get ready for some cute pics

because this week we took plenty!  i don't know what i was complaining about last monday - seeing as tuesday was a national holiday, children's day.  naturally, we spent the day with our child, letting him do what HE wanted to do.  we went to the mall and let him loose - which he loved!

running away from daddy

he kept dashing into stores, trying to ditch ben.  it was pretty hilarious.

independence!

enjoying a snack while mommy shopped

what a treat having a day to ourselves in the middle of the week!

gettin' some love from dede

the rest of the week was pretty normal. 

my little who from whoville

reading the paper with daddy

making daddy smell his feet - a favorite pass time

on an evening walk - our neighborhood.  we certainly do live in a different part of the world!  sometimes i forget that.

the weekend involved two cooking classes - one at the swissotel, from a chef

and one from agatha's mom.  she cooked up an octopus - greek style - and we got to watch.

just add 1 cup of white wine, carrot, celery and black pepper.  the water seeps out of the octopus, cooking it!

emre loves her!  can you blame him?

and THEN emre had his first experience with markers. WASHABLE markers - luckily.

my little artiste, focused on his masterpiece

yes, he did manage to get some ink on the paper

proudly displaying his efforts

i was pleasantly relieved to find the marker came right off with a wet cloth.

creative little bubba

on sunday we made a morning trip to ikea to buy emre a his-size table & chairs.  with all that coloring, we figured it was time.  then we got all dressed up for a series of visits, beginning with a gosende grand from new york, a special treat!  marybeth arrived on friday to visit with a friend.  we'll see her again later this week & i'll be sure to take some pictures then.

summer hipster.  the fedora's too small this year, dang it.

daddy tried to get him to hold the cuban, but he wanted none of it.  good boy.

after we visited with marybeth, we had dinner with agatha & her mom and then rushed home to greet our evening visitor - uncle fazil can!  he arrived from boston on sunday and we were so happy to see him.  but, he was mostly happy to see emre.  ah, well!

balkaya family, gathered around emre's new table

it was a busy weekend, but a fun one, too!  the weather is gorgeous here - 80s this week - and we are settling into summer.  hooray!