Calm after the storm…

During regular schooldays, she wake up at 5:45 am just in time when Justin comes out of the shower. She washes herself for 10 mins (including her hair), then tip toes to her room leaving droplets of water from her hair. After getting dressed, she comes out to eat her breakfast while I work on her hair (part of my morning chores is to blowdry and set her hair).

Today, she go back to school after her spring break (of 10 days). Throughout the holiday, my salon was close, meaning she will have to deal with her hair on her own. I never fail to  remind her to brush her hair(couple of times that I caught her after taking a shower). Of course, the words enter her left ear and afterwards get snorted out of her nose. It never  came out of her right ear because if it did, that means it would’ve traveled in her brain and she would have done it.

This morning when she came out of the shower, her hair was so messed up as if there were cats with rolls of woolen threads fighting on head.
I tried to be optimistic, thinking it couldn’t be that bad if she put conditioner. But I was wrong, every attempt to brush her hair it gets more tangled. So badly tangled, she resembles Bozo the clown hahaha!

Try to imagine the scene this morning … Me -smoke coming out of my ears and nostrils- tagging her -distraught teary face- to my toilet. There in my toilet I rummage through my collection of hair treatments and found an ultra conditioner/detangler from UK. I made her kneel down and ask her to bend down her head to the bath tub so we can untangled her hair, at the same time save her clothes from getting wet. After 10 minutes and a handful of hair in ball shape, it’s ready for a blow dry.

The result, her hair looks like the ones you see in a shampoo commercial. Long, black, soft, tangle free, flowing like silk threads (that was actually her observation), She was so happy that the teary eyes all of a sudden turned into  twinkling eyes. She hugged me tightly and said "Thank you Mommy for making my hair so beautiful".

Hhhmmmm, I wanted to say "Next time this happens, we’ll go straight to the salon and have your hair shaved!". But I did not, I kept it to myself and just gave her a grin  

My day starts at 4:45 a.m. - that’s when they call for prayers at the mosque with their loud speakers attached on top . Sacha hits the bathroom and get ready for work, me on the other hand prepares food for breakfast and a sandwich that he will bring to work. The kids get up at 5:30 and by 6:30 they’re gone. Sometimes I go back to bed and catch a quick nap before the babies get up. Most of the times I carry on with my chores and I usually start in the garden.

This morning I went back to bed because my back has been hurting for a couple of days now. I was awoken by a call from hubby asking me to get ready and bring him something he left at home. It’s too important that it cannot be entrusted to the driver. Half asleep, I slip into my jeans and shirt, gathered my hair into a clip and grab my corduroy jacket.
My helper upon seeing me in a zombie like state, hurried to prepare a coffee for me to bring and drink in the car. She  told me that I am wearing  flip flops when I’m about to get into the car. She ran inside the house, to the walk in closet and got me sandals, my wedding ring and sunglasses.

Few minutes later I’m on my way. Amidst the heavy traffic and the heat(even if it was barely 9 o’clock in the morning) I was awake but somehow in a coma - my brain is dead. I didn’t notice how did an hour and half of travel time went by. I just know my consciousness came back when I was entering the office gate. Usually I kill travel time by reading a book or 2 newsweek magazine or an hour on the phone yapping with a friend. But today is a milestone, I can only remember 5 minutes of it
As soon as I handed him the stuff, he noticed a certain expression that is usually on display on certain days of the month  - Long Face :(      
(when I have period).
He asked me to wait for an hour and promised that he’s going to treat me for lunch.
That’s when this photos were taken :

Grilled King Prawn with Cheese
                                                    Peppered Beef   

Scrumptious !!!

The resto is called Penang Bistro, an authentic Malaysian cuisine.
I enjoyed it so much that I ended up feeling sleepy again on the way back
I told him I don’t mind bringing him stuffs to the office everyday
Me flashing my usually happy, smiley face ….

This one is suppose to be posted before the Lenten season. The time when people take a pause on their daily lives and review/recollect the past year. Some of us focused on renewing ourselves through observing/participating in the Lenten practices, mosts just focused on long awaited summer break in the beach, while others just continue with their regular life.
I’m one of those who take a retreat and do a reality check on where/what/how am I now. I’d say I have emerged as a winner in this path that I have chosen not so long ago. Experiencing the hardship of life is part of what makes you if it doesn’t break you.
The transition from one place to another, from old status to a new relationship, the merging of different backgrounds, additional members of family, new surroundings,  new obstacles and new adventure. I have conquered them all!

Of course it doesn’t end there, it’s just the beginning and there’s more to come.

Pixel is about to shoot the ball inside the blue basket. Behind the basket is Justin standing on a low plastic chair pretending to be the post for the basket.

I’m telling you this kind of moment is rare!

Usually the setting is like this ….
The one on the right is the underdog.

But this time they’re taking turns and we’re very civil to each other.
You see miracles do happen