Twinkle Toes

We were silly busy in April, doing that frenzied thing we all do while trying to get ourselves on vacation. Morocco was great (super great), but I also super enjoyed a few beautiful occasions before we actually stepped foot on that plane, like an 8th birthday party, ballet recitals, and cycling through the tulips.

I've already covered Miss A's fab sleepover soirée, and I'll get to the tulips soon (how could I not). But first, here's a quick round of applause and some photos from the melt-your-heart ballet recitals.

Fittingly, for our little family, NYC was the theme for many of the dances this year. This was no huge surprise since our favorite ballet teacher just spent 6 months on a special dance assignment in the Big Apple. She's got us hooked up with the ballet world when we arrive in New Amsterdam.

This ballet studio has been part of the fabric of our Amsterdam life. We spend two afternoons a week there, and I simply adore the director and the kids primary ballet teacher. I look forward to a relationship long after we leave Amsterdam. 

AS is the first (standing) girl on far left:

Rock the Kasbah

Well, we weren't making any kind of political statement, but I think we would have made The Clash proud anyway--rocking that kasbah. 

In case your wondering, a kasbah is fortified palace or village, usually owned by a king or wealthy merchant. They dotted the valley between Atlas Mountains and Sarhara Desert as protected areas and stopping points along the trade route. Indeed, several of them were our resting places to-and-from the desert. 

The kids look teeny-tiny against this backdrop!

First Harry Potter book!

I couldn't help myself. You should indulge too. Love The Clash!

Updated Selves: Inside and Out

A few of updates.

Since her birthday a couple of weeks ago, Miss A no longer wants to be a princess when she grows up, but instead would like to be a mom and a singer. 

Secondly, Miss A cut her own hair while I was under the weather last week (yes, the boy was a partner in crime), and I was so sick I didn't notice for two days. In my defense, various cover ups were used, like barrettes and hats. At this point, Miss A had bangs for the first time in her life, and it only made sense to chop off the rest since this is what she wanted in the first place: short(er) hair. 

Miss A, version 2.0, didn't end there, though. Her big birthday present was getting her ears pierced. As it happened, it was "ear pierced" (in the singular) on one day, then the other ear on the second day. (Not easy). Neverthess, she was scared, then brave, and then delighted. And we have two new, tiny, shiny pink studs. 

Quite a weekend. 

Ps. This was not your average jewelry kiosk at the mall. Someday she'll have quite a story about getting her ears pierced at a body piercing/tattoo parlor in Amsterdam. 

Day 1, first ear:

Day 2, second ear:

In my defense, again, this is the place that all the mamas recommended; it was totally professional and touted for its hygienic studio.

But, shhh, this takes away from Miss A's future story. 

The Saraha Desert

Honestly, I don't think I've ventured so far, so deep and away from everything that is familiar to me than our excursion into the Sahara Desert.

It took two full days in a car, switch-backing through the Atlas Mountains, to get to the edge of the desert. From there, it was three hours of four-wheel driving sixty kilometers through the dunes to get to our camp. Sixty kilometers into the Sahara Desert in Northern Africa.

I've refreshed my (literal) understanding of what it takes to get to Timbuktu.

Zagora--the last stop before it's all said and done sand.  

Baby dunes:

Sooooo, it rains in the Sahara Desert about one day per year. And never in spring. DS and I had a little "moment," while we were repacking to transition from the mountains to the desert, about whether to bring our rain gear with us or send it back to Marakech where the bulk of our bags would be waiting for us.

I mean, it never, ever rains in the desert. 

Well, never say never. 

Our camp. Evening #1. 

Big dunes:

Luckily, it all cleared overnight. The sun shined and the stars twinkled. One will never feel so close to space than gazing up at an African nighttime sky.

Our tent was on the far edge of camp, super private, super on the edge of nowhere. 

Our tent had a bathroom! And bedrooms!

Le petit prince:

First time for everything: