Our Istanbul Top Ten

These books have come in oh so handy!

To help us on our final countdown to July, 

(and in an effort to be completely caught up on my blog)

I am going to post about our Top 10 favorite things to see/do in Istanbul!
You know. All those things, that I've done blips of here and there, but never one good dedicated post yet. Always waiting to see if I would get more good pictures, etc.
So now the time has arrived. Time to highlight our favorite things to remember!

1 post a day for 10 days….

Let's get this countdown started!

Of Course We Had To Make a Trip

To the ZOO!

It is no secret, that my boys LOVE the zoo.

If there is a zoo we have been near, chances are we have been there.

It is always a sure fire win with our boys.

In the Istanbul area, there is one. 

I would say that Aquariums are more their forte here.

 Makes sense, as they are surrounded by so much water!

Anyway, now we had had differing reviews of the zoo so we weren't quite sure what to expect.

My take? It wasn't the San Diego Zoo by any means, 

but it sure beat the "zoo" (if you can even call it that) that we went to in Madagascar!

 All in all, a fantastic day had by my boys though as long as they saw the animals!

Porter blending in with the Flamingos

Miles' first encounter with a camel

Daddy teaching the boys how to "talk" to the lemurs.

ALL (including Noah) of my boys love the lemurs. They could stay there and play with them all day.

If you look closely, you can see Ronan's favorite in the left corner.

For as many zoos as we have visited, we did get a new and special treat this time.

It was amazing. We happened to be there during the call to prayer, and I kid you not…

this bear that had been walking around seconds before, immediately got into this position!

Have you ever seen a bear sit like this?

Also, the wolves started howling along like crazy. 

It was quite the experience, and we were very impressed that the animals seemed to be so into it!

Getting some love from my boys for taking them to the zoo!

The last best part of the day? 

a trip to the only McDonalds with a Drive-Thru AND a playplace that we have been to in Turkey!

The zoo is a bit out of the city, and McD's is right on the way.

Most of the ones in the city are just squished in with all the other buildings. A few have playplaces, but they are a pain to get too. I've never been more grateful for a drive-thru option!

It seems like such a special treat to just drive up and stay in your car now!

One more checked off the list on our quest to visit every zoo in the world!

Something Unexpected

Something Unexpected has happened. I perhaps should have considered it as a likely possibility. Nevertheless, it is upon me. We move in 3 weeks. I have a pretty long to do list. I don't really feel like doing any of it. Two months ago I was very motivated. That was good. In that motivated time frame I did nearly all of the filing, shredding, organizing and giving away of all toys, clothes and extra odds and ends. We have already shipped the car. I have made my way slowly down my long list of "need to buy that before we move". (Istanbul, is ripe with good shopping you see) Only a few things left. Great news indeed. Ronan is officially done with preschool for the year, and we are done with Porter's end of year party. Somehow in my mind, I was feeling like we still had so much that was happening before we were moving, so it was still a long way off. Well. Those things are getting checked off the list. I am very truly nearing the time of, "all there is left to do now is get ready to go!" Boys done with school, the big farewell event at the CGR for everyone leaving this summer, Miles' Birthday Party, our last Bosphorus cruise, bought a couple more Turkish rugs…done. So, I guess I'm not really sure what I'm feeling. I would think I would be more motivated than ever to get the rest of my to do list done. I'm not. I have no clear reason why? I am very glad that most of the organizing and filing is mostly done. I suppose that that was the "fun" part in my mind? Now, I just must be putting of the "chore" part. Things like changing addresses and forwarding the mail, etc. We do have all the boys checkups (to get forms filled out for school in VA, and some tuberculosis screenings) coming up though. Fun stuff! So yes, unexpected number one-I thought I would be more motivated right now by excitement to go home. I am really excited to go home. I can't wait to see our friends and family. I can't wait to drink American milk. I can't wait to eat at my favorite restaurants. I can't wait to do all my favorite American things (go to Target). I can't wait to get back to D.C. (I love D.C.) I can't wait to take the boys to some MLB Baseball games this fall. Yet, I can wait…Enter, unexpected number two. This last week proved to be the beginning of our real goodbyes. I was never one who lived in the same house her whole life, etc. I wasn't exactly moving everywhere either- yet, I have lived and said goodbye to friends and loved ones in 4 different states, and multiple cities in one of those states. It's not been terrific, but not too terrible. I knew entering this lifestyle that we would have to move multiple times. No problem. I was/ am totally ok with that. I think the difference between all those times and this time is that even if we haven't been perfect at staying in touch, there is always the POSSIBILITY that we will get to meet up again somewhere down the road. This time, (once again I should have anticipated this) I am having a harder time knowing that I will in all reality never see these people ever again. And I'm not talking about FSO friends, or church friends here. They are the easy ones to say goodbye too. Luckily for us, all roads lead to Washington D.C. and Utah in our case. Paths will cross again, and vacations will be scheduled to visit other fun destinations where our pals are posted. People like the boys teachers, and the parents of their friends from school. Porter has had some especially lovely classmates with equally as lovely parents! Ronan's amazing speech therapist-who has put so much time, attention, and love into our little guy. The amazing and wonderfully sweet local staff that have worked with Noah at the Consulate here. Who knows if our paths will ever meet again? So this much, makes me sad. I also missed the boat in realizing how sad I would be for my kids. Porter's teacher talked to us on Friday at his class party. He knows/and has known for a very long time what was going to happen. He also knows that multiple of his friends are moving on as well. He knows that even if we were to stay, that they won't all be here next year too, so it is ok. Yet, he's like me. He makes friends easily, and really thrives on their presence in his life. His teacher let us know that she can tell that he is "tensing up" a bit this last week. He is trying so hard to be brave and play it cool, yet he is also trying even harder to hold on to every last second of his wonderful memories of school and friends here. Breaks my heart for his little heart. He will miss them all so much. He's also like me though, in that he will do fine. He will bounce back, and he will make new friends in a snap wherever we go. Definitely not anything to stop us from thoroughly enjoying and loving this lifestyle that we have chosen for our family, just something to stop and pause for a second I suppose. Pause just to appreciate the opportunity we've had to get to know and love some pretty terrific people here. Pause and appreciate the amazing places we've seen and things we've done as well. We have had such a fantastic experience. We couldn't have asked for a better first post. So, yes. Maybe that's what I'm feeling? Maybe, I am just feeling like I need to take a pause the last couple of days. Let the reality sink in, and just let it be. Reflect and enjoy what we can, and then really jump into "getting our move on". Who knows if anyone is still reading this post. If you are, good for you! You are tough for wading through this long, rambling, and disjointed post. Sometimes I just need to lay it out there. Just for me. I know of course, that I am far from the first Foreign Service gal to feel these feelings. And yes, I of course should have fully expected them the entire time. I am really so excited for the future, and I actually do love changing things up every now and again-which is why I love this choice we've made. I love that we get to go and explore and live somewhere new and exciting every few years! I think now though, after doing it once I will just be better prepared for a "new kind of leaving".  Moving around the country is one thing, moving around the world is entirely different. I can and will do both gladly. I just had to get my first taste of what the latter is really like, and now I can be better prepared for it next time. Aside from the people, I'm going to miss our home. It has fit us so well. We love it here. The rooms are filled with good memories and familiar faces. This is the only home Ronan really knows, and the home where we spent Miles' first year of life with him. I love that it feels so much like my home. That is a good feeling of time well spent here in Turkey. So, I'll give myself till tomorrow to just sit and enjoy our last little bit of time at "home". Then I'll get my patootie in gear and finish moving us to our next home, with an equal amount of excitement and effort. To paraphrase, we can't wait to leave, but we will definitely enjoy every last day we get to have here. America here we come!

Third Time is Not the Charm (In this Case Anyway)

So Porter has a knack for breaking bones in Turkey.

Three of them. 

One Nose. An Arm Twice.

He also has a knack, for apparently doing it right before we head home to America for the Summer.

I think we'll put him on lockdown for a couple of months in the future!

Yup. He broke his right arm again. Just like last summer.

Just playing with friends, and fell and caught himself wrong. 

(They were wrestling, and apparently the multiple parental warnings 

of "calm down, you're being too rough" just went in one ear and out the other!)

This time was a little different though.

This time, HE knew it was broken. Takes one to know one I guess! 

This time he also only had a buckle fracture, and gets to only have the short cast. 

Should be off in 4 weeks. Phew!

Turns out it is also cheaper to break your arm a second time, being that we already own the child-sized arm sling and wrist brace for after the cast comes off. ha!

This time was much less scary for him as well,

 he was super tough again-hardly cried at all again. 

 Then, when we went to the hospital, he was totally"Business as Usual". 

Cool as a cucumber because he knew what to expect.

Our family tradition of earning a "bravery toy" was also a factor I suppose.

Good thing there are always LEGOs to help cheer up sad little boys!

(Although, we are starting to think he is doing it just for the toys)

If things happen in threes, I'd say your done now Porter.

Let's see how far you can make it till next time?

Love you Buddy. Feel better soon!

School Photos 2011-2012

Another successful school year.

Two handsome boys.

Porter, the perfect poser as always!

For Ronan's preschool photos, they did photoshoots on all of their playground equipment.

I was pretty impressed with how they turned out-

and he even got a smirk from him!

Ronan is in a "too cool to smile" phase this year.
But, that's our Roni!

These are both Classic smiles from my boys at this stage of their lives.

That's what I love about school photos. 

There's nothing else quite like them. Good times.

Now That, I Can Handle

Porter's class has a pet. A stuffed one. It is awesome!

They did a unit a while back on Endangered Animals.

 They did an action campaign and actually raised quite a bit of money

 to adopt a bunch of animals from the World Wildlife Foundation. 

They did a bunch of the "lower priced" adoptions, where you are sent a picture and information card, etc. Then they all voted and chose one to do the "high priced" adoption for. 

This one they send you a stuffed animal. 

They chose the Sumatran Rhino.

They now all take turns getting to bring him home overnight. 

They all have different names for him-because since he's a stuffed animal and all-

you can call him whatever you want during your turn. 

Porter calls him "Horns".

This was the second time Porter got a turn, and he loved every second of it. 

I'm sure this is one of the most  coveted, loved stuffed animals ever! 

They all take such good care of him when it is their turn.

I am NOT a lover of all things slimy,crawly, slithery, you get the picture. 

If my children ever want to bring home one of these type of Class Pets-

we will have to have a discussion about it first. 

I'm a mean mom like that I guess. 

I DO NOT DO snails or frogs. That is a hands down not going to happen. Sorry boys.

This though?

 I can handle.

My Little Prince

So, much to my dismay…the day finally arrived. 

The day where my baby, my Little Prince, had his first birthday! 

I am still in denial. I cannot believe that it has already been a year.

Wow. That went by SO fast.

No matter how sad I felt though that my baby is growing up, I decided that we better celebrate right!

I went with a Little Prince Theme, and yellow, grey, and blue color scheme.

I wasn't quite sure how I wanted to do the cake at first, but I was thrilled with my end result. 

I thought it turned out great!

Some of the decor

I even did blueberry lemonade (trying for yellow and navy blue here). 

I have never had blueberry lemonade before, and I must say it was yummy! 

Of course, he needed his own little cake to tear into...

And of course, the presents-

 thank goodness he has two great big brothers who were more than willing to help his little fingers open his presents!

Ready for cake!

Look at that tongue.

He was a big fan of the chocolate frosting!

Happy Birthday Miles!

We love you so much, and can't imagine our family without you!

Miles at one:

LOVES to pull glasses off of people's face

Smiles, smiles, smiles all the time

Pulls his bottom lip up over the top one when he does not want to eat something- 

next to impossible to get  anything in his mouth then! ha.

Crawls so fast all around the house, and can crawl up stairs! uh-oh

Thinks his baby toys are ok, but REALLY loves anything his big brothers are playing with.

Already a huge fan of LEGOS.

He's our little gadget guy. Anything with buttons, or blinkies and he is sold.

Has 4 darling little teeth.

Says, Mama and Dada

Can wave bye-bye and clap his hands on command.

Is a total "City Kid". Hates his car seat. -

(After so much time being on the metro, taxi etc. where we hold him in the Baby Bjorn; he thinks that is the only way to travel!)

He's got lots of fantastic "girlfriends" at Daddy's work. 

(Who were so sweet to come and celebrate with us! He has them all wrapped around his little finger!)

They call him their little "Turkish Delight". (Lokum)

Has the most beautiful blue eyes and awesome red hair I've ever seen!

Love you to the moon and back little guy.