OUR LAST WEEK IN TURKEY!

Here is Nicole and Suna on our last trip to Byrakli Park. It is so nice to have warm weather again! The kids and I are headed back stateside next week!! Here is the beautiful sunset from our apartment view.

SKIING IN TURKEY!

We went skiing in Bozdag, Turkey last wknd, which is only about 2 hours away from Izmir. The weather was gorgeous because it was quite warm and very sunny. The skiing was not the best, because the kids skis were way too long, and there were no bunny hills for them. There were only two runs, so Rob and I took turns going down. There are other ski resorts in Turkey that we hear are very nice, however they are quite a distance away. We have never seen so many adult beginner skiiers (without instructors mind you) bombing the hills...falling down left and right, quite hilarious! Overall, it was a great experience since we view it as a once in a lifetime thing!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

For Valentines Day we all went out to dinner. It is quite a big celebration here in Turkey, all the restaurants were jam packed. Here are Tori and Streicher being picked up for school. They are both going to the "Panda" school in Mahvashir (the next town over from ours). They are going three days a week and learning a bit more Turkish, as well as learning how to play chess! Tori's teacher says she has a good ear and is able to pronounce Turkish words very well. She also suggests that Tori take up a musical instrument, perhaps piano lessons in her near future!

OZDERE BEACH HOUSE

We rented a van and traveled along the seaside to Nicole and Burak's beach house in Ozdere, near Selcuk and Ephesus. A total of 12 of us went and we grilled tons of chicken, lamb and steak. We had a great time chatting and playing games, as we had no TV (what a Blessing!) It did snow that wknd, and it was quite chilly, but we all made the most of it. This old man carves wooden spoons. He showed us a Jet Life magazine article where he was interviewed and photographed. Here is Streicher on the beach with one of his new buddies, Mason. Here are the kids with their new friends having a sleepover (Grace Ann, Mason and Austin)

TORI AND LEETS

Tori and Suna (Leets), wearing their matching Christmas sweaters!

CHURCH IN ALSANCAK

These photos were taken at the beautiful church in Alsancak. We went there for a Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.