Family celebration

I've been a bit slow on posting some pics, but we've been so happily busy. One big event - events - has been Honor's 6th birthday. We celebrated her actual birthday at home, but we also threw a big party for friends at the club.

We do not do a lot of going out here. The roads are rough. Parking is hard. I do not trust the taxis. Going 'out to the movies' or 'to the mall' is a pain in the rear at best, it is not what we consider 'fun', so we do not bother to go out just to 'go out' as a social thing. We also avoid a lot of crowded places, like theatres and restaurants, because of.. well, hate to complain about our very welcoming hosts, but too many folks here know nothing of standing in lines politely. I can't even stand to go to Carrefour (local version of Walmart) with the kids because inevitably someone tries to physically push us aside to cut in line... Notice I said tries, like any of the more polite locals, we don't let them, but why should I bother patronizing a store where I have to put up with that? We also avoid the small mall near our home for the parking lot bandits who harass you for tips in the parking lot. I don't need anything from the place, it's more annoying than 'fun', so we don't go there, even to browse or window shop, which is too bad, but... as I said before ... meh...

Wow... aren't I starting out positive?! Just being honest. We don't like city-living. NOT in ANY place in the entire world. There's a lot we love about Cairo, but pushing and shoving, crowded, cigarette filled, crazy loud, and insane traffic/parking.. I'm sure my blood pressure went up just thinking about it. Some people love living in the hustle-bustle of cities... not me. So, to go out into that, just to see a movie that we will eventually see on DVD, or to go window shopping in a mall for things we aren't going to buy... meh... no thank you.

Anyway, we do like to do stuff. Socialize. Play. Get OUT. etc., but this usually revolves around school, friends or family activities, and usually we are kept far more occupied than we need to be... in a good, but tiring way! Birthday parties are one form this self-made entertainment takes and we gave both kids big parties this year. The big 'friends' parties we host though, are generally more of an excuse to entertain... for the real birthday party, we prefer to celebrate at home as a family.

This year, Honor woke up sick. Poor kiddo hardly ever gets sick, and yet she did. Right on her special day. Fever. Sore throat. etc. But she was cheerful and helpful. As we weren't going to have guests, I let Miss Cooties help bake her own cake. She read the directions, got the ingredients, and did quite a bit of the work on her own.
Mix on 'low'.

ta-daa! Didn't they turn out pretty?
Me and two smiling kids....
Brad and smiling kids.
Honor gets a pretty box with her own perfumes - so she doesn't have to use mine.

I love these happy kids!!
Happy Birthday Sweet Honor!