Tuesday, Day 7: Orphanage, Art Centre, and lots of singing

Tuesday morning was another early one. After a 7:30 meeting at Cafe Greco (Yay for tall lattes!) I recovered my family and we were off to the orphanage. The Mother Teresa Sisters of Charity orphanage is one of my favorite places in Cairo, and I was thrilled to take my family for a visit. We hung out with 25 2-3 olds for a couple of hours. The kids are so fun to hug, hold, and play with. One of the little girls picked Dad as her buddy and wouldn't be convinced to leave his lap. She also found a comb somewhere and tried to improve upon Meredith's hair-trimming job by giving Wilby a bit of a hair-combing. Mama held a crew of them on her lap and practiced a few new arabic words while "reading" a colorful Eric Carle book to them. Meredith's long straight hair provided one of the girls with loads of fun. Rachel, Thomas, and Brooke had kids clustered around them, clamoring to be held and loved. One of my favorite little girls LOVES music of all kinds. I started singing to her, and she promptly stood up and started dancing. We all sang through a multitude of fun kids songs, and after every one, she looked at me and said "Yalla! Taney!" (thats my bad transliteration of the arabic words that mean "Let's Go! Another!") After lunch and before naptime, the kids go into another room and dance to loud music. We listened to a few songs in arabic, and then nearly fell into hysterical laughter when the next song to play was "Another one bites the dust." Given the frequency with which these kids push each other over, the song is rather appropriate! After the orphanage, I sent my family to the art centre while I went to visit a couple of friends nearby. We headed back to CSA for our regular work-out. The 100+ degree weather sapped everyone's energy, but after a sandwiches, smoothies, water, and some Diet Cokes, we revived and hit the gym. A late afternoon nap was followed by homemade pizza. The Andrews family never fails to have fun together, and though others may at times worry about the sanity and lack of normalcy in our household, we certainly enjoy ourselves. Last night was no exception. We may not be the family Von Trapp, but that doesn't stop us from singing. From Disney (Can You Feel The Love Tonight, I Can Show You The World) to Sound of Music (Do a Deer, My Favorite Things) to Country to Backstreet Boys to the Beach Boys to Elton John (Benny and the Jets), we shared our love of all things musical with each other and probably all of the neighbors too. Sorry, neighbors. Dish-washing was done to the loud and energetic Victory Chant (Hail Hail Lion of Judah...that one) and our favorite family hymn - Heaven Came Down. Coffee, chocolate chip cookies, popcorn, a game of Puerto Rico, a game Extreme Rock Paper Scissors, foot rubs, discussions of futures, and late night bonding chats rounded out the evening.

Having so much fun in Cairo, missing Blaine lots, and wishing you all were here with us!

From Cairo,

The Andrews Crew