My first BBQ!

Well, Keren did a little better last night but not teriffic.  I think she must be growing b/c she wants to eat a lot at night.  Not sure.  I hope that’s what it is, anyway.  We are going to the doctor next Monday so we’ll find out how she’s doing.

Typical morning at the Mandel house.  Woke up, ate, got the kids off to school without complaint and went to ulpan.  within the first 45 minutes of ulpan the contractor called me and told me that the electrician was waiting at my house!  So I ran out of class and let him in and waited for him to finish what he needed to do so that Bezeq can come back and hook up our phones (although first they have to dig up the sidewalk) and then I ran right back to class.  A real pain!!  Also, Keren was not on her best behavior during ulpan and I had to walk out of the room a couple of times with her!  She eventually fell asleep in my arms and I could pay attention.  I feel like I might have missed some important stuff today.  The woman in ulpan who loves Keren and plays with her all the time b/c she misses her grandson in America came in today with the cutest little socks for her!  She told me they were a present for her and not for Keren or for me.  Then she said she would be the one to put them on her when she held her.  Too funny.  I thanked her and gave Keren to her.

Today Ben had his cooking chug in the afternoon.  I picked him up and then went to another school to pick another boy up and took them to the chug.  Then I came home and waited for Talia to come home.  She came home and we did homework together.  We had a lot of reading to do and I was very frustrated at times.  What else is new?  Eric says I shouldn’t become a teacher, I have no patience.  At one point I started banging my head on the table (I think my mom used to do that when helping me with math homework, I was not a math superstart) and Talia started to cry!  I think she thought I was mad at her.  I told her I wasn’t, that I was just tired from my day at school (true) and we started again.  Eventually she got it.

After Ben’s chug was over I picked him up and came home with him.  He baked honey cake and read a story about Poo and something about a bunny living in a hole.  I’m not sure.  He explained it all to me.  Anyway, he had a blast there again.

We all drove to Talia’s art chug around the corner b/c I wanted to go to the makolet anyway after I dropped her off and she wanted me to drive her anyway.  So we made the 30 second trip and we bumped into Robin Zemel and she took Ben home with her to play with Matan.  So Keren and I went to the makolet and picked up some french fries and other necessities. 

I went home and prepared for our BBQ.  I had forgotten that my friend Pesha from Modiin was going to come over with her kids tonight after her daughter’s swim chug on the yishuv.  So I cut up some veggies and threw the fries in the oven.  Talia came home and they came over shortly after and then Ben came home and I made my first ever BBQ.  I called Eric to ask him how to use the thing and he explained it to me (not rocket science) and I did it!  The hot dogs were delicious!!  Pesha was excited b/c they were American hot dogs, even if I did serve Israeli Osem ketchup with them.

Got the kids in the bath and to sleep by 7:30 and cleaned up and did my homework (with the help of my cousin for the latter) and I am ready to head up for the night.  I am exhausted!!  A lot of running around today and Keren didn’t sleep much so I had her on my hip most of the day.  I can’t leave her on the floor anymore b/c she rolls onto her belly and then gets stuck and cries.  It seems she’s forgotten how to roll back over even though she knew how to roll that way first.  I tried to get her in for a nap and after 30 mins I took her out of her crib and she looked so pathetic with the red eyes and red nose! 

One quick thing to mention, my microwave is broken!!  I can’t figure it out.  It started to smoke before Eric left and I just figured it was b/c it was dirty b/c it has a grill feature in it and there’s a coil on top but then when I tried to use it yesterday it started to smoke like crazy and then it wouldn’t heat the food up.  So now I have to live without a microwave and it’s very painful.  When Eric comes back he’ll take it back to the store where we got it or call them or something.  We might need help on this one.  I might have to call my cousin and ask her assistance.  I better clean it first!  One step forward, two steps back.  That’s the theme so far that I’ve found in this country. 

Oh, and today there was a lot of shooting nearby.  I am not sure if they were using rubber bullets or what but we heard the shots and saw the smoke and I actually saw two figures running away!!!  CRAZY!!!