reading while the kids are in school and at night. Once i return tothe US, I have to take two upgrade courses in order to be recognized by the Nutritional Assiciation there. I feel it will be a great field to work part time, in any one of a number of areas/. This way I can still be around for the kids, but have my own thing going on for me. In fact, my books just arrived today, so tonight I will start the course!
Heading to Dubai:
In order for us to get our resident visas here (me and the girls) we have to do a medical test outside of Kuwait and get it certified by the Kuwait Embassy before re-entry. So, we will be spending the first part of November in Dubai dealing with this, as well as making a small vacation out of it, as we will be there over the weekend. It works out well, as Robb has to stay for a few days longer for work meetings. Jessie will turn 3 while in Dubai, so we will have to plan a special activity for her, as I wasn't planning a party or anything for her. I may send cupcakes into school for her classmates. Saige spent her 4th birthday overseas and flying, so it is fitting that Jessie gets to do the same :)
Leanne is OUTTA HERE!!!
One of my great friends from home has been living in Singapore as an expat for a year now. I was wondering if and when I would get the chance to see her while she was there, as it has been years. Robb told me the other day that he gets 10 days off of work in mid-November for a national holiday, as do the kids. SOOOO, a well timed Skype call convinced me to see if I could pull some strings...and as a result, a spur of the moment, 5 day kid free trip to Singpaore is in the near future! It worked out great, I was able to use reward miles and it is basically a 'free' trtip, and Robb doesn't need to take any time off of work to watch the kiddos. It would have been nice to take the whole family, but I decided that I needed a few days for me. Darlene and I have always made a point of trying to connect when we can, as she moved from BC to Ontario at 23. I have made a few trips to see her there, once for her wedding. Robb's extended family lives near her, so I am able to meet her whenever we rarely head there (for weddings and funerals). She has made the trip to BC to visit several times as her family is still there, plus has driven to see us in Kelowna while we were vacationing in BC as was she. I made a trip to go canoeing/camping with her as part of an extended work/visa trip to Toronto. She made it to Houston to visit me while we were both preggo (our daughters were born 1 month apart). I barely missed seing her this summer when we were both home from overseas. and finally, it has been years, we will CONNECT IN PERSON! No more Skype, facebook, emails, phone calls. OK, yes, I am excited.
Halloween will be celebrated with some parties at school and the Mom's Group. We won't get to trick or treat, but I think enough fun and candy will be had by all so they won't miss the door to door so much.
Monday, October 11, 2010
The 'Santa' talk
While in the car last week, I decided to bring up Santa. I rarely use 'Santa' as a form of bribery ie - "You had better be good if you want Santa to bring you a present" etc.. Instead, I wanted to start asking what the girls would want Santa to bring them, because living where we do, there may be a bit more planning to do on Santa's part to make it happen. I explained to them that it needs to be something small so it can fit in Santa's sleigh with all the other toys for the other boys and girls. (or, perhaps, the suitcase for the plane ride to/from Canada). So, as of October, here is what the wish list consists of:
Saige - flippers for the water to swim faster (I think Santa can do this one)
Jessie - A princess snowman (whatever floats her boat, this can also be do-able with a bit of imagination and pink fabric).
I am sure the list will change a few times. In general, my kids are not greedy Santa listers. Because a Princess Snowman can only make it back to Kuwait as a digital photograph, I will keep working on Jessie for a more tangible item for her wish list.
In other, more seasonal notes: Happy Thanksgving to all my Friends and Family back in Canada. We will be joining a group of Canadians having a delicious catered Turkey Dinner. Can't wait!
Saige - flippers for the water to swim faster (I think Santa can do this one)
Jessie - A princess snowman (whatever floats her boat, this can also be do-able with a bit of imagination and pink fabric).
I am sure the list will change a few times. In general, my kids are not greedy Santa listers. Because a Princess Snowman can only make it back to Kuwait as a digital photograph, I will keep working on Jessie for a more tangible item for her wish list.
In other, more seasonal notes: Happy Thanksgving to all my Friends and Family back in Canada. We will be joining a group of Canadians having a delicious catered Turkey Dinner. Can't wait!
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