Birthday prep

My little helper is home with pinkeye so she is helping me wrap Leila's birthday presents. 

Trampoline fun

All the pictures sent from the trampoline park were blurry, probably because the kids never stopped moving. By all accounts, it was tons of fun. Bonus? I had no idea there was a trampoline park in town!

Sports camp ice skating

Half term sports camp

Leila went to a sports camp this week over her half term school break. It was great - a full day of various activities each day including ice skating, swimming, dancing, basketball, board games, horseback riding, trampoline park, puzzles, museums and drawing. It was way more fun than we would have had at home!

Breakfast of champions

Theater stage

Jason's rendering of what the stage at Side might have looked like back in the day. 

Side and the Temple of Athena

Visit to Perge

Long run? Check.

It was low 30's and windy but Lora and I knocked out an 11 mile run this afternoon. Got that out of the way so we can enjoy a long family weekend on the coast. Temps in the 60's are sounding pretty amazing right about now. Bring on the holiday weekend!

Athena & her best pals

Sloane, Athena, Mila & Alin

Athena’s Makeup

Leila gave Athena some makeup for her birthday. She took a break from playing on the playground to touch up her eye shadow.

Athena and the Cake

Athena wanted her cake to look more like Frozen so she brought along some of her characters as decoration. The penguin? We aren't sure why.

Athena's Birthday Party at the Circus

We took Athena and a couple of her close friends to the Turkish circus that was in town in a shopping mall parking lot.  It did not disappoint.

Dancers and acrobatics

Apparently, when you get rid of the animals it works well enough to have humans just put on animal costumes and keep going with the same routines.  By the way, the brown guy/girl on the right...fox/chipmunk with antlers or deer with long tail?  Blue fox/wolf is obviously a blue fox/wolf.

This ribbon dancer was definitely a highlight of the afternoon.

Athena & Alin enthralled

Even the big kids were impressed!

There were also these (plus a few other) bobble headed characters who are apparently portrayals of famous Turkish musicians.  I personally like the old lady with the bell on the right.

And we still had time for another round of cake after the circus. 

Athena's 5th Birthday 2019

Athena turned five today!!! We celebrated in her school with games, dancing, and cake.

Athena’s New Phone

Leila’s Facepainting

She's getting really good at face painting on little kids. This is a fox in case you were wondering. 

Alin’s birthday party

Athena went to her friend Alin's birthday party today. It was...impressive. Frozen-theme, delicious food, bouncy house, dancing, and they cut the cake with a sword. I hope Athena doesn't get any ideas for her own bday next week. 

Face painting

Our friends came over for dinner last night and Leila did face paining. Zeynep's tiger is pretty cute!