A day at the beach

We are really starting to feel at home here. More and more everyday. However, we do miss aspects of home also and sometimes wish we could go back.  Recently we have been busy with language learning and just daily life. Its been fun to see our kids grow and change and experience this culture in their  own way. They are starting to play together more and more and that is fun to see. People always think they are twins even though I think there is a clear size and development difference in the fact that they are almost 1.5 years apart.
The weather is starting to become warm, even hot somedays. Today was no exception. We woke up to cloudless skies and a bright, shining sun, and it progressed to get warmer all day long. I really should get a thermometer, but according to the local weather station it was 26 C today. Not the hottest day we have had but it feels like July and its only April. I can only imagine what July will actually feel like. Fortunately we live close enough to the water that it is just a 10 minute walk and we are at the green space by the water where there is a cooler breeze coming off of the sea.
        For supper tonight we loaded up with Peanut Butter and Jam sandwiches, fruit, almonds, water bottles and of course the local favourite- Simit. (sesame-seed, pretzel, bagel type of thing-kids both LOVE it.) We took it all to the water where - with about 300 other families- we had our supper. I must say that our dinner was probably very lame compared to the majority of people. Most people had little BBQ's and were roasting chicken, vegetables and had salads and bread. We saw lots of people also making Cay - a staple tea here-and it all smelled and looked great. We even saw people with little round tables that sit about a foot off the ground that they were sitting around eating  and some had even brought plates and glasses. Not the disposable stuff. It is a great cultural experience and like anywhere we go with our kids, we quickly become an attraction. Everyone has to stop and watch them as they are running around in the grass. Especially our youngest child who is 1. Everyone thinks she is the cutest and they all look at here and try to get her to come to them. It was especially funny to watch their reactions when she confidently goes to the top of the "big kids" slide and proceeds to throw herself down laughing and giggling all the way only to do it again over and over. Some of the 4 year olds would not go down but there is our little 1 year old with no fear. At first we got some glares like we were being irresponsible letting her go down but they soon saw how much fun she was having and that she was having the greatest time of everyone. Anyways...that is a typical day at the beach during a warm sunny sunday. Sundays are the busiest day because no one works that day.