Sunday, August 8, 2010

Weekend up north

We are back from a whirlwind weekend in the north of Israel with my parents, siblings and nieces and nephews (Total headcount: 13 adults and 13 kids, 9 of whom are 6 and under). Tsfat/Safed is a magical place to spend shabbos.
We had a few glitches here and there but all in all it was chaotic and fun, as predicted. I love that the kids are getting to know their cousins. They are old enough to actually play and interact with them. It is also great that my parents have a chance to spend time with the children, to get to know them and their unique personalities better.
My husband and I realized yet again how much harder it is to watch our children when they are in an unfamiliar place and do not have their set routine. It seems that structure and predictability works well for both parents and children. A, my almost four year old, specifically is having a hard time being away from home. Whenever she gets upset about something, she says, "I don't like this country, I want to go back to New York." Even just being in our rental apartment in Jerusalem seems to be easier for the kids, as that is our temporary base while we are here and more familiar to them.
There were a lot of spills, late nights, and a few episodes of missing children (we lost A once and Y twice- do I get an award for being Supermommy of the year...) but I would do it all again!
It was incredibly HOT today which made our outings a bit more difficult and less enjoyable. On our way back to Jerusalem, we visited the Hula Valley and then a nature park in Beit Shean that houses kangaroos and koala bears. I never knew that there were kangaroos in Israel. Live and learn I guess. As I mentioned, it was interesting but we were too hot to really stay out too long and kept retreating to theair condintioned bus.
Here is a picture of Baby M and me in matching lavender, all sweaty but braving the heat.


The kangaroos (and some random strangers)

Hope everyone is staying cool!

2 comments:

  1. I came here via "Beneath the Wings" and as I live in Tzfat, curious to know who your relatives are here (Tzippy and Avi Rothenberg?)

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  2. sorry if I wasn't clear. We dont have relatives in tsfat. My parents, siblings and I just wanted to spend a weekend together in honor of my father's birthday, so we rented a bus and spent shabbos in a hotel there.

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