Happy New Year 2009!

The end of 2008 and beginning of 2009 have been quite busy for the BZBees.

First - we want to wish a huge Mazal Tov to Orly & Gidi on their recent marriage. We went to Israel to celebrate this momentous event with the happy couple. the wedding was really beautiful - the venue was so special and the Chupah felt intimate and lovely. Israeli weddings are certainly different than the US - less formality with great food and less dress-up. It was a little funny to see the Ben-Zvi clan dressed up to the nines, and some of the guests dressed in jeans. In Israel - you just roll with it. Hopefully pictures will come soon. Our camera died by a bottle of cold water. I am hoping some photos can be salvaged.

So - we flew to Israel on Christmas Eve and returned last night. Aside from Lavi, we were all sick - which made the first few days in Israel a little bumpy for us. We stayed with Tessa and Errol who helped us out a lot. This holiday was different than any other - since we had a toddler and an infant to tote around. With jetlag and sickness all around, the easiest way was to just take it easy. Luckily, the Rudnicks live right around the corner from a beautiful beach - so we spent alot of time there just exploring the sand and the beach playgrounds. Lavi's friends came to visit a couple of times and we met up with both Goldberg and Ben-Zvi family here and there. It was really so nice to see everyone, and also so nice not to see everything :) We didn't do one bit of touring on this trip. One day we did drive up to the kibbutz to spend some time with Sami as Shosh had fallen and broken some bones and needed to have surgery. We couldn't see her that day since she was in the hospital, but we really hope that she is on the mend and feeling alright. Ami was there and we wanted him to meet Noam and spend some time with Ari too. Ari also had a great time playing with cousins Dean and Liam, and Phoebe and Nathaniel at both the Shabbat dinner and the wedding. We really felt good about him getting to know the boys since it is hard to see them alot with the CT - CA distance. And Noam and Mia got to know eachother too at the wedding. I am hoping to post the most adorable photos from the wedding of the 2 of them. Just too sweet!

Noam and Ari had a wonderful time in Israel. They always say that growth spurts occur when amongst new scenery. Noam just grew so much on this trip. He got his first tooth - on 12/30 and the second one a day later. He also says Mama and Abba and bottle (Babba) too. We weren't sure if we were just hearing things - but I think it is too often to be coincidence at this point. I even think he says 'Hi' and sometimes I think ' Hello' - but I know that is just a little bit too crazy. He loves to play with Ari - who enjoys telling us when he thinks Noam is saying words. Ari also plays peek-a-boo with Noam and really loves his little brother. Noam stands up a lot these days and takes a few steps here and there. He holds his bottle nicely and has been eating apricots and hunks of bread. He is a great poser for the camera too. Ari just seems to always be learning new things and I am trying to keep up with him. He is lovable and really cares about people and seems to be really interested in other's lives. He loved being with Tessa and Errol - and enjoyed spending time with Sabba and Sabba Rabba and Suellyn and Nili too.

Happy New Year everyone! May 2009 bring with it health and happiness and maybe a bit of prosperity too!

Israel 2008/2009
Orly & Gidon Wedding