Aunt Rie Rie comes to Jordan!

Annemarie came to visit last week from London.  We had not seen her since Thanksgiving so it was an awesome visit.  Dylan loved spending time with her Aunt and we enjoyed having her cook delicious meals for us.  We missed Uncle Matt :(

Rie Rie teaching Dylan how to make Mommy's favorite food- Queso!  

Picture before heading out to dinner.  

Owen's one month birthday.  Getting him to look at the camera was not a successful endeavor.  One month olds are so uncooperative, ha.  

Don't they look alike?

I think I will keep this picture handy for when Owen starts taking Dylan's toys and getting into her things just to remind her of how much she loves baby brother...

Whoa, just discovered the light on my ceiling and it is awesome.  

"talking"

Home sweet home.

Here are some pictures that try to capture some at home moments the past month.  As you can see, Dylan really loves her new big sister role.  Owen is taking it all in stride- which he kind of has to since he lacks the ability to talk back or get away from her. 

I love this picture- Owen staring at Dylan while she listens to her book.  

So this maintenance guy cam to fix our door and Dylan brought in her chair and a pad and paper and took "notes" so she could learn how to fix a door.  Who says your kids don't learn from TV- hello Handy Manny!

So sweet when they are sleeping.  

Dressed up for a BBQ.  Dylan thinks anything outside of the house that involves other people and food is a party and feels the need to get dressed up in clothing that is totally inappropriate for dirty outdoor playgrounds and BBQs.  

Reading baby brother a book. 

Playing "nail salon" with Owen.  Hmmm.... only time will tell what damage this will do, ha.  

Jerash, May 4, 2012

Jerash

A few weeks ago we ventured north to the ancient city of Jerash, located about 45 minutes north of Amman.  It is one of the ancient cities of the Decapolis and the best-preserved Roman ruin outside of modern day Italy.  Because of its unique location (year round supply of water and a hilltop location making it perfect for protection/visibility), archeologists believe that the ancient city was inhabited more than 6500 years ago.  The city became home to a growing population for thousands of years, peaking during the years of Alexander the Great and the Middle Eastern trade boom in the 1^st and 2^nd centuries.  The city was almost ruined and buried in sand after a series of earthquakes in the 6th and 7^th centuries.  It was rediscovered in 1806 by a German traveler and has undergone a number of excavations and overhauls in the past one hundred years.  Ben and I loved exploring the history and Dylan enjoyed “rock climbing.”  Owen hung out in the baby Bjorn and tried not to get a free bath from Ben’s sweat.