Some firsts and signs of summer!

We are constantly experiencing new firsts here and there is always excitement with "new" things.  Included is the pics below…I had NO idea what I was getting into it for my first goon.  It is a party that your apartment building has every 2 weeks-1 month and everyone dresses up, the host cleans her house from top to bottom and cooks the best food on her fine china and they sit and chat for hours on end.  I was invited and walked in (dressed in my jeans) to a room of 15 national ladies.  Wow was I caught off guard.  Anyway, I stayed and had a good time but was exhausted when I got home.  I left after 4 hours and they were all still going strong!

This was just the kids' food...

The dessert table...

A night at the steakhouse celebrating a friend's birthday...

The roses are gorgeous right now!

Chai at a friend's house….

 A Lucy first...

Karis went on her first national field trip recently and she was pretty nervous.  I was so proud of her for being so brave!

This girl loves to loom and her friends love to come over and do it too.

She made this Rapunzel…isn't it amazing?!  She watched a Youtube video to figure out how to do it.

I'll spare you the details but this was my nightstand for a few days.  ROUGH WEEK!

While I was sick, Karis surprised me with breakfast in bed one morning.  She can be so thoughtful!

Lunch date with some of my favorites!

Jay took this pic of some boys filling up water balloons at the m@sque.

I helped Lucy make her first loom bracelet she was so proud!

One of Brayden's favorite things to do in the States was ride his bike and since moving here in January, he hasn't had a bike until today.  He bought it with the remainder of his money he got for Christmas and he was SOOOO excited.

Loom party at our house!

I often enjoy tea parties with this sweety!

Signs of summer...

Thankful for people that love on us!!!!

This was in one of our malls ha!

Surprise Picnic

Recently we went to a dinner with some of Gul's friends and to leave out the details, I was very ill the whole time and we had to leave early to go home.  So she planned another picnic and surprised us with some of our favorite picnic foods!

We have come to the conclusion this little guy is a mole although it looks like a squirrel.  These guys are super fast but this one was injured and was just laying on the ground.  The kids enjoyed getting to look at him!

Karis' favorite things to do outside are to rollerblade and the new found favorite, jumping rope.  She has gotten really good at it!

Happy Birthday Uncle Jon-Jon!

Sending birthday love from across the pond…Love you Uncle Jon-Jon!!!!  Wish we could celebrate with you this year but since we can't last year will have to do.

Happy Birthday Ayca

Today we celebrated one of Karis' very good friends' birthdays!  Ayca and her twin brother turned 12 today so they shared a party.  

Karis and Merve

The birthday girl with the girls...

They played a classic game..musical chairs ha!

Happy birthday Ayca!

11 year anniversary

Jay and I celebrated our 11 year anniversary recently and things were quite different this year to say the least.  Gul offered to keep the kids for us to go out, our first date in FIVE months.  We have never gone that long without going on a date.  It was much needed and since we don't have grandparents in our city to help out, we are grateful to have someone that the kids love and we trusted to keep the kiddos while we went out. 

But first a trip down memory lane….

2 years ago on a cruise!  OH that would be nice right about now!

Last year we celebrated by going to the restaurant Flight.

This year Jay brought these beauties home…I love it when he surprises me with flowers.  

We also went to the steakhouse in town that we love.  It's not Outback, but it is definitely a treat!

I have NEVER sat in a blanket outside on my anniversary but it started raining and the wind was blowing and it got cold!  

Then we tried to go see a movie but missed it by 15 minutes.  We got some Starbucks and sat and read in silence for a bit (did I mention we haven't been without kids for FIVE months?!) and then did some shopping in our favorite store here.

 The kids obviously had a great time without us.  Gul helped them make swords, masks, and fairy wings.  They told us next time we should stay gone longer ha!

Aunt Jessica gets married!

Jay's sister got married on June 5th and we were sad that we couldn't there however we were thrilled to get to watch the entire thing on FaceTime at 3 a.m. our time and follow all the pictures that were posted.  It was totally worth getting up in the middle of the night!  We are so excited for you Aunt Jess and pray the Lord is glorified in your new marriage.  Congratulations to you and Jason!

This was her cake that Nonnie made all by herself!  Isn't it amazing?!?!

These are screenshots I took while we were face timing and watching the wedding.  Besides being there, this was the next best thing.  So thankful!

Congrats Jess and Jason!!! We love you!!!