Decluttering has been on my mind.  Too much of a good thing is sometimes, just TOO MUCH.  I want to do a little Fall Cleanup and get rid of things that are no longer useful or that we don't absolutely love.  I've been reading a blog recently that has really inspired me and the author recently challenged her readers to a "REVERSE 100 THINGS CHALLENGE:.  Basically, we have 2 months to get rid of 100 things and then post back to her with our experience.  This took me about 2 hours, and it feels great.  I would love for the entire family to get on board, but since I don't want to make those decisions for the them myself, I decided to set an example and start with my SCRAPBOOK SUPPLIES.  I have just about gone through every box, corner and pile in the room and this is what I've been able to let go of...some for charity, some to pass on to friends, and some to possibly sell at a yard sale in the near future if I can get my act together ;-)

Here's to less STUFF!

Summer Lovin'

Well, Summer is almost over...just 10 days before school (and all the chaos that it entails) begins!  I wanted to check in here after quite the hiatus and let you all know what we've been up to at the Khashab household!  Summer was busy, but not unbearably so.  In fact, we stayed close to home most of the time and the kids spent a lot of time catching up on TV (yes, I KNOW....), with friends (occasionally) and most of all, with each other.  Ramadan ended just 9 days ago, so for the past month, we've kept it pretty low key.  Now that the end of Summer is imminent, I hope to be able to enjoy a few more lazy days of summer before it's all over for the year.  We visited the local Rotary Fair, but getting out has been hard since the end of Ramadan because of another little thing going on...CONSTRUCTION.  We have finally started the bathroom remodel, and boy, do contractors, plumbers, electricians, and inspectors cramp our free time!  We did escape last week for a trip to Dorney Park, but when I'm not working, they seem to want me here!  Today, the drywall is finally going up and the final few days of work are coming to a close.  Hopefully, they will be done by next week!!

In other news, the girls completed several weeks worth of day camp. Leena attended a photography class, plus 2 weeks of Summer Dance Intensive.  Yasmeen had 2 weeks of band camp, plus private weekly lessons to learn the trumpet and a week's worth of cooking.  Adam laid low, although I know I've got to get him into preschool soon!

I've been working the usual 2 days per week schedule I've been lucky to maintain (with the occasion fill in day here and there), but starting September 10th (right after the girls are back in school), I'll start working Mondays as well.  Luckily, it's a condensed day, so I can get out early.  Hoping it doesn't make me want to quit-LOL!

Mohammed is busy at work, too.  Unfortunately, he DOES have to work all week, but can sometimes sleep in a bit during the weekend.  Between home maintenance, the occasional firehouse event and our latest hobby, he's pretty busy too.

What latest hobby you ask?  Well, for the past 10 days, we have been running a saltwater aquarium.  We inherited a 55 gallon tank and put it to good use.  Mohammed really felt that if we were going to make any effort in maintaining a tank, it might as well be a saltwater tank.  I've been reading on the internet and buying "live rock" and testing the water daily, and yesterday, after finally getting the water,  salt content, ammonia levels and ph just right, we finally added FISH.  We bought 2 black clownfish and they are just adorable.  Let's hope our calculations and advice from the aquarium store were good enough to help them survive and thrive.  These babies can last up to 10 years (although most die after 2-3 from "stress")...yikes.  Feeling like I'll be a little obsessive about keeping the water right.  Wish us luck!

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL 2012

 MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND AT THE BEACH

 VISIT FROM GIDO, SHOO SHOO AND AUNTIE MONA (& THE KIDS) FOR MOHAMMED'S BIRTHDAY

TRAIN RIDE IN FLEMINGTON

 TRIP TO THE LAKE MID-WEEK (WITH ICE CREAM AFTER)

SETTING UP THE TANK

 FIRST LIVE ROCK

 FINAL SETUP: PRETY PROUD OF IT! NO FISH YET...

 LOCAL FAIR

THE MESS OF CONSTRUCTION...WHERE OUR BATHROOM USED TO BE!

 OUR ESCAPE TO DORNEY...

 AND....

THE FISH- OSCAR AND OCTAVIA

Our new front entry...but first...

You'll have to see what it USED to look like.  Now, it's not like we ever felt it was horrendous, although it probably was close, it's just that I guess I didn't realize what an amazing difference a little curb appeal (ok, a lot of curb appeal) could make!  BEFORE, we had red brick steps that were cracking and showed evidence of a miserable patch job when the bricks started to fall off a couple of years ago.  Still, we didn't think too much of it and lived with it as it was.  BEFORE, we had cracked slate pavers that were dark grey and that were a daily temptation for Adam to pick up and throw across the driveway anytime he walked outside.  BEFORE, our poor landscaping was neglected...azalea bushes overgrown.  Leaves (old and new) scattered about, 3 huge Cypress trees blocking windows and light from entering our home and our precious Japanese Maple haggard looking.  Now matter how we tried to keep up, we just couldn't.

BEFORE:

But now...NOW we have a grand entrance leading up to our door.  Sandlewood pavers in a herringbone pattern gently wrap around the flower bed and miniature Green Velvet bushes surround the patio.  NOW, Azalea bushes have been groomed and RELOCATED and our Japanese Maple (newly trimmed) has found a  new home where the Cypress trees used to reside.  Our home has more natural light and an elegant look.  NOW we are proud of our front entrance and hope that we are able to keep it looking as beautiful as it does today.  NOW, we are happy and excited to buy a small table and chairs to put out there so we can watch our kids as they play out front.  NOW, we'd better remember to water the plantings :-)

It's May...and that means LOAD...

Yep, I'm at it again...LAYOUT A DAY is on...only this time, I'm not stressing if I can't complete a layout each and every day, although 1 week into it, I'm still hanging on.  Usually I get started after dinner, but today I was home, so I could think about it earlier and get started while Adam napped.  Speaking of Adam, he's begun taking soccer and basketball classes (not that into it yet) and swimming (very much into THAT).  After 3 years of just "hanging out" or tagging along with his sisters, I felt it was time to get him into something during the day while I'm home.  Luckily the recreation schedule worked out for us!  I also spent much of last week overseeing some patio work outside.  After doing some landscaping earlier last month, Mohammed and I decided our front entrance needed an update.  We hired our landscaper (that we didn't knew also did patios) to rip out the front stairs and walkway and put in new half moon steps leading out to a bigger and better patio made from pavers.  They just finished today, and it looks great (especially when compared to what used to be there!  So, lots of activity around here, and lots of scrapping going on too.  I'll post pics of the patio once it stops raining!!

Chugging along...

Well...it's been a few busy months.  In fact, I made it to day 19 during the February LOAD, then couldn't keep up anymore with the demands of work, family and TIME restraints. Glad I got that many pages done, though.  In March, Papa celebrated another birthday (just one year away from the big 8-0) and I attended a scrap weekend.  Yasmeen also had a birthday (12!), although she was sick for the week beforehand and we had to reschedule her sleepover/mall scavenger hunt party until the following week.  That meant, having a bunch of little girls here for a party while trying to pack for our Spring Break vacation to Florida!  We did it, and we just got back yesterday.  It was a very relaxing and exhausting (lots of walking) vacation, but as always, it's good to get home too.  That feeling will probably last until we get back into the swing of things with work, school, activities, etc :-)  Until then, here are some pics of the past several months:

SOME LOAD LAYOUTS:

SOME BIRTHDAY PICTURES OF YASMEEN'S PARTY/SLEEPOVER:

first, with family in the midst of her illness...

Then, with friends a week later...

Then, Leena's talent show thrown in the middle of it all (she did GREAT, by the way)

Then...VACATION:

stop for cupcakes in Bethesda...

 lunch at Kraze burgers...YUM!!

 THE AUTOTRAIN!!

 Williamsburg, VA for a couple of days...

 Then, Florida...

and in between all the running around...a "downtime" day at Clearwater Beach...gorgeous!!

PHEW...now that's a long post!!  Hopefully it'll hold you over until the next time.  Happy Spring!!