V-day Love: Circus, Lollipops & Pizza

2013 marked the sixth year that Khairi & I have attended the circus on Valentine's Day.  It is one of our many traditions and I look forward to it every year.  Khairi is nine and a half and in the fourth grade and I was thinking that he may be too old to go this year.  So I asked him the week before if he still wanted to go and he replied "Yes! Mom, that is our thing."  I was so happy!  I was not only excited that we would get to see the show again, but I was also moved by his appreciation for our quality time. 

Last Thursday, we had pizza for dinner at our local pizza spot, Grants Central Pizza and then headed over to the Turner Field parking lot for the Universoul Circus.  Universoul Circus is a very high energy, musically lively and interactive experience that featured primarily entertainers of color.  Although the show didn't seem to have the same quality as years past, we had an enjoyable time.  

Khairi at the Ringling Brothers Circus (Vday 2007/Age 3.5)

This year I also made these adorable 3D Lollipop Valentine's Cards for Khairi's Class.  I discovered the DIY project on Pinterest.com last year, but just didn't get around to making them.  This year I was determined.  I purchased the blow pops at Walmart at the beginning of the month and started working on them a few days before. We ended up taking four different shops and I settled on the one below.  Khairi said that he didn't like his face in the picture.  He said he looks scared.  LOL!  I used the photo grid app on my phone to add the text and sent the pics to my local CVS via their mobile photo printing app.  Thirty minutes later I picked up the cards and used a whole puncher to make the holes for the lollipop insert.  All and all, I am pleased with how they turned out.

MLK/Inaguaration Weekend 2013, Washington, DC

OBAMA INAUGURATION

MLK WEEKEND 2013

WASHINGTON, DC

Fair IKEA, oh how we LOVE Thee!!

So let me start this post off my saying that I do not own a single piece of Ikea furniture....a few gadgets and trinkets, but no furniture.  So why do we love it so you ask?  Two works....FOOD and FUN!!
This month kids eat free in the restaurant and they have some awesome daily meal specials.  Now for the fun -  Khairi loves Smaland, specifically the ball pit.  And although I think he may be a bit too big to bounce around with three and four year old, I continue to sign him in, so I can have the coveted 45 minutes of me time.  Normally, I just walk through the store imaging ways I could renovate my kitchen or organize my office.
But on a few occasions, I simply sat on one of the couches and people watched.  Its amazing how much fun, you can have in a swedish furniture store, but its a score to cover both entertainment and dining out on 3 bucks!!   So if you happen to be in Atlanta Station in Atlanta, meet us in the big blue building on Mondays and Thursdays this month....peek your head in at smaland and say :"whats up?" to Khairi..

S/N- I think Ikea would be an awesome spot for a birthday party!

Good Hair!?

So its been nearly six months since we've seen Khairi's scalp. Has he been the victim of the Native American war tradition, you ask?  No, he's growing an afro.  I was a bit relieved when he first proclaimed his intention because I really dislike (I mean really dislike) barber shops. Too much guy talk, cursing and sports watching for my taste.  In the midst of my rejoicing, I forgot to consider one key fact - afros need to be picked!!
Its been interesting to hear folks comments about his not so coiffed coils.  Most recently a teacher who always comments on my hair, asked me "what was going on with Khairi's hair?"  'He's growing it out," I replied in defense. So my question  is should we force our children to conform to societal standards of whats acceptable or allow them to express themselves through their clothing and hair.  Have we not learned anything for Chris Rock?

  

The Procrastination Project

Ok so Khairi has two projects to do.  We've had two weeks to do it.  We  are only half way finished with the first one.  In 2011 we will put an end to procrastination...its so bothersome!