When the Dad is away. . . .

Ed had to go to London the second week of June to do research on tablets like this:

Yes, he does know what it says.

While he was gone we tried to make the time go as fast as possible by doing as many fun things as possible. We even did stuff after school on a couple days, which we never have time to do. 

The Jerusalem Formula Peace Roadshow:

The city of Jerusalem is trying to gain recognition for being something other than a religious capital of the world's three major monotheistic religions. The most recent effort materialized as an exhibition of Formula One racing vehicles, after the manner of Monte Carlo or Monaco. The cars and motorcycles were on display for a few days, then did a racing exhibition around the city. The kids and I made it to both events.

It was difficult to find the display grounds, and we actually ended up at a few different places before finding the right one. But we kept finding great activites that kept us occupied and happy for a little while, and we finally found the car show just before it opened.

Our first failure turned out to have a fantastic playscape and exercise playground:

Joe was frustrated that he was too short to use the equipment. 

At least he could reach high enough to spin the wheel.

Mary being goofy.


So strong!

Our next stop was the Old Train Station, which has been converted into an open air community park kind of thing, with restaurants and shops. They also had some really fun building toys out for anyone to use, along with a train set. The kids spent a solid hour playing there before we decided to move on to finding the racecars. 

THEN we found the race cars! And something about race cars makes my kinds want to look really cool. Mary kept asking to borrow my sunglasses. . .

They all got a chance to sit in a real Porsche.

Here's my favorite car of the show. And my favorite werewolf.

Three days later we met up with our friends the Christensens to watch the cars in action on the streets of Jerusalem.

Here are the kids staking out our place along the fence. I was pretty amazed at how people would walk right over our stuff, and how after the show started, muscle in front my kids and push them back out of the way. I try to be patient, but Israelis have an entirely different standard of politeness.

Love that Lotus!

Scouts:

Isaac has had a great time in Scouts this year. It has been very freeform and included boys from 8 to 11, and sometimes one 12 year old, but they had some great activities, got to go camping three times, and Isaac made some good friends. I am grateful to Jay and JoLynn Williams for their tireless effort in planning and executing it every single week. JoLynn and I liked to go exploring together, and her son Ivan was both Isaac and Mary's best friend. They are moving to Germany this summer--we'll miss their family. 

Isaac, Logan, Doty, Ivan, Jay, Giergi, and Walter

Jerusalem Lights:

Every year the Old City decks itself out in a series of light displays around the Jewish and Christian Quarters. I managed to sneak out with Amy Christensen and Kari Balz one evening and loved being in the Old City at night.

Damascus Gate had the best display of all.

Eilat:

Okay, so this was actually the day after Ed came home, but it capped the week off nicely. Eilat is Israel's resort town on the Red Sea (yes, so now we have swum in the Dead, the Med, and the Red) with a great reef for snorkeling. The students take a day trip (four hours each way!) each semester, and Isaac and Mary had been saving their money for two months so they could go along. We drove from 6:30 to 11:00 am, hung out on the beach, swimming and snorkeling, until about 5:00, then drove to a kibbutz about an hour north for dinner and ice cream, then got home about 10:30. It was a very long day, but fun to be with Mary and Isaac. It was also nice not to have to worry about the little ones on the beach, but I missed Ed being there. And the bus rides were pretty awful. I was nauseous most of the time both ways.

Mary and Isaac having fun on the bus. The students are so kind and tolerant. . . .

Mary snorkeling with students.  We saw eels and lots of beautiful fish.

Isaac, posing at the dock. 

Mary and I, after we snorkeled all the way from one pier to the other. I was so impressed with Mary's swimming skills--she's gotten very good!

Despite the very gravelly sand, Mary and Isaac insisted on being buried. 

Student of the day award goes to Sammy, who allowed herself to be completely buried.

Relaxing with ice cream in the shade, all tuckered out. It was too windy for an umbrella, but Mary kept trying anyway.

Riding a cow at the dinner kibbutz. It was known for its dairy products, especially ice cream.