Joel's Surprise 40th!

There is just one thing to say about it, I ROCK!  I had always planned to take Joel to Vegas for this 40th.  He has never been and it just seem appropriate.  I have actually been saving for it for a few years.  Well now that we are in Istanbul, THAT wasn't going to happen.  So what to do, what to do?

Joel hates birthdays.  He's really not fond of any holiday.  Not sure what is wrong with him?!  So what better way to annoy the crap out of him?  Throw a party.  Even better a surprise party.  Joel tried to throw me one for my 25th birthday.  But there was that little thing called a BLACKOUT of the whole North East US.  He has planned this great party at my favor Bowling Alley/Pizza place.  We did reschedule and it was a great night.

So I enlisted Murat (his driver) and my friend Ilknur (his wife) to help out.  I thought we could have it as a restaurant with some food and drinks.  I gave them this assignment while we were in Portugal.  I get back and Ilknur informs me that it is Ramazan!  No alcohol or music allowed.  Or it was going to cost a shit load of $$$.  So I decided we'll have it at the house.  We looked into caterers and her daughter pulled some strings at her hotel, but everyone was coming back with this super high prices and in Euros!  We spent an afternoon calling every catering company we could find.  I found one that I LOVED!  The menu was fabulous, but the quote the lady gave me was just crazy.  We finally found one that was in my price range.  We had a meeting and everything seem to be going well.

I got Joel's coworker and secretary to help with the guest list and get invitations to everyone at work.  I was so worried someone was going to give it away  Birthdays are celebrated in Istanbul like they are in the States.  Then one week out, the caterer was screwing us around.  Ilknur got pissed and said let me make some calls.  We had decided because of Ramazan that I should buy the alcohol myself.  It shouldn't be much because many of the attendees would not be drinking.  I told Ilknur to give Istanbul Gourmet a try again.  I just couldn't get past their menu.  I am glad we did call back, because they quoted me a fraction of what they did before.  In fact, they were the cheapest by far!  And it wasn't just traditional Turkish food.  There was shrimp and duck, it was just so yummy sounding.  After that, everything fell into place.  They provided a bartender, the bar and glasses, plus all the tables and serving stuff.  And we had 2 chefs, an onsite manager, and two servers!

Next we took care of gifts, the balloons and then last minute, I said I wished I'd gotten a photographer.  Ilknur jumps on the phone and we got a photographer!  He was a student so the price was half!  We got to keep all the pictures too!

So the day of the party arrived.  It was the day before his actual birthday.  Joel's boss had him come over and spend the afternoon so we could set up.  It was so funny that the catering company was waiting around the corner until he left!  Then they took over!  I love that everyone delivers here!  The balloons were delivered and even the beer!

So here is what our patio got transformed into!

Jackie was great and sent me a bunch of Joel pics

The canapés

Murat bringing in the Balloons

My kitchen became a restaurant!

Mojitos were the drink of the night.  So Yummy!

The Bar

Can you tell Nate's excitement?  Or was it the Watermelon frozen drink?

About this third

Then the girls got in on it.

Joel arriving home.  Wrong way tho.

Now the right way

Checking out his Birthday present, a 2m water pipe

Love this one of Joel and Milly

Some of the amazing food!

The best falafel ever!

The surprise was kept!  I was so happy about that.  He spent the party in disbelief.  We had a ton of people and a wonderful time.  We ate and ate and ate.  There was so much food!  I made Joel a carrot cake since my cake lady was on vacation.  It may have not looked pretty but it tasted great.  Better have since I bought Philadelphia Cream Cheese at 14TL a pop.

I have to say that I felt like a real grownup that night.  Joel is going to be hard pressed to get me to throw big parties and do all the cooking back in the States.  I didn't have to do a thing except pay them!  My kitchen was as clean as when they arrived.  The photographer was so nice.  He gave us over 500 pictures.  And it didn't cost much.  I'm going to have him work Milly's 1st bday too.  I am just so excited it turned out well.  Joel loves his gifts (he also got a really nice set of prayer beads also known as stress beads) and he got about 20 bottles of alcohol and a few other really nice gifts.  Didn't really expect anyone to bring anything.  So I hope that Joel had a memorable 40th.  He better start the planning for mine!  I'm thinking Bora Bora?

My Birthday Present arrived!

As I get older, I keep asking for things that I need.  Nothing really fun.  Well, I have called a new washer and dryer fun before!  So this birthday was no different.  I wanted a treadmill.  I have had an elliptical before and my body didn't like it.  I could go join a gym, but a year is the same price as a treadmill.  And then I can only go when Thess is working.  Which, of course, are the days of Bootcamp.  I really tried to workout with the Wii.  Maybe if I had a ton of space, but for the most part I can't get my heart rate up enough.  Driving down to the water to walk just is never motivating enough and forget about trying to walking from the house.  I'd never make it home without a cab ride!  So I told Joel I want a treadmill with this, this and this.

Well, he came thru. It arrived yesterday and I had to wait ALL DAY for them to set it up!

  Of course since it's Turkey,  this, this and this weren't available.  But I got a really nice one that I can hook my iPad, iPod, or iPhone too.  Funny thing is my iPad is too old.  I found a great app on my iPhone that is interval training.  Love it so far, but the app is in mph and the treadmill is in kph.  I tried to change the app but she is still telling me mph.  So I have the iPad to do conversions.  LOL.  Figure I need to make myself a note of the conversion to stick on it.

Last night, I put both kids to bed at 7:30pm and then hopped on the treadmill.  30 minutes went by so fast.  Again, this morning, as soon as Milly went down for her nap, another 30 minutes.  My goal is to do 30 minutes everyday until I'm running 5K.

I even thought about getting the dogs on it.  I think Kus would love it.  Milly sure seems too!

The Big GASP 3 - 5 !!

It has now been a week since I have turned 35.  If you would have asked me in high school what my life would be like when I turned 35, I would blown off the question because that is FOREVER away.  Heck that would have been my answer at 22.

I knew this day was coming.  Joel had his 40th in July.  He handled it well and with grace.  But I think he gets more handsome with age.  Me... my body just keeps falling apart.  Sigh.  I'm sure if I HAD pondered 35 in my youth, my life today would have not been the answer.  Don't get me wrong, most of it is great.  But as I sat on my 35th birthday, which was crap if you were wondering, I decided this was that time for the big change.  Mommy makeover time.

I have put so much off for the kids.  Not taking good care of myself, giving up my body for 4 pregnancies, 9 years of being sleep deprived, and all the rest that goes with being a mom.  This year alone will bring big changes anyways (Hello, July 31st?), so lets just roll it out!

Starting September 1, the diet, the fitness routine, doctors appointments, it all starts.  I am getting a treadmill for my gift from Joel.  Lame gift I know since he got a fab party for his 35th, including a bouncy house and band.  But I have about 25 lbs I'd like to lose for the last time.  Yes, I said it.  I have yo-yo'd between 140lbs and 198lbs for the last 10 years.  And yes, the highest weight was the end of a pregnancy, but still not a number I EVER want to see again.  I'd love to do one of the races at the Eurasia Marathon this year.  How cool to run over two Continents!  So I figured between the treadmill and Bootcamp starting back next month, I may have some hope.

I've been dreading the diet part.  Nursing does NOT help me lose weight.  It's the opposite.  I get so hungry!  It doesn't matter how healthy I eat, I'm still so hungry!  And I have put my baby first.  I drink at least minimum water requirments, take my vitamins, do give into my mini Magnum bars, but its not living on processed food or much takeout.  But still, I gain or stay above my plateau.  It's very frustrating.  As we approach Milly's 1st birthday, I will most likely start to wean her.  I have greatly enjoyed breastfeeding her.  First time I can ever say that.  It wasn't always easy but it made me sit down and spend alone time with just her.  I wish I had that with my other three.  Once I take back my body, its back to strict Watcher Watchers and portion control.  I do have to say that this recent stomach bug has reduced my appetite quite a bit.  Hope it keeps up! LOL

Next will be trying to get out of my funk.  Milly still isn't sleeping thru the night and me going this long without my 8 hours, puts me in a horrible mood.  I'm suffering from a bit of Baby blues but not enough I want to get on meds.  Nothing against anyone that does, because it has crossed my mind.  My biggest issue has been the Anxiety.  I'd love a big bottle of Xanax right now.  But I know for me its all the pregnancy hormones hanging around my body and once I get it all out I will feel better.  Next step will be trying to get rid of the Mommy Brain!  I swear this year I will NOT be the slacker parent.  I will be organized and know when things are due!

And the last part is the doctor side.  I'm finally going to get my eyes done.  It's never been a top priority but now there is a little play money, I have been thinking about it.  I really didn't want to get it done while I was still nursing.  My eyes always change after I quit, so didn't want to take any risks with that!  Next will be getting my teeth done.  4 babies have really taken a toll on them.

Anyways, so that is my plan.  I have a check list of the exact goals and things I want to get done.  I also decided to start a bucket list.  But not for me.  More of a Bucket List of Places and things I want to do with the kids.  I keep catching myself saying, ooo I want to take the kids there and do this.  So I decided to start writing them down.  Not like we haven't done some amazing things so far, but I don't want it to end when we end up back in the States.

Happy Birthday to me!

And I did it again

I have completely ignored my blog.  But it has been such a busy summer!  Hello... 4 kids here.  Over the next 10 days, I will get all caught up.

 This morning the girls headed off to gym camp.  It's much longer this year, but at least it is at the same place.  Since they both did so well last year, we let them go on the bus with the rest of the group.  Last year, we planned our summer vacation around it and drove the girls down ourselves.  Just to make sure Elly could handle it.  I'm sure they will be exhausted when they get back and then school starts a few days later.

Yesterday, Nate started throwing up at 4am.  Turned out to be a 12 hour thing but even I had some stomach issues.  So today will be a day off and then tomorrow things will start getting ticked off my list!