Continuing our trip around the world, this week we are off to Italy. It’s been a busy week, so we haven’t gotten very far in our exploration. We’ve had several discussions about what to cook. The parents would prefer not to have pasta or pizza. The kids would really, really like to make pasta or pizza. Any suggestions?

We have a wonderful book that Tomas picked out for Maggie’s birthday this year. When she unwrapped her gift she smiled, and said “Dad really does know what I like” — he really does. The book is called Egyptology, has a beautiful gem embedded in it’s cover, and is overflowing with wonderful tidbits about Egypt. It is written like an explorer’s journal and has tons of little things to discover: a letter from the author, post cards from Egypt, real papyrus, real mummy cloth, a guide to understanding Hieroglyphics… it is beautifully illustrated and has given both M&B hours of enjoyment. (more…)

Over breakfast Tomas talked about what his life was like when he was the Sun God.

And he wrote his name for us without even cheating and looking at the website.

We made pyramids out of paper and glue.

M made a bird mask (she didn’t want to be a Pharaoh).

Today we began our journey to Egypt. We figured out where Egypt is, and how to write our names in Hieroglyphics.

Starting this week, we are going to take a trip around the world. Of sorts… At dinner tonight Tomas suggested that it might be fun to learn more about other countries, other cultures, through food, fables, traditions, music, crafts… The idea took root and the kids have decided that we should focus one country each week. Each of us (except for the baby) got to choose five countries.  Miss M wrote them all down, cut each one out, and put them in a jar.

On Sunday nights one of us will get to pick a country out of the jar.

Throughout the week we will do small art and craft projects,listen to new music, and read stories.

On Saturday evenings we will prepare a meal from that country.

This evening Miss M picked Egypt.

I’m thinking I might take advantage of my insomnia to do a bit of research during the wee hours….