far too many pictures taken to post them all. but here are some!
we had a fantastic time.
we saw a lot. we laughed a lot. and we ate way too much.
we arrived at the airport extra early of course. we were enroute to tel aviv! i tend to hang with the kids while we are waiting to do anything!
pilots were so nice to allow me time in the cockpit. one pilot offered to take a picture. and then two pilots were in the shot! i dont think he realized id be posting such a picture on the web… are cockpit pictures permitted?!
not ashamed to admit i drugged myself silly on the flight… and thankfully we arrived safely!
21 of us traveled by tour bus.. with iton our tour guide.
kids!
went to tel aviv first. stayed at the carlton hotel.
here is how i traveled all around.
and of course with my sister!
we walked through tel aviv markets… had some israeli pizza (huh?!) and then from there we went to caesarea (pronounced like diarrhea and yes we made lots of jokes!) where there are ancient ruins from the romans.
my son jacob standing on top of one of the bridges.
one of my favorite places we went was the ayalon institute where the haganah made ammunition (a bullet factory!) in secrecy. and the giraffes (person who was not a part of the haganah) had no idea.
we had an adorable tour girl named ella… or as she kept reminding us the english translation: goddess.
the basement below this machine (shown is entrance to staircase) is where the bullets were made.
here is some of the machinery.
and tiny space used to test the bullets! tiny firing range!
we went to a small place near tiberias and nazareth called kfar kedem which led us through a typical afternoon in its history including dressing up, cooking, eating and riding donkeys. was really fun. and we were really full after.
baking pita.
keith baking pita.
im not hungry…ill just pick.
we went to jaffa and the wishing bridge of jaffa.
and the kids had fun. 
loved loved loved going to the army base near golan heights.
we saw tanks! and my son got to be a soldier.
my jacob.
dont mess with me!
plus! ive got some strong friends.
and a big husband…
watching my dad and jacob… just so sweet.
at one point we stopped by the river of jordan to see baptisms en masse! hundreds of them happening… and i made a friend. there were a whole bunch of these nutria. really cute.
loved jerusalem! we arrived at a place just above jerusalem…over looking the city.
my sister stacy and me!
kids liked jerusalem!
prayed at the wailing wall.
and jerusalem was COLD! went to the arab market in the old city. got a hat.
and of course… did some shopping the day AFTER jacob’s barmitzvah.
jacob’s barmitzvah was on the mountain of masada… but first we stopped by the dead sea! was SO COLD!
my kids at dead sea!
my daughter.
and to masada we go (click on link it is interesting story)!
my kids on masada.
barmitzvah boy jacob!
with keith and me and the rabbi.
the rabbi was saying something!
my sister stacy with jacob.
end of the service, i spoke to jacob. with iphone in hand of course.
and with my dad.
jacob’s cousins performed some rap songs specially tailored to jacob.
after much time in israel eating hummus and pita… we went to rome for pasta and pizza! we arrived early am!
went to the coliseum of course (and pantheon and vatican…)
ate the biggest and best meal of the trip at a restaurant called la montecarlo in rome-near piazza navona. im with the owner carlo in this picture.
my kids were posing for this shot. they were NOT unhappy.
throughout the trip, we were doing something called “creeper” shots, where one of us would creep into a picture or “photo” bomb.. here is an example with my niece ruthie.
vatican! sistene chapel! wowsa.
and girls having fun.
if you want more details or have questions about the trip please leave in the comments section.
i feel really lucky that we got to take this trip with my whole family. what a gift!
and here is today’s video blog!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umaLFq05hbo&feature=channel_video_title
i screwed up…the dance class is tomorrow. ugh.
have a fun saturday night everyone!
xo
jenny
ps loved my travel agent fern…find her here: fern@herrickstravelamex.com
you have a beautiful family.
You, your sister and daughter all look so much alike its adorable <3 so many beautifil pics
mazel tov on jacob’s bar mitzvah! i love the picture with him and your dad. that one is priceless.
Wow! Those are great photos! Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to hearing more about it.
Looks like the family had a blast! I’m going to Rome and Florence in September. Where did you stay in Rome? I was considering the St. Regis or Hassler hotel but I’ve never been there so I don’t know locations etc….
we stayed at the excelsior hotel in rome.. it was a not a hilton but maybe a sheraton or something… was great! i heard that the hassler isnt good anymore.. and there were too many of us to be so fancy at the st. regis!
We are going to use Starwood points for the St. Regis, I could not afford to stay there if we didn’t have the points. My boyfriend travels all year for work and we figured we might as well live it up while we can.
Hi Jenny, Looking forward to your new show tomorrow. I’m a courier and spend a lot of time in my car…love Sirius.
Thanks for sharing your trip photos with us. Amazing. Isn’t it wonderful to be able to share with so many in your family?
mazel tov – loved the pictures. So nice to see you and your family looking so happy!
Hi Jenny,
Loved your Israel pictures. So great to have the time to do that with your entire family.. With regard to you dry patch (I am fair to and look at everything) Try Sonya Dakar’s omega 3 repair complex/oil (yes oil it’s the only thing that stops aging..) I have been using her products since I was 30 and it saved my skin. Try it it works.. Good luck tomorrow on your new show.. BEST Wishes.
Enjoyed the pictures and captions! Trip of a lifetime… Your picture of the nutria made me laugh – it actually looks cute! Where I live, nutria are everywhere and they are not nice. We have to watch for them when we go running because they’ve been known to come after us (I suspect mommies protecting babies, but nevertheless). Good luck on the show tomorrow – I’m looking forward to it.
Oh, Jennifer, what fantastic pictures! Thank you so much for sharing them!!!!
You look beautiful and happy in them and your family (immediate and extended!) is gorgeous! Especially loved the Masada and Jerusalem pics! Thanks again!
great pics, and updates. The closet video was nice, if a little Ambien-y (we’re you on Ambien while taping?)
That one video when you and Al were friends shows all your clothes perfectly stacked on shelves in the closet, but then later videos after the break-up shows the complete opposite. hmm….
another hmm moment was clearly the love of Israel yet you voted for O. As you surely witnessed on your visit, Israel has no love for Obama. I hope you learned something politically during your vacation, besides it just being a ceremony for your son.
my closet is sometimes super neat and sometimes super messy. depending on my life! haha. ive never tried ambien so nope.. was just tired.
Jenny, Here’s a gross factoid…nutria are used a a food source! YUMMO!
https://nutria.com/site14.php
Jennifer, did your father’s new wife also join you all on the trip?
yep. there were 21 of us total!