Buzzin' Cousins in Chapel Hill Part 2 -- A Wonderful Surprise!

The next morning, while the two Kangs took desperately-needed naps, Chris, Lisa Sookmo, Emma, and Kate strolled to a nearby park to catch some bugs. Emma and Kate pretending they are tigers lurking in the bamboo. "Rooaaarrr!" Towards lunchtime the tigers' blood-sugar began to crash. Luckily, emergency Cheez-its from a vending machine saved the day. An example of North Carolina's beautiful flora. After lunch, Emil Samcheon gave us a tour of UNC's gorgeous campus. The school was founded in 1795 and is the oldest public university in the United States. The Old Well. It was erected near the spot where the original well stood, which provided water for the school. The original Well, circa 1892: The Kang Weyants. Don't know how to explain Kate's expression in this shot. Emil gave us a VIP tour of Memorial Hall, the venue for the Carolina Performing Arts program which he curates. He oversaw its multi-million dollar renovation a few years ago and celebrated the grand opening with performances by Tony Bennett, Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman, and Leonard Slatkin. Not too shabby. Kate and Emma loved seeing the dressing rooms, the private elevator for the performers, and of course, the stage. Where they put on a little show for us. Next up on Carolina Performing Arts' calendar -- The Bolshoi Ballet! Emil was hired to be UNC's first "arts czar" whose goal was "to make culture as popular as sports" at UNC. He's clearly doing exactly that. A side story that illustrates the impact Emil's had in a few short years: Chris and Emil were at a Starbucks near the house, and while they waited for their order, Emil took a phone call on his cell. A woman came up to Chris and whispered, "Is that Emil Kang??" Chris told her it was, and she watched him, wide-eyed, until he got off the phone. She introduced herself to him and said she just wanted to thank him "for doing such great work" -- ! Apparently, this happens often to my amazing brother. Emil Kang, arts czar and rock star. We rounded out the tour with a peek inside the spectacular Wilson Library, the inside of which looks like a small version of The Met. The architecture inspired Emma and Kate to do a fashion shoot.

"Winged Victories" of Chapel Hill.

While Chris and I visited Emil's office, Lisa Sookmo took these two lovely shots:

After the tour we each sampled a local treat called a "Locopop," a gourmet Mexican popsicle made from fruit juice. Yum.

Kate and Sookmo. Kate really loved her Cherry & Hibiscus locopop and had a hard time saying goodbye to it.

Later on, while cooking dinner, I got a HUGE surprise. Jina Eemo, Scott Eemo-bu, and Baby Kiki drove all the way down from NYC and walked through the door! As you can tell from Jina and Scott's faces, my jaw literally dropped open.

They spent a couple of days in Atlanta with Jina's maternal Aunt and cousins and then drove back up to show off Kiki, Kate and Emma's brand new cousin! Unbeknownst to me, Emil, Lisa, and Jina had been plotting this surprise for months.

Me -- in shock. Still shocked.

I couldn't believe my eyes. Beautiful Kiki was born in February, and I assumed we'd have to wait until at least August to meet her. Kate, always a big fan of babies, begged to hold her.

"She's so soft, she's just like my dollies at home, Momma!"

Cousin Emma got a turn.

A photo Kiki will be mortified by one day.

Emma showing off an Easter gift from Kate's Nana Eleanor.

Kate also hamming it up.

Meeting the newest addition to our family was the best gift we could've asked for. Thanks, Emil and Lisa!!

Buzzin' Cousins in Chapel Hill

After Easter, the Kang-Weyants packed up and flew to Chez Kang in Chapel Hill for a few days. The Buzzin' Cousins were so excited to see one another, they ran squealing across the baggage claim area and embraced like reunited lovers. Luckily, our flight arrived on time and Kate and Emma spent some quality time after dinner playing with all of Emma's toys. We spent our first full day at the incredible Museum of Life & Sciences, a multi-acre, indoor-outdoor wonderland that is a zoo, natural history museum, science museum, children's museum, and park all rolled into one. Emma's amazing handiwork. She's always had a knack for construction and design. Kate banging it out. Emil Samcheon showing Kate the water pump at the top of the hill. Moo. We took a fun train ride around the park that included a zip through a dark tunnel. The conductor had instructed everyone to scream at the top of their lungs as we passed through, and since the tunnel is made of metal, the screams were amplified to horror-film levels. Kate wasn't so sure she loved that part.

Inside the Butterfly Pavillion.

Kate, Emma, and a bunch of kids looking at the different chrysalises. Emma and Kate tried to get a butterfly to hop onto their finger.

Chris nearly being crushed by a giant leaf.

Kate, Chris, and Lisa-Sookmo trying out the "Seed Tower" where they launched a model of a giant seed pod and watched the aerodynamics at work. Apparently, the longer a seed stays in the air, the further the wind can carry it from the parent plant and the better chance it has of surviving.

If this also applies to people, then I should have a high chance for survival living all the way out in LA.

Kate waited for her seed pod to float down so she could catch it.

Kate and the Kangs at the Sailboat Pond where Emma captained the blue boat.

Kate was more interested in posing than sailing.

Kate and Emma looking at the images of kids dancing in the Soundspace. Cameras in the dance room send the images to computers that determine how much motion is in the space. The motion then generates sound!

A video of Emma and Kate using some creative moves to create sound:

After a full day at the museum, Emil (who was suffering from a sinus infection, poor guy) and Chris headed home to rest up before their "Coffee Talk" at UNC's campus bookstore. Meanwhile, the ladies went to Emma's piano lesson -- on a farm! Kate and Emma fed Elvis and Finley carrots before Emma's lesson.

While Emma tickled the ivories, Kate and Sookmo visited the chicken coop where they discovered torn chicken wire, some feathers, but no chickens. Kate assumed that the chickens had escaped. Emma's piano teacher later explained to me and Lisa that a fox had gotten to them at night....very sad.

Emma earned a glowing review from her teacher and then we headed to campus to hear Emil and Chris enlighten and frighten a few students about venturing a career in the arts.

The flyer. I like Chris' "headshot."

Chris and Emil with their captivated audience.

Their not-so-captivated daughters.

Chris talked about the realities of being a working artist, while Emil discussed the management side of the industry. It was an insightful, honest, and inspiring talk by two incredibly charming dudes...with free coffee! Those students don't even know how lucky they are.

After inhaling a yummy dinner of pulled pork, hush puppies, chicken dumplings, and deep-fried pickles, the girls topped off a very exciting day with a bubble bath. What more could you ask for?