The kids have been counting down the days until Pop arrived for a visit. It was tears of joy when we received those first hugs at the airport! It has been a whole year since we have hugged his neck!!!!
We skyped with Lolli soon after he got here…she wanted to be here with us so bad!
It was like Christmas all over again!!!
We have loved exploring the city with Pop…neat to see the city with fresh eyes through someone else.
LOVE my daddy!
Pop's first chai!
Our CA friends wash their external body parts 5 times a day before prayer in order to be "clean" before their god. Thankful for the sacrifice Jesus made so that our hearts can be completely forgiven! We could never wash away all of our filth!
We spent a lot of night playing cards and hanging out together!
Pop trying out some local foods in the nearby villages!
We hiked lots of caves too!
We played at several playgrounds….
We even had a Super Bowl party with some of our American friends to watch the game (24 hours late).
We went ice skating which was quite funny!
My skating partner...
We visited the science museum...
Pop's favorite local food….pizza!
A familiar sight outside the city...
We had a picnic at the top of a mound where a Biblical city used to be. While eating a picnic lunch, it was cool to read out of scripture the actual things that happened right where we were sitting.
Local Pizza…round number 2!
Local coffee…
Pop's first local coffee….
An old church baptistery….notice the cross next to Karis!
The scenery from the top of our hike was amazing!
Our picnic lunch was at the top left of this mound….an old Biblical site.
Pop enjoying the peace and quiet after lunch...
Lucy practicing her slingshot skills...
Old pottery pieces in the old city ruin...
This was from the top of the mound…Brayden is "holding" our car by the road...
We love to explore…and we found a creek!
Check out these massive thorns….
This is an old bridge that dates back to Roman times and Jay has been wanting to visit it since he first saw it almost a year ago. We finally found our way and some of us crossed it (Jay, Karis and Brayden).
Lucy, now THAT is a tea party with 7 of your closest friends!
Lucy and Pop had lots of tea parties!
Fun at the basketball game!
Lucy is READING to Pop!
First day back at school for 2nd semester...
Brayden's first day back at school 2nd semester...
We ended the week with all kids getting some special one-on-one time with Pop. It was by far one of the highlights of their week! Lucy and Pop had ice cream, went to the park, had a tea party, he read her some books and then she literally CRIED when it was over. I said Lucy did you have fun? And she responded, "Yes...(starting to sob) but I am just sad its overrrrrr!" She LOVES her Pop!
Brayden and Pop got ice cream, threw baseball, hit the tennis ball, and other boy stuff and drew quite the crowd ha! Brayden had a blast!
Karis and Pop got lunch at the mall, and rode their bikes to a park about a 30 minute walk away and back. Pop said they spent lots of time talking and had some special time together. What precious memories!
We don't want to see him go in the morning but beyond THANKFUL for this time with him! We can't wait until we get to do it again!
We love you Pop! Thanks for bringing lots of smiles, laughter and happy hearts. Until we see each other again….
