Days Off

Because of the end of Ramadaan (yipee!) there are some days off of work and school. Brent got USA's Labor Day off on Sunday and he and I spent the day together. We took metro to Coptic Cairo (christian quater) and saw some beautiful sights. It was clean, organized and I liked it. We went into a little church in the back of the Greek Cemetary and it was a spiritual place. I also saw the first art I have ever seen in an art museum that depticted the resurrected Christ, so I thought that was cool. The pictures are scenes from Coptic Cairo. There is a mosic depiciton of Mary, Joseph and Jesus traveling to Egypt. There is a sculpture of a saint slaying a dragon (not familiar with this bible reference, unless it is Peter slaying the dragon symbolically). Also a beautiful church with a cross weather vane on top. Don't see that so much here, so it is nice to see.
Brent also got Thursday, beginning of Eid, off and he and I exercised together (Jillian Michaels kicked our hineys!) and just spent day together relaxing. Kids all off on Sunday, 12th, for last day of Eid (end of Ramadaan feast/celebration time is called Eid). We have some sick kids so we will probably just lay low. We thought about going to beach with some friends, but not so fun with kids who don't feel well.

Kids are busy with life. Rebekah and Josh are in the middle school play called "Zap", Josh is in the golf club, Elisabeth is doing Egyptian Folkdance class, Emma is taking pottery and Sarah is doing the painting/drawing class afterschool. We have YW/YM, piano lessons, homework, scouts, Arabic class and more...we are plenty busy:) I am taking a swimming lesson to learn how to endurance swim...someday I am going to do a triathalon. I am also running in the early AM with a friend, though sometimes we have to carry rocks to throw at the wild dog packs! I have seen others running with golf clubs, riding crops and crow bars. I am sticking with my rocks thank you very much.










Here is the gummy army guys that Brent and I came across at the military grocery store. Talk about weird! There were 4 guys: grenade thrower, bazooka shooter on the ground, sharp shooter and rifle man. Not sure what to think about these, but they tasted pretty good.

Back to School and birthdays

Kids headed back to school on August 15th, Josh turned 12 the next day and then it was Sarah's turn to be a 6 year old on the 24th. Josh, after turning 12, also became a deacon and was given the Aaronic priesthood. It is a special time for him. He passed the sacrament for the first time 2 weeks ago and seems to be a pro now:)

Brent becomes a LCDR

LCDR means Lieutenant Commander. Brent was promoted in August and we all attended his promotion ceremony. The kids played a good role and marched and saluted. It was nice and we are proud of Brent:)

Still playing catch up

Finished trip to UK and headed to Idaho Falls, Idaho. We visited family, played in the grass and had a blast. Elisabeth turned 9 while we were there and got her ears pierced. She was very brave! We traveled to Wyoming, where we got to see lots of family, ride horses and we hiked the Star and up to the intermitten spring. Josh went to a soccer camp at BYU and Rebekah went to a girls camp at Utah State.
Brent headed back to Cairo after 2 weeks, but me and the kids stayed and had lots of fun in Utah and Idaho, with my Mom and with Bren't parents. We also got to see lots of family while in Utah. What fun and some beautiful sights. We loved it!

LONDON TOWN

Big Ben, the Parliment building, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and the famous guards, English gardens, a red telephone booth, the London Eye ride, the London Tower palace and finally.....LONDON BRIDGE and us singing "London Bridges" while standing underneath the London Bridge:)

Bournemouth, Bath and Stonehenge

Bournemouth on the southern coast of England was beautiful and fun. The water was cold, but it was great to be on a nice, big, clean beach again.

In Bath, we toured the ancient Roman baths and drank it's "healing" waters. It really tasted like sulfur!

We also visited the Jane Austen centre, which Rebekah loved.

Here is Stonehenge. It was the day after the summer solstice that we visited here. It was crazy: police everywhere and a lot of rough looking people everywhere. Must have been some wild night.

The beauty of this scene describes our trip. We were so glad to be surrounded by green and fresh air

and open sky.

(Once again can't get words and pictures to line up on this one.....argh! Sorry so annoying!)

Continuing UK trip

Robin Hood and Maid Mariann

Driving on the "wrong" side of the road! Brent did great and it was hard to remember sometimes which way to go around a round-a-bout.

Wales: Brecon Beacon National Park. Amazing "mountains" with green fields, sheep grazing and a Welsh-man with his brimmed hat. Beautiful and just what Welsh country-side should be.