Until we all drop

I'm 11 weeks old today!

serenading at the top of their lungs

watering the garden

Gokhan got a call yesterday for a job.  I suppose it was a job offer - but it's hard to get excited for him because he seems to be always saying there is an interview or a potential or a job.  He went back to Ankara this morning by bus - it seems there may be two jobs about to start and offering him work, so, if he starts, the next thing to hope for is that they pay him, and that the job lasts.  

My 80s girl

Hakan and his family came over to see Gokhan off last night.  Batuhan, Teoman and Tomris ran around and around with Bartu and Tuana just watching.  They invited Teoman to spend the night and go to school with Batuhan the next day.  I said sure without a second thought.  I brought Teoman upstairs to explain to him what a sleepover was - but I think I lost him after the beginning half of my sentence.

"Teoman, you're invited to go home with Batuhan--"

"Okay!"

"You're going to spend the night there and go to school with him in the morning."

"Really?  Thanks mom!"

"Do you want to do that?  I won't be with you."

"Yeah!"

"You won't be scared?"

"No, I won't be scared!"

First they played

Then they brushed their teeth

They left together and Tomris first cried because she wanted to go too, then cried because she wanted her abi.  It was also late - so I bribed her with the promise of 10 minutes on the iPad (her favorite is going through the pictures) so they could all escape.  Tomris wanted to abla to put her to sleep - so I was kind of childless.  Until about 12:30 - with Yesim called me so Teoman could speak to me.  He didn't actually talk, it was me, Hakan and Yesim talking and Teoman whimpering and listening.  At 1:30am, I got a text from Yesim that Hakan was brining Teoman back home.  

then got out of bed to eat

My poor overtired boy.  I guess he's still a bit young for sleepovers.  (Although, I seem to remember Asher staying at our house at an even younger age).  

He didn't sleep late enough in the morning, and Yesim was back at 11am to bring him to Batuhan's school anyhow.  Zuleyha brought Tomris to the beach to distract her, and I joined them after nursing Tuana.  When I came across them both had stripped off their shoes and socks, rolled up their pants and were getting their feet wet.  Zuleyha was trying to get Tomris to walk along the edge of the water, and Tomris was trying to get Zuleyha to walk into the water.  She relented, and slowly their pants got wet and the choppy waters first soaked their legs, and eventually Tomris's shirt.  She just squealed with delight even though it was only 70 degrees with a cool breeze.  She came out and I stripped her clothes off - she thought that meant she could really go swimming and bravely went right back in.  We coaxed her out and she laid down on the wet sand which was surprisingly warmer than the air.  She had to go back in once more to get the sand off then Zuleyha and I stripped our extra layers off to wrap her up and put her in Tuana's stroller.  

Teoman and Batuhan showed up a bit later, and they all played once again.  It's been a busy day for them, and neither napped - so tonight was a struggle for patience with me - but with Zuleyha's help, everybody's now sleeping beautifully.  

pullin Abla into the sea

my brave girl