He was up around 7:30. Got in a short Skype with my parents and discussed a little planning for their trip in the fall, then got started on our busy morning of packing. I had put the cargo holder bag on top of the car, then when I saw Carly going out to it I ran out to tell her something. August noticed we were both leaving and ran out after us. A bit later we both went upstairs and he came up too and asked “Why do you keep sneaking off?” Chuck made potatoes and eggs and August and I had some before we left.
We drove off at 10:15. He had been asking about the lollipop every day since getting it, so had some right after we left. Then saved some for later. We read the Cars book, then he ate some grapes. Ate the rest of the lollipop around the airport.
First stop was Lifta. We almost stopped at the hill as it was steep. But we decided to keep going. He held our hands and walked most of the way down and through the village. I carried him most of the way back up. In the village he liked the abandoned buildings and kept asking to be taught about the Palestinians and why they were forced out of their homes. He was also concerned about the kids swimming in the spring since we didn’t know how deep it was.
We got driving at 1. He ate a ton of pickles and claimed “I like pickles more than anything in the whole universe.” Even more than treats.
We made it to Tent of Nations, the Palestinian farm that Carly had gone to with Sabeel (they had also gone to Lifta). We were there just before 2. We waked up and one of the Brothers showed us around. August said “This farm is kinda weird.” because we didn’t see lines of crops. We looked at some of the farm equipment, an old karob tree, and one of the caves. When Daod was done with a group of Germans he then talked to me and Chuck and Cherie in the big cave while Carly took August outside.
After that we spotted a big lizard. August then spotted a little one. August and I talked about the rain collection system, the solar panels, and how the water is gravity fed down to the taps in the bathrooms.
On the way out Cherie spotted another beetle. August and I also talked about the terracing (natural and man-made) and the settlements.
We left after 3. He joked around with Cherie a lot and played with her arm: Oma’s arms are like dough…it’s cute, unbelievable…whoa…shakey, shakey…” I was helping navigate us through Jerusalem. Eventually I got the iPad out and he played the House game, then watched a couple of Sarah and Ducks. He then started playing I Spy right before we got to the Ein Gedi Hostel.
As we got in a bus pulled in behind us. Carly and Chuck headed up to check-in. It was a Korean Christian student group. As I carried August up he got a lot of looks and still some “Agee!” Made us homesick for Korea.
We checked in, then figured out the restaurant was to the south. I drove now and we went to the village of Ein Gedi. The hotel restaurant buffet was expensive and too much food. They directed us down to the place by reception. On the walk down we saw the view of the wadi and their was an ibex sitting on a rock. And we saw the big ficus and baobab trees. Got down to the coffee shop area where August and I had gotten a frozen drink last time. Sat out on the deck and had a great meal. August and I got sweet potato raviolis and shared them. I had a cappuccino. We shared some of Chucks pizza as well. August had skipped the pita sandwiches that Carly had made for lunch so he made up for it by eating a ton at dinner.
He was. Ring thoughtful at dinner. Asked me “What’s the name for recycling food?…Why aren’t there composts places everywhere?” Then out of nowhere: “I know you say there’s an infinite amount to learn, by how can there be an infinite amount to learn when there’s not an infinite amount of anything?” Cherie complimented us on our parenting and I asked him how we were doing. He gave a flat “Not so good.”
He and I went in the giftshop while they paid. He had spotted squishy light up toys.
Got back to the hostel at 7:45. He said “Good thing there’s no drain flies.” While washing his hands as there was no plug. We put all three beds together. H had an opinion on which one to sleep on. Carly disagreed. I asked how much fun he had had. He rated himself instead: “I did a great job today, so I get a ten.” I asked “How did mama and Dada do?” “On a scale of one to ten…Two.”
Brushed his teeth and he was asleep at 8:20. I read a good amount of The Way to the Spring after that.