festivities

 
 It has been by far our most challenging year, and we are  so glad it is finally behind us. Our man has been back with us for the past three days, and although we have toughed it out for the past four months. I am already wondering how I ever managed without him. (I am not excluding the enormous help our family received and is still receiving from our extended family {we are forever indebted to you guys.}) He is indeed our rock, that keeps our family grounded. Welcome home Baba!

***

We had a weekend full of festivities, hope yours was good too.

Peace.

I am...

...folding laundry. (right now and enjoying the meditative rhythm it entails)
...counting the hours for our family's big reunion with our rock. 20 hours 42 minutes and counting...
...missing my babies when they're at school but enjoying alone time.
...cooking, baking and cleaning.
...waiting for my photography class this July.
...listening to Personalized music radio, and is grateful for this strange technology.
...shocked at disturbing scenes shown on Mad Men and derived from American recent history.
...grateful how we've come a long way. I am rooting for Egypt at the moment.
...reminded that sometimes I am "the other" and working hard at my own prejudices.

Ninety two degree and muggy today. I am already filling the kiddie pool for when my darlings are here.

"Mom, you know, America has a birthday!"
"And when is that?"
"On the fourth of July mama"
"Right!" ( stoopid foreigner {thinking to my self})

Here's our moment from the week:

Happy fourth weekend everyone.

Peace:)

Tuesday Tunes :: Aicha

This one goes out to my sisters, and my baby girls. Covering up (or looking different) in a non-Muslim country can sometimes be challenging. At the end of the day we are all different in our own special way... embrace it.



Peace.

Summer Solstice

a couple of days back we made it to the Summer Solstice celebration, complete with the parade of the species, which entailed serious critter masks that were hand made by the wearers.
There were streamers, hula hoops, kite flying, dancing and a giant bonfire. It was grand. Mei was especially ecstatic, and Grabby was mesmerized.
For some reason Blogger is not letting me load photos. Have I been gone that long. all the settings have changed. Anyhoo until i figure out the new format. I leave you with yet another video.




Happy Summer!
Peace.

Breakfast (Video)

 A while back, Mei asked me to start her cooking show, and film it. This is a video of her making breakfast. I edited it and added music to make it more anonymous so I could share it. Here it is:







Peace.

{this moment}

{this moment}- A Friday ritual...

Wishing the world a brighter future. To our brothers and sisters in the middle east, Japan, and all over the world, stay strong. This too shall pass...

And wishing you a lovely weekend.

Peace.

a week in photos

:: Bringing home from school (yes!) real size cut-outs of a certain someone with all the important organs glued in place. Which has lead to new curiosities that entail reading fifth grade science books at bedtime, about the human body (HELP!)

:: Spring time teasing weather, with sleeveless dresses and sandboxes. Snow, freezing rain, and hail today. Welcome to the Midwest!

:: Dodging road work. Another important spring landmark in our neck of the woods.. I liked seeing horizontal fire hydrants. Makes you appreciate the vertical ones even more.

:: Breakfast, a la Amelie style.

:: Bat festival attendance, check!

:: Our first Mexican birthday party. Complete with pinata and ceiling covered balloons. Mei, was especially excited. I see pinata birthdays in our future.

:: Almost forgot the last photo. Moroccan Fish Tajine. Fantabulous! 

Peace.