Paris!!!!

So this really happened! 3 siblings. Together. In Paris!! I feel so incredibly thankful that we had this time together, it has been a few years since the 3 of us were all together. Jordan was on a business trip in France and Mel and I made a kinda spontaneous decision to meet him in Paris at the end of his trip (you know, since he was already on our side of the pond). Best.decision.ever! We had so much fun exploring Paris together. The sights were amazing, but the company even better. My heart was so full after such precious family time!

Me and my sis on the flight to PARIS!

So excited to finally see this guy! What a happy reunion!!

Yum!

View from our hotel at night and in the morning. 

We could see the Eiffel Tower from our room IF we smooshed our cheeks all the way against the glass, we could just catch a tiny glimpse. Haha!

Mel and Jordan were laughing at how many times I would stop and make them take pictures with yet another colorful door. But they were just so pretty!

We walked so many miles all over the city. It was so much fun just walking around and taking in all the beautiful sights. 

In front of the Musée de l'Armée

Finally at the Eiffel Tower!

Different views of the tower. So pretty.

View from the top

Love this one, you can see the shadow of the tower.

The river Seine.

Arc de Triomphe

We had a beautiful sunny morning, but then it started raining after lunch.

Loved all the flower shops!

Time to warm up with some coffee and crème brûlée.

Love this sister of mine! What a fun trip we had!

Cute little restaurant.

Brother love!

Rainy last morning.

And one last picture of the three of us before Jordan flew home and we prepared to fly home as well. What a special time we had together and I will always cherish the memories that were made! Seriously, how many times do you get to hang out with your siblings in PARIS?!

And on a side note, we were in Paris the same day as the terrorist attack at the Louvre. A man attacked some soldiers outside the museum with a machete when he was told he couldn't enter. The man was shouting "Allahu Akbar" and injured a soldier's scalp before being shot and critically wounded.  

We were a little over 2 miles away at the Eiffel Tower when it happened, but had no idea until we started gets texts from our spouses asking where we were and if we were okay. Kinda crazy. And after that there were police everywhere and everyone seemed on high alert. We had been planning on going to the Louvre that afternoon (they closed it down for the day then), but instead started walking back in the direction of our hotel after we found out. Crazy experience, but we were glad to hear that no one else was harmed.

January 2017 in pictures

Making a paper lantern and watching my kids' faces and hearing their squeals of delight as it took off into the air brought me so much joy. My kids have the best daddy who loves doing projects with them and has just as much fun (if not more) as they do while doing it!
Not pictured: the lantern bursting into flames and crashing to the ground. Hey, it was fun while it lasted!

Isaiah celebrating a classmate's birthday. I'm so proud of how well he is doing. He is starting to make new friends (it took his best friend moving to another school to finally help him branch out though. haha). But now he is making more friends and understanding and speaking more Turkish everyday.

These cousins had a sleepover one night and the following morning we were woken up by 9 excited kids who came bursting into our room exclaiming: "It's snowing!!" They were just a little excited to play in the snow - doesn't happen very often here!

Vienna doing homework with her best friend.

Game night and sleepover with the Kirks!

Vienna loves to carry the computer up to her bed and Skype with her Mom-Mom :)

The kids with their teachers receiving their report cards. Both Yohanis and Colson received special honors. So proud of how well my kids are all doing in school in their 2nd (and for Yohanis 4th) language!

Ice skating fun! We tried to plan a few special things for the kids to do during their two week semester break.

My handsome boy showing off his tower.

Making and flying a kite on a beautiful evening!

Move night at the Birks!

The boys were daddy's right hand men when it came time to work on our guest bathroom!

Love our weekly visits with these sweet Syrian girls so much!

My niece Joanna is absolutely amazing with Brooks and Isaiah. She regularly invites them over to bake with her.

My sweet youngest two boys!

Celebrating Yohanis' 6th FAMILY DAY!

Friends here for a visit. Always a special time to have guests from the USA!!