What a day!

All morning I had told the kids we were going to see have to search for an “elephant.” They asked questions if it was real, what it was  made out of, what color it was – if they were really going to see it. OY – maybe I should have kept my mouth shut!

This morning we drove to Rosh Hanikrah – it is a down that boaders Lebenon, all the way in the north of Israel, right on the coast. It has beautiful grotos and fantastic views!

It was VERY slippery!

We finally got outside to the “elephant!” I was so excited to see it. The kids on the other hand – read: Bob – was really dissapointed. The sign says it is the elephants foot — to me it has always looked like the elephant’s trunk! He said I lied….it wasn’t a good feeling for me, but still think it looks like a trunk – what do you think?

From there we drove to Acco – an amazing city from the crusaides. The kids had really had it by this point – read: Belle had really had it. It was hot. It was sticky – and it was more walking. Bob, Bean and Puppy LOVED the self guided tour – even if the rest of us found it dry. I think anytime you get to hold a telephone that looks like it was a “car phone” from 1988 to your ear – it has too be cool, right?

 

Important side note: Today would have been my father in law’s birthday z”l – of blessed memory 65th birthday. He was taken from us almost 8 years ago by Brain Cancer. Today my sister in law is going to/ran the 2010 Portland Brain Tumor Walk in his memory. How proud he would be of her and all she has done to raise awareness and money for both Leukemia & Lymphoma and Brain Cancer. We are all proud of her – she is truly inspiring. May his memory continue to be a blessing to all of us who knew and loved him, and to his granchildren – only two of whom got to meet him, but non truly got to know him.

Today was Shabbat – we had a lazy morning – but Puppy got ready in his Shabbat shorts, his black dress shoes (no socks), a button down shirt and the linnen jacket that he is supposed to wear for the wedding. He was a sight. So J took him and Bob and Bean who were all ready as well to shul, while Belle and I spent some quality time together.

We spent the afternoon playing buckeyballs, Rumikub and reading. Bubby, Mom, Aunt M and Mr. B came to hang out and play with us.

Mom stayed on for the afternoon and a while later J and A came. They are the lovely parents’ of G – one of the Shlichim we had at our home for the summer. They brought great gifts for the kids, and we got to spend time getting to know them and hearing about G in ways we didn’t get to see him over the summer.

It was a lovely quiet day! Tomorrow….we drive the coast!

We promised the kids a lazier day. – And boy did they get it!!

J and Bean went out shopping for Shabbat in the morning. The other kids veged in front of the Disney Channel. We have been allowing them to only watch tv in Hebrew. Well…Phineas and Pherb and some other favorites are in Hebrew. It is fantastic!!

FINALLY, at 2pm we left for the Hertzelyia Beach. Having been to Tel-Aviv and Netanya already – we needed to check out a third.

It was heavy surf – but a great sandbar!

Belle did great at jumping the waves!

As soon as the wave passed – it was below her waist!

Puppy was just happy to be in the water

Bob wasn’t really happy about not being allowed out farther. He kept pushing the limits and saying it wasn’t fun. He looked like he was having fun to me!!

Bob went farther out!

They spent the next long while looking for his glasses!

Important side note: Today is Unc’s 24th Birthday. I remember the day he was born – the day our world changed by the addition of the one we called “The Boy.” Sweet kid, tough start – but he was my baby. All those nights he cried and cried – Mom and Dad had just had it since it was so often….and every night….I would sneak into his room (I was 11) take him out of his crib….and rock him to sleep. We bonded. I love that boy. Always have – always will be my baby…no matter how many of my own I have. Love you Unc – you are the best brother or uncle anyone could ask for!! (Don’t worry; you aren’t old – even if I was married at your age!)

Today we got up and drove to Bereishit – Genesis, to have a visit with Avram in his tent. When we first arrived we saw all of the camels! The kids just LOVED them – and love sitting and watching them…and taking pictures of them – (we have almost 100!) And taking pictures of their poop – god help me…promise, I’m not posting those!!

Bob took one for the blog – he said we don’t post faces! ROFLMAO

After we were greeted by the camels, we were greeted by Eliezer, Avram’s servant. He brought us into the top building and gave us a history of where Avram had traveled from – Ur – present day Iraq, to Haran – present day Turkey, to C’Naan – present day Israel.

We then loaded about half the group onto the camels for a walk down to Avram’s tent. J and Bob, Puppy and Mom went on first.

Some traveled by camel – others of us walked down the nice wide path!

View from Avram’s tent!

Once we got down to Avram’s tent – we were greeted by “Avram” who served us water and dried fruits.

Belle even got to do a demonstration with Avram!

Then! It seemed as though Avram’s nephew Lot took all the pita Avram was planning on serving us….SOOO he invited us to make our own with him.

Then Avram backed them for us!

After we ate our pita – it was time for the other half of the guests to camel ride back to the top of the hill. That left me, Bean and Belle.

Belle gets the front of the white beauty!

Bean and I had our turn – the camel behind loved to scratch its ear on Beans leg!

BUT…for some reason we didn’t return the way we came down….remember that wide path? Nope – we took the short cut around the side of the mountain!!

OK – it doesn’t look as deep from here – but I’m telling you!

View from my camel….looking straight down! Where is that path!?!?

After our experience – we went to Ben Yehuda Street in Jerusalem for lunch and some shopping. We came away with a jackpot of kippot for all three boys! The girls and Bob got necklaces. And while we stretched them to their breaking point of a long day. They really did quite well. And were thrilled to return for a BBQ at the S’s house!

The kids asked for a “down day” today. So we obliged. We had a wonderful lazy morning. Bubby, Aunt M and Mom came to the apartment – we hung out and chatted. Filled them in on our trip so far…and introduced Bubby to the world of “buckyballs!”

After lunch the six of us and Mom headed out to Jerusalem, to show the kids the Kotel for the first time. This time to Jerusalem was like no other – so many things have changed. The roads. The “sprawl.” The modern and ancient is still amazing. There are new tunnels and shopping malls where I couldn’t even imagine.

Tunnel Under the Old City!

Five level underground parking AND a shopping mall above it!

Look how shinny and new it is!

It felt like we were in VEGAS!

We parked much farther than J or I thought – but the kids did well walking through the winding alleys and narrow walkways. Until we got to the spot we all had waited to see!!

Bob touching the wall to put in his note

Puppy putting in his peteck!

Bean and Bell Touching the Kotel

Momm with Belle to her right (in the hat) and Bean to her left

My peteck…and one for a freind’s husband who has been ill

From there we went for dinner in the Cardo – Schwarma….again! And no one complained.

After that we spent the night at the S’s – our friends with the 5 girls who live in El’Azar outside of Jerusalem. We are so greatful to be together and spend this time with one another.

Tomorrow….”Bereishit” – Genesis, at Avrams Tent!

Today started out on an odd foot. Belle was off. Bob was a bit less off, though definitely on the negative side. Bean and Puppy…well, they were oddly positive and close…even holding hands!

But I’m getting ahead of myself. We left Masada for the two hour ride to Mitzpe Ramon – the Ramon Crater…which soon we leaned is called “Machtesh Ramon” with no translation as there is nothing like it in the world. And thereby Machtesh- or Makhtesh was added to the dictionary.

But again, I’m getting ahead of myself. It was a long ride – with many of these signs…that cracked me up each time!

We got to the visitor’s center to decide what to see from there. But it was closed for renovations!

We decided to take a quick walk to the observation point. That is where both Bob and Belle lost it. I think the magnitude of the two hikes from yesterday came flowing back to their psyche and they shut down. It was only 100 yards up the way…we could see the end from the starting point!

Bob came around, but Belle cried the entire way up. And Bean and Puppy?!? They held hands and talked to each other the entire walk up and back!

It was a magnificent view. 26 miles of a crater formed by erosion.

We took some pictures and then walked onto “Bio Ramon” – weirdly translated from the hebrew “Chai Ramon” – which means the “Life in Ramon” – aka zoo/preserve.

1. Long skin, wobbly ones to make itself look big to its prey

3. Tiny hollow ones on their tales to make the sounds warning others to stay away!

After a quick bite of shwarma, we met out tour guide/jeep driver Tamir for a 2 hour tour of the Machtesh.

I don’t know how I can describe in words how amazing this experience was. We spent 2+ hours driving off road through the crater, up the hills and mountains within- through the landscape. Truly amazing.

Today began with the alarm going off at 4:30am. No it wasn’t an accident- we purposely got up before the break of day so we could climb Masada.

The kids did great getting up and out. We rolled out of bed got our sunscreen on and walked out of our Hostel (kids are calling it a Hospital…I think of it more like a no frills hotel!)…out the door to the base of Masada.

From the later in the afternoon – see the snakepath to the top? The cable car launch on the top right?

We then took a rest- read: I napped for an hour while the kids watched Israeli cartoons and J dozed.

We regrouped, re-sun screened, but on bathing suites and keens- and were off to Ein Gedi for a hike through rock and cliffs into a valley to see the natural pools and waterfalls.

We choose the less traveled area called “Nachal Arugot” – translated to “river of rows” – like in agricultural planting. It isn’t really a river during the summer- it is a “Wadi” – dry river bed.

When we got to the gate, the park ranger said it was about an hour up, and an hour back down- but that the first water area was about 10 minutes out.

That 10 minutes took us 20. So when we found the pool at the top of the water detour, we made the afternoon of it.

What an amazing oasis it was! A pool of water with cave areas, a waterfall- and wildlife. The kids first found one frog and then a second in a cave off of far side of the pool.

Then Bob screamed “Abba! A tarantula!” When J came over- he realized it was a little crab! They had a blast.

The kids were not happy about not continuing farther- but after a day climbing Masada and this hike- we believed it was enough.

Look what we did!

Today was quite quiet. I slept in – while J took Bob to Shul and the younger three played.

It was a day of Buckyballs, making up and practicing dances, reading books, playing games and relaxing. Who could ask for a better way to spend Shabbat?!?

Tonight we asembled food and snacks to take on our three day trip to the Negev…the south. See ya from the road!

We set the alarm to go off this morning at 8am so we could meet Cousin S and her two boys Ld and U, Aunt M and Cousin E and his son E, daughters Lr and D and stepson A at the beach! Well…it didn’t work – we snoozed….and snoozed and snoozed again. At 9:45 we woke up – got everyone dressed and out by 10:20!

Bean did a bit of both – she was great while either J or I held her in the water…but she was also content enough to hang out on the shore in the sand – or on Aunt M’s lap!

Puppy – he too loved the water. He wasn’t happy with it on his face, but as soon as one of us held him past the breaking point….he didn’t want to come out!

Must say I was proud of myself for holding it all together….the icky and the sticky in the 100 degree weather. If you ask Lolo or Unc they would tell you it didnt’ happen….that their sister hates the beach and the sand. It is true. But I love my kids…and I can tollerate it as long as I can….and then we go…didn’t hurt that Shabbat was coming and we had to leave after a few hours.

From their we made a quick stop at the supermarket – and the apartment to shower off and change before dinner with Cousin O and her girls Lr and D at Aunt M’s with Mr. B!

Once again after a few minutes – the 6 children were playing like they had been old friends since birth. It is amazing that my kids have so many cousins within their age group….so sad they don’t get to see eachother.

Bob is the oldest at 9.5
Lr is the next at 8.75
Ld third at 8 (one month older than…)
Belle is fourth at 8
D is fifth at 6.5 (one week older than….)
Bean who is also 6.5
U is seventh at 5.75
Puppy is younger by a year at 4.75
Then is baby E who is 9 months old
Add A in there at 7….you do the math. that is 9 kids withing 5 years – + a beautiful baby!

My grandma is so fortunate to have all these beautiful great grandchildren….who like eachother!! How fortunate are we to have such a loving grandma to make this family renunion a reality!!

We made it back just in time for a quiet Shabbat at our apartment.