Category Archives family

Visit to Bubbe & Grandpa – Day 1

Sunday morning at 9:30 we hit the road to go and visit Bubbe and Grandpa (JL’s parents). We had not been there in a LONG time. JL only had to use one day of vacation time since he worked Christmas and had New Years Day off. Not too shabby. Before we left I e-mailed our neighbors next door to see if they would keep an eye on our house and help us shovel the little storm that we were supposed to get that evening. At that time they were predicting 3-5 inches. . . recall this amount.

Both of the boys fell asleep quickly. At the half way point in the trip we arrived at the point where there are no more rest areas on the crazy roads. We stopped took NHL to the bathroom, changed JSL’s diaper and went back into the car with a snack so I could nurse JSL. NHL spent a lot of the trip asking "Are we there yet?"  Who knew that kids started this at 4?!?!

We quickly arrived at my in-laws in good time, even without two kids. The boys were happy to be out of the car. After unpacking the car we went to eat lunch at a new hamburger place called American Roadside Burger. The food was good and perfect for a lighter lunch since it was late. Next we went to Trader Joe’s. *sigh*  I so wish we had one of these by us. If you have ever been to one than you know what I mean. There just is nothing else quite like a Trader Joe’s and we had a list from people to get things to bring home. Here is the result of the first of two trips to TJ. 

We SO need a Trader Joe's here

Once we got back to the house JSL was VERY hungry and wanted to nurse. We went to the bedroom to take care of business. A little while later he unlatched, rolled over and went to sleep. As you will see this became a pattern throughout the visit thanks to teething. Here is the little guy resting peacefully:  

Tired little guy after a long road trip

Soon after I went to check on everyone else. NHL and JL had already found out where Noggin was located at Bubbe and Grandpa’s house. 

The boys check our Grandpa's new television

NHL would not admit that he was tired. He was zoning badly. Thanks to this we opted to stay home and get pizza for dinner. Check out these tired eyes: 

Tired boy from a long trip

Even Lacey (Bubbe and Grandpa’s 15 year old dog) was tired.  Side note: I am horribly allergic to Lacey. Most times I get so sick that even my allergy medication does not help and I end up using my rescue inhaler to breathe. Thanks to nursing I was only allowed to take an over the counter product and was very afraid of how sick I would get.

Here is Lacey resting on the couch:

Lacey dog

Meanwhile back in the bedroom JSL continued to nap – something others of us should have been doing! 

After moo-ing the little guy rolled over to sleep

JL and his father went to pick up the pizza. We all ate and then NHL had a tub. Before bed we had to set up the futon. Our fear was NHL falling off since he did not have a bedrail that would work on it. Here was our solution thanks to lots of regular and body pillows: 

Surrounded by pillows to keep him on the futon

Meanwhile in our room JSL attempted to sleep in a Pack N Play. He always started off there and then would end up in bed with us. The poor little monkey was SO miserable from those pesky two top front teeth refusing to cut through. He even whimpered when he was in bed with us. Teething is EVIL I tell you!!!! 

A rare sight

Once the boys were sleeping, JL and his father went out to get things for breakfast.

I am going to break off now since I may not finish this tonight. 

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I have not blogged all year!

Man, I am having withdrawal symptoms and have lots of things to blog, but I am just too tired tonight. We have been away for the last four days visiting JL’s parents. The boys had a great time seeing Bubbe and Grandpa.

While we were away we missed two lovely snow storms here – and had to try to deal with them long distance. Nothing like getting 12 inches of snow at home (from storm one mind you) and trying to find someone to make your house look lived in. Thank goodness our neighbor and JL’s boss helped us out. Plus my parents watched things – thanks mom and Dad :)

On that note I am going to take the photos off my camera and go sleep in MY bed! Tomorrow is going to be filled with laundry, organizing, snow removing, picking up my monkey from school, and caring for a little guy who has two teeth that FINALLY cut today!

Happy New Year everyone!!! 

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Chanukah Party & Family Day (12-8)

Thursday evening my brother (Uncle I), sister-in-law (Aunt M) and niece (SG) came into town. Due to NHL being really sick Friday we were not able to have dinner with them that evening. Saturday morning all seemed to be well. The high fever disappeared almost as mysteriously as it had appeared. Thanks to this we felt it was fine to make plans and see our family.

Aunt M and Uncle I requested lunch out at the newly opened PF Chang’s. We all said that was fine, so I made a reservation for 12:30 for the nine of us (that included the two babies). We had a very nice lunch, looked around the crazy mall quickly and then stopped at Target. We needed to go there for more Aveeno diaper rash cream as well as frosting and sprinkles for Aunt M’s Chanukah cookies.

After that it was time to head back to my parent’s house. At Nana and Papa’s we all decided to let the kids have some of their Chanukah gifts. Nana and Papa gave NHL the new Fisher Price Smart Cycle. It seems like a great "toy" for in the house during the winter. It will provide him with muscle movement (PT), and nice hand/eye coordination with the joystick (OT) using educational games. Here is a mosaic of NHL opening the gift. Note when he finally sees what is inside. Also included are some photos of him riding on it.

NHL's new Smart Cycle

 

Meanwhile JSL was enjoying his first Chanukah (check out the cool shirt that Nana and Papa got him). It was so fun watching him get into his new toys. He sat on the floor for quite some time playing, talking, watching and enjoying the farm toy that Nana and Papa gave him. He loved finding the places that would make music and kept experimenting with everything. Here are some photos of him including when he got there in his snowsuit, playing with Papa, modeling his "My First Hanukkah" shirt. Unfortunately we never had SG and JSL in a photo together with their matching shirts on. In addition to the farm toy he LOVED the Glow Worm from Uncle I, Aunt M and SG. When we got home Saturday night he kept singing with it. When it would stop glowing he would kiss it on the face and talk to it trying to make it go again.

JSL's first Chanukah Mosaic

 Of course the Smart Cycle did not come assembled since Santa does not do that for Chanukah – *wink*    Thanks to this JL had the opportunity to put it together for NHL. Here’s a shot of that fun. 

Constructing Smart Cycle

NHL was quite bored waiting for his Smart Cycle to be ready. Part of the time he watched Papa’s new "baby" play Noggin. 

Papa's new baby

By this point he was starting to really need something to do. Aunt M had him help SG open her Chanukah gifts. 

Helping his little cousin

Then he was quite sick of waiting. Note the sour puss. 

Bored NHL

Since I was getting slightly bored I took the following photo of my shoes and dreidel socks: 

Bored NHL & fun dreidel socks

SG was quite content when mommy read her a book and Papa came over to chat with her: 

Reading time

 

Papa and his princess

Once NHL’s bike was set, everyone just stayed together in the living room waiting for the other family members to come to the Chanukah party. 

Everyone together

Even the Chanukah Puppy was just hanging out: 

Chanukah puppy

Finally everyone arrived and it was time to eat. Here is a mosaic of all of the family gathering around the lit menorah enjoying our meal together. Oh and of course the goodies! 

Chanukah Party Mosaic

Poor JSL just had too much fun and excitement and fell asleep while the rest of us ate our meal. 

Tired baby

We had a very nice time with my family celebrating Chanukah together. More photos and weekend/Birthday updates coming later.

 

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Saturday family day (11-24)

Saturday we usually spend the day getting tons of things done that were not accomplished during the week.

This Saturday was different. We were asked to go in the morning to do Shabbos services with my family. Uncle J wanted to stay further from temple and needed people to do everything Friday night, Saturday morning and Saturday evening. We gladly went, as did my parents.

Saturday we started with the service, had left over Thanksgiving food for lunch and then everyone just relaxed. Everyone opted not to do television (very nice) so it was quiet and people talked. The kids had things with them to play. NHL refused to nap – which in the end was NOT a good thing. I joined my two aunts and cousins to play some games. One was Scrabble and let me just say it is not good to play when distracted by two children – including one being nipped at by a dog.

We had a great time. Unfortunately, since it was Shabbos I was not able to take photos until sun down. Not to worry I was able to capture some at that point. . . along with some videos (will be posted later).

NHL sitting with Aunt A while Cousin Ha plays the guitar. NHL was SO thrilled with this:

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What do you think. . . was NHL happy????

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He was just too happy to be able to "play" the guitar and have all eyes on him:

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Meanwhile others were surfing the web during the show:

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Other cousins did puzzles:

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JL then suggested taking a photo from under the glass table. So I did!

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Nana and Papa played with JSL:

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It is not a smile, but it is an interesting face on my father:

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Perhaps JSL’s reaction to Papa’s face:

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Mimi taught JSL to "make nice" over the weekend. Here he is trying to pet her face:

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Now the boys are so confused from all of the extended family being gone. They have just under two weeks to recover before Chanukah weekend with people back in town!

 

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Thanksgiving 2007 – a photo recap

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays (actually I think it is my favorite). There is just something extra special about spending time catching up with family, playing games with the kids, and eating amazing food!

This year we were lucky enough not to have to brave the roads with the boys. We stayed home and went to my Aunt S and Uncle M’s house. Their two kids (Cousin J and Cousin A) came home for the holiday. Cousin AC was also here to add to the fun, along with my parents and grandmother. In addition to this Uncle J, Aunt A, and Cousin Y all came into town. We were all surprised when we got there to see that Cousin Han was also in from Israel. I am not too sure when the last time I saw him, but it was wonderful seeing him (he is absolutely amazing with the kids – as is Cousin Y).

One realization hit hard – my little cousins have all grown up. It is so hard for me to believe how my younger cousins are almost all adults. I know this should not seem as such a shock since I am now a mother with two children of her own. Ah, the memories are wonderful and hopefully there will be many more in the years ahead.

Rather than bore everyone with what happened I am going to do it with lots of photos. Here are photos of Thanksgiving.

Here are pictures of JSL’s first Thanksgiving. As you will see being cuddly and playing with everyone made the poor little guy tired:

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Both of the boys were spoiled with lots of amazing gifts from everyone. Cousin AC gave them fun books that we will read to them often. Uncle J and Aunt A picked out FUN toys and some Chanukah books. Here are photos of JSL playing with his gift (which NHL also loves) followed by NHL playing with his neat soccer game.

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While the turkey was cooking a little bit more, and everyone was snacking on goodies before the main meal, Papa took NHL down to the basement. NHL was in heaven. He never knew that Aunt S and Uncle M have a pinball machine. It was just fixed and working again and they were having a blast. Here are some photos of NHL and Papa enjoying the pinball machine:

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Soon it was time to sit down for our amazing Thanksgiving feast. Here are photos of almost everything that was prepared by Aunt S (JL brought the pomegranate seeds and the zucchini with dried cranberry bread). 

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After dinner while cleaning up there were a few funny moments. Check out this photo and tell me what is wrong.

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Then all of the sugary goodness was set out for everyone to drool over. Here are the items we had before us:

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As previously seen JSL was exhausted from all of the excitement and even NHL fell asleep on the way home. Here is one last shot of JSL’s 1st Thanksgiving as he was peaceful in his portable highchair at the table. 

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Thanks to my entire family that was there for making it such a special day. Aunt S, you are the best and I only hope that some day I will be able to pull off a holiday feast like you do.

More photos of the weekend with everyone coming soon!

 

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