Consider Yourself Warned...

In the age of Instagram, Facebook, and blogs we get to follow along with folks as life is happening.  Life has been happening around here, to say the least, so my blogging has slipped a bit.  In an attempt to get caught up, I am totally going to be that annoying person who shows you way too many pictures of things they've done.  Sorry!

To start us out...

We took a bit of a last minute road trip last week.  As soon as we found out the kids didn't have school on Monday and Tuesday we started planning.  We are moving away from the city soon and knew this was probably our last chance for a road trip on the western coast.

We hit the road early Saturday morning.  After a couple of hours we stopped in a really lovely small coastal town to check out the sights.

A beautiful girl in a beautiful archway.

I love all the different textures of the buildings stuck together!

This little girl always finds something interesting and then asks Daddy to take her picture with it.

Government building

This is the home of a very influential writer from the late 1800s.
Now, it's a nice (free) little museum.

We all liked the kitchen items display the most.

Of course, the bathroom was interesting, too.  The thing on the floor is for bathing, not a potty.  You fill it up with water and use the little bowl to dump the water over yourself and bathe.  We never found a potty.  I guess they used chamber pots.

The mosque designed by this nation's most well-know architect didn't open until 11:00 (we were there at 10:30). 

Since the guy that told us it didn't open until 11 seemed fairly unsure of the information that he was relaying, we took a few pictures of the outside and continued on.  No need to wait around- adventure and a 2:00 ferry await!

I snapped this quick picture because the sign says in big letters that you can find ice at this restaurant.
Yep, it's a delicacy here!

We made it to the ferry dock with plenty of time to spare.

This boat was having a bad day!

We've been on several types of car ferries, but never one that opened up like this.

We love the car ferry!
It gives people a good opportunity to stare at us!

I love this man!

You have to drink a glass of tea, or two, while cruising along on the ferry.
I think it's the law!

LuLu hanging off the back of the boat watching the land disappear.

Approaching "Heaven Island."

Watch out Vanna White, Callie is coming after your job!

We arrived on the island and hit the ground running.  So much to see, so little time!  Next stop... Greek villages

Because We Can

We decided to hop over into Greece for the day. We were having too much fun to head home!  The Spring Road Trip adventure continues...

Quick Pics

We are having a great time on our road trip, and learning so much!

Just a few pics from our trip thus far...

You know that I'll post (way too) many more with a full recap at some point soon!!

Sunday Sneak Peek: Rainbow Loom

(Sorry these photos are so blurry!  Noah can't stay still long enough to let the camera focus!  Ha!)

The Itch

The kids have a few days off of school for 8th grade testing.  I had already been itching for a road trip, so these next few days are providing the perfect opportunity!  We're headed out early this morning to visit the Western coast.  There are some important battlefields, memorials, etc. that Noah has been dying to see.  Also, the ancient city of Troy, complete with Trojan horse and one of the few islands that was not given to Greece when this county became a republic are on the list.  It should be a fun time!

Yay for road trips!!!

Tough Decision

I can't figure out which look I should go for...

It's hard to be humble when you're this beautiful!!  Ha!

Şalvar Girl

Yesterday after Noah's performance we went to the park to play.  We made the cutest little friend.  The fact that she was wearing very traditional style (think old village ladies) şalvar made her even cuter.  Şalvar are the sort of pants that have the really low crotch.  Ladies out in the villages wear these in all sorts of colorful calico patterns because they are feminine like skirts (which should be worn for religious reasons) but practical for a hard days work in the fields or around the house.

She was the friendliest little girl, and just loved us.  I wanted to take her home with me!

Children's Day

Today is National Children's Day.  In the past the girls have had all sorts of folk dance performances with beautiful traditional costumes.  But this year was different.  Noah preformed.

Imagine my surprise when he came home last week and told me that he was performing in the band for the school's Children's Day celebration.  I didn't even know that he was in the band!  Ha!  (Boys don't really think about sharing the minutia of life with their parents!)

Sure enough, Noah played the drums in the band at the performance today.  He did a great job.  I guess I'm not too shocked, he is one of those kids who can pretty much do anything.

IMG 5227 from Elizabeth on Vimeo.

Lucy asked why they made the band wear shower-caps!

We told Noah that he could made some sweet cash by being the Ramadan drummer this year.  That's the guy who walks around an hour before sunrise during Ramadan to wake everyone up to eat and pray before they begin their fast.  Frankly, it's extremely annoying and I'd like to shoot him with a pellet gun.  So, when he comes to my door asking for money for his wake-up services I struggle to be gracious!  Ha!  As you can guess, Noah didn't jump on this employment idea!