Mother's Day

We celebrated Mother's Day a couple of months ago, the kids made cards and arranged to take me out to their favorite restaurant (hahaha..). It was Arabic mother's day, they don't know the difference and I'm ok with that. Then Mother's Day came around last week and they were ready to celebrate again.  Hey, who am I to squelch their enthusiasm for well..me? They were eager to buy gifts, but I had to convince them notes and something very very small would be plenty for me. It's hard when all I see is more to pack and ship.  They were happy with being allowed to choose their own gift for me and I always enjoy seeing what they think I'll enjoy.

Mother's Day is on a Sunday, which is a work day in this part of the world (our weekend is Friday and Saturday) and it was particularly exhausting. I had planned to come home and cook dinner, but decided on the way home, I just didn't have it in me to cook.  That's been happening a lot lately, but I think it was the sand storm and extreme temperatures that got to me. We made quick plans to go to the closest mall (there are many many malls close by) for sushi.

Air quality report..
Airpocalypse days are rough on the body.  

The two who call me mommy.

It was mostly empty because we arrived around 5, which is VERY early for dinner here (usually 8pm) so we got to sit "outside." Dinner was amazing and while we were eating, Adam received a video of our pups in Texas playing with family.  It was so lovely to see them and it really made the kids smile.  They've been missing their pups so much these past few weeks, but the count down is on to see them again in Texas.

Phoebe watching the video over and over. See how we sat "outside?"

This was yummy!
Above you see the interior of the food court at the mall (left) and the appetizer (right).

As we sat at the restaurant I felt a wave of appreciation for this place. Specifically two things: the predictability of place which has become home and second, a place where people love children and treat them with genuine care. They are not seen as an inconvenience ever. While we were eating, the waiter had the chef make Phoebe her own sushi roll with no fish and brought it just for her, he didn't even charge us for it. After dinner, they brought complimentary chocolate truffles, which the kids loved so the waiter brought another for each of them just to be kind. I'm hoping we find the same kindness in Poland.

Thrilled with her sushi.

After we left the restaurant we stopped at the grocery store for a few things and below is what we ended up with... when the weather turns this way, we often have a lot of the same in our carts. 

Yogurt, apple sauce, mango juice, ginger ale, mineral water with fruit, coconut water and organic juice.. Can't get enough to drink!