Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Busy Start to the Week

We took it easy last week after some sad news from home, and are now back to business exploring Jerusalem!

Monday was an adventure to the Science Museum.  It turns out that Cela was a bit too young to explore this place, and the crowds of day campers made it more of an adventure in not getting run over, but it was a new place to check out and ended with long well-deserved naps for all.





Tuesday was a day of fun!  Many of our activities involve taking the bus or the train, and we've discovered that often, the transportation is the most fun for the kids!!

Mifletzet is an oddly placed, but SUPER cool park that was basically built around a huge sculpture by famous artist Niki de Saint Phalle.  It is known as the monster park, and you'll see by these pictures why.  The Monster is HUGE and it's tongue acts as three very steep slides that kids (except mine) go crazy for...it turns out, Heidi was the only one interested in braving the slide!  Under the monster's head is a huge sand area filled with shovels and other sand toys.  There is a beautiful green space where Sammy took lots of steps holding Ronnie's fingers!  Picnic tables in the shade allow for rest and snack.  We probably spent longer getting there than actually playing there, but the truth is that the combo of being on the train and a new playground equals a successful day for us!





After naps, we met up with old/new friends.  When Ronnie and I came as newlyweds in 2009, we randomly ran into Josh Hoffman, a friend of mine from Sunday school days, who is now a Rabbi in Los Angeles.  We have stayed in touch and crossed paths in Israel since, but never got a chance to meet each other's families.  

Tuesday night, we finally got that chance and had so much fun! It turned out to be Josh's 40th birthday, and what better way to celebrate than with old friends, crying Cela and barfing Sammy?! We met at Burgers Bar (YUM!!!) and had a great time, despite Sam's barf-o-rama all over me and the floor.  Cela was enamored with Josh's kids Ethan (9), Ariana (7), and Elizabeth (4 3/4 - a very important distinction!!). Elizabeth took Cela to the bathroom twice, where Cela managed to get herself onto an adult-sized toilet, go to the bathroom, and wipe without me.  Lesson learned in babying my kids!!! 

After dinner, we went to a park right down the street from the apartment we lived in on our 2011 trip.  The playground has been revamped and we had a ball.






After the park, it was OBVIOUSLY time for an ice cream break.  Cela admitted several times that she was so tired and needed to go to bed, but wasn't quite ready to give up on her treat, so we went for it and it turned out to be a lovely way to end the night.









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