melting snowmen.. cookies.

My winter cookies!

The cold wind has come, the chilly breeze is here! The rain (with all its mud) has poured and the windows are steaming up! Welcome winter!! feel free to hang around a LONG time.

Happy Winter!

Shalevs art class:canvas painting.. lines and shapes

This school year I have begun teaching the kids some basic skills in cooking, art, and music.. as well as the basics in recognizing letters and numbers, counting, shapes and colours, etc..

I dont usually take photos of their 'schooling hour' but their art 'classes' have been so much fun that I've so enjoyed capturing these shots for the kids to see and rememeber their works of art and their progess. Below Shalev is learning about colours, lines (keeping within the lines) and making patterns with lines. He had a lot of fun doing this one.

Nana and Popa bought these fun little 'garden foam stickers' for the kids.. here is what shalev did with them...

Autumn has arrived in the hallway! The kids have been filling it with the fresh feeling (and smell) of Autumn.

Our walk amongst the trees..

We dressed in Autumn colours and went for an 'autumn walk' through some near by forests. It was a beautiful day.. a beautiful location.. and a beautiful moment to capture the children 'one by one'.

...and to top off this awesome adventure, dave stumbled upon these fantastc half planks of wood. They have a beautiful deep wood smell, and are now one by one being selected for different crafts.

Yoav is 2!

Last weekend we celebrated Yoav's second birthday.. wow, our middle son has officially entered the 'terrific twos'. (yes, I am trying to be optimistic!)

We celebrated with a few friends, a few balloons and a few goodies to munch on, including the Fireman Sam cake which took a night and a morning to complete.. But i just got such a 'jump of joy' seeing Yoavs face when he finally recieved his cake at the party.

The House is meant to be on fire!! (It was a real 'throw-together').

We love you our big special 2 year old...

so what surprises do you have instore for mummy this year?

Autumn...

Happy Autumn!

I'm so glad for this new Season to begin... we are all getting just a little tired of the

long and hot Summer days.

This last weekend we turned our clocks back an hour, since then our evenings have been darker earlier and mornings have been brighter but the best part is that they're cooler!

*Big smile*

Over the holiday period of Rosh Hashana we traveled to a few near by parks, reserves and forests. The beauty that sits all around us is just mind boggling! and boy does it feel good getting out into the thick of it.

Here we are at a nearby Reserve with an open pond area;

way to go Dave!

A new era has begun... and an old one has passed.

Dave did it... he finished his job, and he finished well.

He cut the last piece of the chain and danced for joy!!

We celebrated with a few dear friends and greeted in the new days ahead.

Ironically it has just been the Jewish New Year here in Israel so we really do feel like a new beginning is at hand.

What a blessing.

Well done daddy!!

4 years married...

Thank you Lord for 4 wonderful years!

new craft corner+tidier office+baby in other room= sanity!

My darling husband worked on a major project this weekend... making mummy a new office/ craft corner in the bedroom, thus clearing and sorting out the office area in the lounge (daddys new office space). And all of this was possible because of the other big move- Reuven moving into the big boys room!

So here is Daves hard labour caught on camera so far~

(the craft room pictures are yet to be taken)

Thank you my precious husband for the big move and the huge clean up you did!! I love you.

Our little artist...

Is this not just the coolest airplane painting out??!!

Go my big boy! Shalev you are indeed one clever little artist!

a single word...

peaceful

oh and super-duper comfortable!!

Handmade Baby #4: Wall Art

It's baby shower time!

I don't know if it feels like this to you also, but to me it seems as though every woman out there is pregnant right now or has just given birth!

it must be the season!

Anyhow, one of these woman is a dear friend of mine, she will be giving birth to a beautiful baby girl in about 4-6 weeks time. We celebrated her baby shower last night and had a real 'girlie' time. The theme was pink and white, something im not too used to around here, but it was a real joy to be amongst something 'girlie' for once!

I was literally rushing out the door while taking these photos so i didnt get to take many shots nor of the party itself as i left my camera behind, but here are just a few of the cupcakes and the cake i put together for this fun little party!!

Our Summer 2010 (so far): part 5

Hosting friends and traveling the Land:

This is a real highlight in the summertime.. being able to host friends and family as they come and travel the Land of Israel. One of these people was a dear friend who came to stay for a week, and during her stay we were able to travel to Jerusalem, Haifa and the Galilee.

It was a blessed time.

I just love this photo of Krystle and I looking towards the Wailing wall in Jerusalem:

Our Summer 2010 (so far): part 4

The boys:

our sweet boys = a lot of fun!

(and laughs and giggles and smiles and mischief )

During the Football World Cup our Shalev became a football pro! and an addict!

He just loves playing soccer and is very good at it too.

And as you can see, he was going for Holland (but only after NZ dropped out!!).