Drum Roll Please

I know that the postings here haven't been up to par and for that I apologize-apparently 24 hours in a day aren't enough for me. Some people complain about the lack of updates and I usually joke that they are welcome to write it and then the complaints stop because really nobody has time However when my father-in-law-aka Pops mentioned that I hadn't posted in a while I told him he was welcome to write the blog and guess what? He and my mother-in-law aka Bubs did! So with no further ado I give you Sukkot and beyond: OUR LIFE—SPECIAL GUEST BLOGGERS—Bubs and Pops ( formerly Buts and Pots ( with help from Arica who has the better memory) We arrived on 10/11 and Josh picked us up at the airport for the ride back to Hamor street and the house. Needless to say Danya and Jordy were very happy to see us and of course the 2.5 suitcasees full of presents and other goodies. Bashful Nadav quickly warmed up once he received his special pair of socks”tie-jump rope-earmuffs-gloves–puppet” combo gift. I had my favorite herring that Arica had waiting for me and she informed me that it was the custom in ISRAEL to eat matjes herring, with its special aroma, outside in a succah..regardless of what time of the year it is. (Ed. Note-if you smelled it you would have sent it out too) I have never heard of that before but... ( it was a fine, beautiful every nite here and Cats family seemed to be enjoying the great weather also). Wed was erev yomtov – and shopping and putting the final touches to the Succah and Bubs did laundry, of course. Dinner was great and more food then we could eat. Arica let Bubs make her meat balls and Danya helped.. Strange that all the great food Arica prepared was eaten by everyone but her….great will power or was there something …??..Naw. Thursday was shul and lunch with the Balsam family in celebration of Danya's belated birthday.

Lunch was followed by walks and playing games. Thursday night was Yomtov for us but the kids helped us with the computer and videos. Friday our Israeli friends, the Kliemans and the Flanzers, came to see us for more food and good drinks in the Succah. For Shabbat, Zenia was here and we had a frolicking good time. Did I say how nice the weather was this whole time and how Josh and Arica welcomed us and made us feel so comfortable even tho we probably overstayed our welcome (the same rigermarole and hulabaloo as usual). After Shabbat we stayed around the house and did lots of good things.( who remembers exactly what any more ) and Bubs did laundry Sunday it was off to get our rental car and we took Danya and Jordy and Nadav to Chatzi CHEENOM, near Petach Tikvah (Ed. Note-it was in Hod Hasharon).. the largest supermarket we have ever seen with a huge selection of everything especially olives. We had to buy many varieties because they looked and tasted great. The kids found a toy store there so we looked around and they picked some things they never had before. We had to be home by 5 in order to leave for the great BBQ at Toodies house. Traffic was horrible going there but the food and drink was well worth it. We saw a lot of relatives we have heard about and seen on facebook, but now we actually met them. We had a Great time and it was nice to be there.

Ride home was much faster and then Bubs did laundry. Monday—Weizman Institute, ( long walk from the parking lot as they did not know what they were doing, after all, what are they, rocket scientists? ) circus ( ? ) acts, experiments, ice cream and Nadav showing his true colors. After that, we drove to the only IKEA now in Israel and tried to get in and have dinner. After much pushing and maneuvering it was great.. and cheap and fun and the kids ate plenty. Off to home via the 431 to Modiin. Bubs did laundry later that nite. (Ed. Note-while Bubs and Pops were chasing the kids around my Mom and I went shopping and then Josh joined us for dinner at Teriyaki). Tuesday— Went to a Yeshiva succah carnival in E Jerusalem

and then a tour of east Jerusalem.

Lots of good history and the story of how Jerusalem was won back in the 67 war. Lots of walking but the everyone made it. Extra credit to Arica who did extra running after Nadav.Then drove back to the old city and a visit to Davids Citadel for a special light show on the history of the city.( Nadav had enough history for one day so Arica had to make sure he did not bother everyone else.) Drove back to Modiin and to Ristratto for dinner and our favorite salads in their Succah ( men only) Everyone had a good dinner followed by ice cream. Left and went back home for sleep and Bubs did laundry. Wednesday—air show( if you could call it that ) In Tel Aviv—garbage park,( closed but very smelly ) shopping. Visited with Neal and Beata Rothner while Jordy picked a bushel of Clemintine tangerines from the fruit trees in their backyard, then back to Josh and Arica's to get ready for Yomtov. Bubs did laundry. We had dinner in the shul with the community and heard (as opposed to understood) speaches in hebrew. Thursday—Yom tov—Josh was honored with Chatan Torah at shul so we had to have a laChaim. Games, walks, sleep, and good food that Arica did not eat(Ed. Note-Arica ate plenty). Zenia made eggplant for her favorite son in law and everyone loved it ,Lucky Josh. Friday-off to Teretz Tzvi—On the way we stopped for falafel which we took to the beach to eat. We made it to the kibbutz just in time because Shabbat was at 4:30—FOOD was damn good and plentiful –the Sfardi Bar Mitzvah was fun to watch.. walked around after dinner and Josh relived his stay there some years ago. Shabbat---Lunch at 10:30 am where we celebrated Nadav's 3rd birthday- HAPPY BIRTHDAY NADAV

---TT tour learned about dates, date museum, horses, history, meat packing info, and a litte nap before Shlosh Seudot. After Shabbat, Arica and Nadav went back home for work and Gan on Sunday –It was very considerate of Nadav on the ride home, to make sure Arica did not fall asleep ---- and we went to Tiberias—game room—ice cream— a long ride— and some funny “BUBS stories”, Jordy did have a good time also but Bubs could not find a Laundromat. Josh and I smoked our cigars at night with a beautiful evening, no flies and very very quiet. We spent some quality time talking about moving back to TT. (Ed. Note-this is the first I am hearing about such plans and I have no such plans) Sunday—Big Breakfast—Nature Park with bikes, golf cart,bike paths, gravel paths ( their map would get you lost ) , old watch tower with great views, fish ponds, corn fields, swimming pools, watching the Chasidim go in the water with all their clothes on, rock climbing, minyan making, snacks in the car, route 6 and home for laundry. Great place and we burned lots of calories.

The kids had dinner with Zenia as she was leaving that nite and taking the left over eggplant with her. (Ed Note-we celebrated Nadav's birthday yet again with the remaining cupcakes)

We met the Kliemans for dinner at Gachalim ( charcoals ) in the Yishboro center,--- VERY GOOD.\ food Monday— Kids were off to school and we went to Jerusalem, Kotel, shopping, Light Rail , parking ticket,( the meter was broken..lets hope Josh can get it fixed –(the ticket that is, not the meter)had dinner with Flanzers at a sopping mall near the central bus station in Jerusalem. Back to the house to say goodbye to Zenia and Bubs did laundry Tuesday.. I went early to TA to meet Nocky and bike ride from Bet Yam to Sde Dov airport, Bubs did laundry, packed, and cleaned the kids rooms. We went to lunch with the Aronsons at Angelos in Modiin. For dinner we picked up some kabobs, chicken knockknockim ( hot dogs ) burgers and then grilled dinner with kids, packing, looooooooooong nite for flight home . Thanks to Josh and Arica for making us feel at home and to Danya, Jordy and Nadav for never fighting or arguing or whining whenever we went someplace or bought them presents. See you soon. If you enjoyed this guest blog please let us know and we will arrange for other guest bloggers. Thanks Bubs and Pops for the guest blog! Also a special thanks to Bubs, Pops and Savta who all came and showered the kids with attention and gifts and in some cases literally showered them. Thank you for the cooking, cleaning, laundry(can you guess who did that one), dishes, shopping, entertainment, house repairs, cigars, wine-you name it we are grateful! Also thanks to Saba, who couldn't come but sent Savta! We look forward to your next visit!

Thanks to Josh for posting about our tiyul up North! I am going to do a summarized post about everything from after the tiyul until the chaggim, so get ready! After our return we spent Shabbat recuperating from the trip. Sunday morning Danya headed out to her Bnei Akiva "machaneh" which was a 2 day/1 night trip....somewhere(I can't remember where she went but she had a good time and a lot of dirty laundry). Sunday brought my return to working in Raanana. It also brought us to the week where we scramble to get everyone ready for school. On Wednsday I worked from home so I would be able to escort Nadav to his new gan orientation. He seemed happy enough playing in the gan and eating cupcakes that he decorated with frosting and candy(who wouldn't be?). Notice how messy he is and how nice and clean Pnina is. He was a bit disturbed that one of his friends, Keren, wasn't in his gan as she moved away, and kept asking for her. Thursday, September 1st, brought the first day of school. Danya began 5th grade, Jordy 3rd and Nadav trom trom(preschool I think). Everyone had a good day and enjoyed school(I know-this doesn't last to long). The next month we fell into the routine of school again. Playdates, chuggim and work for me and Josh. Luckily for me my boss headed to the States the week before Rosh Hashanah which meant I was able to work from home. This came in handy as I am not sure how we would have had anything to eat over Rosh Hashanah if I hadn't been home. Rosh Hashanah was very nice. We had a lot of food with wonderful friends and family. I actually got to spend some time in shul thanks to the fact that Danya and Jordy kept their eyes on Nadav a bit and the fact that we live across the street from shul. A few days later we celebrated Danya's birthday-HAPPY BIRTHDAY DANYA!!! Since 3 of her 4 grandparents were coming in town for Sukkot we decided to postpone her family birthday celebration until their arrival. Yom Kippur was a few days later. I didn't get to spend as much time in shul as I did on Rosh Hashanah however Danya and Jordy did watch Nadav during the break so Josh and I got to nap and since it was over so early it was ok. Since the kids were on vacation beginning erev Yom Kippur poor Josh had to entertain them while I was at work. On Sunday he took all 3 to a hockey tornument in Rishon Letzion. On Monday Danya headed out on yet anotehr Bnei Akiva trip/overnighter. Monday afternoon Savta arrived all prepared to help out with the kids on Tuesday so Josh could get some work done-thanks Savta!

On Tuesday Bubs and Pops arrived all prepared to help out with the kids and even better.....to guest blog! Stay tuned for Pops guest blog of Sukkot.