This was our leaf pile last weekend - before most of the leaves had fallen. Lily thought it made a nice bed. The kids had a fabulous time raking and jumping. Ben lost his shoes and then found them again. Then it rained and made a very soggy mess. But there are always new fresh leaves falling ... for a few more weeks anyway.

Trick or Treat

We had a great time trick-or-treating with our good friends. Our houses are far enough apart here that I think the kids might have burned off all of their candy energy before we finished going around the neighborhood. It was just the right amount of candy for a 40 minute neighborhood excursion. Most importantly, the kids all shared with their parents.

For the first time, Gavi went off with her friends for Halloween. So, no pictures of Gavi. Nana made her a spooky witch costume for the occasion. I'll make her put it on later so I can get some pictures (even if they aren't Halloween pictures).

Pumpkin Carving - Oct. 31

There are many ways to carve a pumpkin and this year the kids did it all by themselves. Ben just wanted to stab holes in his pumpkin. Juliana and Gavi made scary faces. Mike stenciled a Halloween cat. And we roasted the pumpkin seeds! Yummy.

Super Ben

Ben's First Day of School

September 8th was Ben's first day of school - EVER. He is going to pre-school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9-3. What ever will I do with myself?

Ben was so excited to go to school his first day. We drop Juliana off at 8am and he really wanted to leave right away. I had to stall. I told him that his school wasn't opened yet and that there weren't any kids there. First mommy had to eat breakfast. Then we had to take some first day of school pictures. Then we repacked his backpack. I suggested we read a story, but Ben insisted, "No. I will read a story at school."

When we got to his school just before 9am, he looked at me and said, "See, mommy. I was right. There are kids at my school!" And he went inside and sat down to read the story he told me he was going to read when he got there. It was about an astronaut.

Happy Birthday Juliana

I'm getting a little out of order here, but since I'm so behind, I guess it doesn't matter.

Juliana's birthday was August 17th. She is SEVEN! She was so lucky that her cousin Shelby was here from Baltimore to celebrate with us. We had pink cupcakes at school and a pink guitar cake at home. And an ice cream cake one week early at Nana & Papa's house.

School Cupcakes ....



Home cake...



Favorite Cousin Shelby ....



Happy birthday video...

Shana Tova

We celebrated the New Year with dinner & friends. I made challah again this year, but after much practice (see Facebook posting about the 100 loaves), it was much better this year. I learned that if you don't use really old yeast, your dough has a better chance of rising. Check out this fabulous challah!



The dinner menu consisted only of items with apples and/or honey (except for the rice). So, we had honey apricot glazed chicken, apple spinach salad, apples & honey, challah (made with honey), and rice (no apples, no honey). And for dessert, apple butter cake! So yummy!


The kids had a great time helping with everything. Gavi chose the recipies and set the table. Juliana made place cards. Ben and Juliana kneaded challah dough. Everyone made New Year posters. Gavi did the best job ever at reading the blessings in Hebrew (no transliteration for her) - and she even got the special parts for Shabbat in there.

Virginia Beach

We spent a wonderful 10 days (including the 4th) at Fort Story with Nana and Papa. Ben is becoming a little fishy - much improved from last summer when he didn't want to even get in the water. Juliana and Gavi loved playing in the pool, especially with Papa, who turned them into cannonballs over and over and over again.

Here are a few pictures. I have hundreds, so I may post some more later, but this is a start.

Superman

These photos speak for themselves. Note that Ben is wearing his Spiderman snow boots, his Superman pj top, and no pants.

Gavi's Last Day of School

No graduation ceremony for Gavi since she is just going from third to fourth grade, but Akiva did have a very long awards ceremony. Each child in the school received a made up award of some kind. It really wasn't as bad as it sounds (there are only about 100 kids) and, of course, the kids love it. Gavi received the Harry Potter Reading Wizard Award for outstanding reading in English and Hebrew. She was also recognized as one of only four kids in the school to have straight A's all year. Yea Gavi!

Juliana's Last Day of Soccer

Juliana had a great soccer season this year. She was the JCCs instructional league. This meant mostly practice and a few scrimmage games among the team (the Panthers and the Cougars). All in all it was a successful season. Ben started out in the 3-4 year-old group, but decided he didn't want to play. Of course, once we unenrolled him, he was very enthusiastic about soccer and wore his shin guards to all of Juliana's practices.




The Medal
















Juliana, Gavi and Ben posing for a mandatory family pic. Mike says that group photos are just too much trouble, but look how cute they are!

Wedding Day

Juliana and her friend Caroline love to play wedding and last week they were nice enough to play with Ben. They were all playing so well together (and so quietly) that I hadn't checked on them in a while. Juliana came into the kitchen and asked me if I could help Ben get his work shoes on. His "work" shoes were a Christmas present from Nana. They are just black dress shoes, but when Ben opened the box he said, with a real enthusiasm for shoes that probably won't last too much longer, "These are work shoes just like Daddy's!" Ben was putting on his "work" shoes because he was going to be the ring bearer / groom in the wedding. The girls even got down his one dressy outfit and put it on him all by themselves.

At the wedding, Ben was very cooperative for the wedding pictures and in carrying the ring on a red microbead pillow, but he wasn't really interested in participating in the wedding vows. He just glared at the girls and looked very relieved when it was over.

Dance Recital

Gavi and Juliana had their dance recital on Saturday. Nana and Papa were in town for the event and it was quite the production. Juliana danced ballet to Swan Lake (note the costume resemblance to a swan) and Gavi danced the two jazz numbers she has been competing with all year. Since Gavi is part of the competition dance team, she had to perform at all three of the recitals, meaning she (and Nana) were at the dance hall (OK - it's a high school gymnasium) from 1pm until closing at 8:45pm. It was a long day, but lots of fun!

Kindergarten Graduation

Juliana graduated from kindergarten today. She was so proud of herself! They sang songs in English and Spanish and received diplomas. Then we had a very nice graduation reception in the classroom. Juliana loves her cap. She didn't take it off all morning and then she put it back on when she got home from school.

Only one more 1/2 day of school for Juliana. When she goes back to Glendale it will be as a first-grader!

Teacher of the year (really) -- Mrs. Knight