Fifth night

The fifth night of Chanukah is special
because it's the first night that there are more candles
on the menorah than empty spaces.

It's also the only night of Chanukah, that never, ever, ever can fall on Shabbat.
So the Chanukah candles have to work all by themselves against the darkness -
they don't get any help from the Shabbat candles.

It's traditional to have an extra-special celebration on the fifth night.
(This year, we have a one-month-old, and everyone has a cold. So, our "something special" was taking pictures.)

Chag Urim Sameach - Happy Chanukah

Attack of the Clones

Who says you need an excuse....

to wear your

favorite shoes?

Stuff of legend.

Jewish legend teaches that, while still in the womb,

every child learns the entire Torah from beginning to end.

On the way out, an angel taps him on the upper lip, causing him to forget it all, but leaving a dent - a reminder of all he once learned.

Ima thinks Rami got lucky enough to have an extra reminder.

See the little curl of hair on his forehead? That's exactly where his tefillin will go.

(What a tiny miracle)

Big brothers

Sometimes big brothers can play a little rough...

but still be ready to give out lots of hugs and kisses too.

FOUND

FOUND
at the bedside floor

of the best Abba/husband

in the world.

(Thank you, sweetie.)

He has a name!

Introducing...

Thanksgiving Week

We spent this week feeling thankful

for lots of simple things...

A chocolate chip cookie painted like a turkey...

The happy abundance
of a hooded towel made just for you....

Lots of snuggles

with Abba....

and with Ima...

and an amazing sister/auntie
who spent her entire week
cleaning
schlepping
doing laundry
and, most importantly,

giving hugs on demand.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Introducing...

a brand
new
baby
BOY!

(stats: November 24, 2008 ~ 6 lbs 12 oz ~ 20 inches)

Brownies

Nothing is better on a cold day than baking brownies.
Ima (who always knows best)
always trusts Ashi with the most important part...

Licking the bowl.

Simple pleasures...

?איזהו עשיר

הסמח בחלקו

Who is rich?
He who is satisfied
with what he has.
(Pirke Avot 4:1)

1. Load all your crayons in the crayon box.
2. Dump them out.
3. Throw them in the air.
4. Repeat.

Election day!

Ashi liked the idea of Election Day, but when he realized that Abba and Ima wanted to go so early in the morning, he was not happy.

A fun day at COSI

Abba and Ima went to COSI for the first time since they were kids! It was so much fun they got Ashi a membership so he can go any time he wants.

Having fun in the play house.


Ashi splashed so much at the water table that he got soaked down the skin. It's a good thing Ima remembered a full change of clothes.


Visiting 123 Sesame Street with Abba.


Ashi exhausted himself by going down SuperGrover's slide about 100 times.


Fast asleep after a busy day learning and playing.

Nothing like a good slide!

There's nothing like a few shots of a boy enjoying a great slide to make your day a little sunnier.

More Sukkot

Shaking the lulav with Ima

Our first family dinner in the sukkah!

Ashi and Abba sharing olives

Getting ready for Sukkot

This weekend we got ready for Sukkot (it starts on Monday night.)

We love the sukkah that Sabba built just for us. Thanks so much Sabba!


Shopping for the best pumpkins is serious business.


We painted pumpkins and put them just so all around the sukkah.


All finished decorating! Ashi is part of the centerpiece. You can see the "chag sameach" sign he painted hanging on the back wall of the sukkah.


Ashi was so exhausted he fell fast asleep in the middle of his dinner. Abba and Ima had to give him his bath while he was still half-asleep.

Happy New Year!

Painting

Painting is one of Asher's favorite things to do. Ima and Asher painted outside today, because the weather was gorgeous and Abba needed to take a well-deserved nap. Oh, and also, because painting with Asher is VERY messy (is there any other way to paint?).

First strokes

A little more color....

The water is his favorite part of watercolors.

Long done painting the paper, Ashi moves on to the glass door.

Ashi and Ima heading up to the bathtub.