December Is Here

December is upon us  and  I am astounded  at how the previous eleven months had flown by so quickly. I for once feel wonderful as I  have accomplished a few resolutions that I had imposed on myself the previous year and quite euphoric that this year I had the opportunity to fulfill a particular vision, a desire to lose a few pounds off my body. Oh! Yeah!  

The weather is cool and the children love the whole ambience that this month brings.As far as I can remember we are used to  correlate  December with cold weather and snow but for  most,December is a month of celebrating.Christmas,Santa  and presents are  primary reflections of a child.It’s  very distinctive with the children  getting all agog with  excitement as they wait for the year to end and usher in the new year.Children await December as it is a  month full of activities, surprises and fun ,even the adults wait with anticipation.With the cool climate setting in, my children’s  school has planned  a lot of sports activities and  field trips  for different classes  during this month.

Since the year is winding down ,we also should take time off our busy schedules  to remind ourselves how  blessed and fortunate   we are,having quality time with  the family,by sharing family responsibilities and  caring for  our loved ones and being united in times of dark days  thus  strengthening family ties.

On the other hand,now that it is  December,it  is  a tedious  month for spouses who are working in the Financial hub, as they  are very busy ,working non-stop to compare and provide  detailed statements of  their company’s performances. It is also the best times to  review your taxes and insurances.Like wise   if you are a tax payer,in the US you would be paying attention to 'irs forms'.

December always takes  me back to childhood.Back then we were not  endowed with technology to exchange with one another ecards,emails and digital photos of loved ones during times of celebration. Those days it was a common   scene on the streets and pavements to see people  jostling   in the last hour, to buy greeting cards,fancy items and seasonal decorations from the street hawkers,who  sold at a cheaper price than what was being sold in department stores. Life  is easy nowadays with the advent of  technology as  everything is  done at the push of a button. At the same time, the conventional way of sending  or receiving  greetings and wishes  have become a   rare occurrence .It brings nostalgic memories of the days gone by. Although it was time consuming we  always made it a point  to make cards and create  decorative  letters  during the festive season .It was with  a great sense of  importance that  I  used to   buy cards from the store  or scribble my wishes on a hand-made card and send them via snail mail   across to family and friends.Gone are the days....

Weather the weather,Whatever the weather

Since the past week it has been unusually cold and it has constantly kept me speculating. Here I was thinking it was time to put away the jackets,mufflers and everything woollen ,back into their appropriate places. However I had to unwillingly reverse my plans due to this climate which is playing havoc.I suppose no one except Mother Nature can foretell a change in the weather who by now has probably planned quite a few tricks up her sleeves and would unleash them whenever she deems fit.

More often than not, by this time, we all envision the colourful blossoms,green leaves and a gentle breeze,a picture perfect Spring,but instead,we are repeatedly sprayed with dust from the sand storms and jolted off the beds by terrifying howls from the fierce winds.A frequent occurrence during the break of dawn.What a bizarre climate!
Generally,going outdoors during the weekend is something the children look forward to,but now except for my sons,the two girls are somewhat hesitant to go out merely for the reason they have to wear double padded clothing.

Despite the uncertain weather conditions,the children’s school had planned to go ahead with the schedules organized by the school’s Scout Association.Regardless,my fifth grader who is an ardent member,was all agog as he was about to embark on his very first Scout outdoor activity.However in the last minute due to harsh weather they had to re organize the program indoors.The parents of the participants were also invited to witness a few activities later in the evening.

As much as I enjoyed the children’s wonderful program at school,I also immensely benefited from an experience on our way back home. Amid the dusty roads,polluted atmosphere and the indistinct surroundings,I was amazed at what was unfolding.We were very fortunate to have witnessed  the sunset.While  a bunch of fluffy clouds ( not visible in the picture) looked as if they were reluntantly letting her go.All the same,slowly and steadily they parted ways.An awesome moment! A glorious sight! And as soon as 'Her Majesty' disappeared,darkness approached.What a panoramic view!
Although on earlier occasions I had witnessed atypical view,I was never able to record it.I am glad I got the opportunity this time albeit it was clicked through our moving vehicle.In the midst of the nit-picking and the whimpering about the bad weather,I am grateful the day ended magnificently.

                                            

A Panoramic View -Look at the contrast !This end looked all dark.

                                  

The sun  was slowly disappearing and  the street lights began to flicker.

Of Tell-a-Tale And Fairy-Tales

Eid has come and gone. And with it the whole ambiance changed as well. I wholeheartedly welcome this change but wondering how I am going to cope the colder days ahead. Already the festivity mood has vanished into thin air despite the fact that the holidays are still on. My children will get back to school this Saturday. Till then, its hubbub everyday with all four, staggering for the television or the computer. And what more with the arrival of the latest thingy by name of play station 3, the children cannot differentiate day and night and if they had eaten their meals or not. How ever I have come to a decision that once school reopens, this newest gizmo will be veiled for awhile in a probable attempt to divert the children’s attention more toward school activities.

With the four at home, noise and clamor is an everyday thing. They have found ways and means to bring the house upside down. It‘s like we are celebrating Halloween here. Recently they scared the guts out of me with an eerie music they played on and off via their latest gizmo. And mind you, top of all this, there’s the high-pitched blaring that takes place in between regular intervals. Mine vs theirs. The only favourable outcome I have achieved so far from this screeching is my vocals cords have all toned up, though sadly not too good to put into use in a singing competition. Nonetheless this hullabaloo generated by my children on a daily basis has not changed my attitude towards them at all. My heart grows fonder day after day and my love for them deeper.

The children having a break from school has a positive side too. There is plenty of quality time that's being spent with each other and this - bonding, brings us much closer. As much as they create a mayhem, children also bring into our lives lots of fun, laughter and happiness.

    
The other day, extremely astounded, my seven year old came to me and said ‘Mom! I think she’s going to marry a frog.'    

My first reaction was a surprised, 'What! Who?' Although quite amused at this, I kept asking him how sure was he with his announcement. Then he went on ‘I am sure Mom. I heard her telling someone on the phone. Go, ask her.'
'Yes! Yes! Go ask her,' prompted my ten-year-old in an encouraging manner. Even though I found this outlandish, I thought it would be better if I got an explanation from my daughter so as to clear any doubts and alleviate all forms of suspicions from the perplexed two.

I was laughing my wits off when I heard my daughter very coolly say 'Oh that! My friend and I were talking about Walt Disneys’ The Princess and the Frog.'
'Marry a frog? What was he thinking! It happens only in Fairy Tales!'

    
Oh ! Dear Me! Why wasn’t I thinking?

(image source courtesy internet)

                                               

Cold Weather

It’s past bedtime. And there goes the sound of the raindrops.The weather is getting colder and unbearable. Earlier in the evening, the children were beginning to  sneeze and cough. Everyone at home is experiencing some sort of  irritation from the effect of this cold weather.I tried to relieve their distress with a home remedy.And it needed a lot of cajoling to make them drink the nice hot soup that I made,thanks to the instant soup packet.I stack a few for an emergency like this. I wish I had made them some home made, but anyway that was not possible. It would take more than an hour and by that time probably they would all be sound asleep. In any case the instant one came in handy at this hour.It somewhat  relieved them.The cold air outside can also be a factor for triggering my  children's allergies. The street lights began to flicker and the youngest wanted to know if  we might experience another power failure.I said we might not. Soon after my reassurance he fell asleep.