Ben's Birthday -- February 16

Ben had a "ball" themed birthday party - a theme that might be viewed as inappropriate for a teenager (you decide). Gavi helped me make an ice cream filled chocolate cake that in the end looked a bit like a basketball. There were moments when we weren't so sure it would be recognizable. Fortunately, thanks to the demi-sphere pan, it would have fit the ball theme even if it just looked like a brownish-orange ball. No matter what it looked like, the most important thing was that it tasted good. It's hard to go wrong with chocolate cake and ice cream.

Ben's favorite gifts were round and bouncy. Nana and Papa gave him a set of Clemson balls that he carried around all afternoon. It was amusing to watch him try to pick up all of the balls at the same time. Given the body proportions of our two-year-old, it was a bit like watching an adult juggle four medicine balls.

All in all it was a successful day. Ben turned 2. So far it isn't terrible at all.

Happy New (School) Year

We're Back!After a long hiatus, I am going to make a real effort to update the blog regularly. My New (School) Year's Resolution is to post something once a week. We'll see how it goes. We were quite busy all spring, so check back for pictures of:

• Ben's Birthday
• Soccer games
• Juliana's Pre-school graduation
• Summer vacation
• Flower girls
• Wedding boy
• First Days of School
• Juliana's birthday
• Visit to the Cabin
  

Hanukkah (Part II)

We your family lives far away there is absolutely nothing wrong with adding a 9th night to Hanukkah. The menorah wouldn't accommodate, but if you drink enough wine before lighting the candles, it's hard to count them anyway. Gathering with the family allowed the kids to participate some historic reenactment - pyramid building - a traditional Hanukkah activity.


I would be remiss if I did not apologize for tainting the festivities by my children stealthily (and entirely unknowingly) transmitting a rather vicious stomach bug to half of Baltimore. Sorry about that, everyone.

The Value of Toys

Ben loves his toys. Really he does. But you can see from these pictures to our friends' house in DC that it really takes very little to entertain children. Darcy and Ben tossed balls through this cat door for a very long time. It would have been longer if only one of them could have reached the ball after it dropped down a few steps. Instead they just looked through the hole at the balls they had lost and then looked at us, to them just the "long-arms who also give us snacks", and said "Ball. In there." It's as if they wanted us to get the ball out of the hole so they could do it again. Now that I think about it - maybe the cat door wasn't the game. Maybe WE were the game.

I've been played.

Merry Christmas!

I thought I should post some Christmas pictures at least before Ben's birthday. It turns out that I don't have so many pictures from Christmas. It must be because I was so busy having a great time that I neglected to properly document the occasion.You can see here the Pusey family gathered for a lovely Christmas dinner. The Abelows were at the other end of the table, except for Ben who prefers to sit under the table. We decided that this was not the moment to enforce table manners. Besides, who needs table manners if you're not at the table? Right?


After the dinner we began Phase I of III of present opening. This Christmas we learned that when you move away people miss you and buy you more gifts. Think about whether this incentive well thought out.

While sitting on the chair upon which no actual human has ever sat, Ollie ponders, "I wonder how long it will take my people to open these presents so I can play with the ribbons."





Uncle Mikey with Ben, Juliana, and Gavi. Those of you who have not seen us in a while should take note that this is my brother Mike, not the husband Mike. Distant relatives sometimes get confused. People who know us would find this incredibly funny.

Happy Hanukkah!

Happy Hanukkah everyone! Rather than tell you what we did this year for Hanukkah, I thought I would share a few things we learned.

1. Do not wait until the first night to check and see if you have Hanukkah candles.

2. Substituting "regular" candles creates a "Goth Hanukkah" effects and possibly a bit of a fire hazard.

3. Paying to overnight authentic Israeli oil vials is expensive. Here I would like to note that the tips off the glass oil vials must be broken each night to expose the wick. I suppose previously this breaking of the glass was done by hand, but NEW for this year they included a glass breaking tool. People must have complained that the blood was detracting from the festive occasion.

4. The excitement of Eight Crazy Nights of Presents diminished as the week went on and the kids realized that some of those presents might be things like pajamas and a new atlas.

5. You can serve matzoh ball soup for Hanukkah. (Mike tried to tell me that Matzoh Ball Soup was to Hanukkah as Easter Eggs were to Christmas. Not true!)

6. Yes, the baby will try to eat the dreidel.

7. If you sing Adam Sandler's Hanukkah Song, your five-year old will not ask you what "Marajuanica" is.



I hope yours was happy!

Cynthia & family

Thanksgiving

Juliana's Thanksgiving Blessing

We are thankful for the food before us.
We are thankful for the friends and family beside us.
We are thankful for the love among us.

We are thankful.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving trip to Virginia. The kids have the entire week off school. Juliana and Gavi visited with their best friends, went to the Natural History Museum to make sure the dinosaurs were still there and had lunch at the McDonalds in the Air and Space Museum because it has a talking trash can.

Thanksgiving was at the Pusey house. My mom is amazing - pulling off a sit-down dinner for 20 people on her birthday.

Stay tuned for the Hanukkah post.