Israel trip!

I've missed you all! I took a bit of an internet break while on vacation, and it was good for me. And now I'm trying to catch up on everyone's blogs!

I thought I'd share a few photos from our Israel trip today! I (clearly) took way too many, so this may be a few posts!

Our trip began in the afternoon at Newark Airport, excited for our trip but VERY VERY nervous about a certain someone was going to do on the plane.

We fortified ourselves with some Crumbs:

And then S was able to catch a prayer service while we waited for our flight. Only on flights to Israel:)

I haven't flown to Israel in about 7 years, and security has really tightened up in that time. We had our own special gate that you needed security and a pat down to get into, and on the flight everyone had to be sitting down once we reached Israeli airspace. It was intense!

Despite all my fears, E was great on the flight there, slept a lot, and we made it to Tel Aviv in one piece!

We got to the hotel on a Friday and had a wonderful Shabbos with my family. Early Sunday morning, we hit the breakfast buffet--I have a soft spot for breakfast buffets, especially in Israel!

Breakfast in Israel has some normal components:

(Exhibit A)

but also some different foods, like cheeses and vegetables:

There are also some completely random breakfast foods.

Spaghetti and tomato sauce, anyone?

Later that day we went to a local mall. We got especially excited with this sight:

Most of the malls in Israel have fun play areas for kids, which we really enjoyed!

We also got to enjoy some European frozen yogurt--instead of mixing in topics, they take a plain frozen yogurt base and mix it with whatever ingredients you want. Delicious!

The next day was the day before Tisha B'Av, the saddest day of the Jewish year. We packed up this monkey and went to Jerusalem to visit Yad Vashem, the Holocaust museum.

It was sad, but very powerful. I think hearing about the Holocaust as a parent is very different than before--it made it so much harder to bear.

The setting of Yad Vashem was beautiful, high up in the Jerusalem hills:

Next, we visited the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem--coming up on a future post!

Random Tidbits

Thanks for your well wishes, everyone! We are so excited!  To reflect the chaotic state of my mind at the moment, I have some randoms to share today:

1) Ellie is afraid of all water shoes.

What? How does this even make sense? I am unclear as to the inner workings of my toddler on this issue, but she WILL. NOT. WEAR.  a single pair of water shoes. Not even the cute green crocs I dug up in the mall this weekend. Sigh.

source

2) We are going to Israel in TWO DAYS and I have barely started packing.

Up until now, most of our trips have been road trips. As in "throw everything in the car that you might possibly need, because, why not?" Two weeks + limited laundry + international destination + weight limit = a very stressed out mama.

3) I am leaving work for two weeks.

Trying not to think about all of the calls that will be waiting for me upon my return. Oy vey.

4) Ellie likes ice cream. A lot.

5) We went to get bagels and headed to Barnes and Noble yesterday! One of my favorite Sunday activities!

6) I made PW's fruit pizza this past Shabbos. It was awesome. Try it.

source

7) I am soooo tempted to order these:

I mean, how fun do they look? There's just something about makeup in stick form that gets me. But trying (very hard) to save money for my actual vacation. Alas.

8) I have gotten so bad at taking photos for my Project Life album. I'm glad that this far into the year, I'm still going strong. But wish I could get back on the wagon with those photos!

9) I'm 15 weeks pregnant today. Aside from a horrible story I once read about a woman who had a miscarriage at 15 weeks (that I'm still haunted by), I'm feeling good.


So there you have it. A few random items from today. What randomness is going on in YOUR head today?

Surprise Revealed!

If you've been wondering what my excuse is for slacking on blogging....here you go!

Yup, there's a bun in the oven! I'm due at the end of December and we can't wait:)

I'm currently about 14 weeks and feeling, well, a bit yucky. This pregnancy has been MUCH more vomiting-and-headaches themed than the last one. But I'm so, so thankful.

PS--I know that when you're in the middle of trying, this kind of news can be hard to hear. I always think of my friends of who are waiting, and am always happy to talk about infertility. Sending love:)