December Pictures

For the grandparents, finally some pictures.

12-2009

Easter Eggs

We colored eggs tonight. The kids all really enjoyed coloring their eggs. We told Kaden that the longer he kept his in the color the more of that color it would be. He kept saying things like "mine is getting more green!"        

Emirgan Park

We went to Emirgan park and it was filled with flowers, mostly tulips. They were getting ready for the tulip festival starting tomorrow. It was so beautiful, the day was gorgeous! They had many playground areas and the kids played at almost all of them. It was a fun day.

Emirgan Park - April 09

Kaden's first day of preschool

Kaden's had his first day of preschool this week. He was excited to go, since he got to go with daddy. He was a bit timid at first, but when they brought the legos out he had no trouble saying good bye to dad. At the end of the day he had a great time. Ashton and Justin were very excited for him and asked him lots of questions about his first day.

Blocks

Mornings

Since the day Ashton was born we have rarely used an alarm clock, she has always been an early riser, most of the time earlier than we would like. Her brother, Kaden, has followed in her footsteps. Even on the weekends now, we tell them it is OK to sleep in, so they sleep for about 1/2 hour more than normal! Since school has started we get up at 6:30 to get ready (and usually just Chad and I get up then to start breakfast and get them up later), and Ashton has been complaining about "why do we have to get up so early?" I have no sympathy for her, since I have been saying that for 9 years now!

These days, when Kaden gets up in the morning and we have the lights on he goes and gets his sunglasses to wear at breakfast, because it is "too sunny" in the kitchen!

Today, as usual we were making sure they did everything before we sent them out the door, and Justin, as usual, was checking out his snack in his lunch bag. He wanted to know what he got for snack, when we told him grapes, he was not happy. We sent him to brush his teeth and found him crying in the bathroom because he had grapes for snack!!!! Sometimes I just can't believe the things they cry about.

zip zip with Selah

Last week Kaden and I went to visit our friends across town and went to their park. At the park they have a trampoline. Kaden and Selah got to be the only ones on it for a little while, which made it fun to run around everywhere. In Turkish the trampoline is called a "zip zip".
       

Kaden and Puppy

Here we see Kaden pictured with puppy laying on him during nap time. Puppy was given to Kaden as his very own almost a year ago because Kaden had taken Ashton's dogs as his own and it was causing conflict in the house. Puppy and Kaden became instant friends and have been many places together. Puppy has become a very precious memeber of our family, he has also become very dirty! He has never had a bath. There are no washing instructions on puppy, so I was afraid to just throw him in the washing machine (due to a previous stuff animal/washing machine disaster). I decided that "surface washing" wasn't going to cut it, so puppy got a "bath" with Woolite. When I told Kaden that puppy was going to get a bath, he said "OK, I want him to have toys". During the bath, Kaden got a little boat out and we put in the bucket with him. Puppy is now drying out on the balcony and looking much cleaner!
 

Hair Cutting Day

 

Visiting Van

For the school break we went to Van (sounds like Vaughn), to visit some friends and see the city. Chad has visited several places out East, but the rest of us have never been so far East before. We had a good time visiting our friends there and seeing some of the sights of Van. We went to a castle that was built in the 9th century BC. There wasn't much left.

Van Trip 08

Thrive08

Here is a link to some pictures from our Thrive conference this year. We all had a great time! I will have video up, as soon as I go through it all and condense it.

Princess Play

Ashton and Justin convinced Kaden to dress up like a princess. He doesn't look like it in this picture, but he likes it. He was wanting to change into some other princess clothes when I took this picture.  

Water Park

We went to the water park with friends and the kids had a blast. Kaden was so tired at the end of the long day. The day wasn't over when we left though, it took us almost 2 hours to get home, where as, it took us less than an hour to get there. Our friends who left just a couple minutes behind us were stuck in traffic for over 3 hours! But the water park part was fun.
       

Pre-Marital Contract Negotiations Underway

This is Kaden's friend Kayra. When they are together they are always holding hands and kissing. Kayra says that she is going to marry Kaden when they grow up. So this was just a trial run I think.
     

Free Fun

After we went to the dentist we went out for lunch at the Meydan mall. This summer they have water spouts the run all the time and they are letting children run through them. I think they actually ahve rules, like you can't bring your swimsuit. I did not plan for them to run through the water, but it was so much fun and all for free. Other parents had come prepared and brough extra clothes for their kids. At first I told them to be careful not to get too wet, that was before we went to eat. After we ate they just ran free. Kaden got the most soaked, you can see, but he was the easiest to clean off, I just put a new pull up on him and that is what he wore home.
       

Wii Fit

We got a Wii-Fit to go with the Wii and we have all enjoyed it. Even Kaden who likes to run and do stepping. He is really good at running, inside or out.

Kaden and Selah

Kaden and his friend Selah enjoy the pool.
 

Playing by the creek

The kids were outside playing tonight and it was such a nice evening I took the camera out for some pictures.

May08 playing outside

Kaden's Tea Party

Kaden likes to play "tea party" with his animals and dolls. It is really cute.

SuperHero Boy

Last night when Kaden lay down for bed he tucked his hands under his face with a little grin. I told he was so sweet and was my little angel, he whispered to me that he was not an angel, he was a "superhero boy".