1. Trip to Israel, Dec-Jan 2012-2013: First week in Tel-Aviv: Sunday and Monday

2. Sunday was our last day in Ra’anana so I decided to just stay in and finish packing. Alma didn’t feel well and only ate ice cream all day (and skipped lunch). The girls were glued to the TV ALL DAY (seriously). We surprised Eti, Emanuel and Pnina with farewell presents. Monday morning I finished packing while the girls watched TV with Eti till midday. At noon my dad arrived and packed us and all the equipment in the car for the big move to Tel-Aviv. Deflated Alma seemed revived when she saw the lunch my mum prepared. Hahgoot tried homemade tomato jam.

3. Barak called in the early afternoon to wish us a Happy New Year, as it arrives in Australia half a day earlier than the rest of the world. Alma ate well and had a two hours nap in the pram. Hahgoot started to get used to the new environment by playing with the dolls we brought along and drawing a lot. My parents bought a new dishwasher! The last one lasted for about 40 years so it is a big event... My dad usually doesn’t let go of appliances (this explains the stove my parents have in the middle of the living room functioning as a side table. I am used to it as I grew up with it there, but other people might find it a bit unusual...)

4. I did my best to keep Hahgoot and her stimming behaviours contained with the weighted snake and reading, so she was as relaxed as possible before the sports class in the afternoon. As my parents have the original cars from the 80s, there aren’t seatbelts in the back (we didn’t grow up using car seats... Very weird to think about this now...I feel ancient). My dad installed something for Alma’s seat in the back but Hahgoot had to travel in the front with the booster.

5. Hahgoot joined the 5 years old group effortlessly. Alma, who just woke up, preferred to sit and eat afternoon tea. They started the lesson with different types of trotting and jumping.

6. Next they did many different activities with these “cones”. Great creative balancing!

7. Alma finished munching crackers and joined the group at last – just in time to play with balls!

8. Hahgoot participated enthusiastically in the large equipment part of the lesson, and tried every station.

10. Alma especially enjoyed the end of the lesson, when they played “Rain, Hail and Flood” (left). Then she sat on the bench with me while Hahgoot participated in the next lesson, with the 6-7 age group. It started fairly similar.

12. Alma was happy to participate with the large equipment and the “elements game” at the end, of course.

13. Three active generations – by chance they all had matching blue tops!

14. Participating in two lessons and repeating the same routines was really good for Hahgoot, who was very independent and active in the second session, trying many challenging activities.

15. The girls got a special treat after the lesson. My dad picked us up (my mum stayed to teach a women’s class), entertained the girls while I organized dinner and helped with bath routine.

16. As expected, putting the girls to sleep was very hard – it took until midnight till they were all asleep in their new bed (the sofa in the middle of the living room). I tried to have Hahgoot do her homework routine on a side table so she can wind down while Alma falls asleep, but Alma was very curious as she could see Hahgoot from the bed and wouldn’t settle down. At midnight I had a cup of homemade cherry liqueur (made by Naomi Trostler) with my parents to welcome the end of 2012 and a fresh start for 2013. Amen!