birthday celebrations

Last year was a tough birthday.  I was leaving a sick father, coming back to a place that had just experienced a coupe, and I as turning forty.

We made it through those things, and this year - this birthday - had a different feel.  Maybe because Teoman's sickness, maybe because Tolga's here, maybe because others joined the celebrations - but it meant more to me this year.

We got up and went to a hotel - paid for the day - breakfast, pools indoor and out, chaise lounge and the sea.  The kids loved it.  I loved the sea part - there's more rock and sea grass so snorkeling was much better.  The indoor pool was cool, the outdoor was hot, baking from the sun, and the sea was beautiful.  We didn't sit or relax much, and hadn't planned the whole day there - but when we finally left around 3pm we were in desperate need of cold coffees - so we got the kids some drinks and french fries and treated our self to ice coffee.

At some point I talked to Sherah and Josh - my sister and brother.  My sister ended the conversation saying, "Call me when you're not busy."  I've explained this to her before, there is no such time - but I just say okay now.  When Josh called he too got annoyed with all the activity in the background.  He said,
 "Well, it is frustrating to talk to you."
  "It's frustrating to think."
  "Just tell her to stop blowing the flute."
I did.  Then it's stop taking this from your sister. Stop fighting.  Don't laugh so loud.  Stop being you and start being a robot... You tell her.  It's not as easy as you think.  

Our plan was to put the kids to be early and go out ourselves.  I didn't have my heart set on it - Tuana doesn't do well without me or the nanny - but we told my mom we would.  So after the dinner, attempting to put our overtired kids to bed early went terribly.  They played, they fought, they laughed, they cried, we were interrupted with FaceTime calls.