Sixteen

My youngest son recently turned sixteen. It seems like only yesterday that his big brother was talking about driving lessons and his Tzav Rishon, or the "First Draft Notice," from the Israeli army, and now it's his younger brother's turn. He too can open his first bank account and will receive his "First Draft Notice" within a few months. He can also learn to drive. I've just about got used to his older brother driving. It can't really be his turn now, can it?

Driving lessons here in Israel are an expensive business! Students are required to take a minimum of 28 lessons with an instructor before they can take the Mivchan Shlita, the practical driving test. Therefore driving lessons were suggested as his birthday present and this year's birthday card simply had to reflect that. I have shown my son holding an Israeli L-plate in one hand. The plate shares the general design of Israeli information signs in its square form and blue background. On the blue background is a white triangle pointing upwards, with the black Hebrew letter "ל" in it, from the Hebrew למידה‎ - "Learning".
In his other hand he is holding his grey MUN folder. MUN, or Model United Nations, is an academic activity in which students can learn about diplomacy, international relations, and the United Nations. MUN involves and teaches participants speaking, debating, and writing skills, in addition to critical thinking, teamwork, and leadership abilities. My youngest son, though a bright kid, is not the most serious of students but he really enjoys the MUN conferences. He is even willing to dress the part and will put on a white shirt and tie for the occasion!

Though we are a rather football-obsessed family (Mister Handmade in Israel and my eldest son are Arsenal mad and I have become a rather keen follower of Hull City A.F.C.) my youngest son wasn't so bothered until recently. In the last couple of years his interest in football has grown. Unlike his peers, he has picked differently from the more usual Manchester United or FC Barcelona! His favourite teams are our local Ironi Modi'in F.C. and Hull City A. F. C., so I added the team crests to the card along with a traditional black and white football. Unfortunately his Xiaomi phone had to appear on the card as well. He uses it rather a lot!
On a more positive note, my son is still an avid reader (regular followers of my blog will know that I have added books to many of his birthday cards over the years), so I added his Kindle, his preferred choice for reading these days. The pencils represent the hours he spends drawing in his bedroom.

Finally, he has almost given up on asking us to get him a dog (I know, I know!) and has reverted to begging for a hamster, the pet we used to have when the boys were younger. You can see a tiny little hamster peeking out from under the Israeli L-plate. A big green number 16 marks his age.

Happy Birthday to my creative, smart yet stubborn and rather lazy sixteen year old! We all enjoyed the Agents Escape Room that we did together on your birthday (we escaped in the nick of time with some assistance) and the sushi afterwards was delicious!

* This post has been shared on All Seasons, {nifty thrifty sunday}, Happiness is Homemade, Creative Mondays, The Good. The Random. The Fun., Amaze Me Monday, You're the Star Blog Hop, Made By You Monday, The Keeping It Real Link Up and {wow me} wednesday.

Sixteen

Sixteen seems like an important age here in Israel. Now he is sixteen my eldest son can open his first bank account; will receive his Tzav Rishon, or the "First Draft Notice," from the Israeli army which is used to set his physical profile and kaba (a general score which tells the army what you are fit to join, and is made up of the dapar, a score due to your education, and your personal interview). He can also learn to drive.

He'll begin the process by taking a medical and eye exam, followed by a theoretical test. Once those bases have been covered, my son will sign up for 28 driving lessons with an instructor before he can take his Mivchan Shlita, the practical driving test. Fingers crossed that he'll pass because it's an expensive process! 

My son asked for driving lessons for his birthday, so this year's birthday card simply had to reflect that. I have shown him waving from the driver's seat of my new white car (he won't really be learning to drive in it - phew!). I am sitting next to him with my hands covering my eyes! There is an Israeli L-plate on the front of the car. The plate shares the general design of Israeli information signs in its square form and blue background. On the blue background is a white triangle pointing upwards, with the black Hebrew letter "ל" in it, from the Hebrew למידה‎ - "Learning".

It seems that birthday celebrations as the kids get older are not the 'palava' they once were. Once upon a time I would prepare party games and write invitations, assemble party bags and ice cupcakes with their friends names on them. Of course all of that is no longer needed. Mister Handmade in Israel and I did help with the shopping and preparations, and I did cut up a big Israeli salad and a few pitot, but then we went out and left my son happily barbecuing with his friends. And when we came home, they had even tidied up and bagged up all the rubbish!

I did make cake though. Two of them to be exact. One for the barbecue and one for his big day.

You can never have too much cake.

* This post has been shared on Wednesday Around the World, Share Your Cup, Our World, Little Things Thursday, Friday Foto Friends, Joy and Fun Linkup and Seasons.