The sweet smelling aroma of fun and laughter entertained us all during our stay in Toowoomba with the little girlie grandies becoming best buddies and Nathan and Julz opening their home for all the southern invaders.

Julz with Lexie and Alara, also known as Leckie and Bubba, Cheesy Grin and Spew Monkey - the list is endless!
Lexie on her Easter Egg hunt - she found every one! In true Heinrich tradition, she couldn't stand the thought of chocolate...lost...somewhere...out there...
This is Dad on holidays...
...ahh, that's better. The mellowing effect of grandies!
Super smiles at Cooby Dam. A brief excursion to exercise our legs and let the blue M&M's run their course (Alara of course slept through all the fun). Fantastic times, wish you were there, let's do it again soon!

Alara and I made a quick trip up to Toowoomba to visit with Nathan, Julz and Lexie over Easter and like all devoted Grandies, Ma Ma and Pa followed too. Louie and Steve didn't want to be left out so they turned up in the baggage hold - the little stowaways! Poor Matt and Kara were left looking after sheep, crying into their chocolate eggs and plotting revenge. As it happened, the whole Schefe clan were celebrating Uncle Clarrie turning 60 over on the Sunshine Coast so in true Heinrich style we gate crashed at the last minute and turned a quiet do into a chaotic catch-up.

Aunty Jill giving Lexie a hand with her chocolate. "The correct way to eat it is like this...mmm...let me show you again..."
"I'm just as mortified as you Alara - high cut suits on a 4 month old, really!"
Mum, Uncle Clarrie, Dad and Uncle Daryl - who happened to be in the neighbourhood (I think perhaps he could smell the beer...). Aunty Isobel was sorely missed on this occasion, here's hoping that she's at the next.
5 grand in the pocket and another 5 on the way. Here we have a test-case for the Federal Baby Bonus - one would recommend vouchers I think. Kidding. Cousin Warren and Fi with baby bump still cooking for a few more months.
Cousin Paul with wife Deb and their boys, Thomas and Edward. Great to see them again, especially as they had yet to meet Lexie as well as Alara.
Quietly glad not to have procreated just yet - Cassie and Dave watch on as figures are ruined and lives taken over.
Master BBQ Extraordinaire Nathan and his trusty Sous Steve cooking up a storm for dinner.
Thomas lapping up the female attention from Lexie.
Here's Edward getting into the action as well - so much love to go around!
The marauding pack of paparazzi following their every movie. We're checking Julz into Digi-Snaps Anonymous, that's not even her camera!
The man of honour pondering over his last 60 years and making plans for the next 60. Check out Mr 15 Minutes of Fame in the background - send all fan mail to PO Box Woop Woop.
Cheers! (Thanks Aunty Jill for the photo).

We spent our last night in Turkey at a great little restaurant eating fantastic Turkish food and enjoying each others company for one last night. The trip was a success - everyone met and loved Alara and spent some valuable time with her. We reconnected with our overseas family and laughed ten times more than we cried. Thanks for having us and see you all again soon!

As proclaimed by the experts, the best Lamachun had to date. It's a flat bread, basic kind of pizza really. Good tucker.
A cake to celebrate all the missed birthdays - a fitting end.
Enjoyment in action.
Till next time...love you all!

As I do not have my Lonely Planet at hand, I am unable to provide much information about the following bridge we visited. Suffice to say it is old, I think about 500 years and separates the sea from a lake. I do apologise for my lack of journalistic credibility!

Marvelous, old and under-appreciated bridge.
If you had any doubts about where we were, they should be dispelled by now (see red flags).
Remind anyone of a famous photo? (Sami's mum is still stuck on this one...)

A Sunday afternoon spent down by the water's edge in the suburb of Gurpinar where Serpil lives with her family. Exercise equipment lined the walkway as well as cafe's and a small amusement park. Fun for all!

Sami's mum and myself working up a sweat.
Meet Ms Dribbles...or is that Bubbles...or maybe Ms Grumpity Grumps.
The stripes, the rudimentary exercise equipment - is this prison visiting day?!?
Dodgem Cars Rule #1 - Dodge all the cars. Ferim and Sami literally dodged every car - who knew it could be done?
The Ultimate Bucket Bath.
We just want to drink you up!

We spent a wonderful day with Sami's old friends from his university days, meeting at their old stomping ground, the Bosphorus University.

Aydan and Kurtan - who are expecting their own little boy in July so this was an exercise in pre-natal parenting for them.
It didn't take long for Alara to capture her audience...
...and again!
Eating lunch in the graduates club - a nice tradition everytime we visit.
The university grounds are a tranquil oasis in the middle of a teeming city. The grounds back onto the fortress of Rumeli Hisari which was built in the mid 15th century in order to control commercial and military traffic in preparation for the Ottoman of siege of Constantinople.

Just hanging out with the family.

I've just had my bath and Ferim has helped me get dressed ready for bed. This is my best puddin' top pose.
My uncle Turgut and aunt Serpil.
This is fun, all this attention!

We arrived in Istanbul for the last week of our stay to visit with Sami's eldest sister, Serpil and her family. Serpil was enamored with Alara and from the moment we arrived there was not a moment when they were apart.

Meeting Serpil, Sami's sister for the first time...
...and already they had a lot to talk about!
Cousin Ferim's piano provided hours of entertainment for everyone. My limited range of tunes meant my set was always thankfully short, Ferim had the talent and we spent a few evenings sat around, Victorian style, listening to her music. Anyone for a turn around the room?
The star herself, the favoured cousin Ferim.
Just some of Alara's favourite people.
The adoring fans.

Our time ended in Antalya with Dede after a few weeks and we left to stay in Istanbul for the last week of our holiday. As Ane was coming with us, Dede had to make the most of his little girl before we left.

Hats on...
...hats off!
I weigh how much?!? (A little over 6 kgs - you are a lump!)
Soaking up the sunshine with my Dede.

When our girl was born we had in mind the name of Alara, Sami had come up with it knowing only that it was a river in Turkey close to where he used to raft. Today we went to visit.

There is a village called Alara which has the Alara river running through it and also contains the Alara-hun (inn). Alara herself was soooo happy during this photo, she was really excited to be in her town! (Ah, the trials we put our children through for the sake of making memories...)
This is the Inn that was built in 1232 by Sultan Alaaddin Keykubat and served as a major stopping point for trade and relaxation for the caravans that were travelling through the area. The 2000 m² inn is made entirely of cut stone and contains a guardhouse, fountain, mosque and baths. The proprietor named it after his daughter we were told by the current land owner. It is apparently an impressive climb and it's in really good condition, but with a baby and a 3 year old, we had to give it a miss for the time being. But, we will be back!
The Inn, the river and the girl.
Quite thankful that Alara's namesake was not a dump - it's as pretty as Alara is herself.
Of course we had to mark the occasion with food.
Manavgat Waterfall located between Alara and Antalya.
Dede and Ane with their Semih...
...and some hanger-ons.