The sights of Nawroz

 This is our view...this is our backyard, just over our mountain! I love Kurdistan!

 This year, after the snow, it warmed up and we dressed in our best on the 21st and headed on a picnic with friends. It's so funny to dress up in a suit, only to dig in the creek, find bugs and frogs, and fly kites! Good thing we brought a change of clothes.

 I don't think I will ever understand why they come outside only to SIT! It drives me nuts. I can't stand sitting still, especially if we are outside on such a glorious day! I should have had Tim take pictures of me in my jili playing Frisbee with the kids. That was the highlight of my day.

 Toby and Jesse...best friends...partners in crime...examining their captured prey.

 Annie...beautiful...lover of nature...wild and carefree. She loves to play and get dirty and look pretty.

 Love this little buddy with his girl shoes on.

 If anything is classically Kurdish...this is. My friend Zara serving tea. They always make it look so easy and natural and beautiful.

This is so Kurdish too...making food over the gas heater.

 Okay...so they did get up and dance a little. But they were all terrible dancers. It made us laugh though...i have two left feet, and anyone can dance the Kurdi line dance, but these guys were rough.

 Dolma for lunch...everyone was happy.

 My kids were the only ones catching frogs and getting dirty. Everyone else was horrified. They think frogs are so disgusting.

 Pretty girls...sparkling in the sun.