Highlights

Well...as our weeks are coming to a close...the reality of our simple jordan life and all it's quierks are hitting me...we are saying good bye to our first home as a family of 3...our first arab landing place...i am trying to soak in the last moments and do the things we love best here...

which means eating at our favorite restaurant here in Jordan AS MUCH AS WE CAN:

-Hashems. egyptian falafel and foul...fresh bread...a bit of a feast for only $2 . the king and queen have been seen eating at this little mom-and-pop diner. =) drew and i are packing little layla bear up a lot these days and catching a taxi down to this spot. all the waiters are in-love with layla...feed her, hold her and dote on her. only in jordan.

CB trying her first falfel

she loved it!

-going on walks around the neighborhood to soak in the atmosphere...

val and i were power walking during this big holiday ( to bring her baby down!) and a little 8-9 year old girl saw us. she was dressed to the nines standing with three of her friends and i greeted them and wished them a happy holiday in arabic. she lit up and then exclaimed in arabic " you all are beautiful" in which i gave the proper response " you are more beautiful". val and i chuckled to ourselves that a little girl would stop to power walkers and tell them that they are beautiful. only in jordan.

-as i was sipping my morning coffee and making home-made granola i had the realization that i have settled into quite the little home-maker. jordan has brought that out in me, and cultivated quite the little suzy-home-maker and i am grateful for that. i glanced out my kitchen window to the hills and roofs of Amman and saw a family slaughtering a goat for this holiday- the holiday of sacrifice. the women were sitting and chatting, the men slaying the animal, and the kids jumping and running around in all the excitement. only in jordan.

-then Val and i were walking around and got stuck behind the truck that collects the skins and insides from the goats. yikes the smell was crazy and i cant believe that Val could hold down her lunch being soooo pregnant. beautiful 70 degree weather, national holiday, stuck behind skin and blood collections truck. only in jordan.

-claire has been walking with assistance since 8 months and we kept thinking that any day would be the day that she walks on her own. but finally at just a little over 11 months- Claire walked!!! Drew was holding her by one hand and then let go and she walked about 6 steps to my arms! we were so excited and have so many potent and amazing memories in this- our first home as a family, our jordanian home. we have had such a rich year with our bundle of joy... in jordan.

looking forward to 3 more weeks of studies, visits and parties. more to come...