Karate

The kids were invited by their cousin, Kira, to attend her Karate class. What a great way to spend some time together!! Both kids were excited to go, although a bit shy about the new people and new techniques. The instructors were awesome though, and made the kids feel very welcome. The interactions, of student to instructor, were different, and the Karate techniques were different from Taekwondo, but similar. Although both are young students (and nervous), they were able to keep up enough to enjoy the experience. Thanks Kira!!

Here are the three cousins during the beginner's class. Kira is a brown belt, but she assisted this class. Brian is supposed to be a blue belt, not green, but, while I managed to get their uniforms in the suitcases, I forgot to pack their belts! I always forget something important - when we traveled to the US with a first stop at Disney one year, we found that I had forgot to pack pants for Honor. We also found that while Disney World sells many many T-shirts, they do not sell pants. Nor does any place in downtown Disney, Orlando. We made do with the pair she wore, the spare in her backpack, and the Minnie Mouse dress we bought her! Comparatively, forgetting the belts this year was minor... Kira loaned the kids her old belts.
After the beginner's class, was an intermediate class. Brian participated, but Honor decided to sit it out and goof off with Aunt Nancy.
Brian works on his blocks and his 'angry face' with the intermediate instructor.
You want me to spar with who?? The instructor paired the cousins up for some practice and Brian wasn't sure what to do!
He tried! and we think he held his own pretty well.
Hope you are enjoying karate camp Kira! We miss you guys already. Thanks (to you and your coaches!) for including your little cousins in class.

Off we go!

Brad had to work on my birthday, and I spent the day packing, cleaning house, and handling all the last minute preparation for our departure (thanks Dave and Vicky for your help!). We tried to have the kids nap during the day, and then have a few hours sleep at night. We had to leave the house late at night (early the next morning) for the airport. We had the fastest ride to the airport ever - I do not know the distance exactly, but it can often take awhile. I think this guy got us there in 20 minutes!

We checked into the Cairo airport very quickly, and made our way to the waiting area. We are constantly impressed how much the airport is changing because everytime we show up, things are different - there's a lot of construction. The children's play area stays the same though and the kids head right over. We had a quiet flight to Frankfurt, and the waiting began...
I think we had about 4 hours to waste. As typical, there was absolutely NO place to sit and wait. Even the restaurants are incredibly sparse, and seating is far below what is needed for the amount of travelers. Frankfurt is otherwise a very nice airport to transit. It functions. Meaning, you fly in, don't get lost/abandoned upon reaching the terminal. Security is efficient. It is clean (for such a busy place). It is modern looking, with nice shops. Our luggage goes through well every time, and everyone on staff there is efficient and friendly. BUT, you'd think such a nice airport could afford some CHAIRS!! There is even plenty of room for them along the multitude of corridors between gates and terminals. Can we take up a collection for chair donations??
We were lucky... we eventually found 2 chairs to sit on. Fortunately, the kids were happy to sit on the floor and color. We eventually got on our next flight, and 9 hours later, made it to Chicago. The kids managed to sleep through most of this flight.

Here's a photo of Brian and Honor next to the plane of a Medal of Honor recipient. We had about 3-4 hours to wait in Chicago as well. Better than too little time and missing our connection, but wow... I was tired!
We finally made it to Tulsa around 1030pm. We deplaned by stairs, and it was RAINING!! We were the only ones who dawdled on the tarmac and got wet! :-)

Found our rental car - a Ford Edge, which is a very comfy car/minivan/whatever. I like it! - and managed to escape from the airport. It wasn't easy. Once we got on the interstate though, we made it to my sister's house - through pouring rain, thunder and lightning. It was great to see the weather. It's storming again today. My sister says they've been having quite enough rain, but I like it anyway.

The kids were happy to see their 'big' cousins again. And the 'big' cousins have been great with the kids. Very patient!! Nick was tackled and tortured - but seems to have survived the ordeal.
Kira attempted to teach Honor to pogo, but Honor is simply not heavy enough to make the spring go!
Later we visited Kira at her new job. Excellent burgers, and even better service :-) How often to you get an enjoyable meal, with lots of hugs and personal attention - outside of home?? Notice the storm clouds in the background? Later there was a rainbow. Probably the first that Honor has ever seen.
A new hat for Brian, not sure if he approves.
Honor likes hers!
My sister has a little statue that our Dad made. Actually, he made the guy, the motorcycle was a model that Brad and I tracked down in the most awesome flea market in South Carolina, possibly the world (The Jockey Lot) - it's the funnest I've ever been too at any rate. The guy is a charicature of our dad was he was a young sailor in California. The bike is an Indian model, the kind of bike he used to have and ride.
We've only just started our visit, but it sure feels good to be here with family again!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIS!!

... oh, and to me too! Yay! See you really soon! Travel starts in 3 and 1/2 hours... whoooooo!!