Ari's Rosh Hashanah

That car ride home was exhausting!

Baker extraordinaire

I'm running short on time today, so I haven't done a thorough sorting of these, and I won't put captions on.  Basically: last weekend we got Xander his own little rolling pin for a dollar.  Best dollar spent, EVER.  Sugar cookies commenced.

Ari's on the video monitor, napping.

Mr. Cool

Morning amusement

My children's full names are Alexander (Xander) and Aryeh (Ari).  Both start with the letter "A."

My oldest has no concept of this.  Whenever we do our alphabet puzzle, no matter what I say, "A" is for Apple only.

His name starts with "X," for Xander.  And his brother's name obviously starts with "R," for R-ee.


It does make sense, I have to admit!

Home again

Rosh Hashanah was... intense.  Services Wednesday night, Thursday morning, and Friday night.  All meals with congregants.  A 3 1/2 hour drive each way.  A sick and clingy Xander the whole time, culminating in a trip Friday morning to the pediatrician (who was a congregant) who diagnosed an ear infection.

Unpacking now.  Then Xander's 3rd birthday party tomorrow.  Back at work at the AJA on Monday.  Drive back to the pulpit for Yom Kippur on Friday/Saturday.

Pictures of everything will follow... eventually.

Shana tovah!



(By the way, I don't mean for any of this to sound negative - except for Xander being sick - because I really do love it all!  It's just busy.)

Happy new year!

"Shana tovah u'metukah" means "[Have a] good and sweet year."





We're all off to Marion, Indiana tomorrow morning at 7:30am... wish us luck!

Note(s) to self

Dear self,

Please remember these things for the future:

- Yes, you've worked out for two weeks now.  But stepping on a scale every single morning is probably not helping you.

- When substitute teaching at religious school, do not wear the blouse you borrowed from a friend.  Or at least, not the first time you're away from the baby without pumping for more than four hours.  Exhibit A: third-graders lined up at the drinking fountain.  You feel very warm.  Your 15 year old teacher's aide all of sudden looks at you in utter confusion and says, "What HAPPENED?"  And you realize the entire right side of your blouse is completely soaked.  Having borrowed a hair dryer from the religious school educator, you then return to class... with huge milk stains all over your shirt.  Sigh.

- Also remember though, in your milk mortification, that you love teaching religious school.  There's no reward like the 8 year old who stated bluntly when he met you, "I hate Hebrew school, it's never fun!" and who then came up to you at the end of the day, held your hand, and said, "Wellll... the beginning of the day was boring, but the afternoon was fun."

- Your eldest son is very loving and sweet.  This is sometimes unhelpful, like when he opens the door for you to come out and blinks as Simcha runs past him.  Or when he feeds cookie to his little brother when your back is turned because Ari was so obviously interested.  Xander's first food was avocado, and he didn't seem to be that interested in solids for a long while.  Ari's first food is now sugar cookie with sprinkles.  Not so surprising that now Ari really wants to eat!

- If you have a daughter, never, ever name her Rachel.  On Friday I had a free facial and invited Rachel J. over (Max's mom), and it was great, really relaxing.  On Saturday the new rabbinic student Rachael and her husband Danyul came over to schmooze, and Rachael is quickly becoming a good friend.  Today I was supposed to get together with Rachel D., Liam and Jack's mom, for who I'm also pumping once a day, since she is having trouble nursing.  Do I know no women with other names?!  Although, hmm, on second thought, all these Rachels are really nice, maybe I should keep that name in mind.

- Try not to discuss service outlines with your three year-old in the room.  While making Play-Doh shapes with Xander I took a call from the cantor at my High Holiday congregation.  We discussed song cues and melodies that had been unclear.  Hanging up five minutes later, you say to your (you thought) Play-Doh engrossed son, "I was talking about teaching Torah for Rosh Hashanah services on Wednesday!"  Without missing a beat he picks up a different color Play-Doh and says, "I don't want to come. It will be boring for me."  You pause, not really not knowing what to say.  Unfortunately you think he's right.

- Said kids are awesome though, and you shouldn't underestimate them.  Xander's home sick from school with a fever today, and Jonathan already had his day booked with appointments.  You were all worried about finishing High Holy Day things with both kids in tow, but as you sit here typing (on a break from service outlines), he's sitting cutting with scissors and Ari is cooing to his blue stuffed lion in his swing.

- Try not to get addicted to kid's music.  You've listened to Laurie Berkner more than any of your own music lately, and strangely you're completely okay with that.

Thomas the Train!

Preparing for Thomas: engineer hat, engineer kerchief, train whistle, and frog boots.

 I can't WAIT to see Thomas!

Say "cheese"!

 Thomas was huge, attached to the real train at the railroad an hour north of us.  The train rides went every hour, so there was about a 15 minute period every hour where it sat smoking on the track. We waited in a line worthy of Disneyland to sit on the bench in front of it and get our official picture taken.

 Thomas steaming away, so you can see the full view.

 The "Adventure" tent, with train tables galore.  He of course had to see how the bridge worked.

Very focused on moving the Duplo.

Sharing with a new friend.

 Posing in front of the screen with Percy, Thomas, and Rosie.  He was thrilled.

Then it was our turn for the train ride!  Xander's head is barely visible behind the family in front.

 Even Ari got into the train ride.

Handing the conductor our tickets to holepunch.

The conductor was cracking up at how seriously Xander was taking everything.

Totally jazzed to be on the train.

 Completely engrossed in the view outside.

 Train rides are so lulling.

 Jonathan and I posed.  Xander couldn't be bothered, he was on a train!

 After the train ride came the hay maze.

 I'm a smart boy, I can find my way out!

 Miniature golf came next. 

Concentrating so hard, it was almost a hole in one! 

 So that everyone can see busy it was.

 Xander loved my Thomas tattoo.  Ari was a bit more dubious.

Bounce house!!

The outing ended with story time and then a pizza lunch.  And, because it so special, we all went to the ice cream shop and Xander picked out his very own blue bubblegum ice cream.  All in all, it was a fabulous day.  I don't think Xander's ever been happier.  Thank you, Savta, for making it happen!

No topic really. Just a random conglomeration of things in my head.

This is the seventh day I've been working out at home.  It's kind of frustrating, because the only time I have free is after the kids go to bed.  So once they fall asleep, I change into workout clothes and hit the rug in the front of the TV.  I'm borrowing videos from Rebecca, and so far I've done The Firm: Pump, Jump and Jab, Bob Harper: Cardio Conditioning, Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred, and Jillian Michaels' 6 Week Six-Pack.  I like the latter two the best; she's more encouraging than the others when she talks to the viewer, her moves are easier, and they don't hurt my knees at all.  I haven't noticed any changes yet, but I have some serious motivation: come late December I have to buy nice interview suits and bima clothing for when I go on callbacks.  And I don't want to buy all this nice clothing in bigger than my pre-pregnancy size!

Very cute interaction today:  

Jonathan held out his arms as wide as they could go and said, "I love you THIS much!"  

Xander's eyes widened and he said, breathlessly, "That's a lot of much!"

Jonathan made CIDER.  I don't know how he did it, but it involved apple juice, spices, and a crockpot.  It's fantastic.  You all wish you could have some.

Tired me with boy snuggles.