Back to January - a surprise dog party!

Well back in January sh** at work hit the fan and after a horrible week, Charlie called me and told me to come over to my parents house for dinner. It was January 5th. Back in Jan I almost quit, but things seemed to be better again. It was bad. I was PISSED. Well, my mom and Charlie obviously knew this, and set up a surprise party for me. The only problem is, that my birthday is in July. However, Odge and Lee's SEVENTH birthday was on January 5th, and Maya's 6th birthday is January 15th. I have friends like Katy and Eden that go all out for doggy birthdays. I don't, but I still know when they are etc.

Anyway, after work I walked into my parents house for dinner per Charlie's instructions to find this:


I mean come on! Is that not the cutest thing? It instantly made me realize what an amazing family I have. I know gushy stuff doesn't put food on the table, but family is SO MUCH MORE IMPORTANT than your job. I probably cried, I don't remember. It was so sweet. Yes silly, but at least the surprise was for me. If you have ever given your dog a surprise party, please tell me so that I can make fun of you. (katy, eden...? either one of you?)

Anyway, they had also set up the table w/china for dinner in honor of the celebration:


And had gotten them presents they enjoyed:


It was one of those flattened out fox tail type things. They killed the squeekers within an hour.

Random things I've been upto

Random things I've been up to in no particular order (seriously, some of these are from January).


Hugging one of my favorite Shaynas! (end of April 2012)


Helping some doggies find forever homes with Rose. (mid April 2012)


Making my own Indian dishes. Loosely based off of My little sis Caroline's recipe. Let me say, quitting my job has made me quite the housewife (as if I wasn't before). Charlie's not complaining. (mid april 2012)


Hanging out w/some lovely ladies making crafts. (wreath pictures to come, although it's not complete yet!) (end of april 2012)


Making kale chips. And Juice. I loved it. Charlie said it tasted like grass. I guess I didnt' put enough fruit in for his taste. (March 2012)





Spending time w/my savta (who is 90) and Charlie in Israel.



Updating pictures on instagram from me and Charlie's first date. Yes he took me on a hellicopter ride.  No he did not fly it.


Opening (and LOVING) presents from our engagement party.




Playing at Duty free. Guess which one came home with me and which one came home with mom? (end of march 2012)


Donating blood and loving the fact taht the tape matched our outfits perfectly! (March 2012)


Hanging out w/my two Vegas bridesmaids.

Part 2 of back to blogging (what I've been up to/Jaren inspiration)

I stopped working. Long story I don't feel like bloggin about and Charlie has been BEYOND supportive. I finished officially this last week and the moment I was finished I just felt HAPPY. Relief. There are some great (career) things in store for me, and I can't wait.

This summer Charlie got chosen for SOS and we are going to Alabama for 2 months. I got accepted to a course about Israel in Atlanta (rabbi akselrad sponsored me) so I am basically paying $150 for a 3 credit grad course, plus they pay for me to have meals and be housed. Go avichai! I hope to spend time with my sister, with Charlie's sisters (and my new nephew!!), and with his parents. I can't wait to meet Pat (his stepmom). She and I talk several times a week and she said the sweetest thing "if you don't mind, Id like to just treat you like I treat my daughters". So touching. She also invited my mom to stay with us.

Mom had the calcium thing come back to her shoulder and has been in excruciating pain. She had a procedure done today and we're hoping it actually helps this time.

I helped Charlie with some van pool stuff this morning so I was at the park and ride with his car, so I went over to Jarens and finished the flowers to my wreath (finally) and then she drove me home and we had dinner with my parents. Been spending lots of time w/Jaren and Clara and been loving it. Feels like college girlfriends (plus a 2 year old). Here is them last night, we had been making fun of that tagline so I sent this image to Jaren today while she was getting new tires.

Clara LOVED my dad. I hope she can spend some time with him (it would be great for BOTH of them). I titled this Jaren Inspiration because her blog (it's private, sorry, two readers, one of which is Jaren), is the funniest thing ever. I seriously think she could be a comedy writer. She's just honest in a way that most people arent, but it's not the kind that is just for shock value. It's the perfect combination.

I spent two days babystting the Mountain boys.

Jessi and Jason are pcs-ing to Holloman and Jessi didn't want them around the movers. We had a playdate in the pool. Eden got some strange texts talking about naked children in the pool. Kieran was a great swimmer and Aidan had fun w/some of the pool toys. Clara came and kept calling it a bath. Every couple hours Aidan would say "Um, miss Avigail?" And I"d say "yes Aidan" and he'd say "um, I love you". And then my heart melted. Or maybe my uterus melted. Good thing Charlie was out of town in Boston or I may have not fit into my wedding dress.

See you all on a more regular basis. Hopefully. But probably not.

Israel Trip April 2012

One day I'll get the hang of blogging. I feel like I do it like most people go to the gym - i'll go strong for a while and then stop for like 6 months. At least I've been working out regularly!

Lots been happening here. Right now all I can focus on is Maya snoring REALLY loudly.



Went to Israel.

Me and Moran (my best friend that was born one month before me) drinking "shoko beh sakit" aka chocolate milk in a bag. So good.

Sit up straight, Charlie!

Had amazing food:

Had a great engagement party.






Saw some cousins that I have missed!


Took a tour guide in the North. Charlie learned a lot. It was all verbal and I am not an auditory learner so I felt like a child w/autism on overload. I say that and people laugh but I'm dead serious, I can so relate to those kids I used to work with!

We also had a great time in Jerusalem. There's a great story about how I rubbed 9 crosses on the stone Jesus was lain on after his crucification - there's a picture of all the apostles with him, and although I don't believe Jesus is my lord and savior (that would sort of contradict my devout faith in Judaism), I clearly believe that he existed and that he is millions of people's savior, and that was profound. We got the crosses in the market and rubbed them on the stone to infuse them with holiness for devout Christian friends. What do you do with your face when you are Jewish, rubbing crosses on a stone next to people having the most holy moment of their life, and your fiance is taking pictures of you doing 9 in a row for friends to see? Yeah, I'd be embarrassed if it weren't so freaking hilarious.


Oh hello there....Someone's in my way


Do I smile? Wait, this is very holy and profound...


No, don't smile, just act "natural"


But I guess I should look at the camera....

And my all time favorite...Are you ready?


I think by that point I was just like, Charlie, where do I look????

But, I think that for our Christian friends and family, we got them the most profoud gift they could ever receive, and I am so glad we did it.



We had some great times with family as well. Profound for Avigail:

Currently Reading...

1. "Mudbound" by Hilary Jordan. I am almost done. I really recommend it. I will be discussing it in a book club I was invited to by Angie next week. I was also invited to a Delta Gamma alumni group book club that I will try to attend - the book they picked sounds good too - it's called "Wanderlust". Neither book club seems to have picked books for the next few months, which bothers me. I always like to know ahead of time, this way I can plan which book I want to read, etc. I can also order them all together on amazon. Although I suspect I will soon be converted to the kindle.

2. A few different articles for school (masters) on the Hebrew school issue and the fact that our youth is over programmed and it's just not working. Ugh, no magic solution yet.


3. About a hundred different books on high holidays and sukkot to finish up the family program on October 9th. I got about 7 responses from NATE list serve (National Association of Temple Educators) where people just sent me their ENTIRE programs, organized to the T that they have done for Sukkot form past years. They include supplies lists and post-programs critiques, etc. WOW!




Speaking of Sukkot, Charlie and I had our palm fronds removed, and cut down the three pine trees in the back (wow those pine needles SUCKED!). I thought that the palm fronds would be perfect for the s'chach of the sukkah (the material that we need to use as a roof for it),

For those who do not know what a Sukkah is, it is a "hut" that you build that has to be made of temporary/natural material, has an open wall, you have to see the stars through the top. You usually decorate it with colorful paper chains, hanging fruit, lights if you want, etc. You have it up and eat your meals in it during the holiday Sukkot, "Feast of Tabernacles"


We ended up having SO MUCH, enough for a lot of sukkot (plural of sukkah). We'll obviously give some to my parents and use for ours if Charlie ends up building one. If anybody needs palm fronds, let us know! The backyard smells like a forrest - very piny, I want to go to a log cabin!


Shabbat Shalom Ya'll!