Fun with Savta

This month Eitan's had a lot of quality time with my mom since she's been here in Israel. And she likes to take him out to explore which gives us time to run various errands, go to movies or just get settled in. They like hanging out a lot. Eitan, because his Savta gives him endless food (have I mentioned Eitan eats like, non-stop in this country?) and my mom to soak in all of the Eitan she can get while she's here. 

They're pals those two, and so far have gone to a whole bunch of parks, spent a day in Tel Aviv, gotten lunch  on Emek Refaim, and of course, pedicures (for my mom and Nina, Eitan just watched...). Here are some snapshots which she's shared. More to come when I can get my hands on her camera's memory card. 

Rosh Chodesh Kislev= Sufganiot

The display at Neeman Bakery

One of the reasons wanted to be here this year is to live our lives on a Jewish calendar. Yesterday was the first of the month of Kislev, the month which Chanukah takes place. At home, the only reason I ever knew a Jewish month was upon us was a "chodesh tov" email from a colleague (who lives here in Jerusalem, of course, hi Esther!).  Yesterday, however,  it was impossible to miss the start of Kislev, as all of the stores advertised the beginning of the Sufganiot season.                                                                                                The major bakeries have flyers showing off their newest doughnut creations- marshmellow, white chocolate, even bamba flavored. One bakery, Roladin, will even inject your sufganiya with your own filling concoction- they have loads of options that you can choose from or combine.Wild (it's in Mamilla Mall, obv).

Ami shows the doughnut who's boss...

My sister Nina has a rule about Sufganiot and this month of Kislev- you can have one on Rosh Chodesh, but can't again until Chanuka actually starts (December 20th this year). It's kind of like the tradition not to eat Matza the month before Pesach.

So, in that vein, we were going to eat those doughnuts while we could. Yesterday Eitan and I took a long walk, well I walked, Eitan strollered, to procure for ourselves some Rosh Chodesh treats. I bought a "ribat chalav" one for Ami, which seems to be dulche de leche, and for me unfilled with vanilla and chocolate drizzle on top. And for Eitan, a spinach bureka, you know, the sugar thing again.

Tryng to feed Eitan a spinach bureka while we pound doughnuts. Not so fast, he's onto me...

Okay, I give him a bit of a doughnut....

Sugar! Happiness!

Eitan's Latest Tricks

Since we know (or have been told) that he's the real draw here, enjoy some of Eitan's latest.

I guess he's seen us on the phone recently more then usual, because he now holds objects up to his ear (decks of cards, broken old phones, his fist) and says, loudly, eeeellaaa. It's very cute.

Hours of entertainment from a plastic bin. Really. When he's not climbing in and out of it, he pushes it around the house like a truck. In the background of the video check out the book shelves which I organized by color on one of the rainy afternoons while Eitan was taking a monster nap. Yes, I know I have a problem, but it looks cool, right? Click below to play the video.

       

And lastly, the trick with the greatest potential for parental exploitation, we haven't caught on camera yet. But it's awesome. We can give something to Eitan, and tell him to bring it to the other one of us. He'll take it in his hand and crawl with it across the room. Yes, it might get a little banged up along the way, but it's sooooo much better then having to get up, and he gets so excited when we get so excited that he actually does it.

Still waiting for this boy to take a step who "will be walking any day" at his 9 month check up. He can stand for a while, and loves holding onto things and walking, but seems totally disinterested in walking on his own. Oh well. I know people will tell us that we'll regret waiting for him to walk, but you know, we're stupid first time parents.

And we're just as Thankful for our beautiful boy

What a difference a year makes! Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving 2011

 

And yes, I brought the Thanksgiving bib to Israel with us. Snuck that one right past Mister Essentials Only.

Black Friday in the City of Gold?

 If you know much about the Rozmaryn family, you know they love Thanksgiving. My sister refers to their yearly pilgrimage to the Poconos as a "cult gathering", and I think they would too. It's a lot a lot of people, a lot, a lot of food, and always the same activities from year to year- the same shooting range, chocolate shop, wal mart trips, and some hard core outlet shopping on black Friday.

Since I've been a part of this cult, we've experimented with several means of tackling the outlets to maximize sales. One year we tried to go at Midnight, as the stores opened, but we couldn't even get into the parking lot it was so full! That's not normal! The most tried and true method has been to leave around 4-5 am. That way, the parking lot is emptied of the most hard core shoppers who go there at midnight, the prices are still as heavily discounted as Midnight, and we return back to the houses in time for breakfast.

I have to admit that last year I did not participate in this ritual, Eitan was just 6 weeks old and I was too tired, not back to my size and scared to take him and brave the cold and crowds and I regretted it. Just to be clear- we did go on Saturday night, just right after Shabbat, which was the first time I ever left Eitan. I really love outlets.

So while our Rozmaryn side of the family is currently gathered together, I am missing shopping a lot. Given our financial circumstances at this time, my working half time, and Ami not working at all, shopping probably isn't going to be something that's going to happen for me anyways, but I couldn't help myself by doing some window shopping in the new (ish) Mamilla mall yesterday. First of all, it's beautiful. Like beautiful. It's outdoor with a long corridor of shops, all built in Jerusalem stone, with a view out into the walls of the Old City. And it felt like being home with all of the American shops (and all of the English being spoken) including, Crocs, Nine West, Columbia, North Face, Gap (Gap!) and MAC cosmetics.

So after the warm feeling of being at home seeing a big G-A-P, weird things started happening. The first odd thing that I noticed, was the Gap had no sale rack. What? That's just weird, right? I mean, obviously everything was ridiculously expensive, it's Gap in Israel after all, but after my amazing finds at Gap sale racks in the past (sweatshirts for Ami at $1.99, cardigans for me at $4.99, full outfits for Eitan for $2.50) it was weird to be at a Gap with nothing really cheap at all.

As I continued down the corridor, things got really crazy. In front of Topshop, a British store, I see a sign for Black Friday sales. What? A British store, in Jerusalem is having a Black Friday sale? Like a) marking the day after Thanksgiving, which neither locale celebrates and b) marking the beginning of Christmas shopping season? So that was the nail in the coffin. Mamilla mall, while technically is in Jerusalem, is really in America. Except everything is abnormally expensive (a pair of kitten heeled patent leather shoes at Nine West for 600 Shekels. Really? Really Nine West?).

So, for all of you, my friends, my family, braving the crowds tomorrow morning, I'll be thinking of you as you elbow your way to the deal of the century, and maybe might even walk to Mamilla to see what their version is really all about. But will be leaving my wallet at home. And especially, for my beloved family currently sleeping soundly in the Pocono Mountains, you know what happens if you go shopping without me without bringing me something back. I don't care if I'm sleeping in the room next store, or in a foreign country, be warned...

Happy Shopping!

Marzipan in the Hood

Breaking News People!

On a seemingly innocent walk around the neighborhood between rain and clouds to remind Eitan what the sun looks like, I happened upon rugelach heaven!

Minutes away from our very own little apartment a full blown Marzipan store (but wait, there's more) and coffee shop.

This might not seem like the biggest deal, but, imagine the most delicious pastry, so good that it's worth traveling half an hour to the Shuk on Friday, throwing your body in front of masses of pushy Israeli old ladies and hungry Yeshiva students in order to get your hands on some. And now, contrast with a leisurely stroll down the street to pick them up in a highly civilized store while taking a few minute break to enjoy the first one (you have to have an oven fresh one, duh) sitting down at a table with a decaf vanilla latte instead of shoving one into your mouth as you push your way out back to Agrippas street.

This place is so legendary that it's even reviewed and raved about by not Kosher sources, the ultimate litmus test for anything Kosher. To read more about the little bites of delicious, so good that they can only exist in the holiest city int he world, check out this article. 

Sorry for the crazy today... sugar high, and I maybe forgot to say decaf (this happens sometimes, and it's not pretty). Also, is it total sacrilege that I think I like the cinnamon ones more then the chocolate? And that I took my sweet boy into the kodesh hakedoshim of sugar and gave him a potato bureka (upholding Ami's sugar nazi policies)?

Tuesday in Tel Aviv 3

After lunch and a stroll around Nachalat Binyamin, we headed for the Shuk HaCarmel to check out what was fresh or interesting. When we used to take trips to Israel when I was younger I remember hating the Shuk. It was dirty, smelly and crowded. Either it's gotten cleaner, better smelling and less crowded, or I have become dirtier, smellier and less sensitive to crowds, because I love it now! Love!



Apples!

 There was tons of crap, don't get me wrong. Highlights include weird T shirt vendors and random toy "stores" (filled with toys that make loud music made from plastic from China- the horror). There was however, also TONS of amazing fruits and veggies, a fantastic cheese shop where we got pesto flavored cheese- we're going to make amazing tomato sandwiches with it- and of course, boxes and boxes of gummies.

Eitan's stroller served as our shopping cart and our pushy Israeli barracade. So thanks Eitan for that.

I dream about this booth.



Yes, sometimes Eitan gets sick of us taking endless pictures of him.



Tuesday in Tel Aviv 2

After lunch we wandered around in the Nachalat Binyamin crafts fair. This is one of my favorite sources for cool gifts on trips to Israel. If you've been to our apartment in DC, it's where I got that set of vintage Israeli postcards turned wall hangings. And if you've been to Ami's parent's house, it's where the cross legged chicken statutes (wow that sounds weird- they're really kind of cute) on the corner in the kitchen are from. I digress.

We strolled around over there on our way to the Shuk HaCarmel, and saw lots of very cool things, and of course, weird things too.

Mom trying to buy whatever she can for Eitan

A new favorite stand includes all hand-made sewn kids toys of things that they should not be playing with, beer bottles, cigarettes, cameras, computers, phones, tools. Really awesome stuff. Check out his Etsy shop. In the end, as cute as he looked playing with the beer bottle, I decided our one year old does not need a $30 toy beer bottle (he's equally entertained by an empty water bottle) and Ami was worried about him playing with the fake lightbulb/outlet. So that was that.

What is this???

Tuesday's weirdo highlight was a man singing Shabbat songs, and fishing in a man hole/sewer hole. I think it was some kind of performance art, others with out think he's just a crazy. Votes? Art or Crazy? Comment below...

Tuesday in Tel Aviv 1

Tel Aviv Tuesday! We spent a great day visiting Hudy and Debra, going out for lunch at an outdoor cafe (outdoor cafe in November- yes!) and wandering around the city. It's a real change of pace from Jerusalem, and so cool that it's just an hour bus away.

Here are some pictures- more to come of our time at the Shuk HaCarmel.

Sorry this video is sideways. I never remember you can't rotate videos...Click on the box below to start it.

Morning at the Playground

Eitan pokes the dragon in the eye.

Eitan and I had a big morning out at Gan Hapamon, Liberty Bell Park (which is only a 10 minute walk from our apartment) while Ami got in a nap following his early morning shift with a still jet-lagged Eitan at 5am.


It was the first time I saw a swing in this country and I think I was more excited then Eitan. He makes the best giggles on the swings. We had some more swing time, Eitan tried to climb the slide, and we explored the park's monster.

I really hope the weather stays mild so we can have lots more relaxed playtime outside where Eitan can explore and crawl (maybe even walk or run one day) around. 


It was a beautiful day- warm in the sun, crisp in the shade and then it started pouring once we were all home and settled in.

Swings!

Slides!

Luggage

A lot of people have asked how we packed for a year away. Thankfully, we moved into a furnished apartment, complete with linens and a kosher kitchen, which made the whole endeavor of packing less complicated. Unfortunately, coming with a little Eitan made things more complicated because we needed to come ready with a couple sizes of clothing, toys, books and all kinds of baby things that I was worried we couldn't get here, or I wouldn't understand the instructions well enough to know what I was getting.

So in the end the grand total was 6 suitcases, 2 laptops, a carseat, a booster chair, a ukelele and 2 strollers. Which seems like a lot.

While unpacking  I noticed was that I packed: 9 cardigans (3 of which are black- but they all serve different purposes, really) and 13 dresses. Okay, so maybe that's a little excessive.

Ami packed: 2 sports jerseys (Capitals and Redskins), but no coat...not a rain coat, a light jacket, winter coat, nothing. He thinks his hoodie sweatshirt will be enough. I'll be sure to keep you updated on that.

And for Eitan: 15 board books, 3 different types of balls, 3 different sizes of clothing in weather for all seasons (thank you Will Levin again, for being born a year before him and being such a great sharer), three different types of baby butt cream, and 6 kiddie specific CDs.

In addition, which I'm now feeling the most ridiculous about, a 25 pound bag of toiletries and medicines of which got a costco sized pepto bismol bath. Thankfully, my mom is still around and cleaned it all up while we were all sleeping. It's really funny to wake up to a drying rack full of medications. Thanks mom.

Last Few Days in the US- Lots of Family Time

Eitan and his baby cousin Yair Small

With Kayla in Van Saun park near Teaneck

Bathtime with cousins. This is the only shot that wouldn't get us arrested.

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We're here!

Eitan going through security. Yes, we're still putting our baby in things

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We arrived yesterday (Thursday) morning, after a surprisingly not negative flight experience in El Al. Even Ami said how surprised he was that it was not brutal. It was awesome having my mom on the plane with us, because she took Eitan a ton which let us hang out, watch movies and tv and sleep. I finally was able to see the Help, which I have wanted to for like, months, and Ami watch a ton of Israeli TV- the show Ramzor.  
          
When we arrived Hudy was there to meet us with a fantastic, delicious gift basket that he and Debra packed us, which is now a permanent fixture in our apartment as a bin for Eitan's toys, and Nina was there too - she surprised us, she got out of the army an extra day early (because she's Nina), and it was hugely awesome, and so emotional to see my baby sister all dressed up in her solider uniform when I wasn't expecting to see her at all. One funny thing about Nina is that her beret is safety pinned to her uniform because she lost it 4 times just in basic training. Nina's still Nina.

Waiting to board the flight. Great Lighting. Thanks Newark.

After a cab ride that Eitan and I slept through, where Ami supposedly talked to the driver the whole ride we arrived at our new home off Emek Refaim.

We've mostly been unpacking, organizing and moving furniture around to make the space work with a baby. Last night while me, my mom and Nina were out grocery shopping Ami had a surprise visitor knock on the door- Yael (our cousin who moved here with her family in July) who came loaded with Marzipan, challahs and fresh pitas from the Shuk. Newsflash, Yael in Israel is as awesome as Yael in America terrifying.

We are headed out in a few minutes to Machane Yehuda and to get Israeli cell phones. Another priority for today is to set up our American line, so stay tuned for details.

Shabbat Shalom! Mimi, Ami and a finally napping Eitan.