בישראל
The kids in Israel!
Number of days they needed to adapt: ZERO. They felt welcome and at home and had no problem to go with the Israeli flow. Two weeks flew by way too fast. The time we spent in Israel was fantastic and full of adventures for all of us, including Saba, Savta, Mom and Dad, and the two little sunflower seeds and falafel experts Lia and Ben. And that's exactly what Afula is renowned for: sunflower seeds and falafel. And also a little Savta who was born there. Makes this very tiny city special to us. And so the first adventure starts with a sack of salty seeds bought at a shop called Migdan:
Doing a lot of things in a short period of time is basically Lia's and Ben's thing. If you ask the kids, sitting still in front of the camera is a waste of time, especially with only 2 weeks at hand, but their mother is relentless in her effort to capture 14 eventful days and countless memorable moments. Including Lia scratching her ear on her great aunt Hedva's steps. A moment worth holding on to!
As are the kids giggling! (I know. They don't care about me.)
Summer, sun, sand. I think I said it all.
No wait, two more things: water and waves.
And ice cream!
A day at the beach.
Had we come for just this, it would have been perfect.
But there's much more to do in Israel, and much more to see!
Like a hot falafel flying into your pita bread.
Delicious.
And is there anything more exciting than driving a tractor?
This is a rhetorical question.
But there is more. Tel Aviv. Keren and Mia. A happy reunion.
Me and the kids back home, walking the empty streets of Afula.
The shops are closed. It IS a setback. Let's not kid ourselves.
But what we really came for anyway is the love.
Or as the Beatles say: Love, love, love!
In other words: The wedding.
Of Keren and Shlomi.
It was a wonderful night, with lots of dancing.
I am very pleased with my kids' sense of rhythm.
We have a HUGE family in Israel.
This picture of Lee and Lia is symbolic. It stands for a lot of hugs.
And you have to pass on the love, don't you.
Passing the wine at Passover. A Jewish holiday.
And one of many exquisite dinners Dorit prepared for us.
Lia and her friend Noa.
Renewing their friendship over a banana.
And then breaking the (matzo) bread together. At kindergarten!
For a matzo chocolate cake. Yum. And as I was saying:
two weeks with lots and lots of highlights.
Every once in a while, even when there's really no time to waste,
you need to rest. On your Dad's shoulder.
Or in front of the (Israeli children's) TV. Sitting still in front of the camera. Caught you!
And you!
