catch-up last 3 months news

Welcome to the Rudnick/ Maayan family news blog. It's my first attempt using the program, laying it out and inserting photos etc so here goes.....It's just for family and close friends so that we can keep in contact and share important events like birthdays and holidays. I have a bit of a catch up from the last 3 months for this first installment!

We had a great holiday in Jerusalem over Hannuka staying near enough to the old city that we could walk in (even Hannah with her smaller stride and shorter legs!). Every night for 8 nights another candle is lit on the Hannukia. They do a public lighting and prayer each night at the Kotel - The Wailing wall - this is the kids in front of the Kotel on the 7th night.

One of the big events has been Shoshanna's 12th Birthday, not only her birthday but her bat mitzvah too. In the Jewish community it is a real milestone with boys celebrating a bar mtizvah on their 13th birthday by reading a portion of the Torah (first 5 books ofthe bible) in the synagogue. He passes into manhood and accountable to God. Well girls also celebrate an equivalent now but don't normally go to the synagogue except in the reform movements.

Shoshanna being one of the youngest in the class is the last to celebrate. Her girlfriends celebrated with class parties - some families really go to town and spend so much money but we live here in the country so things are done much more modestly. Some girl might go overseas on a trip with their parents or they get a really big present. Shosh had her heart on a horse! Fortunately for her and us she said that she is not ready to own her own horse and we are not in a position to stable one so she said she would wait until next year!!!

We still plan to do 'something spiritual and meaningful' in March in conjunction with Kai's family (the daughter of Kelly and Yaron who also has her batmitzvah). We will invite the local believers from around and pray over the girls and bless them.

This photo of Shoshanna was taken on her birthday in the shirt Granny Mum sent her. You can see that she is really growing into a young woman. I can't believe it - my baby, my firstborn is now growing up - she is as tall as me, still growing, bigger feet and fighting over items of clothing. But she is also a friend, a great help around the house and a great big sister. Baruch and I have been able to take off for the afternoon coming back late at night to find bathed,sleeping kids in bed, the dishwasher loaded and a sweet little note on the dining room table - terrible English spelling but that's improving.

This is Shoshanna is the riding gear she got for her birthday. She is riding about 2/3 times a week. We pay for once a week but because she is so helpful and willing the woman who runs the stables allows her to come and ride when she wants. She really also seems to have an affinity for horses and we're glad for many reason that they are her passion, taking her heart and time.

We had another family birthday in November - the day before Shoshanna (on the 11th), Asher turned 9 on the 10th. I made a very rich chocolate cake from according to Asher specifications.

I can't sign off without mentioning Hannah's 3 rd birthday which was a month earlier in October the 18th. I think here Hannah may look similar to me when I was the same age.