PETRA

Petra by Night: An amazing once in a lifetime experience.  We arrived at the gates at 8pm, then hiked a few miles through an open desert that narrows into a slot canyon. It was completely dark except for the candle lit path. Then the slot canyon opens up to the Monestary that has hundreds of candles lit in front of it. It is breathtaking. And magical. Then there is some traditional music played and what is supposed to be silence just to take it in- but our kids were the only kids there and didn't get the silent part. At one point in the complete silence, Milly (inspired by all the candles) broke into song, "Happy birthday to Dad-eeee!", it was hilarious. And we got shhh-ed.

This was the thing that I was most worried about doing with our kids because it was so late at night. But they did great and really actually loved playing in the sand near all the candles. Otis basically passed out in the backpack on the hike out. (snake in hand- we bought this in Madaba, he named it "Snake Dougal-Cok" and carried it with him everywhere the rest of the trip.

 With my forever BFF

 

 Ty was a champ for carrying O to the top of the hike. I thought I was going to die with Milly and she is half the weight.

Heavy kids.

 First view of the Treasury

 The donkeys saved us. 

 Otis kept saying, "I'm such a great little hiker". And he was. He walked alot in Petra and had no major meltdowns.

 It was very hot. And very steep. And Ty carried Otis up to the top. It was painful, but so worth it.

 Tyler will laugh at me for telling this story but I can't resist. This Beduin guy, guiding my donkey in the pic above saw me carrying Milly on my back on the way up the hike and he tried to talk me into paying for a donkey ride to the top. He ended up making a bet with me that I wouldn't make it to the top. Never make a bet with a Broadwater- it's in our genetics not to back down at all costs. Here I am above gloating because I made it to the top and saw him on my way down and collected on the bet with a free donkey ride.

 We made it!! You hike to the top and look around the corner to see this. It is striking and amazing. I can't count how many times I asked Nanny, "but I just don't get HOW they built this in the rock so many years ago?!?". 

The cave at the top of the hike with the view of the Monestary.

 Petra is a stone city built sometime around 1550 BC (!). There are biblical references to this "city of stone in Kings and 2 Chronicles. 

Picnic Hike, Madaba, Mount Nebo

Hasan packed a traditional lunch for us and we hiked up to a beautiful view and he built a fire and we had lunch. 

In Madaba at night watching kids play soccer in the street 

 On the front steps of our hotel at night listening to the Prayer Call echoing throughout the city in Madaba

 Ancient Mosaics (that they let you walk on?)

 

A man put put this on Milly and gave it to her as a gift. 

Jordan's "Grand Canyon"

Nice view out the bathroom window

Otis just checking out some locals

Of course he sees any candle and thinks he needs to blow it out

Mount Nebo: In Deuteronomy, Moses goes to the top of Mount Nebo and sees the view of the promised land.

Jordan: day 1 Aljoun and Jerash

Jordan is probably the most amazing place I have ever been. I was nervous to visit this small country bordering Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria and Israel and surrounded by so much conflict (but was assured by my partners in crime that it was safe). And safe it was. What made this trip so incredible for me was not the historic or religious sites, or seeing a Wonder of the World, but it was the people. I have never met such warm, welcoming and respectful people. We found the people to be so loving, it was almost overwhelming at times. 
After our late night arrival into Amman (and Ty and Jared's night out with some locals) we visited Aljoun Castle.

The kids had celebrity status with this group of incredibly sweet and loving Army nursing students. Otis wasn't sure about it at first, but then ate it up. Many people would grab Milly and kiss her and squeeze her cheeks and as you can see in the pick below she would make her body go limp and resist.

"You are welcome". Everyone said this to us. You could tell that locals were proud of their country and were happy to share it with others.

JERASH: Next we drove north to see the Roman ruins in Jerash.

This is one of my favorite pictures from the trip. All these sweet Jordanian nursing students surrounding us trying to talk to Milly. 

York, Scottish Borders and Edinburgh

Over Easter weekend we rented a car and headed for the border. The kids were in heaven singing songs and playing animal games with Grandma on the drive. She has more tricks up her sleeve for entertaining kids than I could ever even imagine. My time with Peggy on this trip showed me where Ty got all his loving patience from. 

 

Sometimes all we could do was laugh when the kids were melting down at the same time.

And just so none of us ever forget...Milly sang herself (and all of us) into delerium with "Ba Ba Black Sheep" on this trip.

Edinburgh Castle. Edinburgh is probably was of my all time favorite cities.

Downton Abbey

Peggy and I decided to take the train to Highclere Castle to see where Downton Abbey was filmed because we both love the show so much and it was such a fun day trip!

 Waiting for the train with 2 sleeping kids

Grandma Peggy comes to London!

We had such an amazing time with Grandma Peggy. It was the perfect mix of sightseeing and just hanging with Grandma.  Not to mention what an expert she became on navigating around the city!

 Sampling nuts at Borough Market

Millenium Bridge between St. Paul's Cathedral and The Tate Modern

Trafalgar Square

The London Zoo