Nael Mehmet has Graduated!

Nael graduated from kindergarten. Can you believe how fast they're all growing up? This was a really fun night, and Nael was so happy. Thanks to all his teachers!

Baby Video

This is a long clip of Zaid doing his baby thing. It's probably only fodder for doting grandparents and silly parents, but the lucky guy's got plenty of those. The highlight is at the end, when he says "Gaaa". Love to you all!

Nisa's Visit May 10-13 2010

This is the crew who woke up early in the morning. The teenagers are sleeping in, of course. =)

Gabe just loves Zaid. He is a wonderful brother, and a wonderful boy. We are very proud of him.

Zaid finished his morning bath. He just loves taking a bath.

Leyla is playing on the computer in our office. She's so big.

Nael is telling a story. He loves to chat and talk, and has so much to say. He's a very friendly guy.

A movie of Zaid being tortured by excessive posing for photos. Gabe is the cameraman.

Zaid and Allison in Wichita

Hello,

This was a visit to Wichita during the third week of March. We stayed with our dear friends the Mousas. Thanks for your hospitality!

Just the girls- My georgous buddy Heather and I- I'm a lot skinnier than the last picture of us together!

This is their family- including two exchange students!

Zaid and I.

I guess all those pictures wore him out!

Hi!

These are some pictures of the kids on my Dad's farm. Gabe is just glowing because he's learning how to drive the tractor. Kind of scary for me, but I'm very proud of him.

Posing on the truck... I think they're supposed to be hard prairie people.

They found a ringneck snake. Leyla just loves finding these critters on the farm. Behind them is a plastic container with... her dead mole. (Don't worry, it was already dead when she found it.)

Volkan is helping Dad cut down some brush. He asked me to take a picture to show what a tough country guy he is.

Snow Day!

Hello!
Well, this past winter was the snonwiest winter in Kansas since 1912, and the kids were very happy to get to play in the snow. Here are some pictures from Feb. 2010.

Hugs to everyone!

Zaid at the hospital

Hello!
Here are some pictures of Zaid's birthday.






Here's the baby, brand new. Thank God, he is healthy and perfect.






This was no normal day for us. Volkan was taking a flight from Egypt which arrived at 10 at night. I was induced into labor about 4 in the afternoon because I was so late.

All through the labor, I was hoping that it would take long enough for Volkan to arrive- and it did! Volkan came into the hospital like a knight in shining armor about 11:30 p.m., and Zaid arrived at 1:45. I think I was a little too grumpy and in pain to show him how much I appreciated his being there... But, it was really wonderful.

My dear friend Heather and my wonderful Mom were there with me all day, being so helpful and taking great care of me.

Of course, Dad and Susie were a big help with the birthday, too. Dad went into KC to bring Volkan to the hospital, and Susie was working hard taking care of the big kids. Thanks for everything, guys!

We were all worried about the delivery, because my dad lives out of town, and with this being baby #5, we didn't want any home deliveries. I was also having lots of contractions the last few weeks, so we went in to check things out. Here are the kids, at the hospital for a false alarm and eating some Taco John's.