we have moved!!! (hence the lack of blogging)

Yes indeed we have MOVED!! We're still here in Israel, but we've moved down the country a little. We dont feel to post the name of the city/town onto the blog as our blog can be viewed by ALL, but to those of you who know us personally (and we know you) please feel free to drop us an email and we'll be happy to inform you of our new loctation! (just incase you're wanting to drop by!!! and PLEASE DO!!)
Its been a VERY busy last few weeks for us. It all happened very suddenly that Dave was promoted and re-located. Therefore so were we!
We are very very happy in our new home and area. We dont have a garden anymore, but we do have a lovely (good-sized) balcony and a gorgeous park and playground just below us. We feel very blessed. And even though we are still only renting our new land-lord allowed us to paint the whole house what ever colours we chose and he would pay for it. So we are now in a freshly painted home, with sunlight galore and a very new feeling about it. Actually thats the other bonus, our apartment in only 4 years old! so im not fighting mold and maintance problems (yet!!).
I just wanted to send through this quick update on our last few hectic weeks... just to re-assure you all that we are all still well and healthy!. And indeed we are looking forward to this New year. Its now only a matter of hours away.
I will post a few photos of our new house tonight (or over the weekend). Until then have a REAL celebration tonight, tomorrow or whenever you'll be celebrating the welcoming of 2010!
Many blessings!
Amy (for the whole family)

a long wee while...

Yes indeed, it's been a long wee while since i last posted any updates on our blog here.
This has been mostly due to my low energy levels and my morning sickness which has bothered me for about 10 weeks, but has just this last week begun to subside. And my energy levels are beginning to rise again also.

We are all doing well though. We've had the odd colds and flus that seem to be creeping around at this time of the year, but for the most part we have all been enjoying our Autumn very much.

We have been extremely slack about taking photos these last weeks but we do have a few shots of our October and November events to show you.

As a quick re-cap of October; Yoav turned One on the 12th of October so we celebrated his birthday with friends and family.
and then my sister came... and we so enjoyed having here with us for 2 weeks before she moved over to the Galilee to begin volunteering.
And then my mum came... we also so enjoyed having her with us for 2 weeks!! and then Dad followed suit and came for 1 night before they both departed for NZ for 3 months.
So actually this is my first complete day of being without family and without morning sickness!

Below are are few photos of Yoav on his birthday. (we were so focused on celebrating at the party itself that we barely took any photos... including photos of the birthday boy!!!) but here are a few...

This year i went for a 'jungle themed cake'... and yes i stuck to cupcakes yet again!

It was a lot of fun to make! but a little fiddly.

Our Sukkot...

Here in Israel we have just come to the end of having celebrated another feast, this time called Sukkot. Because i am lacking strength today (due to pregnancy of baby #3) I am going to be lazy and not even explain what sukkot is, but rather, if you're interested as to why we all build tents topped with palm trees and why we eat in them for 7 days.... here is a link:

Click here if you'd like to know more about Sukkot!

The constructing of our Sukka...

here is Shalev helping to make decorations for our Sukka.

Eating melon in the sukka on a hot Saturday afternoon.

have a wonderful week everyone!

A day at the Galilee!

Last week we ventured over to the Sea of Galilee for a swim and a picnic. The weather was just right, and the Galilee was SO pleasant to swim in.

As a family we really enjoy it there, so we look forward to many more summers and warm days of picnicing and swimming!!

too cute... i just had to post these!

Daddy and the boys!
and our dear Yoav.

Shalev the baker!

Shalev has a new found joy... baking (playdough baking).

Goodbye Summer 2009!

For us here in the Middle East we are only just now saying goodbye to the summer,

but we are warmly welcoming in the Autumn!

Great NEWS!!

Baby Number 3 is on the way!!

Yes, and this precious baby is due to enter this world in May next year.

Until then Mummy is taking it one day at a time. The tiredness and the morning sickness has already begun so we are all taking it a little slower around here than normal!

Have a blessed week!

Yoav is walking!!

Yes it's just wonderful!

Our 11 month old is walking..

well so far its only been a maximum of 5 steps in a row...

but that's WALKING to us!!

Our Rosh HaShana

Rosh HaShana, the Jewish New Year.

A wonderful time to celebrate as a family the year that has passed and to contemplate the year ahead! We had a very special evening together.

There was the noise of the shofar being blown, the dipping of apples into honey, the blessings we read and shared to one another for the new year, and the dancing around the living room that followed.

Here is a small glimpse into our evening.

May it be a fruitful new year!

Daddy and Shalev blowing the Shofar!

(We went a little cheap this year as these are simple handmade shofars that i put together using toilet rolls, masking tape and a party blower. But they sounded AMAZINGLY authentic!!)

Apples and Honey

(representing a sweet and fruitful new year)

Mummy and the traditional Honey Cake

Shana Tova!

Have a blessed New Year!

Shabbat Shalom everyone!

Have a wonderful and restful weekend!

We're home....

Yes, indeed we are home!

We actually returned about 2 weeks ago, but have only now had the oppurtunity to tell you all.

Since being home we've been unpacking, re-settling, and enjoying much fellowship and summer fun with friends and as a family.

Its was just such a special trip away, and we all enjoyed it immensely, but it is also good to be home again.

We havent yet managed to open the cds with our photos on from our trip away, so i dont have any (as of yet) to show you, but here are a few photos from our picnic at the beach last wednesday evening.

Its been super returning to Israel for the late-summer, its not too hot and not at all too cold.

Much love from the four of us!

Shalevs 2nd Birthday PARTY!!

My cousin April has a son only 3 weeks younger than Shalev, so we decided to join their parties and celebrate together. It was SO much fun!! And the best part was the fact that both boys LOVE trains... so finding an idea for the birthday cake wasn't a tough job.

here are a few pics of the day...

here are the boys, Shalev and Vaan. Shavi is doing a great job of blowing out the candles.

And here are the mummys! yes, me and April. I think we deserved to have a photo with the cake as it did take us a WHOLE afternoon making it!!!

Out and about...

Ive just realized that i havent included many photos of Yoav lately..

so heres one for you... Dave and Shalev went and visited a Calf shed.

This is the beautiful walk around Mt.Maunganui.

It was chilly but well worth it!