Nine

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Nine years ago* this past Saturday this small creature made a very dramatic entrance into the world (think Keystone Cops, complete with collapsing beds, broken glass, and more chaos than would be reasonable in seven births...)
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This past Saturday we took advantage of some incredible weather (Israel's in the midst of the longest February warm spell we've ever had - the past few days have been downright HOT) and commemorated that momentous occasion in a style more appropriate to his current age - a trip to the amusement park, where our nine year old showed us that not only is he now tall enough for the big loopdy-loop (how on earth do you spell that? none of the ways I've tried look right) coaster, he's brave enough too, and possessed of the necessary cast iron stomach as well. Under ten you still need an adult escort on the coaster and Jay was foolish generous enough to agree to accompany him (on that and on all the other nausea-inducing rides that I'm no longer capable of or willing to go on) - Itai came off laughing and wanting to go again, quite unlike his father, who bore a striking resemblance to Kermit the Frog...
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Just after a soaking on the log flume and ready to fly a rocket fighter

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I love the look on his face in this one - deciding if he should be thrilled or terrified

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One of those crazy rocking pirate ship thingies

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One of Maya's favorites - she was definitely happier with the tamer side of things

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The swings - one of the few rides the whole family liked.

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We had a great day (I think the kids rode every ride in the park at least twice) and gee whiz, what do you know, we got some great Ruby Tuesday shots too. How 'bout that.

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Happy Birthday Itai! I love you with all my heart and couldn't possibly be prouder of the young man you're becoming.

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* When Itai was born the hospital used these green and yellow blankets for all the newborns. By the time Maya came along they'd traded them all in for white ones after realizing that their rates of suspected jaundice were skyrocketing - the yellow blanket next to the babies' faces were making them all look jaundiced!

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