Letter to Santa

Dear Santa,
We don't have a chimney at our house in Israel so we will leave the door unlocked for you. (This is a slightly edited version of what he wanted me to write. He prattled on about this item for a while. Very concerned with logistics -- which door we'd unlock, where to park the sleigh if he's not using the chimney: driveway vs.backyard, etc.. He had to be coaxed to get to the crux of the letter.)
Please put some fruit in my stocking. Santa, will you give me a toy?
"I want Santa to come and cook for me."
"Cook for you? What are you talking about? He's got to fly around the world delivering toys. He doesn't have time to hang out in the kitchen and cook."
"Okay, I want some vegetables."
"Vegetables?"
"You know ... strawberries, mangoes, pomegranates."
"Those are fruits not vegetables."
"Oh. Which ones are the vegetables again?"
"Carrots, broccoli, corn."
"Okay, those are good. Write this down: "
I would like some vegetables on my desk.
"On your desk? Santa leaves presents under the tree. Not in your room."
"The other presents he can put in under the tree. I want the vegetables on my desk."
I also want a trampoline to bounce on. Santa, please bring Dante a small trampoline but I want a big one. Thank you.
Alejandro


The pic above is from Alejandro's Hanukkah party at school (that he didn't end up staying for but that's another story.) Hanukkah is a relatively minor holiday here -- no days off work. They eat a special kind of jelly doughnut called a Sufganiyot (not nearly as good as Presti's from my college days.) The kids play with the dredels (tops) and get money and candy (or candy shaped as coins) as well as some small toys.

Alfonso and the boys made it to Bethlehem. (I bailed on this trip. Not that I'm not in the holiday spirit -- I just preferred a few hours without the kids in hopes of regaining my sanity.) The star that all the kids are gathered around below is supposed to mark where Jesus was born inside of the Church of the Nativity. The other kids are the friends from across the street -- there are never any kids at these religious sites (besides ours.) For some crazy reason all these tourists that come to visit think it would be more enjoyable without toddlers. Go figure.

Anyhow, we are having a cozy little Christmas season despite the lack of snow as well as the shortage of other Christians. While we are looking forward to the big birthday bash we have for Jesus, we are anxiously awaiting the 27th when we head to Italy to be with family! That is assuming Alfonso can wrestle away from Intel's claws. The kids have seen him an average of ~15 minutes for the past four days. That number decreases drastically if you subtract the time that he's on the phone/computer with work!

Here's our attempt at a family photo at the sand dunes at the end of the block. We'll have to try again and hopefully get the kids to look at the camera and smile at the same time. Somehow I think we'd have better luck getting our kosher neighbors to try bacon!

Merry Christmas!

December: the perfect time for ... a picnic?

I've gotten so far behind in writing an update that I don't know where to start. On top of my procrastination, I've had technical difficulties posting the pictures and can't seem to get them to stay in the right order but I'm too frustrated to care anymore. Let's just pretend that the randomness is really by design of some fancy flash back/flash forward writing technique.

Anyhow, we've had lovely weather. We had our Thanksgiving celebration outside on picnic tables with the two other American families on our street. Apart from the Israeli landscape, we had a traditional dinner. The pumpkin had to be steamed and pureed, no cans of Libby around here. (I didn't get in on that fun and just mooched some off others that went through the trouble.)

Two of the three kings are all ready for Christmas. They still haven't made it to Bethlehem yet and probably won't before Christmas -- maybe for Epiphany. My mom made the capes while the homemade hobby horses were a group effort. The kids are just loving the authentic garb for dress up and don't need to steal my broom and mop anymore (although they still try to on occasion.)

My parents were here for a quick trip. We only did a mini tour of Israel instead of the full throttle marathon. They were just happy to see the kids and I was thrilled to have a break from craft duty! We did a little sight seeing and hit a few new places along with the old favorites. The caves at Bet Guvrin below are always a hit with the kids.

We got a personal moonlit tour of Emmaus, where Jesus appeared to some disciples after the resurrection. Br. Anton is part of the Community of the Beatitudes that takes care of the site at Emmaus and also helps to translate mass with a nearby Russian community for us. (We gave up on mass in Tel Aviv a while ago.) It's not everyday our tour guide offers to give Alejandro a piggy back ride.

On our way to Galille, we finally took the time to stop at Tel Meggido which is to be the site of Armageddon. It was first inhabited 3500 BC (which is mind boggling in itself) and has 26 levels of occupation including that of the Egyptians. The history there is so extensive, it's a bit much to digest in a quick pit stop. The kids enjoyed the tunnel from the Iron Age which is 25 meters deep and 70 meters long once used for waterworks.

At Galilee, we stopped at Caupernaum as always and Mount Tabor this trip where it was believed the Transfiguration took place that was marked by yet another church. While each church is unique and impressive somehow they all start to look the same after a while. Alfonso and boys had been to Jordan River at Yardenit but it was a first for me. While we didn't participate in any full immersion baptisms that were going on, we did stick our feet in the water (well, Dante stuck his knees in.)

After our fifth trip to Caesrea, we finally made it to the part of the park with the aqueducts -- quite impressive. The boys also took a chariot ride in the hippodrome. We never get tired of going there.

Who wants cake when Grandma will make birthday pie? Yup, Alejandro is four! He had a little party at his school (which he is quite fond of now) which Dante and I got to attend. Unfortunately I didn't have the cam camcorder to capture all the little songs and games for the festivities. I just couldn't believe Dante went and sat in a little chair with the rest of the kids for over an hour.

In the mean time, we are busy getting ready for Christmas. Our pathetic little Christmas tree makes Charlie Brown's tree look the one in Rockefeller Center. But it still works for hanging ornaments that the kids make on a daily basis which is all that really matters. Alejandro slunk downstairs in the dark of night to inspect if St Nick came to fill his shoes. It's really sweet to see how excited he is for Christmas. Dante doesn't quite get it but is elated with all the Christmas cookies to eat.

Well, hopefully my next post won't be so delinquent but I'm not making any promises. Honestly, it's more wishful thinking than anything. But who knows? Christmas is the season for miracles!

Love always,

Debi