Ramadan and Ice Lollies

While we were in Turkey, Ramadan was going on. Ramadan lasting 29 or 30 days, is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating and drinking during daylight hours. Given that Ramadan fell in August this year means there was a lot of fasting going on given the summer daylight hours. It must be a lot easier to keep to Ramadan rules when Ramadan falls in December and it gets dark at 4:30!

Our friends live in a very conservative part of the city with many practicing Muslims. Out of respect for this tradition, our friends will not eat in public in their neighbourhood during this time, which might make dining out difficult. Our friends, however, have developed a really good relationship with the local kebab place down the street, and this restaurant sets up a table for them in the back garden (which is really just a private personal garden) during this time. We went twice while we were there and had a great time. The food was delicious. There is lots of space for the kids to run around. We aren't offending anyone. It is a big win all around. On our last night eating there we celebrated by getting the kids ice lollies. This was a big hit:

Beginning Hebrew through Jack's Eyes

We had two old university friends staying with us this past week. There was a mini-crisis at one point which meant that I needed to take them somewhere. This was unplanned and given that there were two of them and four of us (three kids and me)and a five seater car, we had a problem.

The quickest way for us to solve the problem was for Charles to take Jack to his lecture and let him sit in the back row for the first 20 minutes while I ran our friends to where they needed to be.

Apparently, he sat in the back of the class and read a book quietly. Charles said he was excellent and many of the students were excited to see him (he is kind of a socialite of the College campus).

When I collected Jack, I asked him if Dad was a good teacher and whether he learned anything. He said, 'No. I didn't think it was that interesting, but Dad did say a few things that made people laugh so that was kind of interesting.' This is Jack's opinion of beginning Hebrew, maybe we should wait a few years to enroll him! :)

Walking Addie

So in the last few days Addie has made great strides as a walker. Here is some of the proof:

Turkey Part 4 - Sand People

While at the beach we decided to build sand people. It escapes me whose idea this was, but here the memories for the record! It is striking how similar Theo and Jack look with just their faces showing.

Theo buried













Jack buried













Erin beginning to be buried (whose idea was this?)













And the finished Erin

Turkey Part 3 - Beach Days

While in Turkey we rented a car for three days. Two of those days we ventured to the Black Sea and found the most amazing beach. In fact, this beach was found by some friends of our friends by using GoogleEarth and then driving to try to find the spot. It was well worth the find. It was an absolutely stunning beach that we had to ourselves!

Here are some pictures from those two days:

Charles and Theo enjoying the waves













Addie and hat



















Theo, Joshua, and Jadon













Addie enjoying the beach



















Jack showing his love of the beach



















Charles and the boys

Addie using Joshua as a pillow

Addie and Jeremy