On the pro side, they have both grown, physically and emotionally
Toby is filling out and has been working out a bit - jogging and doing upper body and abs work. This Sunday he is going to a Bat Mitzva party at a dance club in Talpiyot (the industrial area of Jerusalem) and is (kind of) looking forward to it.
Gabriella has really matured emotionally and is a lot more independent. She loves going off to the bakery by herself on her scooter, to get bread and jelly donuts. She is taking the bus with Toby and would do so by herself (if we let her). She has made some friends at school and is really enjoying herself now - today she gives a talk in Hebrew to her class about making chocolate. And she doesn't want us to come watch her. (I can't help comparing to what we would be doing if she was giving a talk at Brandeis - both parents and several grandparents in attendance with video cameras at the ready, to post immediately to facebook...). Gabriella has also gotten stronger and tougher physically (the Israeli boys in her class complain that she plays too rough in futbol.)
Which brings me to the not so great behavior - the near constant bickering, comparing, physical altercations. Also they are both getting a lot more argumentative and obnoxious with us (maybe it's from hanging around with their Israeli classmates, maybe just their New York genetics kicking in.) Needless to say, this aspect is not the most pleasant thing to witness or live with.
But ultimately, as one of Josh's preschool teachers once told me, one of the joys of parenthood is that you get to see the best AND the worst of your children. On balance the kids are doing great and (I think) have had a really great experience here. On the one hand I wish we could stay for a year, because that would really nail down their Hebrew, but I don't know if I can take them becoming even more Israeli :)
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