Both My car & Myself need this

My first car, enjoyed a beautiful plate...I was so excited about it.

When I got a new car last year, I wanted to transfer the same plate to it...but

it never happened...

My current car, for a whole year today still has NO PLATE!

I don't care...

I mean I didn't care until I saw this plate...
I want this plate so bad,,,it's NOT EVEN FUNNY!

* I took this picture at Bubba Gump restaurant in Monterey...a whole post about that rest. will be posted soon :)

The Step.

A dear friend of mine got married last year. When I went to Amman last summer I visited her new home. A tiny apartment. The smallest I've ever seen in Amman.
At the same time, it was full of life, colors, love and books!
You could see and feel her touches where ever you look. The couple made sure not to waste any space, they need every single corner and spot. And what a great job they've done!

She asked me about my new home...how it looks like and what's special about it. I promised her I'd send her pictures of my house.
Oh, how I wish my family and friends could come over and visit, and see where I live! Not a fancy place, but a place that I love!

Last week, I sent her pictures, of all the rooms, plus the bathroom!
A colorful bathroom.
It has to be colorful because Mariyah spends a lot of time there, minding her own business while reading her books: " The beauty and the beast" & "If you give a mouse a cookie"

The most colorful part in the bathroom is her step!

I bought the white one from Target. It was the cheapest because it's white. I painted little flowers on it in front of her so she would love it and love using it to wash her hands whenever she uses the bathroom.

She calls it "UP".

Looking like herself.

Everyone here USED to say that she looks like me...

A copy of me...

Not any more!

Now they say she is starting to look like herself!

Both my parents still believe...
and insist that she still ...

Looks like ME :)

Especially the way she laughs.

haha

Daddy momenT. Proud?

Jeeej's hair brush looks like this:

My hair brush looks like this:
Mariyah's hair brush looks like this:

Different Brushes, right?!

In the morning, Jeeej's mind was busy thinking about the errands he had to do during the day...

Take both cars to service.

Go to Friday prayer.

Meet the Taxes guy.

Go shopping for his eBay business.

Cook dinner :)))

And also, he was trying to call his dad letting him know about our plan of spending this weekend in Auburn with the family...

So, he was simply BUSY thinking!

*Jeeej NEVER used my hair brush -as far as I know- because he doesn't like to! He simply loves his.

While being busy thinking this morning...he was brushing his hair in the bathroom.

Mariyah was walking towards the bathroom to watch Baba Jeeej getting ready for the long day ahead,,,

On her way, she saw him brushing his hair with HER OWN PINK HAIR BRUSH! she started YELLING:

Haza la wariyaaaaaaaaaaaah :@#$@$@!$^Y&$ -THIS IS FOR MARIYAAAAAH-!!!

He couldn't believe his eyes! or ears...

He didn't know he was using her PINK brush! lol

I couldn't resist posting this...

It made my laugh so hard this morning :)

it turns out that I'm not the only parent at our house who goes crazy during the day ;)

Nowadays,

she says Adrian,

Batamoon: pants.

Pakakeeet: manicure.

Fooof: gloves.

I forgot the rest...

Now, Good night :)

Give me Lemons

Give me Lemons...

I give you Lemon cupcakes

with Lemon frosting on top ;)

The story behind these lemons, if you're interested.

I teach a student from Bangladesh. Her mom loves gardening and she loves cactus. The entrance to her house is full of so many kinds of cactus.

One day, last week, I noticed some yellow fruits among the cactus. They looked small, round and smooth. I asked her: what is that fruit?

She said: Lemons! Chinese Lemons. I will fill a bag for you!

- I'm craving lemons these days, I've been looking for lemon cupcakes everywhere, but couldn't find any!

That day, I made my first cupcakes, and they were sour :)

*If you are wondering, yes, it's my bump showing in the 1st picture...I didn't crop it, because it's a part of me :)

* Jeeej topped my cupcake with frosting in the second picture! This is how much he loves me :)

* I gained a LOT of weight last month...so...

Never mind.

My Turnip baby.

I was checking my favourite website about pregnancy and motherhood while chatting with my mom 3 days ago. I read that my baby inside is the size of a turnip.

I asked my mom: what's a turnip?
She said: I'm not sure but I think it's " لفت".

I checked it online...she was right...Turnip is لفت.

Mama: why are you asking?!
I told her why...

and then she laughed and said: you know what's funny? Tomorrow we're having stuffed turnips for lunch!

Now that was something, huh?!

I asked her to pray for me and my coming baby while having lunch :) and then I asked her to make some for me when we meet soon inshallah :)

Farmer's market became perfect!

One day, I was invited to a gathering in Cupertino. At some point, a lady asked us all one question. "What's your family's tradition?"
No lady gave an answer. "It isn't about celebrating Eid or fasting Ramadan. It shouldn't be related to religion, we are talking about traditions". She explained.

Then she said: " I was asked this question at my kid's school, and most of the parents gave amazing answers, but I couldn't. Someone answered: we go hiking every Saturday morning. another said, we make home made pizza from scratch every Sunday evening. someone else said: we celebrate half birthdays, instead of waiting all year long to celebrate it, we do it twice a year for each family member, we end up celebrating so many days during the year."

I liked the answers. I wanted to give an answer in front of everyone, but I wasn't sure about it. I wanted to say, we go to the farmer's market every weekend. but then it was only my 3rd time there with Mariyah that week, plus Jeeej was not joining us yet. He was still working during the weekend. He always encouraged me to go, even when it got colder. It feels so good to go there, spend some time outdoors and breath some fresh air surrounding fresh products.

Last Sunday, we made it!
The three or "four" of us went to the market and spent a great time there, tasting, smelling and buying goods.

We promised each other, we'll make it our family's tradition :)
I got these flowers, their smell is filling the house! Makes me melt...

and I got these tulips too...

It funny what the seller told me about taking care of them...

"use chilled water, add ice cubes if you can, and these flowers need copper, so drop some pennies in the vase".

What's your family's tradition?

Hello! It's THE weekend.

For the first time in over 3 years we lived a real weekend. We used to have the weekend on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays...but from now on, it's going to be Saturdays and Sundays.

I've been waiting for this for so long. The wait was worth it. The beach, the restaurants & the streets were all packed. It was a sunny day and I kept wondering, what's going on? Are all these people celebrating the sun after long rainy days?

Jeeej had to keep reminding me that it was THE REAL WEEKEND :)

We did so much stuff, it was great. Il hamdillah...

~Can't wait for next weekend~

Mommy Moments

They started once I became a mother -of course-.

Once, When I was still living the sleepless nights, I woke up so dizzy and tired..I was fixing myself a bowl of cereal. I poured my rice milk over her scrambled eggs!

-NOT GOOD-

Once, I almost left the house with no scarf on my head...I actually locked the house's door and was about to start pushing Mariyah's stroller in front of me...and then I felt "cold" and went back inside before anyone could see me.

-NOT GOOD AT ALL-

Once, I made some yummi apple dumplings, and called my friend to come over and have some. she came along with her kids, we talked and played and talked. and then they left...and my dumplings were still in the fridge, waiting for recognition!

-THAT WAS BAD-

Once, I made some gifts for my friend's kids -the same one mentioned above-. I asked her to come and pick them up, she got excited. I served her something yummi, and she saw the gifts and loved them. but I forgot to pack them up and give them to her before she left.

-REALLY EMBARRASSING-

Once, I locked myself out. My keys were inside the house, I couldn't get in and I couldn't drive my car. Jeeej was only 10 min away and came to rescue me. I was late for my appointment that day.

-IT HAPPENS TO EVERYONE-

Speaking of being late, these days, My students KNOW that if their class is at 3 pm, it means it'll start at 3:15 pm.

Once, I mean TODAY, I broke the record!

I was invited to a gathering, a small one -lucky me-. I made some really good chocolate cake balls. my friend came over to have some. I got Mariyah ready and I wore my new outfit -we looked nice-. Before heading to the gathering, I had to give 3 classes in San Jose, 30 min. away, and then drove up to Fremont -the gathering- for 45 min. To realize while driving that I had polished the nails of my left hand and forgot about the right hand!!!

-I THINK THIS IS ENOUGH-

You think I will get better when I become a mother of two?!

Let's pray, wait and see!

Communication, How?

Before I got pregnant with Mariyah, or before even thinking about it, I never paid attention to parents -especially moms- communicating with their toddlers. Why would I?

I thought it's easy and "normal".


When I got pregnant, I became more alert, trying to learn as much as I can. I found it joyful and I tried doing it myself. talking to toddlers that is.

I found it almost impossible!

Is it because Arab kids here mix between Arabic and English while talking? Is it because I'm not focusing well? I wondered. Sometimes I felt stupid. Mothers always responded to their kids. I wanted to be close to these little people and felt embarrassed asking the mother to translate whatever they said!

And then Mariyah came,

and then she grew up,

and she's talking these days!

I feel special when I understand the words she says. I find it hard to believe that some people can't understand what she's saying.

We video chat with my mom and I have to keep translating.

I translate to her older friends.

I translate to my friends.

I even -sometimes- translate to Jeeej.

I once said to Jeeej: "it's funny how I'm the only one who understand whatever she says".

He said: " you better! You're the mom".

That's so sweet :)

Some of the words she says that need translation: -In Arabic-

Ibbeee' = jug.

tatit = bed.

bego = burger.

massata = straw.

hzam = blanket.

obbokh = blow.

bostan = dress.

tabooo = soap.

and many other words...

But the sweetest word that I love to hear over and over again is BITATA = Potato :)

I like it how she responds to my requests.

Like collecting her lego blocks into the bag.

Throwing stuff in the trash can.

That's really SWEET, SWEET, SWEEEET!