busy busy busy

I know, I know, I know. I'm just about the worst blogger EVER. I know. What can I tell you? I've been busy. VERY busy.
I don't even have the time right now to write a proper blog since its..........um...........3 am but I will take a few minutes to upload this:



Aren't they so cute? Aren't they so worth waiting for an update? Cute enough to even forgive my delinquency perhaps? Maybe?
What am I so busy with, you ask? Suffice to say I'm busy with revenue generating things. (And I'm having a great time doing it!)
For now, just check out this video. Details to follow.................

Robert Kiyosaki - The perfect business


Shavua Tov, everyone!

Its not our minhag (custom), Ok?

Dreams of a curly girlie are no more. I can nary delude myself as I play with his soft ringlets. Gone are the days when my Yisroel Meir could have been mistaken for a.................He's joined the fray with his locks no longer.

My baby got a hair cut. And he looks sooooooo big! Even my big boys have started treating him like a kid (and not a baby). He's received his fair share of punches and pushes this week. But fear not, he learned very quickly how to dole them out as well. Jason has been encouraging me to do this for a while now. "He's a boy," he said. "He should look like one". In theory, I totally agree. (I mean, what's to disagree with already? I was at his bris.) As for maintaining the 'boy look', that's a bit more complicated. (And, no, this is not about my daughter fantasy!!!!) See, In these parts, you almost never find a boychik under 3 without a pony-tail. This is a minhag (custom) that apparently originated in the Sefardi community.



Its based on a sentence in the Torah that compares man to a tree. Just as a new tree is not cut until the completion of its third year, a baby boy's hair is treated the same. This is totally custom and NOT law. (the kid part, not the tree) After a while, this custom caught on amongst the Chassidim as well. Well, the litvaks (that would refer to non-chassidic ashkenazi Jewry) saw everyone doing it and thought it was cute (maybe it was a bunch of moms who only had boys????) so they decided to do it too.

So now most everyone does it, especially in Israel. Everyone except the Svei's. Litvaks to the core, and proud of it, we do not practice customs that are not our own. (lest we should G-d forbid be confused for chassidim!!!!)* At least I'm in good company. Our Svei cousins maintain the same position. Svei pride aside, I'm left with a problem on the day-to-day. My boys are the only kids that, under the age of three, actually look like boys. And the questions abound!
"Wow, you cut his hair?" (Was that a statement or a question?)
"Yep. Our custom is not to wait until 3."
"Your custom is specifically NOT to wait until 3?"
"No, there is no law that dictates waiting until 3. That's a custom, but not OUR custom."
"Are you sure it isn't law?"
"pretty sure. My husband is a fan of keeping the laws. This he wont let me do."
"He won't let you?"
"Nope. He doesn't want people to mistakenly think its a law.............even if it is cute."

"Let them ask," he tells me. Very easy for him to say. He's not the one fielding questions all day long. Reason #1,240,653 why I'm ready for a girl!



*That was a joke. We really love Chassidim!

Who's gunna win this color war?

Beitar, my once apolitical and unified abode has recently become "The City of Torah (and politics!) in the Judean hills". The details are irrelevant for the purposes of this post, specifically because I am not interested in this blog becoming a venue for my personal political commentary, not to mention the potential lashon hara transgressions......

BUT, suffice it to say that when the lines become blurred between what is correct and what is most advantageous for one's political aggrandizement, MANY will suffer as a result.

In America, and even in Yerushalayim, there's politics and there's life outside of politics.

But when a small town becomes infected with politics.........it can get VERY personal. These are our friends and neighbors we're voting (or not voting) for!

We know that whatever happens is the will of Hashem. We hope that after today's elections, people will be able to (finally) set their political beliefs aside and unite again in an effort to restore the peace and perhaps recapture the unity that once so characterized Beitar.

A city that's prized for its cleanliness, this street is generally immaculate. Today it was literally trashed with paraphernalia from the various parties. One of my friends sighed and noted that they could have skipped all of the posters and signs and just sent every family in Beitar a pie of Pizza. Appetizing though the idea did sound........I'm not voting for someone just because they sent me Pizza. Now, if it was schwarma, that's another story.

Lucky Mommy

Aw, don't we look cute? Our smiles so innocent, our eyes so bright and gay? Trouble? Us? We would NEVER finger paint with carob spread nor would we ever dream of taking apart a (new) stapler. We are always careful when we play with glue especially when we use it on our Mommy's carpet (uh-oh, did we just incriminate ourselves?). We always do what we're told, never fight, never wake the neighbors. We only eat fruits and veggies. Candy? Not for our teeth and tummies! We're so easy, our Mommy is bored silly. She's very rested too because we always sleep the whole night through. We have no idea how the Cheerios scattered all over the house. Even so, we'll gladly clean it up. If only other children would learn from our exemplary behavior...........

Home and attitude Improvement

So I came back from America last month and started feeling a little down in the dumps, a bit blue, a shtikel sad, you might say. The holidays were quickly approaching and I'd just left my family back in the states! Please do NOT misunderstand me- We are SO happy to live in Eretz Yisroel and feel so privileged to be able to do so (we live in YESHA for crying out loud!). Its just that the lack of grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. close by can can be a drag sometimes.
This would have been (eventually) fine and well except that the husband - being that great husband that he is- does NOT like to see me melancholy. Not even a little bit.

"Shir, WHAT can we do for you?" he asked.
"Let's move to Lakewood." I answered.

He winced.

"How 'bout a different idea."
"Passaic?" I offered.
"I meant a more local idea."
"Buy me a car?"
"A cheaper idea."
"Let me put shelves in my shed to the tune of 1600 NIS so that I can maximize what little space I have since REALLY I could use a house with a basement......"
"There isn't anything cheap that will make you happy? A book or something?"

pout.

"OK, shelves it is! But nothing else, promise?"
"Fine. Shelves in the shed.......and in the playroom. And then that's it."
"You said that $30,000 ago!"

Truth is, I let him off easy. I could also use shelves in the broom closet, the baby's room, etc. etc.

And so.........
the shelves in the shed are a work in progress but here are my play-room shelves:
I LOVE having places to put things! My mind feels less cluttered when my things have places. (My husband may take issue with that statement!) He often wonders why I buy the things in the first place. What can I say? I'm a woman. I need things. I need things and I need shelves,closets, and drawers for my things.

note: many of the toys are to high for the kids to reach. that was not a mistake. Remember last winter when I left an ailing husband alone with my boys?

Speaking of home improvement, this isn't new but I don't think I've shared my new"ish" area rug. its already old enough to need a good cleaning but that's the thing- its modular! I can pick up each square individually and hand-wash it. Now I just have to find the time to make it happen. Fun, no?

I can think of so many more things to add/change in my apartment but for now I'll just enjoy and take care of what I have. (Those shelves are helping alleviate my sadness........)
How long do you think this couch is going to last?

Family or no family, stuff storage or bursting balagan, we continue to have good times at the Svei's!

Until next time........

I didn't give up the blog!

I wonder how many people will actually see this blog........everyone has probably given up hope, moved on to greener pastures, laughing over someone else's kid's antics. Sigh. Do we get credit for good intentions? I wanted to blog, really I did. My boys didn't stop being fun/crazy/lovable/nutty/exhausting, we've just been very busy.





First I accidentally put my memory card into the washing machine, then we went to America for Tanta Leeba's wedding, then came the chagim, and work is CRAZY (though that doesn't stop my illustrious boss from regaling us with the latest from her princess- long may she reign- both the boss and the princess) (Now can I have my raise?)





So here I sit at 12:50am, ignoring the dishes and my delivery from the grocery store (why is it so much esaier to pull the stuff off the shelf in the store than to put it back onto the shelf in my kitchen?) because, despite the fact that I may be the meanest mommy in less that 5 hours from now (yikes!), I simply cannot be remiss any longer. They are 2 months older, bigger, crazier! 2 months more practiced at taking my house apart! 2 months more adept at terrorizing little kids in the park (a terrorizer? not my kid.)......2 months more proficient at climbing up the walls (I exagerate not. I'll video it for y'all some time)



But they are also 2 months wiser, 2 months more sensitive to the world around them. Yisroel Meir's continued development is constantly clear but even the big boys surprise me- sometimes the differences are day to day. The 2 big boys slept in the sukkah this year. They also went with their Abba to dance in a few different shuls on Simchas Torah, bedeked in their yontif (nee wedding) finery. I kvelled. Yitzchok Zevi continues learning how to read and Aryeh Leib.....well, he continues to like chocolate.

The other day we played a word game that encouraged the boys to identify parts of an object that are intrinsic to it.

"Have you ever seen a chair without legs?" I said.
Yitzchok Zevi responded, "Have you ever seen a table without legs?"
"Well, have you ever seen an airplane without a wing?" I countered.
Yitzchok Zevi replied, "Have you ever seen a house without a door?"
Then Aryeh Leib piped up, "Have you ever seen a cake without sprinkles?"

Some things never change........

And other things really do..........

Our big change of the week: Yisroel Meir started going to gan! He's only going 2 mornings a week since- quite frankly- I'm not ready to give up my baby just yet. I have a parenting class once a week in the morning (babies are not invited) and I figured I'd send him one more day just to give him a sense of continuity. I got emotional when he came home with fingerpaint on his hand. My baby is doing art! So far he's doing fantastic. He loves the ganenet and is having a party with kids his own size. (And, of course, I don't have a complex about this issue at all.......I feel no need whatsoever to justify sending my baby to a sitter.)

And look what he can do now!

Oh yeah, I'm in trouble.

I'm off to get some shut-eye. More adventures to follow iy"h. (bli neder!)

The Joys of Boys (an old post expanded)

I am a mother of boys. I do not have "children", I have BOYS. If you are a mother of boys (and you know who you are) you understand the implication of my words. Ours is a house of cars and building blocks. The only place you may find a doll is in the tool set- headless of course.
Once, one of my boys waltzed into the kitchen, his fist clenched. "Mommy, I have a present for you!" Ignoring the tell tale suspicious grin, I decided to play along. He probably found a candy in the carpet or perhaps a push-pin. "Show me," I told him, extending my hand. (That move was so incredibly ridiculous; I think I deserved what I got….) He dumped a dead bee into my palm, turned on his heals, and unceremoniously skipped out of the room. They are Boys! They are mud pie baking, dirt flinging, bug stomping, dump a dead bee in my hand boys!
We ride bikes, we go exploring, we investigate! We climb, we dig, we build fortresses out of pebbles. Did you know that if you pluck a lizard's tail, it will grow back again? And if you plug up an ant hole, they will inevitably find somewhere else (in your house) to bore a new one. Birds grow hysterical if they feel trapped and a dead branch will not magically resurrect, even if replanted in an empty baby food canister on your Mommy's newly mopped porch.

I am often stopped by strangers as I walk through the street, followed by my brood in blue. "Wow, you have only boys?" they ask. "ONLY Boys?" I think I'm rather lucky. I wouldn't quite know what to do with a girl. "Hair doing" as a prerequisite for leaving the house? We just slap on the Kipa, tuck the Payos, and go!
I must admit, I do long for at least one pretty-in-pink who will keep me company inside while my husband and "the boys" sojourn in the sukkah. Sometimes I dream about my boys, grown and married, spending all of their time with the 'other side' as I sit by my lonesome- the perpetual shvigger.
In the meantime, my boys are little. We have PLEANTY of time before I could even entertain the possibility of dumping them on some poor unsuspecting kallah. And I need time- lots of it- because there is much to do. They must learn to set the table, to put their cloths in the hamper, to vacuum. Most importantly, I intend to teach them how to communicate. I've already started and I think its going quite well.
Yitzchok Zevi turned to me, his expression grave. " I don't ever want to communicate," he said.
"Why not?" I ask.
"because Abba said that its very bad to communicate."
"Really?", I press him," Are you sure that’s what Abba said?"
"Yes, he said that there was communicate in Russia a while ago and it was very bad for the Jewish people."
My boys are little but the mess they make is very big. I always marvel at how quickly my spotless house turns into a disaster zone. I suppose this is not an aggravation reserved for "mom's of boys" alone. Though, as I watch Aryeh Leib propel himself off the couch into a mass of blankets (or is that my fine shabbos table cloth??) I wonder if perhaps little boys are in a league of their own.
Please visit us but be sure to look before you sit. Look before you sit on a chair lest you park yourself atop a mud creation. Please look before you sit on our toilets- otherwise you may just fall in.
Where is my sugar and spice? it was dumped on the floor because it makes a great surface for roller blading.
We'd love to see you but we cannot take any responsibility for your physical wellbeing while you are in our home. We are too busy protecting ourselves and the baby. We do suggest, however, that you stay clear of their 'landing pad' that were once my throw pillows. I guess there's a reason they are called throw pillows.

They are little boys. Quick close the diaper, no you can't play with knives, please do NOT decapitate that lizard, little boys. They are little boys that I hope- I pray!- will turn into big mentchen. Today they run around the table like wild Indians but I have sweet dreams of a shabbos table surrounded by singing boys (in perfect harmony, of course.) Today they kick and punch but in my dream they are gesticulating at each other- each one trying to convince his brother of the correctness of his pshat.
They are wild, crazy, exhausting, infuriating, boisterous, unruly, energetic little boys. They are little boys who I'm about to take (BY MYSELF!!!!!) on an airplane! G-d help our fellow travellers............

Growing Up (too!) Fast

Dearest Readers,

We cordially invite you to the Bar Mitzvah of our eldest son, Yitzchok Zevi Svei. It is scheduled to take place, b'ezrat haShem, in 8 summers from now but it may as well be tomorrow because time is passing soooooo quickly. Today was nostalgia day at the Svei household. We had a picnic in a park today- the same park that we went to last year at this time (bayamim hahaim bazman hazeh). Remember this? Only this time, we brought with us not a new-born and 2 pitzkalach but a toddler and two.......OK- bigger pitzkalah. They are still little enough that they pish all over the place but I hear that such is the fate of a "mom of boys", no matter how old they get.

They are getting so big........and yet I'm often reminded of how little they really are.

We picked up cousin Aryeh's tefillin today from the local sofer.

Abba: Aryeh Leib, can you believe that, b'ezrat haShem, in 10 years from now you are also going to wear tefillin?

AL: Nu-uh

Looking forward to seeing you there soon!

-Shira and Co.

Funny Sabra, laughing Mommy

No pics for today (sorry!) - just a few funny lines from my eldest Israeli that begged recording......

• On Friday night, YZ complained that a hang nail was bothering him.

YZ: Mommy, can you cut it off?
Me: I can't touch it on shabbos, Yitzchok Zevi.
YZ: Well, can I?
Me; I"ll have to ask Abba. He knows the halacha.
YZ: Well, I know more halacha than Abba.
Me: Really
YZ: Sure! I know SO much Torah. I learned in all of Gan Tami and ALL of Gan Chani. Do you know how much Torah that is????????

• On shabbos, Yitzchok Zevi wanted a walking partner while Aryeh Leib was quite content to sit in the stroller. YZ lifted his nose into the air and said (snorted, better yet) "That's fine, I'll walk. I want to get bawee (thats healthy in hebrew- Elmer Fudd style) things in my body. That's what happens if you walk. So what if I get my shoes a little dusty. That's the whole point about shoes anyway."

• Today YZ and I were walking to shefa shuk when YZ stopped short and said, "Mommy, hold on a sec. I have wocks in my cwoks" (Why don't ya just move over, Elmer.)

• Tonight I couldn't find the boys' toothpaste so I had to use "Mommy and Abba toothpaste". After being quite the good sport and allowing me to brush his teeth anyway, YZ sat up, rolled his eyes, and said, "Wow, that was AWFUL!"

Animals All Around

We have reached a new milestone. We are officially pet owners, or rather our boys are. Yitzchok Zevi and Aryeh Leib are the proud parents of 2 goldfish- Mr. Fishy and Rebbe Fishman. Yes, we have joined the ranks of all of those Mommies and Abbas who must ultimately face that difficult but, alas, inevitable question- what on earth are we going to tell them when they find their fine fishy friends belly up? For now the paddling pair are doing OK (though we think that Mr. Fishy is a tad depressed) but its just a matter of time until.............

Where did you get those hideous shoes?????? We've jumped on the bandwagon- my boys, I mean- I would NEVER!!!!!! Comfortable though everyone claims they are (and how comfortable can the 20 shekel imitation brand be anyway?), I shouldn't fancy walking around in shoes who's name is derived from its resemblance to a crocodile's snout. I only succumbed because they were the cheapest tisha b'av option on the market. Though, one could argue that Yisroel Meir didn't REALLY need tisha b'av shoes and that - perhaps- I was looking for a (not so?) good excuse to buy them.......Ok, fine! They may resemble a tinker toy on steroids but gosh darn it my kids look REALLY cute in them!

The fun never ends!

Don't get too excited- I make no promises to blog this frequently in the future, however, Aryeh Leib and I had the funniest exchange, I felt compelled to capture here, right now, for posterity- lest it be forgotten.



Aryeh Leib and I were loading the laundry machine together.

The machine reached its capacity at which point I turned to AL and said, "Good job, Aryeh Leib! Why don't you sit down on the couch now so that I can read you a book."

AL shook his head and responded, "No, Mommy, I want to help you put in the sugar too."



And, just to give you a taste of what I'm up against here (and because what's a good blog without a picture or a video???)

YM, at his best........

Yisroel Meir film fest

In honor of Yisroel Meir's english birthday, we present to you: YM the documentary.

Here's YM walking (as promised) and being a mazik....

More Walking....

Having so much fun, he just couldn't bring himself to go to sleep!



Making trouble....


Happy Birthday YM!

Good Shabbos

I know I owe y'all footage of the walking. G-d willing next week. In the meantime, we just wanted to wish everyone a good shabbos and extend an open invitation to all who would like to come taste the yummy (and fattening) dessert that we made!

Good Shabbos!

-Shira and Co.

We Walk!

Sorry, no footage today but you'll have to take my word for it (and have something to look forward to tomorrow!). We walk, we walk, we walk! We also climb INTO our crib from THE FLOOR! Yep, never a dull moment here. Sorry its been a while.....things have been CRAZY with work. Though I haven't had time to blog, I didn't stop taking pics so, enjoy enjoy.



Yitzchok Zevi had his birthday party in Chaider last week. Though a bit shy of five, his party was now since the actual event will take place during summer vacation. On the way home from the party, Yitzchok Zevi asked, "Nachon, Mommy, now I'm five?"
"No, YZ, you are ALMOST five."


"Nu uh, I'm five. I had a birthday party. YOU were there."


"So whats happening on Motzei Tisha B'av?"


"Oh, that? That's when I'm going to be SIX."


ah ha.

Aryeh Leib is SOOOO excited to go to chaider. Especially since instead of chaider (Nefesh HaChaim), he thinks he's going to the local candy store (Mamtakei Eli Chaim). For AL, if there is a candy in hand, life is sweet.

By the way, do these kids look like they are suffering for lack of a TV?

Always on the go

As you can see, we have found a temporary solution for my little acrobat. The only problem is, he's using it (with the help of his experienced older brothers of course) to perfect his technique.

We bought Yitzchok Zevi a new bike this week. Another one??? Yep, he is probably the only kollel kid who can boast not one, but TWO bikes. What can I say- I felt bad for the little guy. His "old" new bike was a wee bit too big for him. No problem with training wheels. However, once the training wheels came off (and he learned to ride a 2 wheeler on a smaller bike), he couldn't even mount his bike! So....the old one will wait until he gets a little taller at which point the "new" new bike will be passed on to AL. Poor AL- stinks not to be the oldest sometimes. Today we took the new bike out for a test run. Everyone (with their respective wheels) had a great time.
They can all use a little more driving practice,though.
With all of the open space, they even managed a traffic jam....

And a few accidents....


*Do not continue reading if you think that you are the nervous type or if don't think you can hold back a comment- oh wait- no one ever comments anyway....*
Speaking of transportation, I put Yitzchok Zevi on a city bus by himself this week. Ok, it was for 2 stops and my friend waited for him on the other end and I was on the cell phone with my friend from the time he boarded the bus until the time he alighted (all of 15 seconds). She told me that he STRUTTED off the bus. He felt SO BIG and I enjoyed a little nachas from my big little boy.

poor wittle guy

Hey there, sports fans.

I have a riddle for you.

How do you know its time to lower your baby's crib mattress?

Answer: Thud.

Baruch Hashem, Yisroel Meir came out of his nose dive relatively unscathed, though his ego did get a little bruised......

There's no denying it- he's getting big and agile and mobile........incidentally, I wouldn't put it past him to try this stunt again.

Yup, like his brothers- he likes to get what he wants. If he wants outa the crib, out he goes.

I am SO outnumbered here.......

We're getting big

Yitzchok Zevi has become a fantastic bike rider. I know he's got a knack for balance (he balances on the metal bar doors as they swing back and forth, on the huge rocks in the park, on every possible ledge-anywhere.....) but even HE surprised me. I took him outside on his training-wheelless bike expecting a loooong process. Within minutes he got the hang of it and hasn't looked back since. He summed up my feelings quite adequately, "Mommy, I'm really proud of myself!" Now my goal is to teach him to curb his exaggerated looks of disdain towards any sorry fella who still has training wheels.

Aryeh Leib is turning 3 tomorrow. I can't believe how quickly time flies. He's SO big! Then I think about the fact that most of his life he's been living in Beitar- and we haven't been in Beitar very long. Incidentally, this blog is almost as old as he is. There's perspective for ya.
Yisroel Meir is ALMOST walking! He stands beautifully and has even taken A step. I haven't yet convinced him to do a repeat performance. Soon soon.......

And he loves giving kisses- just not on command.

Lag B'Omer

Just a little taste of Lag B'Omer here in the Holy Land. I took this tonight at a local (Beitar, that is) bonfire. Me thinks we won't be making the trip to Meiron this year. Hmmmm..........2.5 hour bus ride with 3 kvetchy kids to reach a place teaming with hundreds of thousands of people in varying degrees of inebriation. I think we'll skip that one. Those who have been to Meiron, the burial site of R'Shimon Bar Yochai, claim that the spiritual elevation that one can achieve there is unmatchable. AL's ganenet commented, "Inside the burial site is like Yom Kippur and outside the site is like Simchas Torah". A very nice idea but not one that I'm looking to substantiate at this time. Todah Rabah.
A happy Lag B'Omer to all!

p.s. no comments about unsupervised kids around the bonfire. Thanks!

Svei's on wheels

Who needs "Disney on Ice' when you can see "Svei's on Wheels"?
Below is Yisroel Meir being navigated ever so deftly by his big brother .


Help!

Our latest development is that YZ took off his training wheels ("Galgalei Ezer" in Hebrew. The boys have dubbed them "Galgalei Uncle Ezer").
The events unfolded rather quickly.
Yesterday we visited friends who's son, Moishy, had just learned to ride without training wheels. I observed as Yitzchok Zevi gawked at Moishy with a mixture of excitement, awe, and envy. I watched as the cogs began to turn in his little head. And then the inevitable question........I knew it was coming.......
"Mommy, when are we going to take off MY training wheels?" I was NOT ready for this. I was quite satisfied with the state of events as they were heretofore. But, alas, I wasn't given much of a choice.........
So off they went.
I don't yet have footage of my paperboy-in-training but he's actually getting the hang of it very quickly. He has great balance and is VERY motivated to be like his friend, Moishy. Whilst visiting Moishy, the two of them went to play with a third boy down the street. Incidentally, I knew that YZ did not like this other boy very much. When he returned, I questioned him. "So, do you like playing with Dani (not his real name) now?" "Yeah," YZ replied. "What changed?" I asked. "Mommy, its like this. I like any boy who can ride a bike without training wheels. If he needs training wheels, well, I don't want to play with him. That's how it goes."

...........We may need to fine tune our barometer for choosing good friends but at least I know my kid is self aware (and brutally honest).
Good Shabbos, everybody!

Nachas moments

AL: I'm going to take a banana. I'm gonna take one for Zevi too.

Me: How come, Aryeh Leib?

AL: (ponders for a moment) 'Cause I love him.

YZ: I love you too, Lubi!

(YZ notices my beaming face and decides to capitalize on the moment....)

YZ: And we're never gonna hurt each other ever again in our WHOLE lives! (or at least for the next 10 minutes.....)

Aryeh Leib the Chossid (and a little bit of good ol' Jewish guilt for dessert)

Wadaya say we've been in Beitar just a wee bit too long?



I'd just like to note that I've been such a faithful blogger recently, don't I deserve some kind of a response? Hello Hello Hello........... Anybody there there there there.............................Have I been talking to myself all this time?

blogging stam (just because)

Nothing too exciting to report. I just happened upon this yummy scene and felt compelled to share it with all of you.....

I could eat him- I could just eat him.

We installed an air conditioner today. I felt a little funny getting it since its such a luxury in these parts. Jason reminded me that last summer I made some rather convincing arguments as to why an A/C was absolutely crucial to my continued existence. I pointed out that I was 9 months pregnant at the time and could NOT be held responsible for anything said, insinuated, or thrown during such a time. Either way, we have it now and I'm sure we'll enjoy using it.

Yitzchok Zevi wanted to know why it was mounted so close to the ceiling. I didn't answer his question. I just stopped what I was doing, narrowed my eyes, and stared at him. And then he understood. "For the same reason that your candlesticks are really high up, huh?" uha.

What's In a Name?

I used to think that A Husband and Wife calling each other "Mommy" and "Abba" (respectively, of course. A Husband should NEVER call his wife "Abba"- if you know what I mean.) was so old school.
Now I'm pondering the potential plausibility and point of this popular practice........
What do y'all think?

Back to Business (I mean Kollel)

Bain Hazmanim is (too quickly) drawing to a close. We're having so much fun, we don't want it to end! All of the boys are enjoying the extra time with Abba. Instead of rushing off to J-town at (or is it before?) the crack of dawn, he has breakfast with them in the morning, gives them baths, and reads them pre-bedtime books. Needless to say Mommy is enjoying the extra help!
And of course Abba is having a blast too.
Could ya tell?

Move over Masechet Brachot, its time for "Franklin is Bossy". Of course, one could argue that "Franklin is Bossy" is a fine work on character development and EVERY aspiring Torah scholar must set aside time for that. So........we could get used to this.

Even Yisroel Meir has grown attached to his Abba......

Alas, all good things must come to an end.

Ever the devoted Kollel wife, I don't (Chas V'chalila!) want to (Chas V'shalom!) give off the impression that I don't (Chas V'karpas!) wan't my husband to forever remain sequestered in a discreet corner of some nameless hovel in the heart of meah she'arim pouring over volume after volume........its just that I kinda like having him around.

So, I'll send him off with a smile (even if its a bit forced) and start counting the days till summer bain hazmanim!

Posting on Pesach

Happy Pesach! There are so many exciting things happening at the Svei's, I couldn't resist posting.
Aryeh Leib started wearing Tzitzis in honor of the chag (and in honor of AL being potty trained- POO POO)
Yisroel Meir has started doing exciting tricks.
He knows how to laugh on command......


and how to shake his head.....


All of the important things in life :)

Yesterday was the first day of (Eretz Yisroel) chol hamoed. We decided to take a trip to the kotel fulfilling the mitzva of Aliyah l'regel (visiting the site of the temple during the 3 main holidays- pesach among them). Our first stop upon reaching the kotel was (can you guess?) the bathroom. The following exchange transpired between YZ and myself as we exited the bathroom:

YZ: Mommy, why did evil people destroy the beis hamikdash many years ago?
Me: Because the Jewish people didn't listen to Hashem and weren't nice to each other.
YZ: Oh. Well, how come they didn't destroy the bathrooms?

Things that make ya go hmmm..............

A happy and Kosher to one and all!

Chicken Anyone?

Some days I have to rack my brain to find something that is blog worthy. (Only the best for y'all, sports fans.) Other days, there is so much goings on, its hard to know where to begin.......
The party is officially over. Yisroel Meir no longer reigns in our home. Our local despot-in-diapers, our tyrannical tot, has abdicated the Svei scepter and has (finally) assumed his rightful position as bouncing baby boy. Thank you, Dr. Ferber.
In other news, our local ENT has recommended prophylactic antibiotics for YM. Ever the antiestablishmentist (is that a word?), I plan to take him for a second opinion. My inclination is to skip the chemicals and just get the kid tubes. However, since last time I checked, I'm not an ENT, or even a plain ol' Dr. for that matter, I think I'll defer to a professional. And if he doesn't agree with me, well I'll just find one that does. ;)
Is anyone interested in a tray or 40 of shnitzel? This was a classic case of "stupid American". We ordered chicken and meat through a special pre-Pesach sale. Minimum order for shnitzel was eight trays. So, dumb American that I am, I wrote on the order form "8". Well apparently it meant that you can order in increments of 8 trays. So, if you want 8 trays, you write on the order form "1"......................
Meanwhile, I'm exhausted. This is what was happening at the Svei's this morning at 6:20. (note: They are ALREADY dressed). Its been a loooooong day. G'nite everybody!

Pesach is a comin'

Spring fever has hit the Svei household. Pesach cleaning is in full swing as we roll up our sleeves (only to the elbow, please) and get a little dirty. (Of course, Yisroel Meir will probably grace us with his own kind of fever as soon as he finishes this round of antibiotics but I digress....)

A HUGE Mazal Tov to Tanta Leeba and (too be) Uncle Ezer!!! I would post a picture here but I'm afraid of being lynched by the kallah. We are so excited for your Wedding! We are also very excited about going to Target. Jason is baffled by this Target phenomenon.

You want to take a very expensive plane ride so that you can shop in a cheap store?

Uh-ha.

Speaking of phenomenons, we've found an interesting one in regards to YM. Things that would cause many babies to cower and cry, YM finds hysterical. Yitzchok Zevi derives special pleasure in scaring the dickens out of Aryeh Leib, growling and barking at the top of his lungs. Once, in an effort to get his daily dose of little brother terrorizing, YZ did the same to YM as well. Yisroel Meir, totally unfazed thought it was the funniest thing in the world. The louder Yitzchok Zevi barked, the harder YM laughed. Then they both started barking at each other......

Always A Party

Would anyone like a really clean rock? My washing machine doesn't. "I'm just gunna put it in my pocket, Mommy" Says Aryeh Leib as we walk through the park. "Please don't, Aryeh Leibi, its going to end up in the washing machine." "Nu-uh (I wonder if you can find that word in the Webster's dictionary...). I'll take it out before I take off my pants."....

......clang clang thud clang clang......

I guess that's not as bad as my friend who's son put a plastic toy in the oven.

Yeah, never a dull moment.

Yisroel Meir was supposed to be ferberized this week. Instead he's on antibiotics. I'm thinking of starting MAEI (Mothers Against Ear Infections). When is this madness going to end?????

We have an appointment with the ENT on Wednesday. I'd really like to see a homeopath but Jason says I've wasted too much money on the heebeejeebee stuff. It aint like the conventional options have been so much more effective, eh?

EVERYONE has colds but spring is definitely on the horizon. We know this because last summer, the municipality started building a park right outside of our building. All work came to an abrupt halt around Rosh Hashanah time. We spent the whole winter gazing longingly at this half-park........waiting and wondering. Two days ago the park came to life again as we watched the workers pouring the asphalt! Forget the park- we are having a blast watching the workers.

Anyone still reading this thing?

Goodness. I think this has become one of those blogs that spends half the time apologizing for never blogging and the other half of the time kvetching about never having time to blog. Those kind of blogs annoy me and being the author of one of those kind of blogs annoys me even more since the question of the day (from many people) is inevitably, "So, did you blog today?" I find myself beginning conversations, "No, I didn't blog today....." in an effort to preempt the questions. Its kind of the same feeling as when you are pregnant, already a week overdue, and everyone you speak to has the same question. Don't know what question that is? Then you must never have been overdue......

My pathetic posting practices aside, the Svei's are doing great, B"H! Yitzchok Zevi had his "letter party" last week. Only "Abbas" were invited to this shindig. He actually got Jason to skip part of his Friday morning learning schedule to join him at the party. Yitzchok Zevi must really rate because there ain't nothin that gets Jason out of his beis medrish on a Friday morning (except maybe a trip to the orthopedist....oops).

Aryeh Leib's potty training has been an endless process. The little booger has us wrapped around his little finger sooooo tight. As soon as we try to phase out the treats, he regresses until we bring them back full force. Bubby doesn't like our methods- she says it reminds her of dog training. I told her that I don't mind a little barking from Aryeh Leib if it means that I have less laundry at the end of the day.

And Yisroel Meir continues to be the WORST sleeper in the WORLD. We just finished 4 reflexology sessions in an effort to drain YM's ears (and I'm not asking anyone's opinion on this issue so all less-than-positive-comments can be kindly omitted). We hope to see results sometime in the next few weeks. Basically, we suspect that part of his difficulty sleeping stems from ear discomfort which is an outgrowth of repeated (endless....) ear infections. Ear infections breed in fluids that get stuck in the Eustachian tube(which apparently YM has alot of) so........ we hope it'll help. If not, the kid is getting ferberized.

Bubby and Zaidy are visiting this week - a good time is being had by all- especially the boys who have succeeded in conning Zaidy into reading book after book after book........

Today was Shushan Purim. Basically that meant that all the drunken Beitar men hobbled onto a bus to get drunk again at their parent's seudas in Yerushalayim. The only people in Beitar today were duds like us. Under normal circumstances Jason would have learned on a regular schedule today but since his parents were here (and his kollel- in Jerusalem- was in the middle of getting drunk) he decided to spend the afternoon with the family. I had to suppress an evil grin as he sat in the park that was incidentally RIGHT OUTSIDE of his old Yeshiva.......yeah, he was squirming. It was right funny.

Whew! That was alot of blogging! I'll try not to let it go to my head and will (bli neder) do my utmost to post again (sometime) in the near future. (Did I mention 'bli neder'?)

Here are the boys in their purim costumes (Thanks Grandma!). t'isnt the best pic of my boys but you get the idea.....

Just stoppin by

I'm stttttttarting to lllllllllose it........

I nnnnneed my baby to sllllllllleep.

No energy to be creative. Just stopped by for a second to say hello and to let you know that- other than the lack of sleep- we are doing great, B"H.

Jason's cast is officially off. He's slowly getting back his range of motion and will be in an air cast for the next 6 weeks. Its pretty funny watching my prim and proper hubby, who never even answers the door untucked, walkin around in sneaks. Looks like he's on his way to shoot some hoops (or not).

The boys continue to be yummy. The big one's actually sleep. I like that. I'm in the midst of registering AL for Chaider for next year. Scarry.

Yitzchok Zevi is almost finished learning the entire alef bais. The rebbe has them sing the letters to the tune of "oifen pripichik". It gives me chills every time as 'oifen pripichik' is a yiddish song about children (presumably in the ghetto?) learning alef bais from their Rebbe. Then I get all emotional about the continuity of the people of Israel and how lucky we are to be living in a time where we can serve G-d freely, and how special it is to live in Israel, etc. etc. etc.

And Yitzchok Zevi just gives me this funny look wondering what's so emotional about the alef bais???

Yisroel Meir crawls really fast now and gets into everything. You'd think it would tire him out......oh well.

Also, I'd like to publicly apologize for not crediting my sister with the feet picture idea. She was offended, apparently. I thought about mentioning it before, Rache, but you said that you lifted the idea from somewhere else so I figured it'd be funny to say "I lifted this idea from my sister who lifted it from somewhere else." Anyway, we have different feet in our picture ;)

Its 1:30 AM and I'm off to bed (as is YM).

Hoping y'all are doing well.

Thanks for putting up with my sporadic blogs.

(Yawn)

G'nite!

Renegade Blogger

I know, I know- I've been a very bad blogger. Wadaya gunna do? Punish me by not commenting? I really don't have such great excuses other than the fact that my baby doesn't sleep normally and so, whenever he does sleep, I feel compelled to do something productive (not that talking to all of y'all out there in the blogosphere isn't productive but....) and I can't justify 'playing' at the computer when there's loads and loads of laundry, and dishes to be done. Sorry :)

Anyway, Lots has happened in the last 3 weeks!

Grandma, Tanta Bachie (Otherwise known as Rachel. What do you want from people who turn "Aryeh Leib" into "Lubi"???) and cousin Gavi came to visit. We had such a graet time! Grandma was supposed to visit by herself but then we begged her to bring Gavi too. Rachel came by default. (JK, bache :) ) It was really such a special visit and we were so sad to say goodbye.


Aryeh Leib is, poo poo (no pun intended)(didn't I use that line already?) officially potty trained. He even wears underware to bed! I feel like I'm livin the good life- only changing one tushy now. Speaking of one tushy, I still haven't switched to cloth diapers yet. I'm such a woos. I'm gunna do it one of these days (for sure before the next time I blog ;) ) What else......Yisroel Meir has 2 teeth. Had I written this post 3 days ago I would have reported 3 teeth but the third has mysteriously disappeared into the recesses of YM's gums. I'm genuinely stumped!


Jason's cast is due off tomorrow. To be a bit more accurate, Jason has an appointment with the orthopedist tomorrow. It is highly likely that his cast will be removed but we won't know for sure until the orthopedist examines him. Calling all yidishe mamas- please have a little extra kavuna for the husband when saying your daily round of sefer tehillim. If the orthopedist decides to recast him, I think he may actually cry.

Yitzchok Zevi continues to make us laugh with his antics . He also continues to prove to me that I have to be careful what I say in front of him since he doesn't miss a beat. In a fit of frustration, I said to YZ "You are such a punk!". Today AL angered YZ (for one reason or another- though I don't think that YZ actually needs a reason to terrorize AL. I believe he thinks its his right as an older brother. What do you say to that, Rachel?). Yitzchok Zevi wacked Aryeh Leib and yelled, "You are such a punk!". Good thing I'm American. They don't know what a punk (read: pay, vav, nun, kuf) is in chaider. At least he won't get me into trouble there.

I'm off to bed. On the way I'll try to deposit my baby into his crib. If that doesn't work I'll just bring him into my bed. YAWN! Yiddishe Mama's, please also have kavuna that my baby starts sleeping like a baby, and not like a newborn. He's really cute but I see him WAY more often than I should.....

Here's a pic of my boys and Gavi. Come visit us again soon, Gavi! (You can come too, Bache :) )


Shavua and Chodesh Tov!

Hello Again

Wow. Its been SO long since I last blogged. No, critics, we are not noticing a pattern developing here. Its just that.........so much has been going on and I simply couldn't justify blogging when I had so many running-of-the-house type things to do especially since I now have zero help from the husband and, of course, I had to sleep at some point. So I figured, since I have a baby sleeping on me right now anyway, and I can't do dishes or fold laundry or cut up fruits and veggies or organize my kitchen cabinets or or or or.......................I may as well talk to y'all!

Poor poor husband. This broken ankle is really taking the kishkas out of him. He went back to yeshiva today for the first time (in almsot 3 weeks!!!) and came home a shmate. He has 3 more weeks in the cast. For someone who is always running everywhere because there is so so much to do and so little time, having to take it slow and steady is like puncturing a beach ball. Deflated. Limp (pardon the pun).

It snowed last week! Snow in Israel is quite a scene. Israeli's don't quite know what to do with it. I took Aryeh Leib to gan to find his ganenet standing just outside the yard. She was terrified to walk though the blanket of snow that covered the grass. "Isn't this dangerous?" She asked me. "Not where I come from," I answered. "Ice, maybe, but snow? On grass?" "You mean that you are prepared to walk though here with a baby in your arms?" "Yup!" She watched in horor as Aryeh Leib and I (and Yisroel Meir of course) hopped and skipped all the way to the entrance of the gan. She was convinced enough to follow us- ever so gingerly- though the yard. Those crazy Americans..........

And the potty training saga continues. Aryeh Leib wore underpants the entire afternoon. Yitzchok Zevi is rather indignant about the whole thing. He doesn't think it fair that AL is big enough to wear underpants. I had to convince him that he's still bigger since he is learning how to read. Its tough being the oldest though I'm sure Aryeh Leib would disagree.

Yisroel Meir is cutting his first tooth! I've started him on solids which means that now his spit up is colorful (and his poopies stink).

Lots more going on but I'm too tired to continue. ......

B"H the boys continue to give us nachas (in between heart palpitations) and continue to grow bigger and bigger (way too quickly!!!!)

Until next time..........