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Be it ever so difficult and politically incorrect and full of cigarette smoke...yeah.
The flight was rough, even considering it was only just over four hours. J was very keen on being in a plane in the sky until he asked to get off the plane roughly an hour into the flight and realized that it wasn't an option. He did manage a nap, and B and M entertained themselves by sharing the window seat and playing on the DS. Easyjet doesn't provide meals or even free drinks, but we brought snacks along - a lovely friend even left us five small jars of trail mix the night before! - and managed. My aunt and uncle picked us up (in two cars) and brought us to their place in Jerusalem where a meal was served that catered to all of our various likes, dislikes and preferences. Apparently this empty nest thing has really made my aunt get excited about guests! The only cousin still at home is currently travelling in South America so we have the run of the place to ourselves. We're managing with J pretty well considering it's a new place and there are so many breakables.
My aunt left to run some errands this morning and D and I decided to take the kids to ride the new (well, new to us) tram. My aunt lives a short walk from the first stop and we continued on to the last stop, which sent B and M into a state of ecstasy (they love trains of any kind). Not a bad way to spend a large chunk of the morning. Unfortunately there was a torrential downpour which happened to coincide with our return home. Luckily my aunt was getting out of her car just as we were approaching the house and suggested heating up leftover pea soup from last night - very nice and warming. We arrived home later than anticipated but that also meant that J was pretty tired by the time lunch was over and despite not liking the sleeping arrangements here, he got out of bed only a few times before settling down for a nap. There are some games for B and M to play (I even remember some of them from my visits to Jerusalem as a child) and even a few toys for J to play with as my aunt has close to 20 grandchildren - including a small toy truck that my brother and I played with as children growing up in New York.
Despite the rain today, the forecast for the next few days is looking pretty good. We'll be heading up north tomorrow morning to spend a couple of days with N and her family and then back here sometime on Sunday until the place we're renting is available next Thursday.
Generally feeling pretty good, though my whole sinus things has escalated into a bit of an inner ear thing - which it often does - and flying yesterday hasn't made things any easier. Also feeling pretty good emotionally/mentally. Sort of powerless, but in a good way, and really connected to D. The last year - but especially the last few months - have been such a whirlwind of activity that it feels really good to just take a break from it all. Mostly, I just need time and space.
The flight was rough, even considering it was only just over four hours. J was very keen on being in a plane in the sky until he asked to get off the plane roughly an hour into the flight and realized that it wasn't an option. He did manage a nap, and B and M entertained themselves by sharing the window seat and playing on the DS. Easyjet doesn't provide meals or even free drinks, but we brought snacks along - a lovely friend even left us five small jars of trail mix the night before! - and managed. My aunt and uncle picked us up (in two cars) and brought us to their place in Jerusalem where a meal was served that catered to all of our various likes, dislikes and preferences. Apparently this empty nest thing has really made my aunt get excited about guests! The only cousin still at home is currently travelling in South America so we have the run of the place to ourselves. We're managing with J pretty well considering it's a new place and there are so many breakables.
My aunt left to run some errands this morning and D and I decided to take the kids to ride the new (well, new to us) tram. My aunt lives a short walk from the first stop and we continued on to the last stop, which sent B and M into a state of ecstasy (they love trains of any kind). Not a bad way to spend a large chunk of the morning. Unfortunately there was a torrential downpour which happened to coincide with our return home. Luckily my aunt was getting out of her car just as we were approaching the house and suggested heating up leftover pea soup from last night - very nice and warming. We arrived home later than anticipated but that also meant that J was pretty tired by the time lunch was over and despite not liking the sleeping arrangements here, he got out of bed only a few times before settling down for a nap. There are some games for B and M to play (I even remember some of them from my visits to Jerusalem as a child) and even a few toys for J to play with as my aunt has close to 20 grandchildren - including a small toy truck that my brother and I played with as children growing up in New York.
Despite the rain today, the forecast for the next few days is looking pretty good. We'll be heading up north tomorrow morning to spend a couple of days with N and her family and then back here sometime on Sunday until the place we're renting is available next Thursday.
Generally feeling pretty good, though my whole sinus things has escalated into a bit of an inner ear thing - which it often does - and flying yesterday hasn't made things any easier. Also feeling pretty good emotionally/mentally. Sort of powerless, but in a good way, and really connected to D. The last year - but especially the last few months - have been such a whirlwind of activity that it feels really good to just take a break from it all. Mostly, I just need time and space.