Catching up...

I've been slacking on writing my blog because I've been very busy watching Netflix.  Between homeschooling for two years and making aliyah,  I've had zero alone time.  So now that I'm on an ulpan vacation,  I've been super productive and have already watched two full seasons of "Friends." I also finally decided to make a cake in a bundt pan.  Said pan was a gift for my bridal shower,  has moved with me four  times,  and finally,  as one of the miracles that happens in Israel,  I used it.  I made a cake for shabbat in that pan.  And today, I made  a lemon cake in it,  using my neighbors fresh lemons from her tree, and a friend's famous secret recipe.
 Ahhhh,  Israel!

Real news from our family :
Little guy started at his new school full time.  He graduated from ulpan and they had such a nice ceremony with a video of the kids,  speeches and little gifts for the kids.  And every child planted a tree at the school since it was also Tu B'Shvat.  I have definitely never planted a tree at the many many other ceremonies we have attended at my kids schools.

So he started his new school and I was super nervous of course.  He has been going on Fridays for a month but Friday is an even shorter day.  (elementary school in Israel has really short days).  So he gets home on the first day and actually admitted that school was good.  And then he received a phone call and was suddenly chatting on the phone with a classmate in Hebrew.  Oh,  did I mention that he seems to be the ONLY English speaker in the fifth grade boys class? Not so common where we live but I think it will be really great for him.

And so far in one week of school,  he has had two friends over and gone over to one kid's house.  Today I had a little boy here who wasn't familiar with Skippy peanut butter and couldn't find the kashrut label.  When I showed it to him he didn't understand.  So today,  even though I was not in ulpan, I had to practice my Hebrew with a kid,  so I could explain it.  At least he didn't correct my grammar (or maybe my grammar was perfect).

Other children :
Everyone else received their report cards this past week.  No surprises which is always good.  And only one teacher seems to have confused my girls (in a not very significant way)  so that's also awesome.  And at least now I know their teacher's names because it is written on the report card.  :-)

Last week,  all of our kids had a full day of scouting activities.  Not 100%  sure what they did but they all came home happy and smelling like a campfire.

This week we finally managed to take the eldest out for breakfast.  Aka,  we will feed you fancy food and you will answer all of our questions.  It worked out well for everyone.  This child got to order a decaf latte and a salmon sandwich.  Two things that have never appeared in my house.

Also this week, eldest boy got a new bike.  About two hours later  he crashed said bike when he had to swerve to avoid hitting someone.  First trip to urgent care (husband took him,  not me,  someone had to cook for shabbat)  and all is fine.  And the bike is now repaired.  I'm glad he has lots of freedom with his bike but I don't need to buy the bike shop guy a second home.  He and the bike shop guy are total Besties.

Girls and little guy had their first official baseball game and I hear that they did a great job.  Well,  one child apparently made a great catch,  one child was a solid player and one child got hit with a pitch and fell over.  Sorry I missed it kids.  I'll catch one of your 500 games I'm sure.

Must attach random unrelated photo of one child.  Because I'm a middle child so I try to keep it semi-even over here,  especially for my two middle children.  So here she is holding up the sunset a few weeks ago.

We spent shabbat having some friends over for dinner,  which was a lot of fun.  And them the usual neighborhood gathering on the street on shabbat afternoon.  (brag coming)  Usually I spend my time trying to follow one Hebrew conversation and asking a lot of questions when I can't follow it.  And sometimes someone is speaking to me in English.  And I usually understand that.  And sometimes,  someone with amazing English is speaking to us and can't remember how to translate a word.  But thanks to ulpan,  I knew this obscure word.  The Hebrew word for canteen.  I learned it from a video that you really must watch.  If you understand Hebrew at all then you will enjoy it.  And if you just enjoy clothing from the 1980's,  then you'll also enjoy it.
Click to watch video to learn how I knew an obscure word

And finally,  today,  I made it out there  to see some nature.  Well,  actually I was going to meet a friend for coffee and she said why don't we also go on a nature walk.  So we did and I feel like I'm finally a part of the Israeli culture of February.  Which means I took a picture of the red flowers that are blooming all over.  I'm now one with the people!  Thanks for dragging me out.  It was fun and now I know where these spots are that everyone keeps posting about.