Return to Al Ain Palace Museum

We live so near to the beautiful Al Ain Palace Museum that I'm surprised we haven't went more than twice since being here. It is just such a nice place to take a walk and go exploring...the many rooms, walkways, and terraces...lots of open ground and running around for little ones too, including hide and seek!

We stopped over the day after Christmas. It was surprising to us to see so many tourists there, but this is the high season here afterall with the holidays and gorgeous temperate weather.

7 Random Things

I was also "tagged" this week by Tina of Pfeiffer Photos for 7 Random Things. Thanks, Tina! :)

01. I have a thing for birds in design and in my imagination, although in real life when a bird flies near me I get all freaked out! Especially when I go into one of those aviaries - which I always feel compelled to do for some reason. I even got all freaked out once that I threw my sugar water all over some guy in panic!

02. I love picking up a book and reading that first line. I can usually tell immediately if I will like the book or not. This is an interesting read: 100 Best First Lines of Novels. My favorite first line still remains The Catcher in the Rye:

If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth.

03. We have no idea where we will be living next year or what jobs we will have. That is both scary and exciting.

04. I'm dyslexic. I confuse left and right in giving directions (beware! just watch my hands), have the hardest time when people spell things to me (tricky with being a librarian), and had alot of trouble learning to read when I was little. I'm hoping Eleanor won't have the same difficulties. Very happy she is off to a strong start with a love of reading as that motivation will be a huge help I think.

05. I had a mole removed this year. Do some of you remember my cancer mole scare of Spring 2008? Yeah, well, I had convinced myself I had cancer and was going to leave my baby motherless....admittedly I'm a hyperchondriac and a bit dramatic at times. (But seriously, the doctor said it was the worst kind to have and it had changed!)

06. I greatly admire Eleanor Roosevelt and am proud that my little Eleanor shares her name. She was a smart, bold lady who left a great legacy. One of my favorite quotes attributed to her:

Women are like teabags. We don't know our true strength until we are in hot water.

We love the picture book Olivia Saves the Circus by Ian Falconer and how this little fiesty pig has a poster of Eleanor Roosevelt over her bed :) Eleanor doesn't get this of course, but she does think the mention of her name ("he wasn't BIG like Eleanor") in Mo Willems' Leonardo the Terrible Monster is pretty funny business. Wow, this is so uninteresting to non-picture book lovers....

07. I have too many black shirts! (and black clothes in general) But they match everything and I'm lazy, hence always wearing my hair up too. My friend Julie asked me about it recently and then told me black is my clothes woobie.

An extra: it is beautiful here right now. The weather is perfect. Flowers are everywhere. I took this quick picture during a walk a few afternoons ago. I am trying to soak up all the outdoor love we can before the heat returns.

I am going to tag the following people who I don't think have done this recently (and anyone else who would like to join in of course)--
Dianna of Thingy Thing
Amanda of Made in a Treehouse
Jessi of Everyday Studios
Catherine of Little Glowing Lights
Nichole of Little Brown Pen
Karey of Mackin Ink
Katie of Color Me Katie
If you do this, please let me know in the comments! :)

The Tagging Game "Official" Rules:
1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog; some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their name and a link to their blog.
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Sunday is Library Day! Favorite Board and Picture Books 2008

Even though I haven't had the fortune of seeing lots of new picture books in the last few months, here is a list of our favorite picture books this year! These are in no particular order, but my favorite this year is Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley at the top. You can't find a sweeter or more funny book about friendship. Thanks to my wonderful friend Dianna who shared this book with me across the many miles. And titles from the Begin Smart series, like What Does the Baby Do?, are must-haves for your baby friends.

What have your favorites been this year? :)

this probably goes without saying, but give a click on the book cover to see more details on Amazon

Didn't Your Mama Teach You Any Better?

Christmas Meme

I got tagged twice this week and I'd thought I'd do the Christmas Meme first from Cathy!

01. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Even though I know it's not enviornmentally the best, I love wrapping presents and tying them up with ribbon. In my defense though, I have used brown grocery bags or just plain tissue paper. I love that simple look.

02. Real tree or artificial?
I grew up with artificial and maybe because of that, have always gotten real trees once I was "all growns up." I just love the smell and beauty of a real one. This year though artificial was our only option and it still was pretty great.

03. When do you put up a tree?
Usually right after Thanksgiving. I like us to be able to enjoy it all of December.


04. When do you take the tree down?
Usually right on or after New Years Day. This year though we might leave it up longer. My mother-in-law and her husband are visiting the last week in January. And since we are celebrating Christmas with them then, we thought we might go ahead and leave it up. Plus it's so pretty! And living abroad now with most of our items packed away back home, it adds that something extra to our very simple abode.

05. Do you like eggnog?
Jeez, I think I've tried it a couple times, and it hasn't been my thing....I'll stick with hot cocoa!

06. Favorite gift as a child?
I remember one year getting a cabbage patch doll from my Aunt and thinking it was the best thing in the whole world. I had wanted one for like forever.

07. Hardest person to buy for?
Hmmmm. My dad has never been the easiest. At the same time, he is easy to please, if that makes any sense at all.

08. Easiest person to buy for?
That would be Eleanor! Little ones are so easy to make happy. This year she has been happiest with a cute little washing machine (that whips around - very cool) and a set of cars, as well as an adorable sock monkey family sent to us :)


09. Do you have a nativity scene?
We do have one back home. It's a Willow Tree Nativity Scene from my MIL which I really love. Very simple. I love taking it out every year and then calling her.

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
Nothing comes to mind actually...although I know there are some stinkers in there.

11. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Definitely It's a Wonderful Life and A Charlie Brown Christmas.

12. Favorite Christmas Song?
I absolutely love love love A Charlie Brown Christmas: Original Soundtrack by Vince Guaraldi. Favorite single song: John Lennon's Happy Christmas (War is Over) is in there. Eleanor's favorite by far has been Jingle Bells.


13. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
We've always went home to Cincinnati to see family. This year though we did not of course with being so far away.

14. Have you ever recycled a christmas present?
Sure, but if I have, I always try to make sure it looks like a straight up gift that they would like. We've all gotten those re-gifts that are so obvious and that's not cool.

15. Favorite ornament or theme color?
Oh, there are sooo many I really like. Probably my favorite is from our wedding. We were married in December and gave out pretty creme-colored ornaments with a personalized ribbon as wedding favors. I liked that choice - something people won't just throw away immediately. I always smile when I see one on someone's tree :)

So, we are supposed to tag five people and I will tag: Beth, Katie, Stacey, Katherine and Jen, as well as anyone else would like to. If you guys do this, drop me a comment! :)

click on photos from Flickr to see image credits
p.s. Happy Birthday, Mom!! I love you with my whole heart.

Merry Christmas!!

It's funny, I've always associated Christmas with winter and cold and snow. I always wished for snow as a kiddo. I have this great memory when I was probably about 6 years old in the early 80s....my Dad surprised my Mom with a new Pinto (remember those ;). She was excited and our family all piled into the car and took it for a drive in the deep Christmas snow. Maybe the snow wasn't deep that year, but I think of it like it was a crazy blizzard--all extremely white and beautiful. Childhood is magic, especially at Christmas.

I got a beautiful animated e-card from my friend Katherine yesterday. And the last line she wrote in her note was--"Remember that Jesus was born not so far from you, and is with you always." It really kinda took me back. No, it's not all snowy here as we celebrate our little Christmas in the desert, but this year is special because the three of us have embarked on a great adventure and have the love our our families and friends in our hearts who have been so amazing.

I wish you all a wonderful Christmas.

card designed by Jessi of Everyday Studios

Happy

I was so happy that I found this online tonight that I could burst! I just love it. It's just not quite Christmas for me without seeing it each year (and usually more than once). And Eleanor loved it too. She thinks Snoopy is pretty funny business.

A Charlie Brown Christmas @ Yahoo! Video

Tradition

This year we'll have a pretty quiet desert Christmas and I don't mind. There are things I miss though besides family and friends, like watching the holiday specials like Charlie Browns' Christmas (fortunately I brought the soundtrack!). Thanksfully, I did plan ahead and brought It's a Wonderful Life. I've watched it every Christmas Day or Eve since forever. I just love it from start to finish. The world is a better place with this movie and George Bailey. Do you remember they have a little girl in the movie named ZuZu? How cute is that.

What movies do you watch during the holidays?

Sunday is Library Day! The Book of the Week

This week instead of sharing a book, I am going to share a great book resource that my friend Katie shared this week--take a look at Lookybook! It's a great site where you can view participating picture books from cover to cover in their entirety. Some books are better viewed than others depending on the text size and amount--so better for baby and toddler reads I have found, but for the most part, a great opportunity to take a look at a book. I know I appreciate this site with not having great access to books now.

Sure, reading a book on the computer (especially when not full screen) can't be compared to cuddling up with a book, but this offers another option. My bookshelf name is "herland" if you are interested in the best books for readability that I have found.

Flannel Board Story Love

This week I feel like a million bucks! We got a wonderful package from family in New York with amazing fun and cozy things like a sock monkey, cute pjs, and book for Eleanor, as well as other wonderful items. And this! Even the sewing challenged like myself can make an interesting "curious creature!" It's a cool book and kit containing all ones needs.

Thinking we couldn't feel any more loved, a couple days later, another package arrived, from the most amazing librarian friends a girl could have--Amanda, Dianna and Cathy, containing all kinds of wonderful felt and embroidery items! I haven't been able to find a shop here in Al Ain that carries felt or flannel, so this was truly exciting to get. Just look at the felt love.


After falling in love with flannel board stories as a children's librarian, I have wanted to make one for Eleanor for awhile and I think she is just the right age to start to enjoy. Here is some of what I have been working on and am planning on giving her for Christmas! (don't worry, she'll get other loot as well! ;)


I am currently getting the actual board prepared. A nice large board that will lean up against a wall with large flannel pieces for little hands. We are starting with a creme background but then hope to move into a beautiful bright blue background that really offsets the colors well. I'll show off more flannel stories as I make them for girlie. Getting closer to the dream.

Happy Anniversary

Eight years ago on a blistery romantic evening in downtown Cincinnati, Michael and I got married.

It was a small wedding, nothing over the top, but for us, it was perfect. Jeez, we were so young, just in our early twenties. And so in love. It's hard to believe that so many years have passed and we have a bouncing tot to boot.

What I know about Michael....He is the spontaneous to my planned. He is the faith to my worry. He is the adventure that has brought us here overseas. And as I told him so early on many many years ago.....he is my life force. He also will hate that I have written this! ;)

photo credit

Knuffle Bunny!

If I would have seen this earlier, I would have put them in some of our christmas cards! We love Knuffle Bunny! Here's the pigeon book plate from last year....

This Is Where We Live

Robin, a librarian friend just tweeted this! (yes, I got pulled into Twitter and love it actually). Anyway, I thought it was major impressive and wanted to share.

This Is Where We Live from 4th Estate on Vimeo.

Christmas Card Love

One of my favorite things to do every year is to sit down and write Christmas cards. I love every moment from picking out the card...to addressing and putting on stamps....and most importantly, writing a note inside--all with drinking lots of hot cocoa. I can't wait to show you my Christmas card, but until then, here are some lovelies I've come across....(just click on them to see where I found them :)









These I sent out a few years ago...

Are you sending out cards this year?

Sunday is Library Day! The Book of the Week

So, we didn't actually get to the library today with the birthday party we had for Eleanor this afternoon instead.....but I will share a wonderful book we got in the mail this week from our friend Jessi: Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson.

If you are looking for a Christmas gift book idea for ages 2-5, I highly recommend this one. Eleanor loves it and the wonderful holiday doings it captures. Although hard for our buddy, bear, who has been awakened from his cozy winter sleep by his friends, the story repeats...."bear stays up!" Something along those lines. The book is actually in Eleanor's room right now as she sleeps and there is no way I am braving it for you all, as much as I love you. And I do.

Some other holiday or wintry reads that we have brought from home or picked up here and been enjoying--our own little taste of snow love amidst our desert Christmas:
Dream Snow by Eric Carle
The Snowy Day by Jack Ezra Keats
Get Busy This Christmas! by Stephen Waterhouse
Snow is My Favorite and My Best! (a Charlie & Lola book) by Lauren Child
and of course, Olivia Helps with Christmas by Ian Falconer

Keeping this one short. Mama is tired but girlie had the best party in the park for her 2nd. How many birthdays will she be able to say she had in the park with a lovely 78 degrees? ;) Under palm trees with beautiful flowers around while charging the playground....but the best, was all her little lovey friends that she has made here who came to have birthday fun with us. That was something very special.

I'd love to show you pictures Michael took of the us doing Ring Around the Rosey, London Bridges, Hokey Pokey.....a little mini storytime I pulled off reminiscent of my librarian days....but to show privacy, I'll just share these two of Eleanor, mostly for Grandma (look she's actually in a dress! ;)

Eleanor watching some balloons escaping into the sky! (note the cheesy puffs around the mouth!)....

And our birthday girlie obviously just very happy :)...

Here are a few of my favorite things....Christmas Gift List

I've been seeing all these wonderful gift lists, themed or not, and thought I'd throw one more into the mix! This one is for family and friends separated by many many miles, maybe even half way around the world (!), and are greatly loveloveloveyloved and missed. And most items are $40 or much much less. I hope you like it. xx

How's about a fun globe ball for play (!) to show little ones where all their lovey ones live.....photo taken by Jessi of Everyday Studios


This print to show how you feel whenever you get that email or far away phone call.....


This lovely little map bird....
This sweet Christmas card with lots of photos tucked inside to plaster the frig with...


Or this card that doubles as a bookmark!....

And don't forget to add in these hearts....

Or these letterpress world postcards (with hearts where you both live) to keep in touch the rest of the year....

A pretty Christmas ornament to hang on the tree and feel love across the miles....


How about some Silly personalized photo luggage tags?....
Something pretty to always carry with them and think of you...

Who doesn't love a sock monkey? WE DO! especially the one Eleanor got this year for her birthday from family in NY :)....


You can't forget some sweets made with love....


And this ring for myself to always find my way home....

Happy 2 Eleanor!

Baby girl is TWO today! I can't believe it. The day has been full of cakes, presents and lots of fun....and to think she will get to do it all again on Sunday when her birthday party is planned! Lucky lucky girlie.

Today some serious cake eating....

turned into a sugar fog....

And then there was lots of camel kissing....

And running around like a little hullabaloo...

And playing with her new looty loot...

And let's not forget, thinking about what other fun stuffs she could get herself into.


It's been a fun day.

We love our new #2 birthday shirt from here and the addition of these crazy wonderful wooden dolls to our collection from here.

Karey and the Call to Prayer

In the last few days since I found her, I have been reading reading reading through Karey's blog Mackin Ink. I just love her whit and whimsy and those stories about her little girls--like this one and this one. But I think I have also been searching for something from her. She's in Jordan. She's been doing this abroad gig for awhile now. How long I'm not sure. But I've been reading her and searching. And I'm really not sure for what.

She posted something I have been meaning to. Something I have been meaning to because 1. I am inspired by it and 2. some of you have asked. The Call to Prayer. I don't hear this early prayer (!)--mama is still sleeping, but I do hear it around lunchtime without fail and in the evening. It calms me. It makes me pause. Eleanor just laughs sometimes when we are outside walking or at the park and squeals "singing!" And I say quietly, yes, they are praying to god. And I smile because I like that she hears it.

So maybe you want a quick listen too. Thanks, Karey. For this and all your other words and pretties. This living abroad business is an exciting, bewildering, adventurous, exhausting and amazing experience and you do it with style.

beautiful illustration above from dazeychic

Update--unfortunately Mackin Ink is no longer a public blog :(

Beauties

Let's start off by saying that December has always been my favorite month. Take away all the holiday hoo-ha (which we love) and it's the month we got married. The month my baby girl was born. And the month that is my mom's birthday. December has become a dizzying busy joyous special time.

But I've been a little sad the last few days. I've been homesick. No....not homesick actually. I'm peoplesick. It's the joyous month of December and besides my little family, all the people we love are thousands of miles away.....and sure, we are meeting great people here, but it's not the same. Not yet anyway. Don't be sad for me. It's just the natural progression of things I know that. I'd be that much more a weirdo if I wasn't feeling this way. It is just part of this experience. And the fact that I've been so happy here is an amazing thing. But I am peoplesick. Or maybe just a funk I might even be in if I were back home. Who can tell.

What did make me smile tonight though was uploading pictures I took yesterday and coming upon these beauties of my little hullabaloo of a buttrocket. I am peoplesick. But if I have this little girl by my side and our shared love, then it's ok. I could have stopped at the perfection of this first picture, but baby girl is turning two this week, so I am marveling even more lately.

Sunday is Library Day! The Book of the Week

This has been another quick week and we have been loving this fast horsey read--Clip-Clop by Nicola Smee! What can be more fun than a cat, dog, pig and duck that go for a ride, get thrown off, and want to go AGAIN! We had one of Eleanor's friends and her Mom over this afternoon for tea and play. It was very sweet for me at one point to see Eleanor "reading" a couple books to her friend including this one.

I also had to share this super monkey post! Too funny. I want him.

The Family Nap

Our little family took a nap today. all. at. once. It was heaven and I hope whoever we add to the crew wants to play too because, for reals, it's just that perfect. We all slept with complete and utter quiet for well over a couple hours until a little army of happy arab children from the neighborhood came to play just outside our windows and wake us up. Except Michael. He must have been very tired so just Eleanor and I got up to be perfect little busy bodies for at least the rest of the day.

photo credit

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

I love putting up the Christmas tree every year right after Thanksgiving. Even though all of our most special ornaments are packed away back home, I did plan ahead and brought a few. Dianna also sweetly made and mailed me some birds to add to the ones she made for me last year and some cute little stockings that Eleanor loves.

I like finding ornaments when we have taken trips. Ornaments, next to photographs, make the best souvenirs. It's nice every year unpacking them and revisting time we spent somewhere. Last week in Oman, we were able to pick up a couple hand-painted balls and some kitschy camels!

I love our little apartment here, but we are light on decor items out of practicality with being here for a year or so--and the tree really added that something extra, that pretty pretty that has me smiling from ear to ear. Eleanor is in love too. She blows the tree kisses and has to say 'good night' to the tree and ornaments every night before bed...

Etsy Love

These are too cute. What a sweet little gift to put in a christmas card or to top off a gift!

Beachy Pics

Here are some of our beachy pics from our little holiday in Sohar, Oman. It was so nice to walk up and down the beach, jump in the waves, collect shells, and laze around the hotel for a few days. Sohar is supposed to have a great old fort and museum, but we were too much in love with the beach to be pulled away, at least on this trip. The beach had a dark sand but it was very pleasant.

Eleanor loved her first time to the beach, although honestly I think she was just as happy with the hotel pool and hammock! :) It was sweet though watching her expressions as she ran in the waves and saw crabs and such. It was also nice talking to some of the kids who were making quite a fuss over "Noora." We have gotten used to introducing Eleanor to arabs as "Noor," or the more affectionate "Noora," meaning "light" in arabic. Being a little blondie gets her quite the attention here too.

I haven't honestly been too homesick, but my advice to future expats--if you are contemplating the possibility of being homesick for a holiday--get out of town! Even though I obviously knew it was Thanksgiving (at least the day before), it was not until 7:30pm, once back in our hotel room, that I paused and said to Michael--"hey...Happy Thanksgiving!"

Another bonus to this trip was there was a crazy rainstorm our first night there. I was so happy! It was such a strong rain it even knocked out our electricity for 15-20 minutes.

The drive from Al Ain into Oman to Sohar was full of rugged beauty - desert and mountains. We are looking forward to a trip to the capital, Muscat, within the next month.

Advent Calendar

Isn't this pretty? You can go visit Brooke if you are interested in how to make. I didn't grow up with an advent calendar but I love the idea and maybe next year will create one for our little family. I think my favorite material is felt. There is something so cozy and sweet about it.

I love

Today I came across two more things to love -

I found my way to the Mackin Ink blog written by Karey. She happens to also be a Midwesterner living in the Middle East (Amman, Jordan). She tells stories about her three little "flower" girls that kill me and has sweet things to share like the Creative Thursday etsy shop that created this beautiful print. This artist's work is so whimsical. I immediately thought her illustrations would look amazing in a picture book and looky loo, she's written one!