Mile high club

Don't get excited. It's not THAT mile high club. I wish I could say I was a member of that club but my life just isn't that adventurous (and plane bathrooms disgust me). For the first time I took my breast pump on the plane and pumped. I packed the pump and small bottle cooler as carry ons and then on the way home I emptied the ice just before security and replenished right after I went through. It was actually pretty easy. The best part was the reaction I got from the gentlemen I encountered along the way.

I am not really a shy person and will admit that I sometimes get pleasure out of making people uncomfortable. Not in a mean way- more of a teasing way. Like pretending I don't notice my son has a dirty diaper as I leave him with my husband. So yes, it was fun to watch the TSA official at the security gate take a second look at the milk and even more fun to watch the reaction of the 20 something guy behind me when I proudly, and a little loudly, announce that the liquid in the plastic bags was breast milk. I only wish I could have seen the face of the person banging on the plane bathroom door when I yelled, "it's going to be a minute, I am pumping my breasts."

Its Sukkah time

How did your Sukkah come out? Ours was fun- a day late but fun. The 2 year old really enjoyed looking for the "roof" pieces and then decorating it. We skipped the dry fruit and opted for painting instead. He insisted on having black which probably has some hidden meaning that will require years of therapy but thouroughly enjoyed the process and has asked to make another one. We were in the woods- hence the camouflage. This is obviously from my side of the family- how many Jews do you know wear camouflage?

Another Holiday? Jews Camping? What is this all about?

I am just not good at being a consistent blogger.  I just can't seem to get it together- which pretty much sums up all aspects of my life right now.  

Anyway, you may know it is the last day of Sukkot (rhymes with coat) although most Jewish multi-day Jewish holidays it is really celebrated towards the beginning of the week, most likely last Friday after sunset.   But here's the down and dirty anyway:

• Sukkot is an 8 day holiday coming 5 days after Yom Kippur.  
• It's a happy holiday- but no work on the first and second day.  
• It commemorates the 40 year period that Jews wandered the dessert living in temporary shelters.  Hence the sukkah.
• Traditions include building a sukkah, eating (really living in the sukkah for the 8 days but now most just eat a meal in it to fulfill the commandment) and waving the lulav and etrog. 
• Sukkahs must have at least 2.5 walls covered but they do not have to be solid walls (sheets and canvas will do).  The roof must be made of material that came from the ground and was cut off- branches, vines even 2x4's apparently count.  Traditionally, dry fruit is hung to decorate it.   
• Lulav- is a bundle of 3 myrtle twigs, a palm branch and 2 willow branches.  Etrog is a kind of citron.  These are waved in very particular way (lulav in right hand first, then etrog in left then bundled together all while saying specific prayers and facing specific directions- East, then South, then North etc.)
• The 2 days after Sukkot are Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.
• Shemini Atzeret translates to "assembly on the 8th day" and while it is related to Sukkot is technically its own holiday.  
• Simchat Torah marks the completion of the weekly Torah readings- there's lots of singing and processions around Temple carrying the Torah scrolls. 

Here's a cute idea to make your own miniature Sukkah with the kids:

• Take a box and cut on of the long sides off of it. 
• Cut slots on the bottom of the box- this will be your roof.
• Using thread, fishing wire or twine, thread leaves and twigs through the slots. 
• Decorate the other sides with dried fruit or whatever you want.  

Let me know how yours turn out!