2020 Summer (Make that Thanksgiving Card)

So, I was reminded yesterday I never sent out our annual summer card. Uh...2020 folks?  Can we just use 2020 and Coronavirus for all excuses?

So, I decided this year, our 2020 Summer Card is a 2020 Thanksgiving Card.  And it's not a printing.  It's an online blog entry.  Wow, how far we have fallen...

But at least I have some good pictures?

2020 started out with an amazing first week.  We had Sivan's bat mitzvah and barely a day goes by that I don't think how lucky we were to have our Israeli bat mitzvah pre-pandemic.  

Per tradition, we did hers at 12.  During Chanukkah, we started in Rehovot and the kids saw their friends, and then headed to Emek Yezreal as our next base, while we explored that area bit, and then headed down the Jordan valley to the Dead Sea, where we spent a few days, and then to the desert (Mitzpeh Ramon) and then back to Jerusalem.  Sivan's bat mitzvah included a few celebrations--we did a tunnel ceremony, which meant an underground candelighting ceremony where we were super close to the original holy Temple.  We then had a lunch at the roof of some Yeshiva overlooking the Western Wall.  

Sivan then went to the Lone Soldiers hangout, where we baked American brownies, and talked to a couple soldiers for a bit.  The next day was the day of the ceremony at the Kotel (the Western Wall). We went to a part called Robinson's Arch, right under a (former) arch which held the stairs where the Jews would climb up to the Temple.  There were tons of bar/bat mitzvahs happening all around us that day as it was a day we read Torah (Thursday).  So, it felt like the whole Old City was in celebration mode.  Sivan did a beautiful job reading all three aliyot from the Torah, and we felt blessed that the rain held off (although it was a bit chilly). 

We were excited that we had all four grandparents, an uncle, two great-aunts, and our former au pair join for this and that most of Sivan's Israeli friends were able to join.  We then had lunch at "Between the Arches", an underground restaurant that is right by the tunnels that are near the the Temple Mount.   Sivan gave a beautiful speech there, and we loved watching her slide show of photos of her growing up, and hearing the blessings from her family and friends in America as well.

Overall, it was one special trip.  Here are a few photos from that trip:

We got back into the groove of things, with Sivan in sixth grade at Tuxedo Park School, which was a wonderful match for her, and Matan at Berman Day School (Schechter). 

But while we went skiing in Vermont in March, things got weird....fast.  All our schools were closing. Toilet paper running out. Ski slopes closed on our last day. And we returned to a very different New York under pandemic.  Like for all of you, it hasn't been easy. Sadly, during this time, we lost Grandma Sylvia (Adam's grandma).  Adam got Covid but he recovered with the exception of thinking kale now tastes great, but cheerios, grape juice, and peppers taste awful (and the same).  We did make a couple awesome memories this summer--Yasmine fell in love with jetskiing when she tried it on her birthday and we all fell in love with the Adirondack's on a trip we took there this summer. 

The kids have done well so far this year at Tuxedo Park School, but they'll be transitioning to remote learning for what we hope is not for too long.  Matan misses his Jewish day school, but this year, it was just too hard to keep him there and fortunately Tuxedo Park has been great for him. 

Truth is, amidst thinking of 2020 as the "year of Covid", other things did happen. Matan has been horseback riding, and just tried cantering for the first time today! Sivan discovered a love of swimming (and quite the endurance for it) and has been on swim team, although they can't do meets.  Sivan got braces (and we hope they'll come off soon). Matan's been learning drums. Sivan recorded her first song. Matan's been learning coding. Sivan has discovered history is her favorite subject. 

Ronnee the snake has grown. Maya had a torn ligament but has recovered nicely and loves when we take her to hike. She, like most dogs, thinks Covid has been fabulous as the family is home a lot more.

The other interesting thing that happened in 2020 was that I (Yasmine) got a new job at West Point. I'm in a new position (Lead Character Integrator) in a new organization that is being stood up to centralize and more deliberately direct Character Development across West Point.  I'm still a professor, but most of my focus will be on leading integration efforts.  So far, it's interesting, and I have learned so much about the Army.  I've helped coach women's crew, I've tried a rucksack march (without the rucksack) and learned more acronyms than I ever could have imagined would fit into my brain.

Most of all, I think we have all learned the absolute necessity that being around other humans is for us.  We can't wait to get out of this pandemic and play and hang out again the way we are supposed to, within 6 feet of each other.  

Enjoy our Fall family pictures below!  Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Chanukkah!

Love, The Kalksteins