Happy Hearts at Halloween

I'm getting this blog out of order. Twinkle Toes did turn twelve prior to Halloween, but since tomorrow is the 31st, I'll post this first. There's no Halloween or trick-or-treating in Turkey. And for us, it's not a holiday we take too seriously. Christmas, Easter, those have meaning. But we also want the kids to have fun memories of growing up. Even in something as insignificant as trick-or-treating, they have been blessed over the years. There's no Target to buy a costume. There's no WalMart for good candy. But somehow, we always pull it together and have some fun. The biggest heroes are the teachers, who open their doors to little people and somehow provide really good candy, even when none of us have US base access! I thank God for them.

This year Sweet Cheeks' costume was oh-so-easy. She wanted to be a waitress.

 This picture absolutely makes me laugh every time I look at it. Firstborn wasn't going to go trick or treating until the 11th grade guys (who are staff kids) talked her into it. With about 1 hour's notice, she turned out a great nerd costume.

Amazing Miss Middler and her sidekick Twinkle Toes spent all Monday (a holiday from school for us) making these costumes. I did not do one thing except safety pin the shirt for her apple costume. CC wanted her to have an apple head like the Fruit of the Loom guys, so he made this one last night. Is there anything he can't do?

 Batman. This was decided many months ago.

 And the apple's sidekick, a Chiquita banana.

 My kids make me proud...they are creative and fun.

 And weird.

After they left for the teachers' houses, I threw together this little man to put by the door. (CC drew the face. Then he added the mustache. We decided he needed to be Turkish.) I should note here that play guns in Turkey look like the real thing. We don't really have an assault rifle.

Have fun and be safe this Halloween! Praying for those in the NE and for the election.

Papa Gallery

Big Ben's been into drawing his dad lately. Then he tapes his drawings on our bedroom door. And he notices if I gently remove them. So, for now, they stay.

Papa, beardless. Papa, bearded. Papa, surrounded by "P's." (It must have been "P week" at school.) One of these days Papa might get some arms. And ears. But for now, I think he is cute as is.

Gecekondu

This is a small area with gecekondu houses. "Gece" (pronounced "gaye-jay") means "night." "Kondu" means "to put or place." Basically it is the name for houses that can be "put up over night," little shacks that did not get proper permission, but are allowed to stay. Our city is little by little demolishing them. In return, they give the gecekondu owner a little apartment in the new, modern building that goes up on that land. I realize the people are safer and warmer in the new place, but I will admit I will miss these little homes that dotted our entire city when we moved here 10 years ago.

Day Out of the City

CC and I have both been working long hours since school started. So, last Sunday, CC suggested we buy some pide and kebaps and drive to a spot just outside of the city for a picnic after church. It was fun, relaxing, and a change from our normal routine...just what we needed.

 And no picnic outside of town is complete without Mom (me) taking pictures.

 Firstborn snapped a few, too.

 And so did the little timer on my camera.

Enjoy your family this weekend!!!

Big Ben's Backpack

Last week my sister-in-law posted about what she had found in her daughter's backpack. It got me to thinking that Big Ben's backpack had been heavy lately. A bead bracelet, numerous lego-man parts, and 37 buckeyes later, I realized why.

Fall Carnival

Friday night was our school's yearly family fun event, the Fall Carnival. For about $3 you can get 40 tickets to play games, with candy as prizes. My class hosted a bean bag toss.

 Here is a dad who volunteered for a face-painting shift.That impressed me.

 Firstborn ran around with friends all night, in and out of "jail." It seems her friends liked using tickets to lock her in jail and force her to sing a song. I am sure she did some locking up (I know she jailed her dad at one point...and so did I.) 

 I donned some rainbow-striped false lashes (I hope you can see them in this picture) and enjoyed seeing my students and their parents having fun together.

It was a great time! And after organizing this event and staying until it was cleaned up, I came home to a hot bath and a comfy bed!

Recipe for a Perfect Fall Night

The perfect Fall night to me has the following ingredients:

5 children at home (well, I only had 4 that night, one was out earning some money!)

1 little boy who drinks hot tea because it's just what you do here.

1 Autumn Festival Yankee Candle burning (thanks to a sweet friend who sent it in her husband's luggage to me!)

1 big box of flavored teas, given to me by my Israeli friend.

1 fun husband willing to give many nights to our family.

1 wild game of Apples to Apples Junior (especially now that Big Ben is old enough to "get it" and not just pick cards like "Power Rangers" and "Batman" every time_.

What about you? What's your recipe for a perfect Fall night?