Days Like This!

On days like this, when the sun is shining and the sky is blue there is nothing quite as beautiful. And just like an abusive spouse coming with a big box of chocolate, you forgive. You forgive the below (well below) zero freezing winter temperatures. It makes it worth it, well almost!! But most of all, you take advantage of the weather.
Look at the sky! Isn't the blue magnificent?
And the green trees - and the way the green contrasts with the blue sky - so so beautiful!
And the girl is pretty cute too, no?

Ahh, happy families!

A budding photographer!

Happy Birthday!

Here is a box of chocolates for Samuel's birthday! Well, actually it is a cake! We made it as a surprise the kids were so careful not to tell... They kept telling Samuel, 'we're not telling you about the surprise' and 'we're not telling you about the cake...' Samuel was a good sport and played along!

So sweet!

Da is babyspeak for Dovid (and Daddy). Aren't they adorable??

Niagara Falls

First stop at Niagara Falls was the Hershey's Chocolate store. Lots and lots of chocolate, with a coupon for free samples... Yum - who could resist?!Note the lights - like Hershey's kisses.
Now that's a fair sized chocolate (imagine the calories)!
Chocolate or not, this was just cute (Dovid of course!)

We then headed to the falls, took a walk along them and went on the Maid of the Mist.


Even with the ponchos we still got soaked by the mist of the falls!
Approaching the falls.

No Hands!!

After many months of cruising, and almost a month since she took her first step, SM is walking!!! One day she stood up in middle of the room and walked across and since then she is loving her new skill! Yesterday we were at the park and she enjoyed walking around.
This is fun!! I'm big now!

Shabbos Menu

Friday night
We have a few people coming

Challa - baked yesterday :)
Sushi?
Asian Chicken soup
Chicken
Sweet french fries
Roasted carrots
Cinnamon buns - baked yesterday

Lunch
1 or 2 families joining us...
Challa
Vegetarian Chopped liver
Cholent
Chicken (leftover from Friday night
Kugel - from freezer
Salad
Lemon merringue pie

As I was getting ready to make the chopped liver I realised that the fuse on our transformer (which I need for the food processor AND the hot plate) had blown. So Samuel has gone to buy a new fuse... I hope he can find a new one quickly...

He's good for my ego!

The other day the kids were being... well, kids!! D saw me close my eyes and whisper something - so he asked, inquisitively, what were you saying. At first I didn't answer but then thought why not and told him that I had been davening. I guess he realised it wasn't 'formal' tefilla - so he asked me what I had been davening for.

I told him that I asked Hashem for help to be a good mommy (and to be patient with this exhausting, exuberant, delightful bunch!!). He thought about it for a moment and the conversation seemed to be over... A couple of minutes later he piped up and said...

DRUMROLL, please...

'But you are a good mommy already - you're always nice to us'

Ah, if I could frame a moment like that :)

Allow me

Allow me to kvell if you please.

After we got back from Manchester, I was telling my in-laws about our return trip on the train. I missed my train and the next train was crowded. I wanted to keep the buggy open for Sara Miriam to sleep in - way better than having her crawl around the train (yes, those are the two options...) The train had two places for buggies/wheelchairs and of course both were being used. Finally I found a place for the buggy.

Next to it were 3 people who were sitting on double seats and using the empty seat next to them for their bags. I was pretty sure that someone would offer me their empty seats, so I stood there with Dovid and Hadassa for about 5 minutes or so -- but noone offered me a seat. So after 10 or so minutes I asked one of the guys (pointing to his bag) is anyone sitting here? He actually then got up and gave me both seats.

I was commenting how unimpressed (to say the least) I was that people were taking up 2 seats as other people were left standing next to them.

At this point, Dovid piped up: 'But there were also so many helpful people today.' Like the person that helped me carry the buggy down the stairs to the underground, or the friendly person I sat next to on the way there.

Thank you, son, for reminding me to focus on the positive!

Life with a Big Sister

Hadassa: My baby sister is so cute... I'm going to give her a big huge hug and kiss!

Sara Miriam: I don't know about this...

Sara Miriam: NOOOO!! Someone please tell her that I'm not enjoying this ...

Hadassa: Aren't I the greatest big sister ever?!?
 Sara Miriam: Sisters.... sigh!

For Sale

Found at the Children's Place ...

The things they say!

Yesterday, I took the train with the kids to Manchester to see Yocheved and Yossi. On the way there, I told the kids we're going to see Yocheved. Dovid said 'I know who Yocheved is - Yocheved is the mother of Moshe Rabbeinu!'

Later on the train Hadassa said, a few times, 'Yocheved has a new baby!' I couldn't understand why she was saying that - until she said that the new baby was Moshe Rabbeinu!

We all had a great time. Dovid's favorite part was jumping on the trampoline, Hadassa loved playing with Dena, 'her new friend' and SM enjoyed all the attention (as usual!)

Sunshine at last

What's missing from the picture?

SNOW of course. B'H it is finally getting nice the weather. The snow has mostly melted and the kids have rediscovered the backyard. So nice to send them out there for some airing out. It does amazing things for them. Turns them from ..... into adorable kids again!!

It took long enough... Sara Miriam is finally enjoying the baby swing. Well, for 5 minutes anyway, whilst Dovid is swinging her (yes, that's his sock in the pic!)

The Real Story

My inbox has been flooded in response to yesterdays' post, including some veiled threats of Social Services... So, here is the real story. I was getting the kids into pjs last night and noticed that Hadassa had folded herself underneath the upside down laundry basket ... and she fit. What a great photo opportunity! So I ran to get the camera and the kids 'posed' inside it.

In other news, Dovid had a friend over today, and when his father came to pick him up, he ran over to him with a couple of pumpkin muffins and said 'here's one for you and one for your wife'. Mwah!! Later, I said to Dovid that was so kind of you to give I's father the muffins, to which he responded 'Of course, I'm very kind!' ... I guess you can cancel the social services!

When All Else Fails...

It was one of those days... when the kids were out of sorts and nothing I tried seemed to make an impact, so when all else fails...

Hey presto, well-behaved kids!!

DISCLAIMER: No kids were hurt in the production of these pictures.

Purim (Part 2)

 

The queen - hey that's not a dress-up - she really does think she's a queen!