Music on my deck

Sarit Hadad is playing a block away at the park...I would love to be there but 2 kids' bedtimes keeps me just listening to it from my deck.  She is one of the only Israeli singers I know because she was really big when I was here when I studied abroad.  I actually bought her CD.
they are having some beginning of summer festival (in Israel summer really begins on July 1 when school is over).  It's awesome...Sivan got a tattoo, we ate crepes, and the kids went in a gazillion really amazing bounce houses.  Sivan rock climbed to the very top of two.  I was screaming in English what an amazing job she was doing.  I don't think Israel has ever seen such a proud parent.
We listened to the sound check for this concert which was very funny..."cha cha cha...echad...ho ho ho....hahaha".  It's really amusing to hear a sound check in a different country.

I have mostly survived my week of single parenting in Israel okay.  The kids seem more adjusted and ask and talk about NY less.  I really admire their flexibility.  Matan is most upset about the car situation--he misses my SUV.  As do I.  Or at least my automatic key situation. Gosh, will I appreciate that.

Anyway, I'm finally starting to feel a bit more Israeli. I love when some people think I am even after hearing my rough Hebrew.  It doesn't happen often, but it feels nice when it does. I'd say took about 2 weeks for me to not feel really anxious and strange and out of place.  I now can navigate my way around and in and out of town, figured out how to fill up my car (out of country card must use full service), figured out just how to start my car by first putting in the code (this took me about 100 times of forgetting to become automatic).

I am not entirely comfortable with the kids' preschool situation. I get the sense I might be the most nervous parent they have seen.  And I think I'm toned down, frankly!  Matan pretty much sticks with his sister all day--joining in their activities, and they let him because he feels better that way.  Sivan seems fine.  She barely says goodbye and is now starting to really want to learn Hebrew because the "cool" kids speak Hebrew.  She is starting to figure out how to whine in Hebrew (Israeli kids are really good whiners). Matan I'm a little more worried about actually because he cries at dropoff.  Of course, he did the same at home for the first few as well.  But it's heartbreaking.  On the other hand, I desperately need the break from the kids and they say he really is fine after I leave.

While the kids are at camp, I have swum a little, worked a little, and explored Modiin a little.  I need to work a lot more (revise and resubmit paper, supervise research, and most of all start prepping my courses), but the more I'm here the less important all that seems.  

Sivan's tattoo

the robot that inspects suspicious packages (or blows them up?)

so, Sivan was the first one on this, and the guy wasn't briefed and didn't put safety belt on her. I realized this when a few minutes later, every kid got the belt before climbing.  On her second climb, she made it all the way to the top.  Really, I had to tell the guy she was only 5.  I was so proud.

this is what it looked like across the street

my kids are being so spoiled right.  don't ask me about how much chocolate a day they ingest (namely matan and his "shoko"--chocolate milk). i figure when adam rejoins, we'll get under control. here i bought matan a bubble gun.  he was shooting it non stop at everyone.

yes, happy birthday adam!!

visiting our neighbor from Minnesota who made aliyah.  last time we saw them, sivan was 1.5 years.