Advent and such

Hi all,

Today we had an advent celebration at the gan (aka pre-school, to the request of an anonymous reader). Apparently, this symbolizes the introvert feelings we all feel and experience due to the diminishing lights when winter comes upon us (listen to me, i'm starting to sound like a Waldorf parent). Here you can see what they mean by it:
http://www.austinwaldorf.org/index.php/community/festivals/#Advent
It was actually very nice, very waldorfy of course but with a lot of intimacy, quietness and symbolism.
I took a picture, again, not a good one, of the advent spirale after all the kids walked through it and lit their candles.

Anyway, i really enjoyed it.

Christmas and Chanuka

It is really crazy how the people here are at a "holiday craze" (shaga-at chagim is what i really wanted to say). They decorate the trees in their yards with hundrands of lights and Santa dolls and gnomes and what not. I tried to take a picture while driving of a funny car decoration of moose horns. See for yourselves.

yes, i know it's a lousy picture.

Yesterday we celebrated the first candle with a few Israeli families. It was really nice and we even sang like ten Chanuka songs and did a charade for the kids. Went pretty nice.

On Sunday we are having people over for the holiday to light candles again. It has been our tradition also in Israel and we want to continue doing it. I hope we will remember to take pictures so i will be able to report. And, finally, next wednesday we will celebrate chanuka with Ariel at the kindergarten and i will report on that as well.