We were invited to the pre-opening at Kidzania last weekend. To say the kids had a blast is an understatement. :)

Though I was not a fan of the completely closed environment (not a single window and low lighting), the kids didn’t even care. However, what really worries me is that the space got really crowded even though this was a closed invitation. The fire truck, tour bus and ambulance were barely able to maneuver through the crowd. Plus, from a safety point, I wonder if they have a cap on occupancy.

The fact that the entire area is dedicated to the kids is fabulous and agonizing all at once. I got a bracelet tag too… yet I wasn’t allowed to participate in any of the activities :( I want to be a kid again!

The kids had a great time earning money and spending it. Their favorite activity was getting their driving licenses at the DMV and then driving around the track. We had a typical lebanese scenario when Mimi stopped at a red light and Oullie bumped right into her, shouting “Why did you stop? Go!” Then the track supervisor told her to go and she insisted to stay at halt since it was a red light. :D That literally had us and another Lebanese guy cracking up. Typical Lebanese!!!

Oullie throughly enjoyed being a house painter. I can soooo see our apartment walls getting a face lift in the near future. :D

Mimi, on the other hand, enjoyed being a painter. She sat down on that stool and held her brush as if she were Cavali in the making. :)

They even got to to make their own water bottles at the Aquafina bottling plant.

Some places were still not up and running yet, but will be once they open their doors to the public. We are soooo going back for this:

The theater was not operational yet, so they got to put on a play in the plaza :) which was fabulous. :)

Most places were ready to deal and interact with kids, so Sam and I always stood outside the doors (which was pure torture for me). However, at the Strike House, I had to walk in with my kids. The 2 staff in there were completely overwhelmed with having 5 kids! They couldn’t coordinate a game of bowling or figure out how to entertain the other children while they waited to play. It was way too chaotic!

The biggest downfall was at the end of our visit, when Mimi and Oullie decided to buy something from Debenhams with their Kidzos. The staff asked us to wait outside yet no one was assisting the kids. Plus there were at least 3 parents in there! So we finally stepped in really quickly and helped our kids pick something and stand in line to pay. There was only one cashier who was having trouble counting the money handed to him. Moreover, instead of teaching the kids to wait in line, some staff were cutting in line and paying for other kids’ purchases. After that happened for the second time, I stepped in beside my kids and actually blocked one of the staff members as he was reaching his arm above my kids to make a payment. I hope this behavior is rectified by the time Kidzania opens.

Overall, we had a wonderful experience. Four hours was not enough for us to do everything we wanted to do. This is definitely a whole day kind of project! And rightfully so since the prices are a bit steep: Kids-KD12 and Adults-KD8. We’re definitely going again. :)

I’ve wanted to make this dress for the longest time!

Getting the yarn for it was challenging. I had to substitute some of the colors with the closest match I could find at Barakat.

I don’t know when I started, but the past month I stopped working on it because the sizing was off. Needless to say, that made me very upset.

Two things were wrong and it took me some time to come up with solutions. (As with everything in life, sometimes stepping away gives perspective) ;)

Problem 1: The bottom part was too tight around my hips.
Solution: I created a slight flare with double and triple stitches as I was joining the sides.

Problem 2: the top was too big and unflattering!
Dilemma: I initially thought of tying ribbons down the back, but that meant I needed to go buy ribbon and I was worried that would present a problem with keeping the ends from running.
Solution: I found a brooch in my jewelry box that worked perfectly.

Since I can’t find leggings and a top to go nicely under the dress, I’ve decided to make it a swimwear cover up. :)

Yesterday we made Mimi’s cake. Unfortunately we had a bit of a mishap with the cake. :(

But the day was saved with a cupcake :D

We then had a blast crumbling cupcakes to make cake pops. Which proved to be much harder to make than I had thought. Plus I didn’t want the kids to poke themselves with toothpicks so we opted to make them cake balls instead.

When our cake was nice and cool, we decorated it with whipped cream first.

Then I put it in the fridge for about an hour before letting Mimi go crazy all on her own with sprinkles. :D

The celebration at school couldn’t have been more perfect! Between balloons, birthday necklaces, Mimi in a princess dress, wands for the girls and leaf pens for the boys… It was an out right blast! :)

I enjoy making treats with my kids. Especially for birthday celebrations.

So last night Oullie and I made a cake.

Since it didn’t cool down before bedtime, he decorated it this morning.

He went a bit crazy with the sprinkles. :D And we had a couple of whipped cream mishaps. :D

Even though it’s not as pretty as a store bought cake, it was made with lots of love and laughter. And I wouldn’t trade that for the world.

He was my little helper in class too! I cut up the cake and put the pieces on the plates, and he took each and everyone to his classmates. A very special proud mama moment. <3

Oh and I also made individual popcorn bags. :)

I’m not able to embed this video but I can still share the link and you all have to see if! It’s a riot!! Had me cracking up! :”D

I looooove food!

I’m one of those people who live to eat. And I mean seriously! I think about what to have for lunch while I’m having breakfast. :D

But how is it that a foodie like me hasn’t had Kuwaiti cuisine in the 8 years she’s been here?? I don’t know!

That all changed today!

A friend recommended two places: Freej Sawaeleh and more so Tislam Alayadi. Unfortunately, Tislam Alayadi only caters, ie portions are huge and require 24 hours notice. So I tried to look up Freej Sawaeleh. I found Mathai’s blog which gave a nice overview of the place. With both kids nagging to go home, we couldn’t go into the restaurant. We did, however, get to experience ordering take away!

The staff were so nice. One of the delivery boys on his way out to to deliver an order saw me and ran back to tell one of the waiters to come out to assist me. Fifteen minutes later another delivery boy found my car in the extremely packed parking. Despite the heat and the obviously packed house (because I could see the number of people walking in whiles was waiting), they were all smiles and extremely helpful.

The drive back home was pure torture! The aroma filled the car! Mimi kept saying it “smells sooooo good”

When we were finally home, we experienced what can be easily described as a culinary fireworks show! *recall Remi in Ratatoullie* ;)

To truly savor the experience we decided to eat sans utensils!

I obviously over ordered (not that I’m complaining) and we’re gonna have more Machboos for dinner. :)

Remember the four-eyed geek in your class? Yeah that was me! I always had my nose buried in some book or another. Books were and still are my escape from reality.

I went through Lord of the Rings in a month and a half! I read The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy in two days! And now I’m engrossed in A Song of Ice and Fire (aka A Game of Thrones).

So yes, I make references to The Ring, the Force, Dragons, different swords & weapons, Artificial intelligence and even Harry Potter (though I never really got that into it).

I’ve said this over and over again: my kids will know of only the original Star Wars. Though I might just introduce Darth Maul because he was OMG! *heart eyes*

I love kids! And more so my own kids. And if the days were longer and I could grow arms out of my stomach, I would probably have 10 kids! But, alas, I only have two arms. The day is made up of 24 hours of which at least 6 or 7 have to be dedicated to sleep or else I don’t function. Plus my heart and mind can only divide the love and attention so much without bursting.

I didn’t mind the pregnancies per say… But in retrospect, I minded the weight gain… The subsequent weight loss… The lack of sleep… Changing diapers… Potty training (my worst nightmare!)…

So when someone brings up the topic of a third, I always reply, “Thank God for my two! I’m satisfied for now.” I’m not going to lie and say I don’t miss that baby smell… The soft skin… The cooing… Nursing (oh gosh how I miss nursing)…

All that being said, when I saw this tweet I couldn’t help but crack up!! And I mean a laugh out loud, tears rolling down my face cracking up!! That’s probably exactly how my body reacts to suggestions of another child. :”D

A few days ago, Oullie announced to his class, “My mommy has a baby in her tummy.”

What the…..?!

I’m not pregnant! Where does this guy come up with this stuff?!?!?

Yesterday friends came over for lunch with their three daughters. Before they arrived, Oullie remarked that “We don’t have enough people in our family. We need more!”

>Deer caught in headlights face<

We joked it off of course but I think a serious talk needs to be had with the kid who when he saw me hold a friend’s baby said, “We don’t want a baby.”

Last week while on vacation in Lebanon, I left my kids over at my mom’s for the weekend. During that weekend, oullie had an accident while using the potty. Mom told me she found him at the sink washing his undies! When she asked him, “what are you doing?” He replied matter of factly, “washing the peepee.” Then she proceeded to tell him it’s not his job to wash his clothes. Of course which my fabulous son responded to with a “mom makes me do it!”

OMG!!! I was flabbergasted!!!

I never make him wash his soiled clothes!

But I do rinse them out myself!!

OMG!!!

This reminds me of when I caught him butt naked patting his undies with his towel!! Said he was “drying my underwear!”

My mom took this in humor… But what would a teacher or a stranger say if he makes a statement like that in front of them?!? Why is he portraying me as a mean mom???