Why write a blog?

I am so incredibly blessed. I am also constantly aware that at any point it might be our turn to deal with difficult or even tragic news and I want you to always know me, know me and your daddy and know how much we love you all and just do our very best for you in every possible way.

I aim to include in this blog all my thoughts on child rearing while I am in the midst of bringing up my babies and watching you grow into toddlers and tweenies...and then please God onto teenagers and young adults! 

I want you to see that our way of bringing you up is to get on with what is right for us as a family unit - to ignore a lot of the crazy theories out there which may have some worth but are unrealistic in following. Our policy is to go with things...to follow your leads...and to importanly not judge too much the way others do it, to not follow others like sheep...to be our own people and do what feels right for us always. At the same time we want you to grow into kind and generous people, constantly learning from others and doing chessed. I hope you feel that we have got it right on the whole and that it has given you strength to decide right from wrong and do what your heart tells you and not just what everyone else seems to do. 

Stay yourselves, stick with what you actually believe...and always do your best!

Love you so much

Your proud mummy (and daddy...on his behalf!)

Ella is 1!

My baby girl turned 1!
Well, to be honest, now that all our friends have so many older children I couldn't invite just babies, and it seemed a little unnecessary. But there was no way I was going to have Ella miss out. So we invited the neighbours on a Friday afternoon before Shabbat for some cake, treats and bubbles. Ella had such a fun time and it was the perfect way to celebrate (an alternative to doing a family party...which being without close family here,friends have to take their place!)
Here are a few pics!Had great fun with my new letter stamp for the biscuits and icing!

Dalia's 8th Birthday!

 Dalia's 8th Birthday!

A stunning party - run by a nice lady i found recommended on Raanana List.
She brought each gilr a ready made pack to make intricate bracelets. Everyone sat round the dining room table...it was silent while they concentrated so hard! I made name cards using the bracelet image below and used the label on biscuits that the girls took home with their bracelets. They all had a great time and I still see some of Dalia's friends wearing what they made!
What was so thoughtful was that the lady also gave easier projects to Yael and Yoav who sat in the kitchen and were also kept very busy!
I love girly parties!

Yael 4 - Tea Party

Decorations:

Pink balloons and streamers on ceiling by table

Pink cloth

Flowers/confetti/m&ms

4:10

1)      Go down to basement – dress up time!

Buy: play necklaces/shoes/hats. Lipstick/blusher/nail varnish

4:15ish

2)      Musical bumps

4:25

3)      Pass the Parcel

4:35

4)      Decorate cups with straws (earring stickers, stickers)

4:45

5)      Decorate T-shirt for dolls / colouring doll pictures

4:45

6)      Make bissli necklaces or pasta necklaces

4:50

7)      Races in garden with dolls

5:00

8)      Tea Time – sit at table with dolls – eat heart shaped sandwiches/crisps/cucumber/carrot

9)      Fruit on popsicle sticks-watermelon and grapes - jellies

10)   Pink petel

11)   Teapot cake

Take home – tshirt/cups/heart biscuits + lipgloss!

Dalia 6 - Shabbat Party

This was such a special party and the girls (Kitta Aleph) really enjoyed it and came home with lovely things they had made.

Again the weather was on our side and it was a warm Winter day!

We split the girls into smaller groups and they did the activities simultaneously and moved round to the next station.

Dalia's birthday falls near chanukah so candle crafts are in the shops (I plan on buying them early in time to repeat this party for Yael when she turns 6) so one of the activities was decorating a candle to light for Shabbat using was that you can mould like plasticine.

I bought the balls of dough from a baker (although now I am more into challah making myself I couldeasily prepare it myself next time) and my mum (safta) was in charge of helping the girls  plait their challot which went in their own foil trays to rise, and be cooked at home.

I cut up white material and bough glitter glue and sequins and pens to design challah cloths. The only issue with these was that some of them were still quite wet by home time so would rethink materials to use for next time!

Need to find photos!

The ideas:

Wax on candles

Shabbat placemats and laminate...get stickers and small gems to stick on and felt tips

Plait challot

Make  flowers from tissue paper and pipe cleaners

Foil tray with name on for challah

Israeli dancing

Musical bumps

Sausages in rolls around table – white cloth with plastic on and tropit/water

Get little bechers each to take home and mini grapejuices

Candles sticks/oil lamps – mezolim

Besamim bags – nets and strings – grated soap to put in

Nail painting

Shabbat table cake!

Dalia's 5th Birthday

Dalia's 5th Birthday....
We got a lovely entertainer. The kids behaved so beautifully and it was nice to watch you all enjoy yourselves rather than run around this time!
What a princess!
Happy birthday big girl xxx

Yoav's 3rd Birthday Party

Yoav’s 3^rd Birthday Party

4pm – free play/make crowns with stickers

4.15-20 – PARACHUTE

Parachute colours – jump on the right colour on the chute

Sleeping Bunnies – lie on top of chute, make waves when hopping

With roaring tiger/ stomping elephant, hopping frog.

Sit around chute – Row the boat

Make waves, lift parachute above their heads and down again

Shark Attack! – Everyone’s feet under the parachute – shark goes under, make waves and touches someone’s feet – they become the new shark.

The Grand Old Duke of York

When the parachute goes up clap your hands

When the parachute goes up clap your hands

When the parachute is high and flies up into the sky

When the parachute goes up clap your hands…..touch your nose, stamp your feet, turn around, say hooray!

Run around in circle, holding with one hand, then change direction

Make Popcorn – put balls on – throw the balls up in the air

Mushroom – quick lift up high with kids lying on the floor

4.40 – Musical Bumps

4.50 – Musical Statues

 Make a train with Yoav at the front to sit on cloth for pizza

5pm Pizza, drinks

5.15 Birthday Cake…cut up into bowls.

5.30 End – give out balls