Shoot 4 The Moon,: family

Our little angel Mahmoud has celebrated his first birthday last night with a small crowd of family kids!

365 days ago, Mahmoud came to life to change the world in his own way! :)

As passionate parents, we can't wait to see Mahmoud growing up and becoming an independent mature man who takes decisions on his own and chooses his own path for life. I think that would be the best day all along our lives!

I think the Mahmoud's charming smile can say a lot, so I just want to conclude with this nice short quote for John Bowring. It says: "A happy family is but an earlier heaven."

Happy birthday, little Hammodeh... keep growing :)

P.S. a previous post predicting the future of our kids is posted here. enjoy reading it!

Early this year, we took a great decision to go for a full week of adventure, fun and entertainment in the charming Sharm! (Egypt)... the 30-second video can tell you the most exciting parts of story! enjoy :)

Wait for more special "short" videos.. stay tuned!

I'm sorry, but this is what a delicious dish of fish may cost you!

For more details you may visit my wife's blog!

During the last 2 weeks since the beginning of the strike on Gaza. We've all seen millions of angry people across the world holding banners condemning the 'genocide' in Gaza and chanting anti-Israeli slogans on several TV channels and other media channels as well.

I'm sure that protesting is really a supportive action, in addition to in-kind and financial donations and other common means of support. But, I'm writing now to suggest another effective powerful way to support people in Gaza morally, and make feel them how much we do sympathize with them; it is basically to call them!?

Yes, you can really support people at Gaza by calling them and telling them how much we are proud of their persistence, braveness and resistance against this inhuman barbarian strike on Gaza. I've tried it and I can tell you how they would love to listen to us and find a listening ear from you as well.

To call a random number in Gaza, all you need to do is to dial:

+970828 XXXXX (add a random number composed of 5 digits)
+970820 XXXXX
+970821 XXXXX

Example: +97082812345

P.S. I will record one of my calls and post it her to share with you this experience. Please try it yourself, NOW!

It is my pleasure to introduce our little son to you:

Name: Mahmoud M. Khawaja
Date of Birth: 21st of Nov. 2008
Martial status: Single!!
Hobbies: sleeping, imagination and discovering the new world around :)
Occupation: jobless ?!
Dreams: Endless....

To know more about his "predicted" character, personality and style, I invite you to read this interesting post. :)

If you missed the first letter written to Jood (before she came to life), you can find it here.

Our little sweetie,

Hard to believe, but true, you have blown out your 1st birthday candle last week :)

A year full adventure and amazing funny moments has passed leaving special memories that will live inside us forever. So be ready to trigger your memory back when you grow up!

The love of a parent is something impossible to understand until you become a parent yourself. You were the naughtiest baby around who attracted the eyes and hearts of everyone and made them all fall in love with your innocence, intelligence, cheerfulness, playfulness, energy, curiosity and cuteness.

During the times we were travelling, you were the most beautiful thing to discover! We still remember how you were making new friends everywhere we go with your charming smile –whatever their language, skin color or age.

If there is one thing that I want you to know even at this young age, it is to know that every moment in life counts - each is beautiful in its own way, whether happy, painful, joyous or awful. Treasure the wonderful moments in life, and learn to grow by living through those that are not.

You are developing in so many ways, sweet baby, and each day I catch another glimpse of something new that makes me say with swelling heart, "This is another aspect of Jood!" we are so privileged to love and care for you. We are so excited to get to know more and more of Jood.

They used to say that everyone inherits the qualities related to his/her particular name. That is very true in your case; especially when you insist on feeding everyone around you before you start eating!

I cannot look upon you without thinking of how Allah gave us the tremendous blessing of being your parents.

Our hope for you is to grow to know, love, and change the world in your own way!

With Love,

Mama & Papa!

Jood ... a four-month-old fetus

one-week-old baby..

3-month-old little lady!

7-month-old naughty girl!

almost 1-year-old swimming in Wild Wadi - Dubai

Since few years, I’ve been reading about the impact of applying Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) in my daily life and how it can REALLY affect our lives POSITIVELY. If you do not know what NLP is, simply it is an interpersonal communication model and an alternative approach to psychotherapy based on the subjective study of language, communication and personal change. (Definition from Wikipedia)

I used to utilize and apply what I have learned on myself and my small family, but I never realized that a 6-month-old baby like my little daughter “Jood” could respond to NLP at this early age.

The story started when Jood was rejecting the nose cleaner suction syringe as soon as her mom tries to put it inside her nose to clean it. Jood used to cry, move her head irritantingly and “fight” with all her mighty to stop her mom from placing it inside her nose.

We wanted Jood to accept the nose cleaner, thus, we started using it as a toy; we used it to pamper her by pointing the cleaner on her cheeks -not nose- and make her laugh and enjoy the soft air coming out of it. She started to feel that this toy may bring her joy and fun, too!

The good news is that Jood’s attitude toward using nose cleaner to clean her nose has changed tremendously after doing that exercise for 2-3 days, and now Jood fully accepts the cleaner with a smile on her face :)

So I would like to urge parents and parents-to-be to consider NLP as a smooth effective way in changing the attitudes of their children positively. It worked on animals, so why it wouldn't work on your kids!?

Special smiles for a special Eid! :)

Jood and her little cow wish you a Happy Eid this year and every year!

It's a pleasure inviting you to this Iftar...