Visit with the Jolliffs - Part 6

Merry Christmas! Well, that's what we celebrated on this day. We started the morning with Elizabeth's delicious homemade cinnamon rolls and egg casserole for breakfast.

The boys enjoy sitting by the Christmas tree, waiting patiently to open their gifts.

Ben was not feeling well, and Uncle Hap held Ben all most of the morning while he slept in his arms.

The boys received a lot of nice gifts and they had a lot of fun opening them.

They received books, toys, and...

A firetruck!

And a castle!

So, you know how the rest of the morning went :).

Benjamin felt better after a long nap. He woke up right in time for friends to come over and for the Christmas play.

They re-enacted Jesus's birth story, and then sang some songs. It was so cute! The kids did a great job, and so did the director!

Afterwards we got some family pictures outside, and enjoyed the rest of the day letting the kids play. It was a very memorable Christmas for all of us!

Visit with the Jolliffs - Part 5

Another day, Elizabeth and Sam took us to visit a beautiful old town in the hills that has been continuously settled for over 5,000 years. It is one of the oldest towns in the region.

We visited a place that is regarded as holy by Muslims, Christians, and Jews because it is the place of David's anointment and the burial location of the patriarchs. 

It is fascinating to visit places that are so old, and have so much biblical significance. Every place we visited I thought about what life may have been like at these places thousands of years ago.

The tomb of Abraham

The tomb of Isaac

This man wanted to have his picture taken :).

Next, we visited the old market. It was such a unique place, with arched roofs and many alleys to explore.

The shops sold everything from pottery, olive wood, glass, trinkets, to spices, fruits and vegetables.

The shop owners were incredibly friendly and they loved playing with the boys.

A shop owner convinced Nathan and I to buy a run and some pillow cases. Everything was handwoven, handcrafted, it was truly amazing.

Of course we had to enjoy some baklava before leaving!

Lastly we went to a glass blowing and ceramics factory, that has been family owned for many generations.

Every item in the store was handmade and painted, and each piece was unique and so beautiful.

The boys were troopers, and they still had energy to play outside when we got home.

Everyone had a turn loving on Ben :).

The boys had baths, 3 and 2 to the tub :).

Then we finished our great day with spaghetti dinner, some rough housing, and Doc McStuffins on the kindle.

2013 Year in Review.

As 2013 comes to an end, I reflect on the events of this past year and how God has blessed our family tremendously.  This has been a very memorable year full of unique experiences, the biggest news is our family moved to Kuwait!

Caleb turned two in July. He has changed and developed so much over the past year. Caleb is very spirited, energetic, and curious about everything around him. He has a great vocabulary and he can communicate what is on his mind pretty well, which gets humorous at times. Caleb loves to be read to, and he would sit in your lap all day to read if he could. Caleb takes good care of his little brother, and he is happy to help out by bringing him a toy or a cup of milk. Caleb has had no problem adjusting to life in Kuwait. A yard full of sand and warm weather to play outside is a little boy's dream.  He has made good friends with the construction workers who are building homes in our neighborhood.  He greatly enjoys playing in the sand near the construction site, climbing on bricks, throwing rocks, and making the workers laugh. We have a nice neighborhood park that both boys enjoy playing at too. Caleb started preschool in September, and he adores his teachers and classmates. He is one of two non-Arab kids in the class, and he is quite popular with the children and their families, with his blonde hair and blue eyes. He is doing great in his new environment, and he is even starting to pay attention during the arabic lessons:).

Benjamin turned one in October. He is a very laid back, calm, and sweet little boy. This past year he has developed from a quiet infant into a curious little toddler. Benjamin has 10 teeth and he will eat anything you put in front of him. Benjamin enjoys activities that involves using his hands, and his favorite thing to do is push trucks and balls around the house and slam dunk in his basketball hoop. He is starting to become more vocal and he can communicate his wants and needs. Benjamin stays home with our wonderful childcare provider, Tes. Our boys adore her, she takes excellent care of our family, and we are very thankful for her. Ben also goes to a music class and an art class once a week, and he spends a lot of time at the park and playing with other kids at the Embassy.  Last week he took a couple of steps, and he is on the verge of walking. Benjamin always has his eye on his big brother, and he gets a big smile on his face when Caleb makes him laugh. Pretty soon we will have two little boys running all over the place!

We have had the opportunity to travel to some wonderful places this year.  In April, Nathan and his father went on a mission trip to Ethiopia with Hope for His Children. It was a unique opportunity for Nathan and his dad to serve together, and to spend the week sharing God's love with the Ethiopian people. In May we took a family vacation to Shenandoah National Park and Rockbridge County, VA, for a week of hiking and being outdoors, before we moved to Kuwait. The boys loved hiking in the backpack carriers and exploring the outdoors. Collectively, we also visited England, Thailand, Kuwait, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Israel. Leading up to our move, we spent time with many family and friends. People came to visit us from across the US, we took a few road trips, and enjoyed lots of time with our friends in VA and MD.  We are thankful for the time we spent with loved ones and for the fun memories made. 

                                         

As a family, we have had a lot of transition, change, and unique experiences. We arrived in Kuwait in June, and we are enjoying living overseas amongst a new culture and people. Nathan's dad flew with us, to watch the boys for a couple of weeks while we finalized childcare, and to help us get settled. We had a great time visiting with him and were very thankful for his help. We are making  new friends, and we have explored the sites, markets, museums, deserts, and amazing middle eastern food here. We have met a lot of very friendly people who are either from Kuwait or moved here from other parts of the world. We have adapted to the crazy driving habits, and often find ourselves pulling maneuvers that would never be accepted in the US. A great thing about this part of the world is it is incredibly family friendly. Children are accepted everywhere and are free to roam and explore and simply be kids. We are enjoying our jobs at the Embassy, and we are very thankful for the opportunity to serve our country overseas. The best part has been the extra time we have had to spend together as a family.

Other big news is in April, Heather's mom retired after many years of hard work, and her parents excitedly set out for their dream, to live in Hawaii. They love exploring the island, volunteering with the humane society, and taking long walks on the beach.  We look forward to visiting them in their new home.  Heather's brother is doing great in California. He has had acting roles in many TV shows, movies, and commercials, and this year he was invited to join the Screen Actors Guild. 

After 26 years of owning a business, Nathan's father sold his dry cleaner in February, and transitioned into work that has allowed him the flexibility to travel and visit their children abroad. Nathan's parents were a big help leading up to our move, and in March they watched Caleb and Benjamin for a couple of weeks while we traveled abroad for work.   We are very proud of Nathan's sister and her family, and know that amazing things will come from their work as they continue to serve overseas. We spent the Christmas holidays with them, and we loved the time we spent catching up, letting 5 boys romp around together.

In October, Nathan's Grandma (Betty's mom) passed away. Grandma Rose had a full life and was a loving wife, mother, grandmother of 7, great grandmother of 14, and great-great grandmother of 2! We had a nice visit with her in December 2012, and we are thankful she met Caleb and Benjamin.

It has been a wonderful year full of exciting experiences and memories that will last a lifetime. We are thankful for the doors that God has opened for us,  for all the support from our family and friends,  and we are excited about what may be in store for us next year. Wishing you all great things in 2014!


Happy New Year!

Love,

Nathan, Heather, Caleb, and Benjamin