Afternoon in the park

Today we decided to take the kids for an afternoon outing with Savta.  So as soon as I got back from the hospital, we loaded everyone into the car and went off to Park Gilo in Yerushalayim.

Savta treated everyone to ice cream from the ice cream truck (I guess now the kids will know the real purpose of the truck...oh well!) and then we went to play on the monkey bars.

Naftali had a real blast on the monkey bars- apparently he is quite a dare-devil!  He kept wanting to hang from the bars without anyone holding him- and he's got a good grasp. Then, when he had had enough, he'd just let go and let himself fall, even though no one was holding onto him (don't worry, I was hovering closeby and quickly ran to catch him as he dropped!)

Here's a video of him hanging from the monkey bars (isn't he nuts?!)

(if you can't see the video, click here to download it)

Ice Cream Trucks and Innocence

A few weeks ago, I was in the park down the block with the kids, when I heard a familiar chime- an ice cream truck!  I have never seen an ice cream truck in Israel before (except for mabye at a big attraction!)- and certainly  not in Beitar, so the kid in me got all excited- hey, lets go buy something!  (the adult in me said no!)

The kids got excited too- but not because they had any idea that you could actually buy ice cream from the truck!  They were just excited to see such a silly "tender" that had a picture of ice cream on it and made funny music!  Its funny how such simple things can make kids happy- who even needed the ice cream- the truck alone was exciting enough!  I'd better enjoy their innocence while it lasts- because soon they'll catch on and they'll start begging me for ice cream every time they hear his chime!

(Well, actually, I think by now the kids have already chapped that its more than just a van with a picture on it...especially when they see the neighbors lined up next to it, and coming back with ice cream or popsicles!  (I still don't understand how all these Israeli's have $ for it!)

Azriel Shraga is three years old now!

Well now its official- Azriel Shraga is three years old!  Ever since we cut his hair three weeks ago, we've been getting Mazal Tovs from everyone who sees him- and then I have to go explain that he's not three years old yet but we cut his hair on Lag B'Omer anyways....  at least now I don't have to worry about explanations any more!

This morning we took Azriel Shraga to cheder to learn Aleph Bais with the rebbe- it was especially exciting for Yisrael, since it was his wonderful rebbe, Rebbe Shea, who did it with him!  Azriel Shraga was a little shy at first, but he said the Aleph Bais beautifully- and of course once it was time to hand out 'pekelach' to all the boys, he was not shy at all!

Cute Quote: Don't be my friend

Whenever one of the kids comes home with a "pekelah" (goody bag), Bruria always convinces them to share it with her. Usually she tells them that she'll be their friend, or that she'll share her candies with them when she gets some (she's a real conniver!).

Today, Azriel Shraga came home with a pekelah after his Shavuos party, and right away Bruria walked up to him, getting ready to shnorr- but before she even had a chance to try, Azriel Shraga said to her, "No I don't want you to me my friend!" and refused to fall for her tricks!

Wafer Houses II

Its been a while since the last time we made houses out of wafers. This week, Yisrael remembered how we made them, and he asked to make them again. So I picked up some wafers and bisquits from the makolet, and we had a fun afternoon building wafer houses!

I noticed how the kids have B"H grown up a lot in the last half year, since we made them last time. Naftali was much younger and he didn't even understand what we were doing- he just wanted to eat a wafer! This time, he sat nicely and watched while we made them - he even let me make one for him (which he devoured as soon as I let him!) And Azriel Shraga, who needed me to make it for him last time, was able to build his house all by himself!

Our favorite doll

The kids have decided that aside from being their younger (Yunger?) sibling, Naftali is also our newest doll. They love to push him around in the baby stroller, and to feed him, and to treat him...well, like a doll! Azriel Shraga even verbalized it one day - "Naftali is a בובה!"

Cute Quote: You love me!

One day, I was walking home with Azriel Shraga after I picked him up from Gan, when we had the following exchange:

Azriel Shraga: Mommy, I'm your boy and you love me!
Mommy: That's right, I love you so much!
Azriel Shraga: Carry me because you love me!
Mommy: Oy, Azriel Shraga, I have no koach to hold you!
Azriel Shraga: But you love me!
Mommy: Yes, dear, I love you very much:
Azriel Shraga: Carry me because you love me!

(Do you have any doubt who won? I didn't want him to think that because I didn't carry him, that means I don't love him! And I think I'm the one who gave him this idea, because very often when I do hold him, he snuggles up his head in my neck, and I tell him that I love him!)