Part way through Turkey...but still lots more to enjoy!

A week of Turkey under our belts and so far, we are absolutely loving it! Just spent 4 days in a really cool region (Cappadocia) with a cave hotel that we all enjoyed. The weather has been perfect - 24C and sunny every day. The travel here has been easy. Definitely has a more European flare than Asian and is well catered to the tourist set. Coming from the crazy chaos of Kathmandu, Istanbul was unbelievable. Organized, walkable, clean and the food has been so fresh. Lots of vegetables, fruits, salads, lean meat. Feels good to eat here as the curries, rice of South Asia was starting to feel really heavy. The only "problem" is the bread and wine here are delicious! Back to daily coffee and daily wine. Good for the soul, no?

We are definitely in a vacation rhythm with a little less attention to dollars in this final stretch...still within our overall budget which has been managed well, but a few more luxury perks (like my lattes and Craig's Hoegarden) happening in this final month. As the kids would say (or text as I don't think they'd actually "say" it) - YOLO. 

We are not allowed to count down the days. The Chief Organizer has forbidden it, and to be honest, I don't want to count down either! Bouts of homesickness are all but gone other than when Robin saw Auntie Melly's growing belly over face time the other day and said she missed them and wanted to go home.  I reminded her that we will be home in plenty of time for all the fun baby stuff. Abby is keeping in touch with her friends with riveting conversation openers such as "hey" and "hi" over iMessage. She has been updated on school sports teams, who is asking who to the Halloween dance, friends new hair styles etc. She is anxiously awaiting news of whether she and Rachael will get their top pick of camp programs for next summer. These are important things when you are 13. 

Turns out the day we return is a PA day so there has been chatter of the kids seeing some of their friends at the airport, or dropping by afterwards at our house. The grandparents and Aunts/Uncles are lined up for airport and early dinner. I anticipate a bit of craziness (in a good way) that weekend. Will be so different to have other people around! 

I've got two days off (Mon/Tues) before I start back to work and can't (won't) quite wrap my head around how we will get ourselves organized for back to school/basketball/work. My Dad will be home from his trip to Sri Lanka the Thursday after we are home so we will look forward to having him overnight and comparing notes of our travels. 

Looking back on the past 5+ months, have I accomplished what I had hoped to? My reading has faltered a bit but we have been a bit busier with our touring, haven't opened up the meditation app on my iPad, haven't kept up with any of the exercises I had intended on doing, and we've slipped on the math regimen since leaving Nepal...but I have done a reasonable job of taking each day as it comes and enjoying the smaller moments when we are all laughing at dinner, or sitting together on one couch or tucked into the same bed watching a show.  

Time is flying quickly now so will not count down but focus on enjoying each and every day we have left on this adventure.