The tiger game

When I brought Bayan home from the hospital the girls and I made up a game where I would become a "tiger" and chase them around the kitchen (it is open on two ends with a raised bar around most of it -so we pretty much ran in a circle and I could catch a sneaky view of the kids, but with them being shorter than the wall they didn't have the same advantage...tisk, tisk, a shame that is.) while holding the "baby tiger" (Bayan). The girls loved it. We played it often and then we just kind of stopped. Well, there is a new baby tiger in town. And, while not 100% sure what all the fuss and giggles and screams are about she sure is an excellent spy for the mummy tiger.Who allows the baby tiger to peer around corners (while she pauses to catch her breath, because man those kids have got energy) before resuming the chase. Judging from the squeals when they spot her little face I know weather to break right or left in order to catch them for a good-night hug, because once they are caught it's game over and time for bed. Theoretically anyway. Problem is they are hard to catch. This is normally as close as I get.They are fast, they work together and they are so much taller than they were so I have lost my stealthy advantage. It's just not fair, but it sure is fun. At least I've got my spy... and an adorable spy she is too.

I spy

Ruhi used to love these books. Bayan discovered them on one of our recent trips to the library and the kids have spent ages pouring over them attempting to find all of the items that lie hidden in the pictures. The girls read the riddles aloud and they all search together. They have had such a spiffing time that I thought I would make them a table top one to solve. Here goes:

I spy with my little eye

an Asian map, a red pencil stick,

a stripy fish, an old piece of brick,

10 paper clips, a candle, a jug,

a small frying pan and a colorful bug.

A purple pillar, a sweet candy store,

a beat up car and an old dinosaur,

Five pom-poms, three dice, fourteen stars,

a money box, 10 paper clips and old spice jars.

I spy with my little eye

a sundae, a pig, a fairies wing,

a whistle, a ball and beads on a string,

a comb, a scooter, some crayons, a door stop,

an elephant, a red watch and a lollipop.

A body book, a panda bear, a plastic boy,

25 black beans, a tiny shoe and a baby toy,

a tractor, some lotion, a pink turtle shell,

a cork, a slinky and some flowers as well.

The kids were great and we packed up as they found the items from each rhyme, so there wasn't a heinous mess at the end. Gotta love that.

My Kitchen Rules

I like to keep our weekdays t.v. free, but in the early days with Maryam home, Mehran gone and the children in need of something quiet to do in the evenings I will confess that we began watching a show called My Kitchen Rules. I am rather weary of reality shows, (this was the first that I have allowed the children to watch) but this one was really good. We didn't see the whole season, less than half in fact, but what we saw we all really enjoyed. They had teams of two competing against other teams of two from around the country to see who was able to serve up the most delicious recipes in a variety of challenging situations using specific ingredients. What impressed me was the fact that the teams were so encouraging of each other, obviously they all wanted their own team to win, but there was no sabotage or underhandedness. When one team forgot to buy a crucial ingredient the team they were competing against let them use some of theirs. How awesome is that? They cheered each other on, cried when teams were sent home and got along splendidly behind the scenes - OK, yes there was some stress and freaking out, but nothing nasty at least not that we saw and what we saw was some amazing, yet ordinary, people creating some amazing food and friendships. The result of this was a bit of quiet in the evenings so that I could sit and nurse Maryam and simply soak her in while the kids were happily engaged in something educational (that I could also watch from where I sat). And yes, I did say educational. The kids, who have always loved to bake, are now learning to cook and are super excited to help out with anything that has to do with food preparation. We have researched recipes, tried some of our own and Anisa is currently creating her own cookbook, filled (well, 4 so far) with recipes that she has made, liked and wants to make again. Bayan has taken on the role of judge like nobodies business and is sooo charming. He walks around rating everything he eats from a slice of apple to a bowl of cornflakes to his latest dinner. He will take a bite, roll his eyes to the heavens above, really think it over, and then proclaim that you have 10 out of 10 or eleventy hundred or even if it is not something that he is particularly fond of and you get a less than stellar score he will say: "That's OK Mom, you're still the best cooker in the whole world." And your heart will just melt and you'll look in those eyes and you'll know, thanks to these guys, that my kitchen rules.

What a tangeled web we weave...

Earlier this week after dropping Ruhi off at school I set Anisa up with a mini loom and some yarn. She quickly got the hang of the over, under, over, under technique and in no time at all was halfway through with a little blanket she was weaving for Bayan. Isn't it sweet? Bayan took more pleasure in racing off with the yarn, twirling it around his body, and collapsing in fits of giggles every time I attempted to retrieve it.

We have put our small piles of yarn to good use and have been having a brilliant time making enormous webs (the spider free kind - thankfully) in the back garden. In continuing with the treasure hunt craze that has recently taken our household by storm, I have placed a small treasure or treat somewhere in the yard and have attached it to the end of a string which has then been woven around, under, through and over all manner of objects, especially trees and play equipment. The kids (Ruhi and Anisa) have then each taken a different colored end of yarn and began unweaving the web in order to find the treasure. The first time it was a carob coated buckwheat cracker, the next time it was bananas, which we then brought inside and added to a special fruit salad for dessert. I am planning pouches of popcorn for our next web hunt and we may very well have some friends joining us. Bayan, while not unravelling the web as the girls did, had a most spiffing time dashing around the web and cheering his sisters on.

Waffles, Swimming and Bears! Oh My!

I haven't made waffles for awhile. But the children love them. Especially Anisa who will eat them any time. Anywhere. They are not Ruhi's all time favourite breakfast, however she will indulge so long as freshly whipped cream and strawberries are involved. We were all out of strawberries, but the voluptuous, frozen, blueberries certainly did the trick. Thirds anyone?

Yesterday Mehran decided to head to the mall in order to get a pair of running shoes. He thought it would be fun to take the kids along...(Hee. Hee. I, who shop frequently with the individuals in question, knew all about the "fun" he was in for and tagged along too.) Sure enough, not five minutes into the great sneaker quest, Mehran was on the verge of at least seventy-five different types of child- induced, nervous breakdowns. So today, in order to give Mehran some 'down time' and enable him to fix a computer in peace, without six little "helping hands" pulling on wires, pressing buttons, sucking on RAM and turning the assortment of tools in his kit into a symphonic orchestra, etc. I took the troupe swimming for the afternoon. The children had great fun and played together wonderfully in the pool. Ruhi practiced her diving and got to use a kick board. Anisa practiced swimming underwater and kept Bayan company in the baby pool. Bayan practiced his splashing and had a great time in assisting all those in his general proximity in getting as wet as he was. Yours truly was no exception. No matter. We have dry heat here. All I had to do was step outside and all moisture instantly evaporated.

I am, ever so slowly, attempting to organize the hall closet. More often than not, my good beginnings are haphazardly shoved back into the abyss of chaos where they may or may not see the light of day again. In a new strategy I am trying to use up certain craft supplies, to give me a little more room to work with. To that end, the girls have spent the last four hours or so making paper dolls and accessories as well as a family of (vaudeville??) bears complete with feathers and glitter.

Tomorrow may see us in Africa (transported by stories and coloring in) or perhaps Mexico (while we make serapes and pinatas). As for the rest of today, who knows what adventures the evening will hold.

Car Wash (16 Nov. 07)

We try to reserve Friday nights for "Family Night" and do something special with the kids: hiking near the beach, flying kites, playing at the park, watching a movie (the preferred activity of choice), ordering pizza etc. We try to keep it to a 10.00 budget and are usually quite successful. This particular night Mehran had a job that he had to do and the kids really wanted to try something different. We needed to wash the car anyway as it was getting to the embarrassing stage and the kids unanimously voted (except Bayan who, pardon the pun, simply went along for the ride) that instead of renting a movie we watch one that we had at home and use the money to go through a car wash, the one with the brushes and spinney things. The following photos show the kids experiencing their very first car wash.

Photo courtesy of Ruhi.

Attempting to mask the glee... the excitement is still in the eyes.

Whoa! What is that?

Not too sure... Hello again... Anisa: "Yay! Can we do it again?" Bayan: "Where did it go?..." I think that we all agreed that it was over rather quickly. It honestly did not do a very good job, and for nearly twice what I would pay if I did it myself at a car wash station... needless to say we won't be doing it again anytime soon. The car wasn't even photo worthy by the end. Oh well, at least we had fun while it lasted.

Three Things (29 Oct. 07)

Today Anisa found: some rainbow material at the fabric store (which we quickly made into an impromptu fairy costume),

a fairy book at the library (photo courtesy of Ruhi),

and a family of ladybugs residing in our organic celery.