Covid, Lockdown, Zoom!

yes, three terms we have never previously used in our life, and which became on the top list of searched words on google in 2020

At first it was surreal, then scary, then frustrating. nothing would compare to how humanity felt during this period and for the next couple years. lockdown time was a chance to spend more time together as a family, to connect with each other, and with God. To appreciate the things we had, the people we love and care for. Covid made us realize never to take for granted a handshake, meeting with neighbors, the school rush each morning, the gathering at the coffee shop, and the small things that make the everyday life normal.

kids got to know each other

we baked, and baked, and baked!

Creativity at its best

Ghadi learned how to play 14!

more love and tenderness

we gathered to zoom with family and friends

Board games almost every evening

and studying via Zoom

cleaning and sporting was done

more creativity

zooming

getting more handsome

we celebrated our neighbor's birthday over the balconies, we did cake, brought balloons and the whole neighborhood heard us singing and joined the party 

  

Ecotourism - 1/2

"Ecovillage" is a place where one can practice ecotourism at its best.

wooden cabins installed on pine trees, educational activities, swimming in the river and eating a healthy organic meal, is among the many activities offered in this unique project at Chouf area. 

the setting is amazing, the founder of this village greeted us and in no time we felt like at home 

the day kicked off, by introducing the concept of solar energy...

then after a short rest a very funny old man took us in a promenade between lemon trees and organic herbs, explaining and naming the different plants and the useful uses of each and how to recognize them!

Sary was not fine...at first he was like this

then mostly like that:

 I am not sure what was exactly wrong, 

but it seems the spring is bringing more than blossoms and butterflies...

for Sary, every spring would announce the stimulation of his "atopic march" symptoms.

this allergic manifestation dates back to when he was infant, the typical sequence included eczema, asthma, and now it's progressing to skin inflammation and food allergy.

now, back to our journey!

we reached the river side and boys were thrilled!

it was still cold so we didn't have the guts to let them hit the water,

but we had great joy by throwing pebbles, discovering a baby frog, and watching the tiny truite fishes! 

 

then off we took the trail leading us to the tiny little farm.

 

 

 

Ghadi was so excited to see the chicken, the rooster and those little eggs!

the chicken were not as excited as we were, they were panicked and I don't blame them!

 then we stumbled upon a pile of pine nuts that were already peeled..

but boys decided they'd try to search for leftovers! 

 we'll post about the rest of this amazing day tomorrow! stay tuned  ;)

Don't stop the Music!

Ghadi keeps bluffing me with his questions & comments and requests!
but still I can't deny the fact that 5.5 years old boys rock, you know why?
because simply they are so keen to please everybody around them!
no rebellious acts,
no nerves-teasing destructive plans,
no misunderstandings,
no aggressive answers..

Ghadi even surrenders to any punishment gracefully, and admits it when he commits mistakes!

this is now what keeps my sanity safe when I encounter those non-stop tantrums of my 2.2 years old Sary!
he wants milk, you don't jump on the spot to prepare his bottle? he throws himself on the ground, crying out loud, hitting his foot on the floor so intensely that neighbors living at ground floor can hear them. (we live on 4th floor by the way!)
preparing his bottle, you forget to give him the cap so HE closes the bottle when u finish adding the milk? yes, throwing, crying, hitting floor
you give him the bottle and lead him to his bed, the pillow is not in place? or you changed the cover? ok, you can imagine the third tantrum in a row within 5 minutes...
and don't yo worry, i'm not taking any pills to keep myself from breaking into pieces when this scene repeats often during the weekend...

My reaction to his tantrums is simple application to all the stuff i learned and read about this type of toddler expressions... sometimes I smile , other times I walk away, I even hug him (causing myself severe bumps when he kicks me away, and I'm telling you, this boy will is able to hurt me for real if I didn't pay attention to his reactions! he kicks with his head, with his fists, with his tiny-powerful-feet)..

But to be fair, he was having acute conditions lately, from skin eczema to food allergy, severe constipation, throat infection, mild fever... All this together and he can't even express or figure out what's happening with him! this is why I'm being patient with him and I'm trying to absorb his frustration...as much as I can!

back to Ghadi,
this almost 6 years old boy, is controlling my car radio, whenever he rides the car with me, he switches between stations broadcasting the mainstream music and refuses to put children songs!
So I decided to arrange a custom-made CD for him including the favorite songs from Movies soundtracks!
here is the list:

*Collision Of Worlds from Cars2
*Hot Wings from  RIO
*I like to move it from Madagascar3
*_this one cracks me up_: Axel F from Monsters Vs Aliens
(they adores that scene when the president plays this music on his keyboard!)
*and finally I'm telling the world also from Rio!

since I got the CD,  the boys didn't stop dancing and rocking at home, and it's a great substitute for watching TV!
couple hours before bedtime...and pouf! they sleep like babies! (insert here that evil laugh of mine!)
ah, but the downside is that I could never resist staying away so I join and I jump and dance,
and it happens that sometimes I hit the bed before THEY do!

Today Ghadi asked me to add other songs
I was more than delighted and asked him which songs he would like me to add
so he said that he has no idea, but I should add the songs I know he'd like!
a Typical male-thinking-attitude!
OK!
I'm a supermom, and supermoms always come up with something!

Virus attacks_episode 2

Just to add to the chaos mentioned on my previous post, Sary had a stomach virus, causing him severe diarrhea / vomiting, all the time, everywhere...

so after we had almost all bed linen in laundry, I had this brilliant idea, inspired from a fellow blogger:

I brought that crib mattress back!

and I prepared a bucket for any sudden vomit attacks!

the Good news is that the virus did last only three days, then we had a constipation attack which also lasted three days...

now he's having intolerable pain inside his mouth, putting his five fingers under his tongue, 

sucking everything in hand, 

I wonder if 2 year sold kids experience teething,

but it is definitely something causing him lots of pain, cuz he's waking up at night, screaming, crying 

and we are having difficulties to bring him to sleep in piece again!

hope this episode will end soon...

cuz he looks really sad and enduring pain, and above all, 

he can express way better now, 

and he looks at you and says: 

ou'ou!

_which, translated to grown-up language would be: 

Aiiii, i'm having that intolerable pain and you all could do nothing about that???? HELP!_

January round up!

Sary is witnessing a stage of quick development!

he started to say words I can understand, instead of the constant babbling,

he knows what he wants, and he knows how to GET what he wants...

and he's imitating every single activity his brother does...

and here I shall say  we are so lucky that Ghadi is a relatively a quiet peaceful child 

(most of the times...)...

(well, sometimes...)

 I am grateful that January passed 

it was one of those creepy months... 

Sary had  tonsils infection... had to  treat it with antibiotics (Augmentin)

and all the accompanying symptoms were there: fever, cough, running nose, 

he was fussy and cranky..

  

and when all that is over, my sister pushed me to stop giving him the pacifier...

and so I did, I threw it away and I was preparing myself for the de-pacifying stage...which was really TOUGH!

Sary didn't cope well with it...

it's been two weeks now, but he is still waking up at night, asking for a bottle of milk

 (which happened three times last night)

and he seems like punishing us! 

otherwise, it's getting so funny at home, 

Sary repeats unexpected words and it makes us laugh and wonder and forget all other sorrows!

he sings along

and he loves to dance, to run, to jump!

and one other hobby: he loves to BREAK stuff!

 he snitched my JustCavalli and in one second he turned it into a piece of junk, 

the maintenance guy shook his head in despair and whispered: " sorry ma'am, this cannot be fixed!: 

Ghadi is a totally different story!

He is getting more responsible and enjoying every single minute at school.

 and still enjoys playing with is cars!

 oh, and we are hosting these fellows every weekend!

he brings them from school, and we try our best to terurn them on monday, ALIVE!

we attended his friend's birthday last week...

and on our way back home he said:

"mama, please remind me to take invitation cards to the burger king on September 27th !"

and I was like: "Whaaaaat?"

he said:

"yes, to invite my friends to my birthday on 28th!"

*that was sooo cute!*