New posts? I love new posts!

We haven't done much this week. Mairyn went on a field trip to a farm where they make soap, raise ducks and other stuff. She got to bring home a little soap that they made. Eliza had her half-term holiday this week on the 23 & 24th. No school! She gets out of school the 26th of June. And we're off to the states on the 27th! Grant is in a word funk. He loves everything! He'll ask, "What's that?" pointing to a basket or window. And I say, "It's a basket, Grant." "Basket? I love baskets!" Or the bread on the counter. "Bread? I love bread!" And that's how most of our conversations with Grant have been for the last little while. And Jacqueline has been babbling all week. More than usual. Now it's "ba-ba-ba-ba" or "ma-ma-ma-ma". Or some other jibberish, but it's her jibberish. And she'll copy you. You say something and she'll imitate it. The little parrot. I have been busy showing a woman around Maadi. She and her husband and two little girls got here to post about 3 weeks ago. And I was assigned as her sponsor. So we've been corresponding for the past few months, answering questions, etc. Now I'm just taking her around, getting her familiar with the area and things to do! Also, I'm helping my friend Rachel get ready to move. She, her husband Mat and their 4 girls leave Egypt on the 20th of June and are moving to . . . . . . Rexburg! Mat got a job with BYU-I in the Psychology department. So it's not really goodbye for us, it's just see you later! She has been my closest friend these last two years in Egypt. Isn't that wild? 2 years!!! Not that she's been my friend, but that we've been here in Egypt that long. Ok, you can stop laughing at me. Alright, that's all for now. And Jacqueline won the draw for which gets kid a picture(s) posted.

Saturday

This Saturday went down like any other one. We got up and went to Maadi House for breakfast and playground time. It was a beautiful morning, not too warm and really sunny. We ran by and picked up Grandpa and then we came home. I put Grant and Jacqueline down for naps. Then Eliza, Mairyn, Grandpa and I left to go to the Khan al Khalili. Grandpa needed some scarves (for Grandma) and I got some t-shirts for the girls. The main reason I wanted to bring the girls was b/c they wanted to get a henna design on their hands. I usually run into at least 2 or 3 ladies that want to put a henna on me each time I go to the Khan. Well, we were there for 2 hours and we didn't see any of the usual ladies. Then I saw a woman walking by that had a fresh henna on her hand. I asked her where she got it and she pointed in the direction of the square near the row of cafes. So we waited around and she showed up. The girls got their designs and then the waiting-for-it-dry process began. It takes about 15-20 minutes for a design to dry. More if it is really globby. Well, Mairyn smeared part of her arm even before the lady was done. She fixed it and Eliza's too. Anyway, we made it home with minimal damage to the designs and the girls couldn't wait to show their friends at school.
There was one moment yesterday that couldn't be captured on film. It was an energy, a change. We were walking through the crowded alleys and every shopkeeper is calling out to you. "Hey, what do you need? I got it! You want statue, scarf, galabeya? I got it!" ad infinitum. One shopkeeper aimed his petitions at Eliza and she did such an egyptian and grown up thing. She shook her head, looked at the ground and waggled her little finger at him. All in one smooth movement! Is she a smooth operator or what?
Anyway, that was our Saturday.