this is what happens

I asked myself that first or second day: what was I thinking coming here in February?  Then I remembered: cheaper tickets, Tomris is still under 2 years old, Tolga's visa expires in April - lots of logical reasons that I couldn't remember after walking 2 blocks with my kids outside (both were crying because of the cold).

Whenever we go to America, we set a budget...and go over it.  We didn't this time - but the budget was pretty high and we still didn't get everything we needed and wanted.  The exchange rate is up to 2.5 lire to the dollar, so it was tough.  When I put it all together, I realize we could have a beautiful vacation in Bora Bora for maybe the same price - just minus all the stuff we buy in America: electronics, clothes, toys, food.

I tried to control the spending a bit by pre-ordering some things online.  I still was a bit careless when I ordered I wireless solid state drive that I can't seem to manage.  In fact, as a sort of backlash response to my external hard drive crashing, I've gone overboard and realized I can't manage my data either - with 4 external hard drives, and 4 "cloud" drives - things are duplicated and I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed in regards to how to get a handle on all this data . ..and that's without all the lost data.

We are waiting for two things to arrive via shipping form America: Tomris' polka dot overalls and a replacement part for my external hard drive in hopes that it will fix the problem.  They were both ordered a month ago and haven't arrived.  This is the problem with mailing things to Turkey: I'm never sure if they will actually make it to out house, and I'm not sure what keeps it back.

Other things we brought back from America:
Electronics: an iPads, a wireless speaker, blue tooth speaker for the car
For the Kids: lots of paw patrol toys and clothes, kids shoes and boots and winter gear, a snow tube, many outfits (most were gifts), a car seat, a stroller, a shark that swims in the water, bath toys and bubbles, tooth brushes and tooth paste, swim suits
Pharmacy: vitamins and medicines, herbal ice packs, cough and cold medicine, sun creams, and skin creams (mostly for the kids)
For Me: a few clothes and a pair of shoes, a purse and wallet
For Tolga: few clothes and a pair of shoes, random electronic things from Radio Shacks going-out-of-business sale
For gifts: an ipad, a pair of boots, a jacket, a FM transmitter, newborn clothes, a cup, a car phone connector.
Food: maple syrup, chocolate chips, M&Ms (peanut, peanut butter, and regular), dried blueberries, butterscotch chips (that was Tolga), Reesus Peanut Butter cups and Hershey's with almonds, peanut butter, hazelnut coffee, decaf coffee

We are always bringing lots of gifts from Turkey to people, and bringing lots of stuff back.  Some of its the excitement of coming and going, a lot of it is Tolga's personality, surely none of it is necessary,  but it sure is fun.