Inflation, deflation and re-flation

Deflation
My poor garden has been 'deflated' by the never ceasing hot winds which bring heaps of dust, sand and rubbish into our yard. Despite the high walls and copious watering, my poor plants look weary and withered. I've spent several trips to the 'plant souq' asking for plants that will last the summer, but to no avail. They all seem to 'deflate' in a few days. I found some hardier looking varieties today, so we'll see how they survive.

Deflation and Re-flation
My oldest son recently asked, "Mama, are you putting on your swim-boobies?" as I was putting on my bikini top. I explained what a bikini is, but the term 'swim-boobies' stuck. I suppose that lovely push-up bikini top or 'personal floatation device' (bought at La vie en Rose Aqua ) which helps my 'girls' stay 'afloat' instead of sinking down to my navel has been aptly re-named.

Inflation
The cost of living where we live has been increasing dramatically. As we watch our grocery bills soar and other expenses from gas to education rise, we wonder how long we can afford this. We've started a budget to keep track of exactly where everything goes. We estimated our expenses in particular areas and set a rough budget. We re-evaluated the budget a couple times, but in several areas (groceries, being one), we are forever over-spending. Part of the increase in spending is due to rising eating habits of growing young boys, and the increase in diaper sizes. However, the cost of a pack of diapers, and the cost for meat and veggies has also increased. At the moment, we have been managing to save a little, but we're not sure if the benefits of being here (monetary) outweigh the deficits (support of family and friends) anymore. When the boys start school, we will definitely be heading somewhere new.

I'm going to call my Daddy!

When I asked my oldest to clean up his toys yesterday, my darling boy announced, "I'm going to call my Daddy and ask him to take you away!" I nearly died laughing, so he shouted at me because he presumed I didn't understand. What HE didn't understand is that I wish his Daddy would come and take me away for a few hours or a day or a week! The discipline (not necessarily all bad things) that we inflict on our children are the very things that we wish we could have inflicted on us. I wish someone would make me sit down for 2minutes and do NOTHING! I wish someone would force me to take a nap. I wish someone would insist on preparing me a nice healthy meal. I wish someone would make me go to bed early. I think you get the picture!

This morning was Father's Day Baby Craft morning at our house, and I completely forgot to take pictures, so here's a picture of Tavian a month ago painting himself and his highchair with beetroot.

Something fantastic about Doha is the amount of free or very reasonably-priced children's and family activities that are available here. One event that we particularly enjoyed last month was the 'Kite Festival'. I tried to upload a short video, but something went wrong with the server - apologies!

Last night we made Salmon in Orange Sauce - made my own recipe with dill and garlic, but this link has an easy version, and Marillen/Aprikosen Knoedel with Streusel. Both of these are dishes that my husband dislikes, so we enjoyed them while he was out.

Why Men avoid Doctors

I have made a very significant discovery about why men avoid going to the Doctor. It all starts as children (doesn't everything?) when their mother's, who are converned about 'preventative medicine', begin dragging them to see the Doctor for colds, coughs, bumps and bruises. The bumps and bruises seem to increase as the boys grow. Then come the stitches and broken bones. A book which I recently read about raising boys (The Wonderful World of Boys) said that the primary goal of guardians and parents of boys was to keep them alive and from harming themselves or others until they are of legal age to take on that responsibility themselves. Needless to say, that in itself (never mind the instilling of values, etc) is an immense task. Mothers end up taking their sons to the emergency room far more often than they will take their daughters. Boys just like to push their physical limits. Back to men. It is my theory that since men have had SO many unpleasant experiences in Doctor's offices, clinics and hospitals as children, they try to avoid those places as adults. This is quite understandable! My own son has never enjoyed going to the Doctor, but since his stitches, he REALLY doesn't want to go - Case in point!

I made an easy & yummy lamb stew last night  from an Annabel Karmel cookbook I pureed it into soup for my boys, took out the meat chunks for my husband and everyone enjoyed it. I also made healthy brownies with spinach and carrot purees in them (from the Deceptively Delicious cookbook I mentioned in an earlier post).

One of THOSE days.

Well, it wasn't all bad, but the latter part of the afternoon was really one of THOSE days. Right after his friend left, my oldest, not wanting to leave the couch during the epic & gripping film 'Toy Story', decided to pee right where he was. How he got it on 4 cushions (2 seat cushion & 2 back cushions), I do not know! I tried to get him to go to the toilet to change & we had a meltdown. No, not just a minor crying episode. This was a full-blown, kicking & screaming, throwing & hitting tantrum. It lasted ages. I tried EVERYTHING.... talking, changing rooms, cuddling, quiet time, shower, my bed, calling Papa on the phone, etc. However, because there was so much screaming and upset, the little guy wasn't getting any attention and decided to scream as well. He wasn't hungry or overtired... just in a foul mood, I guess. Eventually my 'knight in shining armour' arrived and I retreated to my neighbor's with the younger one and the excuse of some books that I had promised to pass on to her. At least there was a bit of tranquility at her house, and by the time I returned, at ours as well.

The garden is suffering in the heat. Even the 'summer plants' I purchased recently are not doing so well. I think I will take the self-starters from last year's summer plants that keep popping up here and there, and transplant them to places where I want them. At least I know they'll last the summer.

I was so impressed with myself for getting dinner on (just Mushroom risotto... I make my own version, but here's a simple recipe http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/reallyeasymushroomri_70240), making dessert (home-made butterscotch pudding http://www.canadianliving.com/food/butterscotch_pudding.php) and baking simple cookies (a cross between macaroons and amaretti) all while having my oldest's friend over. Oh, I failed to mention that I fed my youngest his dinner as well (pureed apricots, chicken and butternut)!

Now, I'm off to do dishes and clean up the kitchen. No deep thoughts tonight! I am in desperate need of a tall adult beverage... something strong!

Mind Blanks

In the evening I have all my great ideas about what I should blog about, but being tired, I go to bed. In the early morning when I sit on the computer to check e-mails, etc while my little one plays on the floor, I forget. Rather typical. Needing something to expand my brain and to extend my poetic abilities, I've joined a Writing Moms group. Most are professionals or semi-professionals. I'm the only poet. Some of the others are journalists and are writing books or short stories. Amazing women, especially considering they all have children!

Yesterday, we went to the dentists... or tried to take my oldest to the dentist. He refused to get into the chair, and then when we finally coaxed him into it (on my lap), he would NOT open his mouth or smile. The dentists was very patient, but my husband was pretty frustrated. That was compounded when he saw the bill. Dentists aren't cheap, but I guess he forgot about that.

I made Pepperonata and a loaf of crusty bread last night (yum!) Pepperonata http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/peperonata/ is the easiest & most colourful dish to make if you have a few peppers in your fridge that need to be used. I never follow a recipe and I don't add sugar since my peppers are quite sweet. The night before, I made  Brownies full of Spinach and Carrots for a friend who hates vegetables - he had several servings, so that means they were yummy! Success! The recipe is from a fun book entitled 'Deceptively Delicious' http://www.doitdelicious.com/  .

Ok, off to make breakfast for my little guy who is rolling around on the floor complaining that Mama isn't giving him enough attention.

Don't say "No, no n,n Noooo...."

My 3 year old loves singing along to the chorus of Bruno Mars "Marry you"... "just say ya, ya, ya ya yaaaa. don't say No, no no no noooo, and we'll go, go go go goooo.... (etc)" In fact, he sing/says it to me when I tell him that No, he cannot do something, like stand on the kitchen counter or jump on the sofas. It's hard not to laugh!
We are also in the 'questioning phase' & he's come up with a few fantastic questions.

"Mama, I want pink toes like you." I explained that I didn't think Papa would be too happy with that. He then said, "How about Orange toes? Papa likes orange!" Creative thinking, son, but NO!

At bathtime my shirt got soaked, so I took it off & finished towelling my son off & dressed him for bed. "Mama, what's that?" I explained THAT was my bra. He then asked "What's it for?" I explained it helped keep my boobies up. "I want a blue baby-bra for my little boobies," he said while pointing to his chest.

For dinner, I made a lovely White Bean hummous-type dip (from the book 'Eat, Shrink & Be Marry' http://www.eatshrinkandbemerry.com/)... yummy! We ate it with FRESH Arabic bread & cut veggies: healthy & filling.

Some days I would love to SLEEP... and sleep. Today was one of them. I had a lovely night out, but a cranky baby at 5am that doesn't want to go to sleep really makes me wonder how worthwhile it is trying to get out in the evenings. Then, when my precious chance to sleep at 'naptime' comes, one boy or other decides to require my attention... one has an upset tummy, one needs more water & another wants to know if I need the car in the afternoon. *sigh*

I have so many small, but significant events to write about & catch up on, but we'll get there eventually.