Happy Easter

We didn't make it to Jerusalem f0r Good Friday. Didn't want to deal with mega crowds, shoulder to shoulder and small kids. Instead we went to Caesarea and drove up through Mt Carmel forest. Caesarea has a long history of a port in Israel back to King Herod and the Romans.

For Easter I took Sunday off work and we went to mass here in Tel Aviv old city of Yafa. It is funny to have to take a day off of work for it (work week is Sunday to Thursday) and the Jewish Shabbat is Sun down Friday to Sun Down Saturday. After mass we went to a friends house for an Easter lunch of Hot Dogs and then an Easter Egg hunt. 4 families all with small kids and everyone had a great time.

Its been hot as well in the 90s and the Beach is the best way to deal with that. It was also Purim last weekend with a big street carnival out in front of the hotel. This is a dress up party holiday.

Other good news we confirmed our house in Ashdod. The negotiation took place 3 weeks after we said we wanted this house and got a bit tense for a day. Hopefully we move in next week and end our hotel stay at 5 weeks.

We Are in Israel

The paparazzi follow us everywhere.









Check out the big climber Hanna at the top of this cool rope jungle gym. They also build parks with supper big long slide. I watch older kids used plastic soda bottles to ride them down and come rocketing out supper fast and go flying 10ft.















2 weeks now and counting in our luxury one bedroom suit, it might be 400sq ft. We've been fighting flu and fever starting with myself the Sunday before and Everett is still sick. We took him to the ER one night and the Clinic the following night because of consecutive days with 102-3 fever. Dad really dislikes his 75-90 min commute each way and is getting no exercise.

We are waiting on a house we have chosen. It should be ready for move in by April 1st. The real fool is us if we believe this date as the land lord is in France till March 20th and won't be back. It’s a pretty deluxe place with a small swimming pool and 1/2 mile from the beach. No yard though is the trade off. It is also a long commute at 25 miles, a bit out of range for daily bike commutes.
















We've been to the beach on a couple of really nice days with temps in the mid 70's. Last weekend was windy so the surf was up for Dad.

We haven't been to see much yet. We are surviving, its not easy in the hotel and being so far from work. Good Friday is coming and Friday-Saturday are the weekends here. If I want to go to church on Easter Sunday I'll have to take the day off. We have an invitation to go to Jerusalem for Good Friday and will walk the Stations of the Cross. I expect it will probably be crowded and amazing.

Welcome to the Holy Land!

Ella volunteers to fly in a suit case, probably just as comfortable as a seat.







Big send off at the airport. Seriously though we probably wouldn't have gotten everything we needed done if my parents hadn't been around to help. Getting ready to go was a whirl wind. I wanted to finish the taxes and we both did lots of last min shopping. We also did some playing. Dad and I went to the NHRA Phoenix notational on Sunday. It was awesome those cars are so loud

Light reading while waiting for the flight.








The title is the most common greating for us in Israel. Everyone has been very friendly and helpful. Problem is not much help others can be with 3 jet lagged kids who don't sleep at the same time and wake each other up. End result is minimal sleep for Mom and Dad. Doesn't help that house hunting has been a bust and we are in a hotel suite for an unknown amount of time. We keep moving to smaller places. Our house, Portland apt as 1800sq ft, AZ apt was 1200 sq ft, hotel here, maybe 400 sq ft. Anything after this will feel like a mansion.

PS. Among my peers I am considered a great writer which is hilarious considering my poor spelling and grammar. Intel keeps business in English even though its not the native language. Just one of the many benifits of this new job in this new land.