Family Reunion

(Pic of kids on their favorite ride at the mall)

Rich has discovered some family living here in Israel- in Beer Sheva. Let's see if I can get it right...Rich's great-grandfather and Sheryl's (his cousin from Beer Sheva) great-grandfather were brothers. Sheryl's mom was visiting and came as well as Sheryl's two very sweet daughters, one newly married. We met them in the mall here last night for dinner (which we rudely ate before they actually arrived!)and then they came back to the apartment to shmooze a bit after we put the (extremely wild and over-tired) kids to bed. It was pretty amazing for Rich to hear about his grandparents "back in the day" from Sheryl's mom. Kind of crazy to suddenly meet someone you never knew and have them tell you family stories. Had fun with them and looking forward to spending more time together.
Rich's friend from his yr in Israel at WUJS also stopped by yesterday.
It was a busy day-- just like we like 'em!

And now for the "only-in-Israel-gotta-love-this-incredible country" tid-bit:

The security guards manning the metal detectors at the entrances to the mall don't tend to be over-exuberantly happy...although Hila occasionally manages to wrestle a smile from them. (She's pretty aggressively Israeli in her interactions- if she wants a smile from someone, she's pretty much in-your-face until she gets what she wants :)
Well, her job has become easier this past week. The Chaggim are coming! It's like "Holiday spirit" in Dec in the U.S,-- smiles and excitement all around, people shouting "Shana Tova" from the rooftops. Well, not quite, but you hear it ALL the time. The security guards are all smiley, handing "Shana Tova" cards and lollipops out to the kids. (Yes- the D-ler kids have officially entered a world where junk-food never ends, much to their delight.) The clerk in the store where we bought our fridge and microwave handed us a package of honey and a card before we even sat down to do the paper work. Grocery store check-out people, bus drivers, you name it..."Shana Tova's" all around.
I love how I get punched in the face with these things right when I need it..."Wake up! WE ARE SO LUCKY TO BE HERE!"