Paul and Corrine's Visit

We had Paul and Corinne here at the beginning of April. We were all so excited for them to get here. We all picked them up from the airport about 10 pm on the 1st.

The next day (Thursday) we went to the Roman Theater. 

Corinne is Hannah's favorite person!

We went in the small museum there. 

Paul let Michael take a picture.

This is at the small theater.

One of the cops put handcuffs on Hyrum. Josh likes to tell people that he is a little mujarim (criminal)

Michael

I love that my kids have so much fun playing together! 

We went to church on Friday. On Saturday we went to Jerash.

We love that you can climb on whatever you want here.

Look, this is where the Romans stored their children when they're not in use. At least that's what my kids figured these spots where for.

So at the other theater there was a band playing bagpipes and drums. Joshua didn't like how loud it was. 

Katie and Hannah joined the girls dancing.

I think Paul was enjoying the freedom to climb as much as the kids, if not more!

Hyrum thought it was time to move on and was going to leave without us.

All caves and such stink in Jordan!

This was a neat spot you can climb down to. 

I wish I'd kept track of how many people asked for "selfies" with us. 

It was so green and beautiful!

This little girl really wanted to hold Hyrum. Hyrum was like "hey, I'm a big kid. Don't you dare pick me up!". 

Catching lizards.

Boys and lizards!

Hannah wasn't happy with me because I told her she's a big girl and can walk. So she decided to drag her feet. Hyrum thought that was pretty cool and caught on real fast!

At one of the theaters.

There are goats and sheep everywhere in Jordan. They are in Amman too. No fences anywhere. Just shepherds. Sometimes we have them right by our house. The kids were so happy to get to pet the cute little goats here. 

Up the stairs to no where.

Hannah was tired out and slept on Corinne the whole way home.

Sunday we went to the Dead Sea. I knew better than to try to bring any of the kids down to the sea. They all stayed up at the pools except for Katie. 

Joseph slipped and cut his chin open. He was one tough kid!

Paul and Corinne were kind enough to watch our kids while Josh and I went to in the Dead Sea together. 

Hannah warming up on the hot ground. 

Monday we went to Aqaba. It was really windy. We rode on a glass bottom boat for a while. I was surprised at how much we saw. 

So pretty! I was glad that everyone was able to see the fish, coral, and sunken tank. 

We tried playing at the beach and snorkeling but it was too windy! The next day it was better but the beach was very crowded. Thankfully we had Paul and Josh there. They had to take turns "babysitting" us on the beach because the boys and young men were being so aggressive. It really stinks being a women in the middle east. 

Here's some of the pictures in the Red Sea. 

Paul

There were tons of little orange fish.

Josh went really deep.

Paul, Katie, and I swam out to the sunken ship. It's pretty deep and dark and hard to get a good picture. 

Sadly the Red Sea is an amazing place but the people ruin Aqaba. 

After the beach we drove to Petra and checked into our hotel.

On Wednesday we walked through Petra.

Hannah wanted a picture!

Hyrum wanted to walk. 

Smile!

Checking out the camels.

Josh and I at the Treasury.

We went on the high trail this time. It was much better! See the goats on the cliffs.

Taking a little brake.

So many cool rocks here! 

The theater behind us. We are up pretty high!

Paul 

This was such a neat spot. The kids decided this was a hotel, and picked their "rooms".

Good place to stop for a snack.

Michael found a heart shaped rock and put a face on it. He was sad that it was too big to take with us. 

Just a few stairs to the top!

Such a cool spot. 

The room at the top.

A good hiding spot.

Hannah and Hyrum getting a ride on a donkey. A cute little 4 or 5 year old leading the way.

This poor dog was up at the Monastery. It was a long hike up a lot of  stairs to get there. 

The "best view" spot. Paul and I went a little further to look at the view from the top. 

The Monastery. 

It's HUGE!

Yeah, a goat!

On our way back down.

You can get a donkey ride up to the Monastery but Josh had warned us it looked scary. Apparently, no one warned this lady. She went past us screaming.  

She got off and walked for a bit.

A little while later she went by screaming again with her husband and kids laughing. I loved what her shirt said, It's OK! Ha ha!

We were followed for a ways by this cute puppy. Hyrum was in love!

Stopping for a band-aid brake. Poor Michael tripped and skinned his arm. 

I never could get the red dirt out of Josh's shirt from carrying kids on his shoulders! We were all so dirty!

Here's Josh trying to be patient waiting for his kids to be done playing with "the dumb dog". 

We were all pretty spent by the time we got down all the stairs and got donkey rides back to the treasury. Paul looked especially funny on that tiny donkey with the little boy guiding it!

Hannah with her bestest friend Corinne!

Joseph and Michael and Hyrum and I all getting a brake.

Joshua and Katie on their mule. The Monastery is back in the mountains behind us. 

More ruins on the side of the mountain. 

Almost done.  Hannah fell asleep the last little bit. Josh carried her ahead of us to the car and picked us up at the gate. We were all so glad not to have to hike up one more steep hill to the car. You're the best Josh!

On Thursday we just hung out and then took Paul and Corinne to the airport that night. We were all sad to see them go. We had such a great week with here! Thanks for coming you guys!!