Constant Joy

As Haim and I were tiredly trudging through the Madrid airport, at about 10 at night tonight, Maya was running in front of us, gleefully yelping and laughing. We had just landed after a 5 hour flight from Israel, and we were heading to an airport hotel to sleep, before leaving tomorrow for Miami. As adults, I think we all tend to let ourselves get bogged down in life's tasks and chores...Maya reminds me to find the joy in things. While I was riding "another damn tram" to get to the taxi stand, Maya was enjoying a train ride and admiring the blue lights wizzing by. It is truly a gift to see things trough the eyes of a child!

Packing Again

We're busy packing up, once again, to head to Miami. It's been really nice staying in the same place for a while, and Maya has really enjoyed the time that she has spent with her cousins in particular. Maya and I have been working on our Hebrew too! Events in Haim's business required that we put our travels on pause (mostly) and return to Miami, a prospect which has begun to excite me. We're all looking forward to catching up with friends and having some adventures closer to home! Tomorow we leave for Madrid, and the following day we'll be back in South Florida....Maya is really looking forward to seeing Ava, Bela, and Lola!

My Mother-in-Law

Alice, my MIL takes feeding her family....and most importantly her eldest son (Haim)....VERY seriously. She thinks of it as her life's work and mission....and offers food to those around her almost to the point of alienation....but it's who she is, and how she shows love, so I try to take it with a grain of salt (which is good because her food always needs some anyway.)
Today, as usual, we received a phone call ordering us to come over for lunch...it is not an invitation, but an order....with tears if necessary. Haim declined explaining that he was on his way to work and I was busy. However, after I dropped him off at the office I was feeling a bit guilty for denying Alice an opportunity to feed Maya and me (especially since she has to fit lots of feeding into several weeks a year), so I decided to stop by.
When Maya and I walked in the door she asked "Where's Haim?" (no "Nice to see you, what a surprise!"...and this is a woman who ADORES me...she just can't bear to miss an opportunity to feed Haim) I explained to her that Haim was at work, just like he told her 15 minutes prior...the following dialogue ensued:
Alice " Really, he's at work?"
Me "No, he lied to you, he's hiding in the car because he doesn't want to eat your food" (I REALLY need to control my sarcasm better)
Alice "Oh, he's in the car, well tell him to come in!"
Me "No Alice, he's at work"
Alice "Really, at work? Why is he at work? He needs to eat"
Me "He's not hungry, he'll come eat later" (I left out the part about him eating a Falafel just before I left him at the office)
Alice (VERY dejected) "oh, ok...make sure he comes to eat later"
Maya and I then proceeded to visit with them for a bit, eat our lunch, and be on our way...with a last reminder to make sure that Haim comes by to eat later.

Guess where he is right now?

Maya and Omer

Maya LOVES to take care of her new nephew Omer...
She loves to hold him....

She loves to remove his pacifier and tell his mom that "Omer no like it, Omer need boo"She loves to make sure that Heftzi is nursing him properly...


You go girl!

A New One for "The Annals of Not-So-Perfect Parenting"

This morning we headed Dimona to visit some of Haim's cousins, and a wonderful nephew (who was visiting from Miami). The drive is about 2 hours, and we left around 10am, placing a still sleeping Maya her car seat for the drive. About half way there Maya woke up, so we stopped for some gas and a pee break for her. As we were getting ready to leave the gas station she asked to nurse...
Yes, we could have just parked the car while I nursed her for about 15 minutes; yes, I could have sat in the back and nursed her her car seat while we drove (with some VERY impressive boob acrobatics...boy those things can stretch!)...instead, I said "hey how about some chocolate milk instead?"
I'm not a big fan of cow's milk...I like it in my cereal, I love to make my own yogurt, and I'm a wanna be cheese-maker...but as far as feeling a need to drink it, i just don't. In face, ever since I started making my own, it kind of grosses me out...i think it should mostly be saved for the baby cows...and dairy products! Anyway, so I've never really kept milk around the house much, and certainly don't offer it to Maya to drink...until last week.
Haim was in a convenience store and bought a chocolate milk...Maya asked for a sip, sniffed, drank as with a big smile on her face said "SOOOO GOOOOOD!" it was really cute!
Fast forward to today and the lazy mommy that sometimes sits on my shoulder whispering into my ear said "if you offer her chocolate milk, maybe she'll skip her nursing right now" Well, it worked....sort of.....she drank about a 1/5th of the milk and said "boo now mommy!"
This time I gave it to her.

Shabbat Shalom

We've had a lovely, relaxing Friday with friends and family, before welcoming in Shabbat. Maya is now WAY passed out on the couch, after several hours of running around the beautiful grounds of the Weizmann Institute. I knew she was tired as she climbed into my lap on the grass and said "Mama, Maya need cuddle and nurse" Whoever says that a child who can ask to nurse is too old to nurse has no clue what deliciousness they are missing!

Daniela...beating Haim's record of trouble making in the army!

Haim was a BIG trouble maker in the army...our niece however, is trying to best him! Within 6 hours of her arrival she was already in...well not jail, but more or less "grounded" for refusing the work to which she has been assigned for the next 2 years. I'm sure she'll work it out...she and 9 other girls are having a stand-off with the army...hmmmm, who will win? The army or a bunch of teenage girls? It could be 2 VERY LONG years for her! I made her some chocolate chip banana bread, which she said was devoured in a matter of minutes...this is the recipe, adapted from Martha Stewart.

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature, plus more for pan
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups unbleached flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup mashed very ripe bananas
• 1/2 cup sour cream (though I've been using "ski" cheese - smooth and creamy, with a consistency similar to sour cream- in Israel and it's worked wonderfully)
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 bar dark chocolate, finely chopped (butterscotch chips are fab too)
  

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan; set aside. In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, and beat to incorporate.
2. Put flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl (sorry baking gods, I hardly EVER mix) and add to the butter mixture. Mix until just combined. Add bananas, sour cream, and vanilla; mix. Stir in chocolate, and pour into prepared pan.
3. Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Let rest in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool.

Little Cabin in the Woods

We've decided to travel through the north for a couple of days. We're staying in charming little cabins across from the sea. The edge of the sea is actually quite rocky with many beautiful tidal pools and small protected bays...perfect for swimming and exploring if the water were not FREEZING!

This is the same area that Haim and his family used to come to camp during his childhood.

Welcome Iranzi Daniel

Iranzi Daniel has joined my aunt and uncle, Becca and Phil, who have worked and lived in Rwanda for the last 2 years. For more of his story, see their blog.