Egyptian Home Life

After currecy exchange, you are immersed in modern day Egypt.  

First, is a glimpse at home life...in a village home and a Cairo Apartment.

This is the village home.

Maya checked out what the kids watch...

 

...and then danced with her sister to Egyptian music.

 

Bella checked out the backpacks of her Egyptian counter-parts.

Hmm...this doesn't look like my school stuff.

Then they started to get ready for a country dinner.

(Nice way to use your legs Maya!)

Looks like they were having some eggs.

 

Maya's got the bowls.

The oven was outside.

So Bella cooked some carrots.

 

Careful baby...it's hot!

After dinner they said hello to the family's donkey.  

Maybe it was a burro?

 

what's the difference between a donkey and a burro, anyway?

Well...whatever it was was, the girls loaded it up...

...and headed to town to meet...

 

these two kids who live in an apartment in Cairo.

First stop...back packs.  Mom...something looks weird here...

Yes honey...you're right...I guess they call him Magic Bay there...but why it's not Magic BOY, I'm not quite sure.  

Maybe it was a typo.

But this one really confused me...

 

???  Any ideas?

Seriously...feel free to comment...I'm totally stumped?

 

Now, unfortunately there was a um...let's say...grumpy family inside, so I only got a picture of the outside of the city apartment. 

The girls were talking about going shopping...I mean, as long as we were in the big city, may as well, right?

Our Journey to Egypt

Long overdue, and as promised, the following series of posts is about our journey to Egypt, via the new exhibit at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis.  It's an amazing exhibit, and I'll be, honest, my pictures don't do it justice.  There are a LOT of pictures, so I've broken it down into multiple posts that I will post over the next few days.  Enjoy!

Arriving in Egypt

It's really cool how they've set up this exhibit.  You are greeted by a "flight attendant" as you walk in and board an Egypt Air Flight.  (Note: the guy with the coat...NOT the flight attendant.)

Here is the flight path we will take

 

On board, the "windows" are TV screens showing the things you would see as you fly over Egypt

Here's Maya checking out the Pyramids

And Sam and Bella as we flew through the clouds

You exit the airplane on the other side, where you see the currency exchange, which, apparently I forgot to photograph.  

Stay tuned for a glimpse at Egyptian home life.  

The Anatomy of a Queen Sized Bed

A Queen Size Bed.  Should be big enough to be fit for a Queen, right?

Well, perhaps it is.  Yes, I AM a Queen, but I can't be sure.

But what I CAN tell you is...

it's NOT big enough for A Queen and Two Princesses.

See that spot in the middle?  Apparently, that's my spot.

Unless, of course, the King is sleeping too. 

Then Bella (on the right), slides to the middle, The King gets the spot where Bella is. 

Well, then wehere does The Queen sleep?

See that tiny sliver of bed to the left of Maya?

Yeah.  Nice, right?

But when they look like this...

how can you make them leave??

However, when the Royal Lion joins us also...

...The Queen sleeps here...

...and probably sleeps better than the King or the Princesses.

:)

JENGA!

There was a big Jenga game set up outside the carosel at the Museum the other day. 

Sam quickly challenged Bella to a game

 

 And Bella eagerly accepted.

 

They picked each piece carefully

 

Bella choosing cautiously

 

and placing carefully, and with pride.

 

Samantha playing with slightly more confidence.

 

They continued to pick and choose carefully.

 

The center of the tower began to dwindle away

 

Bella contemplates her choice...

 

...and selects a winner.

 

Maya joined in for one turn before...

 

,,,Samantha pulled one more piece, and the tower began to tumble.

Sam's quick reflexes kept it from collapsing though, 

so I think she felt a sense of victory anyway.

Collage Making

Do you remember how fun it was to make collages when you were a kid?

All you needed was some old magazines (Taking the magazines from the bathroom is generally not a good idea though.  Just steal them from your dentist office like everyone else does.  ;) ), a piece of paper, a pair of scissors, and some glue, and then you could cut and glue to your hearts content. 

My girls like to cut.

But they really like to glue.

I think I would even say they love to glue.

I mean seriously...they LOVE to glue.

Sometimes they LOVE to glue a little TOO much.

Notice the tricky upside-down-hand-put-the-glue-down manuver?  Nice.

They like the sticking part too. 

Just not quite as much as the gluing part.

This time I just let them cut and glue whatever they wanted. 

Next time I'm going to intoduce a "Theme"!

Oh No!  THE THEME!

Look out...

Maya's Bedtime

At bedtime, after stories, Maya asked me to sit with her for a few minutes.

Now, the rule is, if Mommy stays, she has to close her eyes and go to sleep.

Usually there's at least one or two violations to that rule.  

Last night's exceptions made me giggle.  I'll share...

Maya (as I kiss her good night) "Mmm...something smells good." 

Just as quickly as I'm thinking that I'm smelling extra special today and before my behind can hit Bella's bed where I sit when I stay with her, she says, 

"Maybe it's strawberry cupcakes!?!!"

Mommy's heart feels slightly crushed.  But I'll live.  

"Maybe..." I say.  "Good night, Maya."

"Mommy, I like strawberry cupcakes.  I mean, I loooooooooove strawberry cupcakes.  They sure are tasty!" and she licks and smacks her lips, almost making me wonder if she had hidden one under her pillow and was snacking under the puffy safety of the down comforter.

Holding in a giggle, I say, "Yes they are Maya.  Goodnight."

"Mommy, I like chocolate cupcakes too.  They are pretty tasty too.  Pretty much all cupcakes are tasty."

"Yes Maya.  I like cupcakes too.  I'm going to go in the other room now.  [cuz she's violated my rule now, and I have to be consistent, right? :~/ ]  Good night, Maya.  I love you."

"OK Mommy...but, will you send Daddy in when he gets home?  He likes cupcakes too.  They are tasty, you know!?!"  

Oh I love the person she's growing in to.