5 Things Miri Learned in Israel

We just got back from a great family trip to Israel to celebrate Cousin Gabe's wedding to Tamara. (They live in DC and we are lucky enough to see them often!) Here are five things Miri learned from her ten days in perhaps the most historically, religiously, and politically significant region in the world:

1. Israel is full of rocks.
Miri loves to pick up rocks, carry rocks, throw rocks...and Israel did not disappoint. Boring historic archaeological site? No...it's simply a great place to find more rocks. Here she sits in Jerusalem's Old City practicing her rock throwing form. What fun!


2. Israel has great (and dangerous) playgrounds.
There are monster slides and lots of kids playing on stuff that would be outlawed in the States.


3. "Ice" is gooooooooood.
That stands for ice cream, one of the many new words Miri learned on the trip. Below, Miri and Daddy tangle over a chocolate ice cream cone at Gabe and Tamara's wedding.


4. Natural swimming pools rock!
We visited several rivers, streams, pools, and the beach and Miri loved them all. Below, she swims with Uncle Ben, Aunt Megan and Cousin Chase at the Ein Gedi Nature Preserve.


5. Water bottles are lots of fun.
Miri was obsessed with the large water bottles that we carried around Israel. She'd carry them, squeeze them, and chug from them -- often with disastrously wet results.


We should mention that this girl is a super great traveler. No jet lag, no naps, and still a (mostly) sunny disposition. What a trouper!

Summer Fun at the Pool

We have had a hot week here in DC, and that has meant only one thing: pool, pool, pool. Miri has been enjoying a chance to cool off and has become a great swimmer lately. Okay, so she still sinks like a rock if Mommy lets go of her, but she is great at kicking her way across the water. She also loves to jump in, usually to go after the plastic fish that she tosses in there. Summer fun has included hanging with cousin Pearce and eating yummy peaches fresh from the farmer's market. Summer is here.

Happy BIrthday, America!

We had a great time celebrating the 4th here in (or very, very close to) our nation's capital. Miri and Daddy went to the 1st Annual Top of the Park 4th of July Kids' Parade -- basically, a bunch of us parents decided to get a boom box and walk around the neighborhood playing patriotic songs. This was followed by a neighborhood potluck. Daddy brought the sweet potatoes and Miri chowed on the blueberries. She has become quite a fruit eater lately! We spent the afternoon at the pool. Margery came over for dinner along with our Cincinnati neighbors, Yann and Ezgi. We didn't get to see the fireworks in person, but they looked pretty good on TV. Happy 4th everyone!

Yeah!

Really, there's nothing more to say...

Reader, Rule Breaker, and Picture Taker

Miriam has been up to a lot lately. She has taken quite and interest in following the news although she is still having a hard time figuring out which end is up. (Of course, a lot of us have a hard time with that here in DC.)

She's also become quite a rule breaker. The family recently visited Brookside Gardens, a beautiful local park with flowers all over the place. Since Miri can't read yet, she didn't pay too much attention to the signs. (If you can't read it, the sign says "Please do not walk or climb on the walls).

Finally, Miri loves the camera (taking pictures, not getting them taken of her). If she got her finger out of the frame it would be a great shot of her foot!

New month

May is behind us, thank goodness. From Lightning (lost) to Daddy's car (drowned in a flash flood) to the Caps (defeated in the playoffs) to the Nats (0 for the month, it seemed), to blog posts (2 for the month), May was hard on the Asch family. Miriam, at least, seems to have emerged into summer unscathed. Baseball's been a big part of her life of late. She went down to Nationals Stadium twice, first to see the Nats lose (again) to the Phillies, then to watch Daddy's alma mater, Wilson High, win its 17th straight baseball title. She was particularly happy to see that the backup second baseman was a girl!

In NY with the Aunts

Miriam and family took a quick Memorial Day trip up the Eastern seaboard to visit her two aunts in New York. First came Aunt Laura in the Big Apple, with the added bonus of her cousins Susan and Peggy who happened to be visiting from Tennessee. The crew went to the Central Park Zoo to see seals and penguins and polar bears (oh my!). Miri loved climbing in the turtle eggs. Then it was on to Rye, where Aunt Michelle and Uncle Dave finally got to meet the little redhead. Michelle toured us around town, pointing out all the places Miri's Grandpa Bob used to get in trouble. Her favorite place was the beach!