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Seder part deux – 2008

Posted on April 22, 2008 10:39 am by TheAngelForever

Since we have two little boys JL is pretty flexible about start times for our seders. We definitely put that into play for the second night. We started the seder at about 4:30 so both of the boys could participate. In addition to this, we were very casual. Since it was so warm out the boys and I were wearing shorts.

The table looked a little different for the second night. Once again Mom helped it to look beautiful.

The only one not at the table for the seder was Whiskers, my parents cockatoo. She was included in food and items to keep her happy though.

Whiskers - not at the seder table

NHL had a lot of fun dipping his greens into salt water. After a while the salt water was just for NHL. Apparently he missed the memo that we do not double dip (or however many times he actually did it).

JSL had a lot of fun bonking heads and playing with papa. This game continued on for quite some time. They had a blast with this and then the "Uh, oh" game where JSL drops everything on the ground and says "Uh, oh" waiting for it to get picked back up.

Soon the little guy was very tired. He would not settle for me.

Luckily Nana’s rocking him did the trick. When we got to dinner I put the sleepy little guy onto a blanket and he missed the meal. When he woke up he had lots to catch up on.

Meanwhile NHL was busy eating a lemon . . . something he requested and actually enjoyed. I love the face he made in the middle photo.

A boy and his lemon

JL helped NHL to read the Four Questions. While doing this he also used the finger puppets. Remind me please. . . . who is the child?

Later on it was time to use the horseradish again. This is the evil stuff that brought tears to many eyes at our table. The stuff was strong and almost like homemade.

While some eyes were teary from the horseradish others did this . . .

With all of the excitement even NHL wanted to try it out. Against my advice JL made him a sandwich on matzoh with mainly charoset and a dot of horseradish. We all knew when he hit the dot. Poor kiddo!

Although it is hard to see this is Papa’s reaction along with Aunt T carefully putting a tiny amount onto her matzoh.

One part of the seder was done differently the second night. We down played the mystery of Elijah. Saturday night NHL woke up several times with nightmares from someone coming to get him and was quite hysterical. With much prodding he finally told us that it was Elijah and he was scared. We carefully explained that he only came to the seder and was nothing to be scared about. It must have worked since the nightmares did not happen after the second night.

Once again we had a wonderful seder. The best part we were packed up and heading home with more leftovers and the boys were in bed at a very reasonable hour. Thanks again to my parents, Aunt T and JL for making this Passover so special.

Categories:
family fun holidays laughs photos weekend

Happy Passover – 2008 Seder 1

Posted on April 21, 2008 8:17 am by TheAngelForever

As I sit down here to type, both of the Passover Seders are over and done with. Although it was a lot of work for JL, Mom, Dad, and I to do both of them at my parent’s house, it was well worth it. Thank you again Mom and Dad for working with us to make it happen.

We started the morning off getting something out to eat before we started cooking. Then we realized that we needed a few quick things at the store for the Seder. We stopped at a store for a new peeler and some sneakers for NHL. We did not realize his current ones were getting snug on him. We bought a pair of more plain ones and the following that he loved.

Then we went to the grocery store for a quick stop and back to our house. At home we packed up more Passover items and then went to my parents to work on the meal for the evening. We made a lot of food including charoset, brisket (thanks to Mimi and Aunt T), sweet and sour chicken, oven roasted sweet potatoes (JSL’s favorite) and cauliflower. In addition to this we had matzoh ball soup, hard boiled eggs, dried fruit (thanks Aunt T), strawberries, and some brownies, cookies and jelly candy. Here take a look:

The seder plate and table looked really great thanks to my mother getting everything so pretty. This is what the table looked like before we sat down.

And the seder plate is here:

Just before the seder both of the boys fell asleep. They were exhausted so we let them sleep while we talked and finished preparing everything. We were in no real rush. Our seder was the four of us, my parents and Aunt T. See how quiet they were:

NHL and JSL finally woke up and were ready to head to the table. NHL was thrilled to see he had a special setting. At his spot were the 4 Question finger puppets all ready to go.

Then it was time to put the matzoh bib on JSL. What do you think his reaction was? Here it is:

Eventually he warmed up to it and was amused by the kippah we put on him.

Thank goodness for the naps. It really helped the boys to be patient while we did the seder before the meal part.

We had a really nice first seder. I think JSL enjoyed his first Passover experience . . . especially the sweet potatoes and all of the attention from everyone. He ate some matzoh, but eventually realized it was not anything he loved and started to toss it. NHL was into participating this year and really wanted to help us read the haggadah. . . probably next year he will be able to do it.

Seder 2 also went smoothly thanks to lots of yummy leftovers and two new additions to the meal. More on this later.

P.S. A special thanks to JL for being flexible and working your butt off to kosher everything for the seders.

Categories:
family food glorious food holidays jsl nhl photos weekend yummy

Passover Memories – 2004

Posted on April 18, 2008 10:10 pm by TheAngelForever

As we look forward to JSL’s first Passover tomorrow evening, I thought it would be nice to look at some photos from NHL’s first holiday. We were still living in our apartment at the time. We technically were almost home owners. We were set to close on our house at the end of the month and moved in July 4th. NHL was almost 8 months old at the time. To put it into perspective, JSL is 11 months old now.

Nana and Papa came to celebrate with us as well as Uncle I. JL and I were hosting our first seders that year. It was very spur of the moment and we managed to put it together in less than a week. Here are some pictures of our table all set for the first night.

As you will see our finest china was out for the special event. Since we had a new little one we were too lazy to haul our Passover dishes out. We opted to use paper for quick and easy. It was not too environmentally friendly, but what can you do? It was only for a short holiday.

NHL loved to model his kippah and matzoh bib. Here is his reaction to us telling him he would have no chumetz (bread and the like).

My cute little matzoh ball loved all of the attention and was ready to ask the four question – well in baby talk at least.

All ready for the seder

Biting his tongue about eating matzoh. Oy vey what it does to your tummy!

To all of those celebrating Passover, I hope that you have a wonderful holiday with your families.

Categories:
food glorious food holidays jl looking back nhl photos

Passover Ponderings

Posted on April 14, 2008 9:52 am by TheAngelForever

Growing up I really loved Passover. It was a fun holiday. We were able to see many of our relatives, tell the story of the holiday and eat amazing food during the Seder. I have fond memories of many Passover seders at my Mimi and Poppy’s house. Whether it was at the house that they shared with Aunt T and Uncle H, or their apartment after selling the house – it was always wonderful times. After that we spent many Passovers at Aunt S and Uncle M’s house where the memories continued. The only negative in my childhood memory bank was taking lunch to school. Matzah and cream cheese got old after a while.

Flash forward to being an adult. Things have changed a lot. I still like the seders and passing on the traditions to our boys, but now I see the expense of the holiday (Passover food is flipping expensive) and know the preparations needed to kosher everything for the holiday. That does not even account for actually making the food for the seders.

This is a sneak peek of one of the cabinets that is housing our Passover food while we clean the kitchen for the upcoming week. There is a lot behind the front and we have even more in another cabinet. One of the items you can barely see is the pink of a 5 pound box of matzah (behind the water) – a necessary beast. We were also lucky to score some Tam Tam crackers for the little guy to have. We were not sure we would find them thanks to the shortage this year. We never get pancake mix, but thought JSL may enjoy it since he likes pancakes. The cost of the tuna makes me ILL. Kosher for Passover tuna costs $1.88 a can!! Sick isn’t it?

And here is even more stuff:

The other cabinet has gefilte fish and a few other odds and ends. We also have some Passover stuffed cabbage (already made) in the freezer, along with boneless chicken breasts and turkey to make burgers. Oh, there is also a lot of cream cheese, yogurt and cheese in the refrigerator. We can not forget that since it is crucial. We probably will not need much more aside from lots of produce since we bulk up on meals with veggies (lots of salad) and snacks are fruit filled.

Oy vey . . . Passover is coming way too quickly for me. Off I go to flood my brain with happy childhood memories of the holiday.

Categories:
family holidays looking back

Nursery School Passover Seder

Posted on April 10, 2008 10:49 pm by TheAngelForever

Ready or not, Passover is coming quickly (officially begins next Saturday evening). Since next week is April break, NHL’s school had their Passover Seder that parents were invited to this week. So, yesterday my mother, JSL and I went to NHL’s school for their mini-Seder. It was absolutely adorable to watch NHL, especially when he saw that Nana was with us. Here are some photos and a video of the Seder.

JSL had a great time in Nana’s arms for the entire Seder. He loved watching all of the kids, especially his big brother.

NHL sat down at a table with some of his friends, so we joined him to wait for everything to begin.

This is how the table looked when we sat down. In case anyone is curious the tongue depressors represent the shank bone that is on the Seder Plate.

Before we were able to try the Passover foods the kids all performed some Passover songs for us. Here is a small part of my favorite song. It was too funny hearing all of the little ones singing the chorus in the halls prior to this. As you will see some knew the other parts, but they all chime in for the chorus.

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NHL loves to perform. As you can see he was quite happy when he was going back to the table after singing.

NHL gobbled up everything that was on his plate (although he was not in love with the radish).

JSL was able to try some of the Charoset thanks to it being a nut free building. Nana said he loved it!

Of course the kids did not have wine, instead it was grape juice all around.

A fun little seder for all. I am SO thrilled that NHL was able to go to this school. I have fond memories of it when I was little and I know he will too.