Happy Days and Random Joys

Today [Wednesday] was a good day.  A happy day.  After several incredibly rainy, gloomy days, it was [mostly] sunny, so we decided it was a good time for a jaunt to the zoo.


[Ok, so I have no room to complain about weather to my significantly-Midwestern readership.  I FEEL FOR YOU!  I know in some ways there's a romantical feel to snow days and oodles of the fluffy stuff,  it's also inconvenient and fertile ground for cabin fever, or cabin gever as I told Kev the other day].

When given the chance to spend time out in fresh air and sunshine, I am energized and happy to breathe more deeply and frolic about.  Add to it my boys and my girl

and you have one happy D.

Because today is apparently the coldest day of the year (haha with a low tonight of a whopping 35 degrees), the zoo was not busy at all, and for long stretches we had the place "to ourselves."  With the rolling, rocky hills and well-kept grounds, this is one of the most beautiful zoos I've ever visited.  Our membership is probably the best investment we've made yet, and one we plan to use many times for the playground and sculpture park in themselves, let alone the animals.

Speaking of animals.  Boyoyoy, the aptly named Black Howler Monkeys had me cracking the patooty up today.  There happened to be a few school groups on a field trip, and we all gathered to watch these incredible primates, with bulging necks who were squawking like no other.  I am going to share a few videos w/you just to show the hilarity when we find the camera.  Please forgive my own incessant squawking---I was just further entertainment for all the Hebrew-no-English-speaking schoolchildren.

It was so nice to leisurely stroll through the zoo, hand in hand with my lovies feeling quite at home.  It's amazing that we've only been here for 23 days for it seems we have settled into a routine so quickly.
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 This week two new visiting scholars and their families arrived, allowing our longer-term community to really start to form.  Though we may not see much of eachother during the day, it is with great anticipation that we sit down for dinner, people gathered from all over, to share a meal and the day's events.  How amazing it is, that after only a few hours with previously perfect strangers, we can form such a familial bond.

Let me introduce you to our Tantur family (pictures to follow as long as I finally remember my camera for dinner):

Lisa, who has been an adopted mom/grandmother, helping with numerous practicalities and offering hugs and squeezes with a nurturing hand.

Brian and Hannah from Notre Dame.  What a blessing to have friends from home who are so approachable and accommodating, especially to Jacob's interest in Brian's boxing skills.  They are a lovely couple who bless others with their peaceful natures.  Sadly, Brian is headed back to South Bend tomorrow, but we will have the lovely Hannah with us for the remainder of our time.

Fr. Jim, who loves our children like they were his niece and nephew, tickling Ceci or following her up and down the stairs and teasing Jacob with energy and zest.

Sr. Bridget, the assistant rector, whose hospitality is superb.

Maureen, Sr. Bridget's sister, who is visiting for a few weeks.  Her lovely British accent, riveting stories and gentle way with children are delightful.

Beverly and Dennis, from Alabama.  Dennis is a philosophy professor and his wife Beverly teaches Sunday school.  We immediately gelled with them, as they have a warm southern sense of hospitality and genuine gift of listening.  Jacob is particularly fond of Scout the dog [puppet] who has accompanied them on their journey to Israel and will help share the experience with Beverly's 5 year old students.

Dan, Deborah and Olivia, just arrived the day before yesterday.  They have a great sense of humor, and Jacob is just SMITTEN with Olivia, who is 12.  She is a lovely and smart young woman, who has already been a wonderful boon for Jacob.  Tonight after dinner they played ping-pong, ate dessert together, did some dot-to-dots and made plans for future playtimes.

And of course Fr. Tim, our fearless rector:  cool, calm, collected.

Random Joys

Though no rival to the snowpocalypse,  it has been quite chilly the last few days.  Due to the ginormity of Tantur, they don't turn on the heat unless there is a large group in, so we have small space heaters to keep the chill at bay.  There's nothing like bundling up in my homeless boxer look and slipping into bed next to a warm heater.

Skpye, skype, skype how I love thee.  Seriously, it still blows my mind that we can have visual, audible connection with our loved ones from across the world.  We use it, on average, 6 or 7 times a day for chatting with family and friends or even watching Schoolhouse Rock with cousin Elise.

Oh Schoolhouse Rock.  Seriously, they don't make stuff like this anymore.  In trying to feel my way through a (very laidback) kindergarten/first grade homeschool groove, I love using different learning techniques and music is a BIG one.  These are a few of our favorites, and we have many of them memorized already.  :)

I LOVE the relationship between Kevin and our kiddos.  He is such an incredible father, so in love with Jacob and Cecilia, so playful and affectionate, firm and forgiving.  One of my favorite things to peek in on is Kev and Jacob's nightly pre-bed discussions which run the gamut from outer space, making friends, infinity to why he can't fly, always peppered with Jacob's new habit of vocalizing his listening and comprehension in very adult "mmhhmms" and "uh-huhs."  It's not just one time, but seriously, hilariously constant.  We'll have to do a covert video for that one. 

ANYWAY, tonight, the menfolk called me in to share an idea Jacob created.  As background:  We had a little gathering after dinner to bid Brian farewell.  There were dessert and drinks and as the adults got to have wine, beer, coffee and such, Lisa said Jacob could pick whatever he wanted from the famed fridge of special drinks.  Anyhoo, Jacob very rarely gets pop, let alone half a can.  He told Kevin he felt kind of crazy, and that he was worried he was drunk (he knows what this is b/c of why we drink alcohol in moderation).  This led to talk about how he couldn't get drunk from sprite, which led to what happens when people drink too much and drive, and so on.

Jacob, in his creative problem solving came up with 3 solutions to drunk driving:

1).  When scientists are finished developing an invisibility cloak (which according to Kev, is actually in the works),  someone could wear one and then stand in the way of the person and their car, thus preventing them from getting in.

2).  Dig a hole in the mud, put the keys in, cover them back up and let grass grow over it.

3).  Build a 10 ft. high brick wall around the car.  When the person sobers up, tear it back down with a hammer.

Yeah, we're still laughing/in awe about that one over here.

And now I will end this insanely long post by gorging you with pictures, as I pretty much can't stop taking them.