Mini-lady Asma

Lately, Asma has taken keen interest in all sorts of lotions and perfumes - she loves to smell nice. One day, Mamma was feeling that Asma has been gone for quite a while and searched the home for her. What she encountered upon finding Asma, was worth of a photography session. She had managed to get to Mamma's cabinet of lotions and beautified herself all over with the content of one of the jars!!!

Asma enjoying building games

Recently, Asma has been interested in all kinds of blocks/building games. She can keep herself busy on the carpet for quite a while, constructing her creations.

 

Hafsa's science project on HibaKidz site

Hafsa's science project (of growing her own salt crystals) got published on HibaKidz website! Check it out: http://hibamagazine.com/hibakidz/science-success-how-to-grow-your-own-salt-crystals/

Traditional West African stamp patterns

As we were studying in our history book about the slave trafficing from African countries to the New World (Americas), we also learned that the people of West Africa often used a traditional technique to decorate clothing and other items. This technique, called adinkra, separated the items to be decorated into squares and then stamped patters onto each square. So we decided to try this technique out ourselves.

What we used:
simple A4 printer paper
poster paints
potatoes out of which we cut stamps of different shapes
ruler and pencil

What we did:
1. We divided the paper into 1" x 1/2" rectangles. We had 8 columns and 11 rows.
2. We used different stamps and colours for making our patterns.

Here are some photos of how and what we did to make our adinkras.

Uzair and Hafsa at work.

Some of our potato stamps.

Hafsa's pattern.

 

Mamma's pattern.

Uzair's pattern.

All three paterns together.



Sumo wrestling

As we read in our world history book about the Japanese samurai warriors, we learned that in times of peace, the noblemen used to keep their samurais busy by engaging them in sumo wrestling. The practice of sumo wrestling allowed Japanese warriors to fight without blades or bloodshed. We learned some of the sumo wrestling rules and made our own sumo wrestling game!

Here's what we did:
1) We used the elongaged circle (more of an oval actually) of our carpet as our sumo wrestling ring (called dohyo by samurais).
2) We prepared ourselves by tying pillows on our fronts and backs, in order to look somewhat like the very heavy sumo wrestlers.
3) Hafsa was offered to make the traditional sumo fighter hair-style, which is putting all the hair in a knot on the top of the head, by she shyly declined the offer... oh well...

Here are some of the sumo wrestling rituals we did:
1) We (both wrestlers - Uzair and Hafsa) paraded into the ring from the opposite sides (actually sumo wrestlers are supposed to have also two attendants each, which we didn't have).
2) We squatted at the oppostie ends of the ring, stretched our our hands and clapped once - this is called the chirichozu ritual. 
3) We performed shiko ritual - exaggerated foot stamping on each leg to drive away the bad spirits.
4) We took a sip of water each - to purify ourselves.
5) We were supposed to throw a handful of salt into the ring each, but since our mom wasn't very happy about this ritual, so we didn't do it.
6) We went to the middle of the ring, clenched fists, crouched down and glared at each other, with the goal of breaking the opponent's focus.
7) We started the wrestling, the goal of which is to push the opponent out of the sumo ring.

We also learned that, according to some experts, thumb wrestling is a form of "mini-sumo".

When Asma saw Uzair and Hafsa getting ready, she came carrying
her own pillow as well and insisted on 'getting ready' for it.



We (both wrestlers - Uzair and Hafsa) paraded into the ring
from the opposite sides (actually sumo wrestlers are supposed
to have also two attendants each, which we didn't have).

 

We squatted at the oppostie ends of the ring, stretched our our hands
and clapped once - this is called the chirichozu ritual.

We performed shiko ritual - exaggerated foot stamping
on each leg to drive away the bad spirits.

We took a sip of water each - to purify ourselves.

We went to the middle of the ring, clenched fists,
crouched down and glared at each other, with
the goal of breaking the opponent's focus.

We started the wrestling, the goal of which is
to push the opponent out of the sumo ring.

 

Peanut art

We love the cool and mild winters of Karachi and all the local winter joys that come along with it: chicken-corn soup, dried fruits, kastoori milk, cofee, coffee, coffee. One of our family's favourite winter snacks is baked in hot sand peanuts. As we shell them, feeling their warmth at our fingertips, the entire room fills with an absolutely delicious fragrance! Even Asma (almost 2 yrs) insists on shelling her own peanuts, while Uzair has come up with a creative artistic expression - he breaks the peanut shells into perfect halves, which he then arranges into a house formation.

Unlike the rest of us, who eat as we shell them, Uzair saves his peanuts for later - enjoying them nearly all at once in a big mouthful. As you can see below, our piles of peanut shells stand nowhere close to Uzair's careful arrangement. :)

Cleaning the peas

Winter is the season of fresh green peas in Karachi. We buy them in kgs, clean them and freeze them for use in the summer months. The cleaning is usually a group type of activity, although not a very popular one, since sitting for prolonged periods of time at one place is considered as punishment by kids. :) This year, Asma (not 2 yrs yet) has also joined the peas-cleaning-team and with very serious efforts, does her best to help us. Amazingly, her tiny fingers are doing excellent work. :)