Happy New Year 2010

 

Sam loved every minute of banging on the pots and pans and making as much noise as he possibly could.

Christmas 2009

I think we prepare for the majority of every year for the holiday season and Christmas morning!  Isik didn’t celebrate Christmas as a child, so Christmas morning is as much fun for him as it is for Austin and Sam.  Every year he makes the comment to me that he wants Christmas to always be like the first Christmas he celebrated with Austin and I, he wants that feeling of excitement and child-like awe.  I love making Christmas exciting for my family.

Sam having a talk with the “big man”.

 

Isik is always the first one awake in the house and it takes a while to wake Sam up.  I’m sure that will not be the case in a year or two.

 

Isik and Sam playing with Isik’s, oops I mean Sam’s, new Hotwheel track. 

 

Austin playing with his laptop.

Roscoe playing with his new toy.

Leo and his new toy.

Charlie hiding under the couch with his new toy (it’s the safest place for him to hide so his toy isn’t taken away).

 

Updating the blog

I've been such a slacker. There is so much to update on our blog. I'm committing to myself to get 2009 updated before 2009 is over. I've got a lot to do!!

Swim Lessons

Sam had his first swim lessons . He LOVED going every Saturday to play with his teacher, Mitch, in the water!!

Family and Friends

It was so great to have Ziya and Aydin here, even if it was only for a little over one day! 10 hours is a long drive to only stay one night, but I'm so glad they took that drive. I wish Ziya lived closer, or we lived closer to him.

Last night's get-together was a great time. In addition to our "regular" group of friends (minus one), we had some long-time friends come that we haven't seen for a while and several of Isik's masonic brothers came, and it was nice to be able to get to know them a little better since I've heard so many stories but haven't had the opportunity to know them.

The food was fantastic and there wasn't a lot left after everyone was gone, so I guess everyone enjoyed it as well.

Good times!

Grocery Shopping

I've decided on the great treats I'm going to make this evening and I've made the grocery list. We are going to have cheesy chorizo bean dip, artichoke spinach dip, bacon-cheddar bites, croissant deli sandwiches, a mock lemon meringue cake, and taffy apple tartlets. I'm off to purchase the pieces and can't wait for this evening!!!

Austin's Grades

The first term ended with minimal push and shove from Isik or I. Austin had a little hiccup but recovered. He ended up with 5 A's, 2 B's, and 1 C (yes, this was the hiccup, it was much worse). He loves going to NUAMES, and I have been able to breath easier. He has made some really good friends and is just... well... he's happy. It is such a incredible change! Just what we were hoping for.

Here's to hoping for more improvement with the 2nd term!!!

Saturday

We are so excited about tomorrow! I decided it was that time again to invite our friends to come to what we call "Club Arik." I will make some great food and we always have a great time. Isik was very excited as well and invited several people he hasn't seen for a while. We will have a houseful of friends and it will be a great time! Ziya found out we were doing this and spontaneously decided he was coming to. He packed up him and Aydin and they hit the road. We are so excited to have them coming from California to spend the weekend with us.

Our dogs

Leo and Roscoe are getting so big.  We had to get another crate because they both couldn’t sleep comfortably in one.  Although the puppy stage is always a challenge, every night Isik and I laugh at the silly things they do.  We love our dogs!

May 6, 2009

May 6, 2009

May 25, 2009

July 27, 2009

July 27, 2009

Charlie

Waiting for a treat

Sam’s sleeping habits

Since Sam was born, we have tried to establish healthy sleeping habits by establishing a bed time routine, bath, PJs, brushing teeth, and reading stories.  After four years of this routine, I keep hoping that one night, (I’m starting small and wishing for something so simple,) just one night that he would just stay in bed and actually go to sleep.  I keep hoping and will keep hoping.  Until that one night, we go through the bedtime routine Sam has created.  Getting up and going to the bathroom, then getting up because he needs a drink, then getting up to give me a hug and a kiss, then going to the bathroom again, then getting another drink… it goes on and on.  Sometimes for 2 hours, sometimes more.  There are those nights that he actually only gets up once or twice,  and I really appreciate those nights.

When he gets up, we try to pay minimal attention to him, so we don’t encourage the behavior.  Isik and I look forward to the time that the kids are in bed and we have our time together.

About two weeks ago, I started noticing how Isik gets out of bed multiple times before he finally relaxes and goes to sleep.  Is it possible this is an inherited trait?  Once I’m in bed, the last thing I want to do is get out of bed. 

Every night, after I haven’t seen or heard from Sam I know he has finally fallen asleep.  Sometimes, I will find him sleeping on the floor in his room, on the couch downstairs, on the futon in the office, or in the middle of the hallway.  Every night we go through this process, and every night I hope it will be the first night that he just goes asleep.

  

 

He’s so sweet, awake and sleeping.  This kid definitely makes my heart happy.

San Francisco – Day 2 – Alcatraz

Alcatraz is one of those places that is on my “list” of things to do / see in my lifetime.  I finally get to mark it off. 

Not only was Alcatraz Island beautiful, the view of San Francisco from across the bay was amazing, and it was incredible to see the Golden Gate Bridge from the island…

… and the Oakland Bridge.

The National Park Service runs Alcatraz.  It is a self guided tour with no time constraints.  After taking the scheduled boat to the island, you can take any of the boats back to San Francisco.  We spent almost 3 hours touring the prison and the island.  

“You are entitled to food, clothing, shelter, and medical attention.  Anything else you get is a privilege.”  - Number 5, Alcatraz Prison Rules and Regulations, 1934

The showers.

 

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If you’ve never been, I highly recommend visiting Alcatraz!  It is one of the most amazing places I’ve visited!

San Francisco – Day 1

I took Austin to San Francisco for the UEA weekend. We stayed in a little hotel right off Market Street near the Tenderloin and Financial District. Market Street is a little “shady” but it was a great hotel.

Our first evening there we walked to China Town from our hotel.

I loved all the fresh food markets, little bakeries, and all the “ma – pa grocery stores”. I was actually really grossed out by all the turtles in the fish markets though… gross!

After China Town we rode the Trolley to Lombard St “Crookedest Street”.

I absolutely LOVE all the tropical flowers of California!

I wish I could grow hydrangeas' like these, with no effort!

We then walked to Fisherman’s Wharf and ate at a fabulous Italian restaurant.

We caught the Trolley at the turn-around by Fisherman’s Wharf to go back to our hotel. The line was long, but it was a beautiful night and I loved spending the day with Austin. We were both exhausted and ready for sleep. Austin didn’t realize how much I liked to walk and see everything possible in the cities I visit. Day 1 was just the warm up.