happy first day!

pardon the interruption but i had to share... (more cruise pics to come...)

today was the first day of school for miss ella & chloe. 

i keep asking myself how in the world do i have two girls in school full time. 

i know it's cliche, but time really does fly. 

i have enjoyed my busy but no schedule days of summer. 

i am reluctant to dive back into the craziness, but i know it's only a matter of time before we adjust. 

i will say that i am LOVING having both girls at the same school. 

one drop-off is great and there is just something about having the two of them together. makes me happy. 

i love first day of school cause it means....new clothes, new school supplies, new teachers, and most of all a very good reason to have the girls take some pictures. they can't argue with me on such an occasion. 

here is to another year of their minds growing both academically and spiritually. may my Heavenly Father watch over them each moment and may their little lights shine brightly. i love you girls♥

mykonos, whokonos?

mykonos, greece.
i had never heard of it before our trip so when i first saw it on the itinerary i didn't give it much thought.
the night before our scheduled arrival we were informed that we may have to pass this city up as the winds were too strong.
lucky for us the winds calmed for a bit and we anchored out in the middle of the ocean.
this may have been my favorite port of call. it was simply gorgeous and the crystal clear, blue sky only added to the ambiance.
it was a quaint little city with white adobe style homes, narrow alley ways and accents of blue painted throughout.
simply stunning and fun to photograph.

barth also celebrated his 35th birthday. i don't think he could have asked for a better place to turn a year older.

istanbul

istanbul is turkey's largest city with a population that exceeds 13 million, making it the world's second largest city. crazy right?

the major highlights of this port of call...cruising along the bosphorus with europe on one side and asia on the other, the blue mosque & the grand bazaar. 

 at most of the religious sights we visited along the way, modest clothes were a requirement. shorts needed to be below the knee, shoulders covered and at the mosques heads covered.

 Hagia Sofia...

 these turkish baths are still a popular thing all over the city. they say that you could shower yourself for an hour and then go to the bath house and it would appear as if you hadn't bathed in days. i think i will stick to my own showering thank you.

anyone remember turkish delight from lion, witch & the wardrobe? well this is it. kinda reminds me aplets & cotlets. not really my kind of thing.