Church at the Park

We met for church at this great little picnic area outside of the city last week. They had picnic tables, table-side grills already hot and a playground area for the kids. And it was set in the middle of a valley with hills and trees all around. It was great to be out of the city for the day and enjoy God's creation. We had a typical American picnic with hotdogs, chips, fruit and cupcakes. But when they came around and offered us hot tea in glass cups served from a teapot later in the meal, we just couldn't resist this local must-have-at-every-picnic custom.

Owen hanging with his very best buds! I love, love, love this picture!

Kitchen Help

Owen has been spending a lot of time in the kitchen with me lately. Sometimes he cooks with me, but lately he's been working at his own little play kitchen which he moved into the kitchen. He tends to take over my sink at times as well. Since I spend so much time in the kitchen these days, I really enjoy having him in their with me. But he can sure make some messes. Oh for the day when my little kitchen helper makes for less work rather than more.

Eating deviled eggs during E week. This kids loves some hard boiled eggs.

Sliding raisins down a shoehorn into your mouth. Now that's a creative (and stinky) way to eat a snack.

Woody Costume, Pumpkins and Candy

Our Halloween fun continued Friday night with a costume party with our American friends. Owen dressed up like Woody from head to toe courtesy of Papaw. Ryan and I jumped on that bandwagon dressing as Jesse and The Prospector from Toy Story. Owen informed me on the way to the party that I "kinda don't look like Jesse". Thanks! But Owen definitely had the whole Woody thing down. He even had the idea to put a string on his back to make a "talking Woody". When we pulled the string Owen would say "There's a snake in my boot." Too cute!

Last night we invited friends over for a pumpkin carving, costume party. The pumpkins here are interesting. They taste the same, but are green instead of orange. But I think it made a rather goolish looking Jack-O-Lantern and it certainly entertained everyone when we lit it up. Good job Ryan!
The kids had fun dressing up and hunting for candy that I had hidden in the house. And we all enjoyed eating Chili, cornbread, black bean salsa and pumpkin bars. I LOVE FALL FOOD!

Monster Cupcakes

To celebrate Halloween, Owen and I spent the week making monster cupcakes. We started with cute Cookie Monster cupcakes. Later in the week, we made these adorable Alien from Toy Story cupcakes. Thanks Anne for sending the idea and all of the fixins to make these fun cupcakes. The cupcakes have been a hit at all of our parties!
On a side note, why is it that cake from a box mix and frosting from a can tastes so much better than homemade. That's just wrong! But we sure enjoyed eating these yummy, processed, preservative filled treats from America. And it cuts the cupcake making time in half.

D week

During D week we had fun Decorating Donuts and making Dirt Cake.
Owen recruited Pat the Hammer to help us crush the oreos for dirt cake.

Istanbul Marathon/ Fun Walk

2 weekends ago was the Annual Istanbul Marathon and Fun Walk. This is the one time during the year that they open up the Bosphorus Bridge to the public to walk across. So as you can see in the pictures, everyone and their teze came out to enjoy the day. And in true Turkish style there was very little exercising and a whole lot of picnicing and strolling. We managed to fight the crowd across the bridge and complete the 8k walk. It was gorgeous weather and a great day spent with friends.
Owen and Efe getting ready for the big race.
We had to park and walk quite a ways before we actually got to the starting line. Here was our first glimpse of the other 200,000 people who came out for the race. NOTE: The building in the background of this picture is Ryan's university.
Walking with our friends
Owen walked most of the way, but when we were in the thick of the crowd we had him ride.
Playing poker on the bridge... why not?
The view
Our good friends Bars, Gamze and their little boy Berke
It's not everyday that you get to walk from Asia to Europe.
The Finish Line is this way Mom!

ABCs and Awanas

Last week we started doing a little bit of preschool homeschool activities. We're doing a basic ABC curriculum, studying one new letter each week. I got most of the ideas from a online resource called Homeschool Creations. We're also getting back into Cubbies after taking a summer break. Grandma and Anne have been curious to hear about and see all of the activities Owen as been doing, so here is a list of the fun we've been having and some pics.

A week- A is for Alligator art project, he made and ate Ants on a Log (chocolate chips on peanut butter on a cracker stick), we did an apple test taste and described the differences between red and green apples and then put it on a Ven Diagram, we read books about airplanes, we watched Aladdin, read Bible stories about Adam and Andrew

B week- B is for Bumblebee art project, he cut out pictures that start with B, he made a brown boat with a blue sail in the blue water and decorated it with bugs and butterflies, we made Banana Blueberry Smoothies, we ate broccoli for dinner, we took a bus ride adventure, we sorted and made patterns with beans, we batted a balloon around the house, we watched the Berenstain Bears, we sang songs about believing in Jesus, bumblebees and Baa Baa Black Sheep, we read a Bible story about Barnabas, today after nap we are making BandAid butterflies

Circumcision Party

We had an interesting weekend, which you can probably tell by the title. Our friends' 10 year old son was circumcised a few weeks ago and this weekend they had a special ceremony and party to celebrate. Circumcision is a very important tradition in Islam and is typically done between the ages of 9 and 13. On the day of the circumcision, they dress the boy up to look like a king and parade him around the community, giving him anything he requests. A few days after the procedure, they usually have a special ceremony at the mosque and a party for all of the guests.
So Saturday night at 11pm (yes at night) I went to my friend's house for a women only party. We danced to loud music, drank tea, ate nuts and sang old songs that everyone knew the words too (except me) for hours.
The next day we gathered at the mosque for a Koran reading and sermon. For this event, the men sat in the main prayer room of the mosque, while the women and children sat in the basement in a reception hall. The reading and sermon was sent through speakers so that the women could hear. However, the women never once stopped talking to listen to the teacher, which I found very interesting. After the ceremony they fed us chicken, rice, ayran (a salted yogurt drink) and baklava. Since it was 3:30 by the time the food came out, we quickly ate and then headed home to get Owen down for a very late nap. Overall a very interesting cultural experience. Here are a few pictures.

My friend Serife with her son Baki
The kids running around the women's prayer room in the mosque (Owen is in the orange shirt having fun with the rest of them).

Getting Old

This is the conversation that took place when Owen came in our room this morning to get us up.
Owen- Daddy, it's time to get up.
Ryan- Daddy is moving a little slow this morning.
Owen- Great-Grandpa moves slow too because he's old.
Ryan (laugh), Owen (thoughtful pause)
Owen- So I guess that means you're old too, Daddy.

I love the logic of a 3-year-old.

August and September in a nutshell continued

4 days after getting home from America we headed to Paris for a week for a family vacation. We were able to stay with some friends who live there which was a ton of fun and it was nice to get away as a family one more time before the summer's end and everyone heads back to school.

Day 1- Arrive in the afternoon, eat our first ham and cheese crepe, take the metro to city center and Notre Dame, eat Brithillion ice cream

Owen loved the street performers and especially liked this guy making huge bubbles. Owen chased the bubbles around the square and he even got to make the bubbles by himself.
Day 2- Scavenger Hunt through The Louvre, playing in the Tuileries Gardens, Seine River boat cruise
We bought postcards of all of the art pieces that we wanted to see and sent Owen on a scavenger hunt to find each piece. I could not believe that our 3 year old lasted 2 whole hours in an art museum. But he loved it! I love it that my 3 year old can identify and name important pieces of art and has seen them with his own eyes.
The Winged Victory of Somathrace
The Wedding Feast at Cana (definitely our favorite piece in the museum)
Mona Lisa
Liberty Leading the People (also known as the cover of Coldplay's Viva la Vida album)
Venus de Milo

Hiding in the mazesEating yummy cheese hotdogs and them feeding the extra bread to the ducks
taking a ride on a historic carousel
jumping on trampolines
our first view of the Eiffel Tower from our boatride
Day 3- drive to the D-Day museum in Caen, visit D-Day and WWII sights in Normandy, eat dinner in Carentan (town in a Band of Brothers episode), stay in an old French Farmhouse Bed and Breakfast
Omaha Beach and The American Cemetery
Owen looking inside old barracks at Pointe Du Hoc
huge craters from where the bombs hit
One of the grosser things Ryan at while in France- this is some sort of pate and the presentation alone was enough to make you sick
Day 4- morning with the animals at the farmhouse, afternoon at Mont Saint-Michel
The Farmhouse was set deep in the countryside and was a wonderful break from the city.
The farm had a llama, ducks, chickens, goats, cats and a dog. Owen especially loved the goats and the cats.Our first view of Mont Saint-Michel, a monastery and church built on a rock island which is only an island when the tide comes in each evening. When the tide is out, the structure is surrounded by land and can be accessed from all sides. But when the tide comes in each day, it becomes completely surrounded by water.
Since the parking lot completely floods when the tide comes in, they post the tide time each day. They say the tide comes in faster than you can run.Before the tide
Watching the tide come in
The parking lot
After the tide
We left at 9:30pm for the 3 hour drive back to Paris. Here is a great solution to a bobbing sleeping head.
Day 5- to the top of Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe, dinner at Hippopotamus
Owen was so excited to climb to the top of Notre Dame to see where "Hunchbacker" and the gargoyles live. He was not disappointed.
Climbing just like Quasimodo
We ate dinner at a great restaurant that serves all you can eat Ratatouille. We watched the movie several times before going to Paris, so Owen was thrilled to get to eat Ratatouille. It's actually a vegetable dish, so it's always great when your kid wants to gobble down a second serving of veggies.
I did enjoy the Ratatouille, but I was more interested in my nightly serving of Chocolate Mousse.
Day 6- Day at Luxembourg Gardens and date night for Ryan and Tara (dinner at Chez Papa, a long walk along the Seine, dessert near Notre Dame)
Watching the sailboats
Marionette Puppet show
Playing at the most amazing playground we have ever seen
French Onion Soup and hot chocolate- YUMMY!!!
Day 7- to the top of the Eiffel Tower, Petite Train to Sacre Coeur Basilica
We started with breakfast in front of the Eiffel Tower
View from the top
We bought some "bonbons" for our little train ride to Montmartre
The Moulin Rouge
Sacre Coeur
Day 8- HOME SWEET HOME