Early morning

This morning, Al had to get up at 4:30 a.m. and leave the house by 5:30 for a meeting in Western Mass. It also happened that the power went out sometime in the night, so both of the kids noticed that their digital clocks were blinking right about 5:45. They came in to bed with me about 6 and Maddox asked if we could start the day off with a tickle fight. So we did. Chava fluctuates between being the mommy protector and asking us to tickle her, but today she called a time out and very sweetly pleaded, "Mommy, can I be your sidekick?"

Sister cousins

They really do look alike, don't they?

Visit from Annie

We had the BEST time with Annie. My kids fell completely, totally, and forever in love with her... especially Chava, who loves anyone with a hint of girly girl in them. Chava and Annie made the crown adorning Chava's head which has gotten a lot of wear - it's the perfect way to help cheer up all the grumpy people in the world. A four year old in a jeweled crown could probably solve a lot of today's problems.

...and this is why I have to smooch her all the time

Early morning wisdom

This morning, Al had to leave the house at about 6 to get to a meeting in Northampton. The kids weren't even awake when he left, and they seemed pretty impressed that I was going to handle things all on my own. I made them French toast for breakfast, helped Chava get dressed (which is really a process that has to be experienced to be believed), made Maddox's lunch to order, peeled a dozen eggs with Maddox for tonight's Seder... and assorted other things. As we were getting ready to go, I reminded Maddox to put shoes in his backpack, since he was wearing rain boots to school. He sighed and said, "Wow, it's hard to be the mom!"

On the way to Chava's school, she asked me when "Daddy's new job would be over," since she likes going to school with him better. I told her it was a two year contract but I'm not sure that really made her feel much better.

Ready for her closeup

Chava decked herself out in a crazy but very cute outfit for Saturday's warm weather and was more than happy to oblige my desire to capture it.

Sipping Cider Through a Straw..

Well, not quite cider, but Maddox and Chava did share a yogurt milkshake before swimming lessons.

Maddox's Filling

Somehow Al managed to start his job at just the right time, leaving me to take Maddox to the dentist for his first filling. Of course, this wasn't the regular dentist - this was the pediatric specialist, because even our regular dentist was not going in Maddox's mouth with a drill. She's known him for three years, after all.


But Maddox, ever full of surprises, shocked us all and did great. Good thing, too, because the new x-rays revealed another small cavity on the same tooth, other side (what IS this? we brush EVERY night) and he's going back April 23rd.

Ikea

On the the third day of drenching rain, we woke up and headed to Ikea. First stop, breakfast, consisting of eggs, potatoes, bacon, and deep fried French toast sticks. Al suggested we get a piece of cake for breakfast dessert, and who am I to argue?


The funny thing was that each of us had about two bites of the cake and declared ourselves done... but not Chavie. Girlfriend scarfed the entire thing down.

Chava's Special Day

Yesterday was Chava's Special Day at school. She got to pick her favorite book (we call it Murdley Gurdson which is incredibly adorable to hear a four year old say) and make a puppet of one of the characters. Most importantly, she got to wear a necklace that said "Chava's Special Day" and she got to sit, with us, in chairs during group time, when the rest of her classmates sat on the floor. Chava had asked me on Wednesday if I would wear a skirt and "be fancy" for her special day and I, of course, forgot. But Al and I decided to get dolled up to go in and it was completely worth it for the look on Chava's face when she saw my bridesmaids dress and high heeled patent leather shoes. She was less impressed with Al's coat and tie, but I think it was the entire package that made her day.

What else do you do after a bath besides plant tomatoes?

Al is seed crazy. It all started last year when our friend Eric gave him some heirloom tomato seeds. The next thing I knew, there were containers of seedlings every where. I don't need to tell you how many times I knocked those containers over and swore at him while I cleaned up the dirt. My annoyance was lessened a bit when I tasted the tomatoes, but still...

Now he's indoctrinating the children.

Chavie

The quality of these pictures are terrible (on my phone), but they are SO Chava I just have to post them. Often, when we go to pickup Maddox, she will ask if we can sit in the car and listen to the end of whatever song is playing (the girlfriend likes her music, and is pretty particular). She's tired and quiet by the end of the day (the temper tantrums come later, like 15 minutes later).

And, this is what all the waiting was for...

I finally uploaded the pictures on the camera and this is what I've got. These were all taken by the kids - they have completed mastered the camera at this point. Actually, I took the one of Chava's hair because she was insistent I take a picture so she could see what her hairdo looked like. Of course, I got NO pictures of us at the playground all weekend long, riding bikes, scooters, etc. etc. Oh well.

Stolen from Kesher

I do have some pics in the camera, but the acts of finding the cord, connecting to the computer, and uploading all seem insurmountable. For now, I'll pilfer from the Kesher website to share some pictures of Chavie at the Purim carnival. I'm assuming there are no pictures of Maddox because he had his head buried in a mound of whipped cream, searching for the elusive Hershey's kiss, the entire time (you think I'm kidding, but I feel fairly certain that each of my kids played this game about 10 times. I was busy manning the popcorn popper and Al was... doing something else).

Liveblogging the filling

Al just texted me with this photo:














More to come, I'm sure!

Two from Saturday

On Saturday, Maddox and I headed to Nashoba Valley with our friends Calvin and Calvin's dad, Nathan. Our goal was modest - spend an hour or two on the "magic carpet" (basically, a conveyor belt the kids step on and off) and a few trips down the bunny slope. It was a huge success! Maddox really liked it, although he was tired by the end and frustrated that he couldn't control his skis better. I rocked the slopes on some "new to me" shaped skis that Noah scored at the dump and I am reminded how much I love to ski. Next up: shorter skis for Maddox, and the chair lift!

Chava's Performance

Chava Does the Stones from Rachael Weisz on Vimeo.

Gymnastics

Saturday was our last gymnastics class for a while. We'll have the month of February to luxuriate in nowhere to be on Saturday mornings and start swimming lessons in March (and the kids are big enough now that we don't have to go in with them, yahoo!).

Pictures and tears

I don't know if Maddox will need a get after this, but here are pictures from his big wedding day:




























Clearly, his teacher saw the Papa in him and asked him to do the kiddish(that's the teary part. Papa and Grandmum would have so loved to hear the stories he brings home from Kesher):














There was a nice bit on the Kesher web site about this dreidel activity that explained it a bit further, and has a lovely picture of Maddox holding up his project. Go here.

Uh oh.

Maddox and Chava have been watching Discovery Kids t.v. It started with the Magic School Bus, which is a great show for kids. Then, one day, Maddox discovered a Trading Spaces show for kids that comes on just before the Magic School Bus, and he was hooked. It's a fine show; the premise is that two boys team up to transform a girl's room and two girls work together to transform one of the boys' rooms (Maddox really, REALLY wants to be on it and get an x-wing fighter bed). But. The big BUT: Discovery Kids has ads. Lots of ads for lots of crap. And, so, I bring you this morning:

Chava: Mom, can I PLEEEEEEEASE have a pillow pet?
Me: A pillow pet? What is that?
Maddox: You can go to www.pillowpet.com.
Me: (rolls eyes)
Chava: You could get them for us for our birthdays!
Maddox: (in all earnestness) They make great gifts.

Cultah

We went to the ICA on Saturday for a "Family Play Date." On the last Saturday of every month, admission is free for families, and they have activities set up around the museum for the kids to do. We started off with lunch at the cafe (because any outing is really about the food) and then moved on to sketching the waterfront.
There was an improv performance that involved the kids and some other activities we didn't make it to this time, but we'll be back! It's a beautiful setting and a part of the city we don't get to much.

Verbatim

Scene: Tuesday night. Al is out. Post-dinner, we are upstairs for a rousing game of Hssss!

Chava: Mom! I have to poop!
Me: Well, then, go poop.

Chava runs off to make her deposit. A few seconds later, we hear, with much excitement:

Chava: Maddox! Come here! You've gotta see this!

Maddox runs over (thudthudthud).

Maddox: Wow!

Chava: I know! I pooped a turtle! It looks just like a turtle.

Maddox: She really did, Mom. You guys should enter her in a talent contest.

Chava

Post nap, in a cabinet. Too bad this wasn't taken with a better camera!