Camping

Yes, Jordan is a desert, but that doesn't mean there aren't great outdoor places to go. In fact, the weekend after we got back from Japan, Mom, Dad and I went camping with some friends down in Wadi Dana. It was my first time camping, and I'd say it's something we need to do more often!

On the way down, we saw  a herd of white camels
crossing the road. This is how close we were!

The first night I was so excited that I didn't want to
go to sleep. And then the next morning I was ready
to go at first light! So we headed out on a hike.

This is Jordan in the sunrise . . .  

Breakfast with my friends. Kind-of looks like a milk
commercial, huh?!

This is one of the well-known lizards of
Wadi Dana. Mom laughed because usually
lizards try to blend in . . . if that's what
this guy is doing, he's failing miserably!

Mom (She doesn't show up in the pictures much,
so I figured I'd include one from the trip :)

The second night of our trip we "camped" in the Lodge
at Wadi Dana. Mom & Dad didn't want me to fall out
of bed, so they moved the mattress to the floor.
I started the night laying neatly on the mattress; this
is how I woke up.
I guess maybe they were right!

Sunrise over Wadi Dana.

Japan Highlight 3: Grandma & GranTom!

This is my Grandma & GranTom. They're Mom's Mom & Dad, and they live in Japan. That's why we went there. I mean, yeah, it's a great country and there's lots of green there and lots of water to play in, and there are GREAT parks and we met a lot of fun people and made new friends, but the truth is that this is why we went: to spend time with Grandma & GranTom.

So let me show you a little bit of what we did together . . .

Grandma taught me how to use a fan (it's hot in Jordan,
but not humid, like it is in Japan!).

She let me try on her sunglasses . . . 

And let me help her with the dishes
(I even got to wear one of her aprons :)

She gave me piggy-back rides . . . 

And she read with me from her  Bible.

We read books and made lists . . . 

We went to the park
and looked at the water and the fish . . .

Grandma even took me to her favorite store:
I'm wearing my new hat and holding my new
rubber duckies!

GranTom took me to get my first ever Starbucks drink. . . 

And let me help him plant flowers:

One of the things I got to do was
to dump the dirt in the pots

Yes, I got a little on me . . .

But look at how pretty they were when
we were done!

GranTom and I also went on walks . . . 

and watched TV together.

This is GranTom and me watching "Elmo's Song"

And this is us getting ready for bed.

We had special meals together . . . 

and played peek-a-boo (or "Inai-nai-ba!").

We celebrated my birthday a few weeks early

And they took me to parks. Again and again!

GranTom even got up in the middle of the night
to take Mommy and me to the airport!

Thank you, Grandma & GranTom: I can't wait to see you soon!

Japan Highlight 2: People!

This is Baby Naho. She and I got to go to the
Camel Park together!

Well, yes, I know that people are the highlight wherever I am, but that doesn't stop me from wanting to talk about them--and how much fun it was!

Of course Grandma and GranTom were the biggest highlights (more on them in the next post), but there were lots of other people--kids, aunties, 'amos (that would be "uncles" in Arabic), and lots and lots of friends!

This is Auntie Satoko. We got to pray together when
she visited me. 

These are my friends from Sunday School,
Minori-chan and Sahori-chan. We read
Bible stories in Arabic by looking at the pictures
and figuring out the story!

This is actually Mommy's friend from when she was
younger. By this time of the day, though, I was
ready to go home and didn't want to get my picture taken!

This is Izumi and Misaki, Mommy's friend's two
daughters. We had ice cream together!

These are the kids from Grandma & GranTom's
"Mommy & Me" club. I have a cd of them singing,
and they once watched a video of me . . . so I
guess we already "knew" each other before this?

This is Tosei-kun. He really, really likes cars. But he also
likes animals, so we played with animals together. 

My favorite part of having all the kids over at
Grandma & GranTom's house: jumping on the bed!!!

GranTom, Ayano-chan and Yukina-chan
got to play violin together.

And of course, when Emi was willing to come
swing with me, we had a GREAT time!

Japan Highlight: Parks!

Swinging at the park next to
Grandma & Gran Tom's.

 Yes, I'll happily admit it: one of the best things about Japan was the parks. Yes, plural: PARKS. The one next to Grandma & GranTom's house, the one with the camel, the one over by the Ghibli Museum, and especially the zoo park. Wow!

Every morning (and at other times during the day), I went outside to spend some time swinging--it really is a great way to start the day, you know! Yeah, it was pretty hot and humid some of the days, but that's why swinging is so great: you get the breeze, you get to look around . . . and it can be pretty exciting at times, too!

Oh--and did I mention that Japan has a lot of water? A LOT. So the parks even have water in them: drinking fountains that squirt, and even a WADING POOL. I'm not sure life gets a whole lot better than that!

So . . . enough said: I bring you . . . the parks and me!

A little bit of "home"?

GranTom and I really liked looking at the fish in the water.

And speaking of water . . . !!!

Mom said I should call this "following in
GranTom's steps"

Sometimes Grandma & GranTom played with me,
and other times they just watched me :)

Well, OK, sometimes they also checked their i-phones!

Yep, more swinging!

This is Laila, the bunny

We looked for ducks and finally found them!

Grandma and a Guinea Pig!

There were LOTS of Guinea Pigs!

And still more swinging . . . 

I even got to hold a guinea pig!

And here's Laila again! She got to
come home to Jordan with me :)