all in one day

It's Sunday and Gokhan's birthday.  He turns 39 today, but he's been telling people he's 40 for the past few years. 

Gokhan's birthday

We bought limit, a sesame covers dough - like a thin bagel I suppose.  We eat it with cream cheese and it costs a lire.  It's much cheaper then Starbucks 8 lire carrot cake - which is where we take our simits to enjoy mochas a few times a month.  This morning it was Gokhan, Tolga, and the three kids.  Teoman was excited about it all morning - he's excited whenever we have a plan to leave the house because he always has plans too to add on top of our plans.  He particularly loves the malls because 

there are so many things that could happen there: games, car carts, treats, french fries, toys, running things, jumping things, or simply riding his scooter around.  

We ate our simit  and drank our coffees, and then left after Tomris fell off one of the chairs and had a big knot on her head, but other than that, it was a good morning.  

mini air hockey

We went up to the book store, over to the football store, and then split up - I took Teoman and Tomris to a place that is similar to an arcade, but larger.  Most malls have them here - the main feature being a play area of slides, climbing areas, bouncy things - a place kids can play for a half and hour for a fee.  This one has a bowling alley as well, bumper cars, and lots of arcade games and rides.  Tomris chose the mini carousel, Teoman chose the monster truck ride, and they played each other in one game of mini-air hockey.  It reminded me of our table.  At one point in our childhood we had a pool table that Seth got for his golden birthday.  A golden birthday is when you turn the same age as the day you were born on, so for Seth it was when he turned one - and clearly the occasion called for a 

pool table.  I don't really remember actually playing pool - but I remember we weren't supposed to sit on it because it threw the balance off...or something, and in the end my dad sold it, or traded it... and we got an air hockey table.  I thought we didn't have a lot of money growing up - but remembering the things we had, I don't think I have the right to say things like that any longer.  And having an air hockey table doesn't fit the picture - and I remember playing it in our basement.  It was really noisy with the smack and ricochet of the "puck" off the "mallet" and walls.  We learned to whip the mallets in such a way the we could really blast the plastic "puck" against the side.  I also remember getting my fingers pinched or smashed many times.  Our kids are to young still to teach them how to whip the mallet - I'll have to table that game strategy for now.  

Gokhan got his birthday gift, we went grocery shopping, and packed back in the car - Tomris fell asleep on the way home - Teoman likes to hold out.  It was almost 2pm when we got home and we skipped lunch as we had had a late breakfast and friends were coming over at three.  

Tomris, Teoman, and Burçe

Tolga used to work with Levant, and I currently work with Deniz - they were the ones the introduced me to my current school.  The couple have a daughter 6 months older than Teoman and they came to welcome our new one into the family.  It is Turkish tradition - if not to come to the hospital, to come to a person's house with gold or gifts in celebration.  While we have all known each other for years - we never hang out so it was special to have them visit.  Deniz brought presents for Teoman, Tomris, the baby and her own daughter - so they all opened their gifts together which was quite sweet.  Their daughter, Burçe, went straight to the baby.  She was eager to touch and hold the baby - her parents were nervous and tried to stop her, but I told them not to bother - it's no use, Teoman and Tomris are doing it all day - I just try to compromise by putting limits on it.  Burçe was also very excited to play with Teoman, but Teoman was totally absorbed in doing his puzzle again, so we wasn't much fun.  Burçe told Tomris she needed to where a dress to be a princess, so we promptly changed and Tomris was quite please.

Deniz doing her trademark group selfie

Anne had made börek, we had bought some sweet and salty cookies to serve, along with tea - and we sat, ate and chatted.  I really enjoyed it.  Turks - like Deniz - think I'm a little crazy for having three children.  Mostly for money reasons (how will you pay for private school?) but also for personal reasons (when will I have time for myself?  I barely have patience for one, how will I manage two?).  But while many say I'm crazy or brave, most also add that I should have more kids - because they are cute, or because we or happy, or who knows.  

After they left, I got started on dinner - Tolga had bought sea bass at the market and I baked in the oven with just oil, salt, and pepper.  Anne helped with the salad, I made a pear torte for dessert - and it was a great meal.

The kids had skipped their naps and were overtired - especially since I still didn't get them down until 9:30 - it was a full day.  

I'm pretty sure Teoman is going to pee his pants tonight.  No nap = overtired + late to sleep + glass of chocolate milk + mamma forgot to remind him to go potty = wet bed at about 3:30-4am.  And I'm too tired now to wake him and preempt the situation.