it's been a long time

It's been a long time since i've blogged, and alot has happened.

Well, we made it in one piece. We're here in Israel. And what has been happening since then? OH let me see...

First of all, my new machines? Still haven't happened.

New job? Still hasn't happened.

Car? Yes, however... it's brand new and falling apart. Relatively "cheap" by israeli standards, where all cars cost 2x as much as anywhere else, it seems to have not come with certain features, like speakers and such.

Gotten our shipment? It's here, but in deliberation, as in they want me to pay again and I don't want to.

Living space? YES!!! Finally, the only thing that has worked out for us so far it seems. Most everything needs fixing, but whatever.

I'm have 6 weeks to make some newborn cloth diapers in preparation for the new one. I'm freaking a little. I would love to get some prefolds, but to ship them from the states is SOOO expensive. And they aren't good quality here.

I've got the promise of a sewing machine, and about 20 diapers ready to be sewn.

I've never diapered a newborn before, and i'm not so sure on sizes. I didn't start CDing until S was 5 months old, and I had a mish mash of smalls... Most of which I got rid of before moving. Oy.

I love my husband... I love my kids...

but NOT when I am trying to move to a different country. DH decided it would be a good idea to work until Tuesday before we more. Daycare/camp is over for the children. I swear I get nothing done. The minute I clean up one area of the house and move on to another, the kids go and trash it.

How do other Moms do it without losing their cool? Do their kids sleep more than mine? (for their sakes I hope so... mine don't really sleep well). Are the content to play with just one toy, instead of trashing all the bookshelves and spewing the garbage around? And yes, I know that cabinet locks are great things... until you kids learn how to take them apart!!!

I'm getting apprehensive about moving. Suddenly, S needs a bunch of doctors appointments and referrals to specialists. E is out of control. My apartment is a mess, my duffel bags that I bought online haven't arrived yet, and my scale doesn't really work. I have no job, DH has no job (at least he has prospects, I can't even get a response to my resume), and i'm very quickly losing it.

On the other hand, my sewing is not going all that well... but i'm getting brand new machines when we move and I am SUPER excited!

I made a mei tai carrier for a friend of mine, which in my opinion came out really well. It's black with a waist buckle and tie shoulder straps, and it has three interchangeable panels...Will she wear it? Probably not. Do you think it's rude if I ask her for it back if she doesn't use it?

Acceptance!!! Partially

Finally recieved my acceptance letter for the "Teach English in Israel" program... 6 weeks after the date on the actual letter :) Hello, Israeli Government... here I come!!!

The good news is, guaranteed employment in israel for at least three years. The bad news? Well, 1) the program starts in 3 weeks and 2) we haven't actually been approved to make aliyah... still.

Hopefully my hebrew is good enough that I can do it sans ulpan?

Here's to wishful thinking!!!

Now if only I could figure out what to take with me...

Why do I even try? I know that I am mkaing Aliyah, and I know that I am doing it this summer. But so far, I don't have approval, I don't have a visa. I don't have a flight date and I don't have money. Why?
Because I don't have Jewish Agency Approval on my health form. Why? NO CLUE!!!
But until I do, I can't move. I can't get my visa... and I still haven't found out about this teaching english in israel program. Why? NO CLUE!!!

It's getting pretty frustrating.
I'm getting pretty annoyed. I'd sort of like to start packing up.

I don't know why I even bother going to regular clothing stores anymore... thrift stores are just SOOO much better. I mean, the clothes are used, and they are outof style. But who cares? Where else can you find such a variety? Such prices? I mean, I bought all the summer clothes my kids need... even a few pairs of shabbos shorts- so cute! And new dress pants and clothes for interviews for the DH... and for about $1.50 per item...

How can you beat that!!! It's seriously "one-stop shopping!"

I just got a bunch of fuzzibunz diapers from someone- they are great but are a size large and don't even fit my big boy! And he's in 4t clothing! So i'm painstakingly taking out the elastic... what a PITA. It's sewn all the way in. But i'm going to make them with adjustable elastic - my foray into using button hole elastic for one-size diapers... we'll see if it works.

Instructions for wool shorties

Instructions for wool shorties (from the same sweater as the wool longies)

Wool shorties:

Get a pair of your kids shorts. They should be slightly baggy or even one size up. Fold them in half so that the crotch comes to a point:

With the body of the sweater that you have left, cut this piece on the side seams (essentially the fold. If the sweater is big enough, and you want less seams, open the shorts and cut 2)
You should have these pieces: folded,
or unfolded .

Take each piece, folded. Sew together the small side (this will be the legs) like so: (the picture isn’t so clear, sorry – but it’s the bottom seam from the cuff to the point). Do the same to the other piece.
Open them up, and face the pieces together. Start sewing from one side of the waistline all the way to the other in one continuous seam. This is the center (vertical) seam, and it goes all the way from front to back.

If you have made two pieces cut of the full short (not with a side seam) you will sew the two sides together, and then sew the crotch from one cuff all the way around to the other – like a frown.

Turn right side in, and you are done! Sew a casing for waistband elastic? Your choice.

You might be able to make a soaker too. I pieced one together to make this:

In all, I got this:

from this:

I think the sweater cost me $.90 :)

Pretty good investment, I think.