Ok, so I admit it. I'm kind of anti-technology when it comes to the kids. I HATE minecraft, for all it's purported amazingness. Yes, they CAN build worlds, but really, they build worlds within the parameters of the game.

Sincere apologies to minecraft lovers everywhere.

When they are not given unfettered access to the tablet and all it's enticements, this is what they do:

Note the crayons, scissors, and concentrated looks

Still at it.

Since we are having a little party tomorrow, they decided to decorate. They made the traditional decorations, but then made up stories to go along with the decorations they were making. There is a family of cats, who are all in costume. They have friends and travel through space (I think). Anyway, it was a lot more interesting than building on the computer. 

I will post pictures tomorrow of how the Halloween party goes.

Here's a link to a short film about Turkey. 5.5 minutes, to be exact. We haven't been to Capodocia, but this film really makes me wonder why. We've seen many of these sights, and have almost always been greeted by the smiles you see, but there's a lot more to explore!

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/short-film-showcase/travel-around-turkey-in-55-minutes?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_content=link_fb20141021video-turkeyvod&utm_campaign=Content&sf5336576=1

Only one word to say today.... Sarelle.

I think we've gone through 8 jars since we arrived. Maybe more. It is what Nutella aspires to be. Less sweet. No trans fats, or hydrogenated oils. No preservatives. And comes in 4 flavors! Plain - just hazelnuts and filler (probably more sugar than I'd like, but sometimes that's ok.) Milk, the closest to Nutella, mixed - milk and plain in stripes, and the family's favorite, dark!!!

As you can see - all three almost gone.

And it's hard not to eat when the bread comes out well.

It's amazing just how quickly time flies. It will soon be TWO months since we arrived. I keep saying (In Turkish) that we've only been back a month, so my Turkish isn't very good yet, but really, it's just that my Turkish isn't very good.

We are gearing up for the colder, wetter months ahead. Yesterday, we had a truly exhausting day going to a mall. Lily needs some kind of shoe that will keep her feet dry and relatively warm. We could go to the pazar (bazaar), but the quality is notoriously bad. Anything imported has large taxes imposed, so you really have to SHOP around. Since I HATE shopping, and HATE malls in particular, it makes things difficult.

I was hoping to post some pictures from the trip, but I forgot my cell phone!

So, I'll post some from a different trip, and add mall pics another time.

We walked out to the bus stop just outside of campus. Here are Lily and Jasper doing just that about a month ago:

And below are a few pics taken while on the bus. They are of Sariyer, the little town at the bottom of the hill where we live. I guess that sounds pretty rustic. It's not really a hill, nor is it that little a town. I was thinking nostalgically about the way things have changed just since we first arrived. Sariyer used to be a farming area, and the town was more of a fishing village. The fishing boats still exist, but it's not much of a village, and the area we used to only be able to ride a mini-bus through, is now a burgeoning, middle-class neighborhood filled with fancy apartment buildings with gates and concierges. (conciergi? conciergie? What is the plural?) Yes, not only the upper echelons of society need their security!
From the bus:

There's a Micky D's umbrella, but no Micky D's.... yet.

A view down a side street.

Looking towards our favorite Lokum (Turkish Delight) shop.

And here's a few pictures from a mall that we went to earlier in the month:

Yup. Krispy Kreme Donuts are in many malls here.

And while I'm at it, I'll share 2 pictures from the metro that same day. Both are Turkish women, and I think the juxtaposition illustrates the changes, and rifts that are growing in Turkish society:

Tats, new phone, dark glasses, jeans.... She could be anywhere.

Covered literally from head to to in black (except for the designer purse and matching trim on her scarf). This look is brand new here. It used to be that anyone you saw like this was a visitor from the Emirates, but now, you never know!

Ok, so blogging definitely has the feel of keeping a diary, albeit a very public diary. This post will be an experiment to see if I can figure out how to do this.

I'm going to post a few photos from around Istanbul. I'll probably have a bit to say about them at some point - once I figure this all out:)

Our first week-end back - having a smoothie at Caribou Coffee's rooftop garden.

Looking out the back window.

Lily as a baby - Ok, not from Istanbul, but she was so cute, and it was in the wrong file.

In our little village - L & J in front of the Bosphorus.

Our workspace/kitchen table.