Swimming

So,

Before I left for work again we took Hunter to play at the pool with his good buddy Jack Root. It was Hunter's first time swimming, but Jack is an old pro. Me, Bethany, Josh and Stacey and the boys met up in Bellingham and had a nice time at the Root's house before getting in our suits and swim diapers and going to the pool.

The pool was amazing for kids. A 30 meter section that went from zero depth to about 3 feet in a nice gradual slope. The water is super warm and the air in the pool is kept nice and toasty too so the kids don't get upset when they get out. They had about a million toys for the kids to play with like duckies and floats and things...

We played there for about an hour with the boys. Had them flying through the air and dunking under water...swimming laps and playing around...It was a great time!!

Can't wait for Bethany and Hunter to get here cos we have a pool downstairs that he can play in all day long!!

J

Mama and the bug...

All of us at the beach on Orcas...Hunter's first beach by the way...






















Mama is great!! She made a batch of fresh organic yams for the bug to munch on...mixed 'em up with some formula and rice cereal and Hunter thinks it's the best thing since before sliced bread.






















And Hunter loves posing. This is his first big boy bath. He's been bathing in the shower lately since he's outgrown the sink. But this is his first in mildly deep water and also his first with his Mama...He loves it and really loves showing off his svelt bod.

So, it's been awhile...

So, Hunter had his first 'camping' trip when I got back from Israel. We were roughing it NW style in a nice wooden cabin on the coast of Orcas Island. We went out with our friends the Yoder's and their little guy Samuel.





















It was a great little trip and Hunter got to experience all of the good things about camping. A bonfire, smores and some freshly grilled steak...well, not really the smores or steak but he had fun anyway.

Various Hunter Shots.

Hunter is a big flying boy!!



















And also a big grouch...


























And also as cute as a bug in a rug!

Hill Dog meets Hunter.

Ahhh... The little guy meeting his first bigwig.
Hillary was in town and was nice enough to give us a little speech and meet and greet.

Hunter decided to allow her to have an audience with him, but then promptly fell asleep.

We had a good day and have been having a great week now that all the hullabaloo is out of the way.

More to come...

Hunters learning the ropes....

Hunter is helping dad do some work for work.... so cute. They are like two peas in a pod.

New stuff...

Hunter's cool PJ's!


















His favorite new game..bouncing on Mom's legs!!



















And going for a stroll in his Bjorn...he loves being able to see the world and take a walk!

Hunter's new Israeli look...Pass the Hummus!!
















Our new digs...the flower house...
















Bethany at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher...she's got Holy hands now...!!

Old City shenanigans...

The three of us took a little hike today to the Old City today to go see some sights and get some exercise. The Bob stroller has been great through the main streets of the city..but going through the narrow streets and the Suq's in the Old City was a little trickier.

We made it through a whole bunch of shops and ate a lunch of falafel and shwarma pita sandwiches at a little cafe near the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Then we did a little tour of the church and saw the stone where Mary washed Jesus' body after the crucifixion and the cave where he was buried afterwards...

I'll post pics in the next blog...

The little man is doing really well out here and is loving the long walks and sunshine (as long as it's not in his eyes!!) It's a great town for wandering around...and for long walks...which is ideal for us cos it gets us out of the house and gets us in the sunshine...

The Whole Family Together Again!!

All of the wierdos are back together again!

Bethany and Hunter got in after a grueling day(s) of travel through 3 airports, 10 time zones, and 2 countries. I picked them up at the airport yesterday evening and we made the trek to Jerusalem and our little apartment in the city.

Hunter and Bethany were (are) a bit jet lagged and Hunter (i.e; all of us) were up throughout the night.

Bethany got her first tastes of the Hebrew life in J-town and realized how absolutely rude and obnoxious people are here from pretty much the minute she got on the plane in ATL. The two newbies got all settled and took some naps today while Dad worked...and then we all went out to get some groceries and supplies down the street.

It was fun taking Hunter and Bethany to all of the places that I have been so often this last month and I am looking forward to many more outings in the near future.

We have the weekend coming up so they'll get to experience the joy of Shabbat. When every store is closed and the town shuts down from Friday at 3pm to Saturday evening. We will probably just hang out at home and get some rest and try to get everyone on the same time zone.

First Passport

We recently applied for Hunter's passport and recieved it in the mail.  I had to take a picture of it and post it for all of you to see because I think it is the funniest picture ever!!  It wasn't easy holding him up in front of the white background in Walgreens without him crying.  He looks like a grumpy old man.  He will be using this passport for the next 5 years as we follow Dad around the world.  

Hunter and I are headed to Israel....

February 10th, Hunter and I leave for Jerusalem to go be with Dad for 2 months!  We are so excited.  We fly from Seattle to Atlanta (6hrs) and then from Atlanta to Israel (11hrs).  I am pretty nervous about traveling for so many hours with Hunter by myself, but we are just going to have to tough it out.  Hopefully I sit next to someone nice on the plane.... and not some grumpy baby hater.  

Hunter is going to be a Contortionist!

When Hunter sleeps, he likes to arch his neck back as far as it can go! No matter how I lay him down, he always manages to get his little head tilted so far back.  Silly guy....

Mr.Whiney Pants...

Granny (my mom) has given Hunter a new job title.... "Mr. Whiney Pants".  Hunter whines, moans, and whimmpers 24/7 (or so it seems).  The ONLY time he is quiet is when he is sound asleep, and that happens only once in a blue moon.  Yesterday our friend Kate brought over her adorable baby girl Leah who is a month older than Hunter.  She was a perfect angel and did not make a peep the entire time she was here.  My step-brother Jordan, his wife Amanda and their two girls came over yesterday too.  Their youngest, Paityn, is 4 weeks old and was a perfect angel as well all day.  Hunter on the other hand... cryed and whined all day long.  LUCKY ME!!!  We have come to the realization that he is going to be a very vocal little guy.  Here is picture of him, doing his "job".

Getting settled...sorry for the delay

It's been awhile with me getting moved back overseas since we've updated the site...so I thought I'd just come on and put up some pictures for everyone...

Hunter is eating a ton lately..he is completely chugging a bottle and sometimes asking for seconds...so as you can see he's also getting a bit chunkier.

He's started wearing all of the hair off of the top and sides of his head from being such a lazy bones and laying around all day long...Sheesh! But, he does at least still have his Mullet which is cool...though it's sort of a Friar Tuck look now.

We're in the process of getting him his 1st Passport so he and Mommy can come over here to stay which will be great for everyone...I am really looking forward to showing them around town.

Anyway...I hope you all like the new pics and thanks for checking with us.

Love,

The Sternberg Family
Anyway...I hope you all like the new photos.