We're BACK :)

Hi,

We are in Egypt. I missed blogging badly. However, we had to settle back into a routine before starting our homeschooling journey. Unpacking 6 bags was not an easy task. We have just finished coloring our rice and our play-dough. I have bought water beads but haven't grown them yet and we have finished organizing the kids' room. It is still missing little things, like we want to hang the black light but haven't yet. We are still looking for a decent but not so pricey world globe but with no success. The only one we found costs 250 L.E. 

As you can see, everything is accessible by the kids and within their reach. We have created a dress-up corner. Yes, they have their own TV and DVD player but we would use it only for educational purposes or only when we are spending time together as a family like a movie night or something. We want to teach Sarah the value of money so we have been giving her some money on daily basis to save, she is so excited about it. A few days ago, she lost her cup and decided to use her money to get a new one, I was so proud of her :) Anyway, we found the cup :P

I have went back to work and you bet, I am more relaxed than before I left. Sarah goes to a daycare which she likes so much (so unexpected and unlike her ;) ) They play a lot and they take some light lessons like parts of the body, days of the week, tracing, ...etc. She made lots of friends and she's happy about it. Sarah is an introvert so I don't push her to talk about anything but she decided that bedtime is a good time everyday to tell me everything that happened on that day, I can't tell you how bad I wait for that time every night to listen to her stories and adventures. One day, she decided to break the rule and talk about it as soon as she got home because there was a "problem" according to her. She asked me if we could talk about it immediately and not wait for the night. I assured her she can talk to me any time she wants. So, here is the problem. They changed the place of her class and she wanted me to know so that I won't lose my way to her class. Yes, that was it, lol. I asked her if she likes her new class and she said, "yes!" Then, I told her that this is what matters and and that I would find her and not to worry. Wow, I wish I had the same kind of problems ;)

Farida accompanies me in my school's baby class and she is such a sweetheart. I can see her from my class window :D In school, we are using the smart board. So far, the students love it but I am not such a big fan because I insist that there will be hands on projects and similar things and this board doesn't give us the chance to do that but I know how to manipulate it and make a compromise between both.

We prepared a small school supplies sensory tub and she had so much fun exploring it. Tomorrow, we'll be working a little more on school supplies.

First day in her daycare!

Here's what's inside:

• shredded colored paper
• ruler
• chalk
• pencil sharpener
• crayons
• pencil
• a pair of scissors
• magnifying glass
• a small book
• a hole puncher
• a paint brush
• a pom pom
• a rubber
• water paint
• magnetic letters (S-A-R-A-H)
• a letter block
• glue
• a pen

 Don't go away for a long time, we'll be back soon with more fun activities.
Thank you for sharing out journey.
Love, 

A Little Of Everything!

Hi,

Can you believe I'm still organizing? I can't believe this tiny room contains all this stuff, lol. We added a dress-up corner (not really a corner). Of course, it is just a start and we'll be adding a lot to it but it will take time and a budget. Thank you my dear friend, Liz. Liz will be sending us a doctor's costume :) We love you but you already know that, lol. We also added some mirrors on the door to add space and to play with the reflections. I found more food colors and colored more rice and alphabet pasta. Here are the pictures:

Isn't it more lively?!

We did some sensory activities with Farida, Sarah loved seeing her little sister laughing. I started by demonstrating to Sarah and she imitated me. We started from the feet up and gave her the materials to hold. When Farida was little and not interacting, Sarah was so frustrated and sometimes even aggressive. Now, after Farida started giggling, babbling and sharing us our play, Sarah couldn't be happier. I can picture close sisters in the future. Here:

A feather, a gem, a pom pom, a sensory apple,

a tissue and Sarah brought a car :)

So relaxed and happy!

By the end of the day, we did something we have been doing for a couple of days so far. It was a hit. It was story time and I thought about using the miniature items and incorporate them in our story events. This story is borrowed from the library and we had most of the items already. The best part was Sarah searching for the items with me. We gave Farida everything to touch. Sarah re-told us the story afterwards and I asked her a lot of follow-up questions.

A grasshopper (bug), a foam dog, a car, a zip, a fish,

a bat, a kite and little people.

Curious eyes!

One more random thing: I went to the kitchen to drink and came back to see this <3

Thank you for reading. Come back tomorrow! We'll be here :)

Love,

Organization and other stuff!

Hi,

We are here in NY :) It was a long long flight. 1 hour from home to the airport at 3:30 am then 45 minutes flight from Alexandria to Cairo followed by a 4 hour waiting for the next flight from Cairo to JFK to spend 11. 5 hours on a tight plane. The very smart man who was booking our seats gave us seats in the middle of the plane ignoring the fact that I have an infant and a wild toddler :) Add to that the facts that we were sleep deprived and I am no fun when I am travelling so you can guess.

Anyway, I have been shopping like crazy since I arrived. Can you tell that I missed the dollar store?! Also, I have been organizing, organizing, organizing. I love what I came up with and remember, it is all in one tiny room that is used as bedroom and play room all in the same time. I'll give a detailed description of the supplies with each picture.

Pom poms, wiggly eyes, snowflakes, colored gems,

sparkly random tings and hand sanitizers.

Stones, shells, miniature items, beads and water beads.

Marbles, beads and sequins.

Kitchen with plates, cups, pans, forks, knives,

spoons, teapots, food and shopping cart

Sidewalk chalk, glitter, scissors, glue, glue stick, double face,

fasteners, crayons, water paints, brushes, washable paints,

do a dots, pencils and some other colors

The other side: stickers, cookie cutters,

kitchen supplies like tonsils, spoons, pegs, stampers and stamp pads,

magnetic letters, magnifying glass and test tubes.

Too lazy to capture a better shot,lol.

These boxes contain Farida's small toys, plastic Easter eggs,

accessories,  head bands and Sarah's microscope.

Books (Arabic & English), board games, puzzles and flash cards.

Board games, flash cards, puzzles and musical instruments

 (we'll be adding to them bit by bit).

Painting Easel. On its back are the construction paper and foam sheets.

Large beads and bowling set.

All kinds of animals, bugs and fruits.

Foam puzzles, colored tissue papers and poster board.

Paper and foam letters, bottle covers, finger paints,

 hearts, flowers and candles.

Under the seat: play dough, laptop

and a box full of characters and dolls.

The following are for me: bottles, beads, transparent gel,

food color, Ziploc bags, plant pots, beads and colored rice and pasta.

Egg cartoons, cotton and rolls.

Remember, the rule is to put everything within the girls' reach (at least when they stand on a chair, lol). Also the golden rule is not to take anything else before returning the first to its original place. So far, it is working.

One more thing: I have always wanted to have a light table for Sarah. BUT it is way too expensive so I made my version. It cost me $13.99 plus batteries and taxes, lol. It is far from perfect but it will do. Remember, it is a trial and error process.

Light buttons from the dollar store. The box from stop & shop ($7.99).

Double tape on the light buttons' back.

Not enough light!

A little bit better. I wish they were circular and with white edges but it's OK.

I might cover the edges with something white.

Forgot to tell you, Sarah passed her school interview. As I expected, she refused to answer anyone but me ;)

Thank you for making it that far. See you tomorrow, God willing.

Love,