Monday, February 15, 2010

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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50 comments:

Ralph said...

the right of passage all children crave - meeting the height requirement for 'big kid' rides! So he had a doubly happy birthday! He looks beautiful as a newborn, and his good looks continue. The celebration is wonderful, as everybody in the family had fun doing it, the celebrant wouldn't want it any other way!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful smile from a beautiful child. A more perfect birthday never was!

Thanks for sharing it with us.

Dina said...

Happy birthday Itai! You were handsome from Day One.

Mazal tov to Imma for enduring the amusement park. (I would get sick just watching them on the rides.)

Harbeh nachat.

Dina said...

Oh, and Robin, thanks for the reminder about "Lincolin." hehe

Leora said...

You got some great shots and expressions on your kids' faces. Looks like a great day.

kayerj said...

I love that look on his face too! priceless.

looks like a good time for all.

This Eclectic Life said...

The look was pretty magnificent! I'm so glad he had a great day. The swings are about the only thing you would find me "enjoying."

Now, however, you have me wondering how to spell loopdy-loop (loop-de-loop... loop-di-loop?) Did you Google it?

Heckety said...

Your photographs really show the day that was! Lovely to get out and do something different and fun!

Frida said...

Time flies especially when children are involved :-) I'm still 25 I think ;-)

Maribeth said...

Please tell Itai I send best wishes for a Happy Birthday!!! What a wonderful time to go to an amusement park! Looks so fun!

Jael said...

What a cute baby he was! Happy Birthday to your Itai! Your Lunapark pictures are great Robin:-)

qandlequeen said...

How fun! It looks like he had a great day!

Small Reflections said...

How time flies ;-)
Looks like the birthday celebration was a big success!
Hugs and blessings,

Lynn said...

Oh your son is adorable! Just the picture of that pirate ride had me queasy :)

Happy Birthday Itai!

Patti said...

Happy Birthday to your handsome boy!

I am not good at rides..the merry-go-round is about it for me.

Cute story about the jaundiced-looking infants. White is much better for babies...a chaotic event that day, eh?
Well, you and Itai survived it. ;-)

Anonymous said...

Great photos of your children. Hapoy belated birthday Itai.

quilly said...

What a grand birthday! I love the expressions you've captured in the photos.

Dimple said...

What a great way to celebrate a birthday. It looks like everyone had fun. Happy birthday, Itai!

Auntie E said...

Sound like I should be there. Looks like a lot of fun.

Rajesh said...

Beautiful shots of amusement park. Your son sure had great fun.

Jama said...

Looks like so much fun for the whole family!

Kate Coveny Hood said...

That first picture is SO precious! But the jaundice thing cracked me up.

I love how in the "swing" picture, all of the kids are wearing real shoes. If that was a picture from a U.S. amusement park, all of the feet would be sporting big white sneakers.

Happy birthday Itai!

eden said...

Happy birthday to your son. What a fun filled day for the whole family.

The Cunning Runt said...

Firstly, Happy Birthday Lad, and secondly, these are cool photos. They capture the amusement park feel, with its glory and its greenness.

Baila said...

Mazal Tov! You have a beautiful family, Robin, you have what to be proud of!

Anonymous said...

Mazal Tov! Fantastic photos!

rachel

Batya said...

mazaltov, what a fun picture day

Suki said...

How lucky to have an amusement park quite close to where you live. We don't have such parks on our island. :(

moneythoughts said...

Perhaps your son will be a jet pilot if likes the fast track. Very handsome young man. Best wishes for many more Happy Birthdays.

Annie Jeffries said...

I was such a chicken when the kids were this age. Don always played escort but then he's a big kid himself anyway. There was a bungy jump when our oldest was all grown up . . . well, that's another story. I found out later and got a few gray hairs out of that story. Forewarned is forearmed Robin - some things never change.

Dianne said...

a beautiful baby then
and a beautiful boy now
I love the expression on his face too, so (trying to be) grown-up

looks like it was a fun day

Stephanie V said...

Now that looks like a fun birthday! Lovely photo collection to celebrate it. I enjoyed the footnote about the yellow and green blankets on newborns. Who'd have thought?

Kim, USA said...

Don't we missed it all...their from being tiny and now they can ride those thrilling rides that we adult won't dare to ride...is amazing! I bet they all have fun I could see in those beautiful faces ^_^

RRT: Fuji

Marice said...

happy birthday :) he's growing up really fast and really handsome :)


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Anonymous said...

aroundtheisland.blogspot.com; You saved my day again.

Robin said...

So you're a real anonymous commenter, not a spammer? My sincerest apologies anon, I deleted your previous comment thinking it was yet another spam. I don't know how I saved your day (again!) but knowing that I've touched you in some way has put a smile on my face. I'd love the chance to get to know you a bit (anonymously is fine) if you choose to share.

Daryl said...

Happy Birthday Itai ... what a handsome young man he is growing into .. poo poo poo xox

❀~Myrna~❀ said...

Happy Birthday to Itai! Great Pics !
Happy Ruby Tuesday !
Blessings,
~Myrna

Jennifer said...

Okay, when did Itai go from sweet, cuteness to jaw-dropping handsome! He has *snap* grown up!!!

I can't hang on rides that go around and around and around....*head swimming*... or back and forth and back and forth and back...

I love anything with rails though.

RivkA with a capital A said...

Where is this park??????

(please email me the answer directly)

♥ Kathy said...

Great pictures...looks like a lot of fun! Happy Ruby Tuesday

Phyllis Sommer said...

Happy birthday Itai! Looks like so much fun...(probably moreso because of how cold and miserable it is here)

Jill said...

Happy Happy birthday Itai!! What a fun, fun way to spend your special day!

Jen said...

Oh, happy birthday Itai! I wish our boys could meet, I think they'd have a good time together. There's just something about this age. :)

Claremont First Ward said...

What a way to celebrate turning 9! Happy Birthday. Your beautiful baby is a gorgeous boy now.

Janet said...

I'm with Maya...I like 'em tame!!! Happy belated birthday to Itai :-)

Mimi said...

He's a fine boy, Robin. You're right to be proud of him.
My stomach did a somersault just LOOKING at the second photo, so I'm definitely with you and Maya.
LOL at the jaundice story!

Carletta said...

Happy Birthday to a handsome young man! What a cute baby pic Robin.
They sure grow fast. I should know. My 'baby boy' will be 30 on Friday.
I used to love to get on these rides when I was young.

Fairly Odd Mother said...

Such gorgeous photos and such beautiful children! Happy birthday to your little man!!!

anymommy said...

Such gorgeous photos. Happy Birthday to your beautiful boy.