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..........