Ninety Five Reasons to Celebrate Nana

We didn't drive I-95 to get there, but this weekend we headed down to Florida to celebrate our Nana's 95th!

We also got to celebrate Aunt Abi's 33rd.

Aunt Abi is daddy's sister and we all know how special sisters are...

...not to mention grandparents.

We spent each morning at services, where we had Shabbat dinner for breakfast. Alex the monkey is slowly learning to chime in on the "amen" with me. Don't you think it's time he learned "bo-rei p'ri ha-a-da-mah" (the blessing over bananas)?

Speaking of Alex, he never feels like I've got a monkey on my back.

Meanwhile, back at the resort (get it?)...

...spending the afternoon on my back at the beach is a treat not to be missed.

Nana and her girlfriends are also a treat. I hear they have shared quite a few happy occasions over the decades and I hope we have friends like them with whom to celebrate our milestones.

Here's to celebrating family - together!

Lots and Lots of Lots

Purim was extra-special this year because it was on a Saturday night and Sunday, so we stayed up super duper late to celebrate. All you cared about was checking out the mishloach manot. That's because this elephant didn't forget all the goodies we got last year.

In the morning, you were invited to sing with your classmates, but I was the only one interested in getting on stage to participate...

...as the lyrics say "let's nosh some hamantash."

Chag Purim Sameach!

A Daria-matic Reading of "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom"

For those who have not heard it, the famous story goes that a told b and b told c, "I'll meet you at the top of the coconut tree." Much mayhem ensues, the entire alphabet climbs the tree, and well, "Oh no!" and "Chicka Boom!" I think Daria has her own interpretation, however...

Artsy Fartsy Family

We're two silly sisters bumping belly buttons!

Do you like my wacky stripey toe glove? I can stand on one foot.

Yes, well, look at me, sis. Anything you can do...I can too.

Nice footwork. You show great promise as a dancer...

...and your watercolor technique is excellent.

When it comes to being creative, however, I'm particularly proud to have mastered the art of the diaper change, a musical masterpiece in baby's two movements. (You probably didn't see that coming, despite having read the title of the entry.)

Hap-PopPop-y Birthday to You!

This weekend, we drove down to Baltimore to celebrate our PopPop. He was having a very big birthday. So big, he got three cakes!

Mema enjoyed celebrating her daddy's birthday.

While being with our great-grandparents was fun, time with cousins was especially wonderful.

On Sunday morning I missed my usual swimming class, so Daisy agreed to help me 'make an arrow' and 'float with big arms.'

Then it was off to brunch at Suburban House to continue PopPop's celebration weekend with bagels and lox.

I wanted to keep with Sunday morning tradition, so I worked with mommy on the crossword.

Speaking of a relaxing Sunday morning, how about some massages?!

Don't we girls look relaxed - thumbs in or, as Aunt Julie says, "assuming the position."

It was also nice to spend some time with Great Uncle Herb, even if he seemed more interested in guy stuff.

We are just as cozy as pigs-in-a-blanket having a matzoh ball. We couldn't have pickled a better family. Speaking of picking, couldn't you come up with some better deli puns? Is my humor too wry or have we gotten carraway-ed?

Bobo fed us our first jell-o ever. It was so yummy and jiggly. Just like you, sis.

PopPop has a spectacular lap. Just the right size for two girls. Yes, I know. I remember when Leah and I were little we fit just right (scroll down a bit)...

We hope PopPop (and BoBo) enjoyed his birthday weekend as much as we did. Can't wait to celebrate more birthdays.

Get the Point?

Lately my fingers have become a very important part of ensuring that I get what I want. In this case, my right pointer is adorned with une framboise, a berry which tastes best when eaten off of one's "digit."


When Josh and Rachel were in town to visit, I also made sure to "point out" the many online wedding planning resources they could "index" (in this case using my left one).

Not-So-Secret Admirers

We are lucky to have so many friends, especially boys. There's nothing like a pre-Valentine's day dinner with a handsome, older gentleman like Ari.


Except the second annual pre-Valentine's day dinner with an adorable classmate like Leo.


Speaking of classmates, you made some beautiful valentines for your friends.


Thank you. Among our friends and admirers from near and far, Samara and her mommy are particularly special. They visited us all the way from Hong Kong and boy are we counting down until they move back!

Sunday School

While technically there isn't school on the weekends, I really love circle time and learning, so I try to make sure it is an all-week activity. This weekend when BoMa and BoPa came to town, I tried to teach them a little something.


You are an excellent teacher, YaYa. The Row, Row song was my favorite part.


Class dismissed!

Celebrate Good Friends, Come On!

In honor of "Uncle" Jamie and Linnea's birthdays, we threw a little party, complete with balloons...


...and, given how much we love them, a (Colossal Cup)cake!! Have you ever seen anything like it? Well, I've seen less colossal cupcakes, but since we were celebrating two birthdays, we needed something bigger.


"Aunt" Celena and Felix helped them blow out the candles. Actually Felix really wasn't much help. I think he was asleep.


He's a little baby. They sleep a lot. Don't you remember when mommy and daddy first met him at the hospital? No, I wasn't there silly. Well, here's a pic to remind you. Cute, eh?


Back to the party, now, where Linnea and I found a perfect spot to sit and enjoy the fun.


Then at the end of the evening, we exchanged happy birthday hugs!!

Bath Math: Sisters + Water = Fun

The H20 and bubbles make for an exciting time in the tub.


While it's nice to share the tub, I remember when it was just me. Wait, which bath angel was I? I'm glad we weren't separated at birth. Me too.

It's a Shul Thing

We've been spending a lot of time at shul over the last few months helping mommy say Kaddish. The community, particularly the morning minyan, has been so welcoming of us. One of "mommy's shul friends" made us our own prayer book and another handcrafted a tallis for each of us. Mine has purple ribbon and flowers (and mine is pink). While we mostly wear them during services, we also sometimes try them on at home (they pair beautifully with jammies before running some pre-bedtime errands with our baby dolls).


We've now learned enough to start getting aliyot (the honor of being called up to help read from the Torah).


For now, that's shul, folks (we hope to see you at services very soon)!

Easy as ABCD

Need we say more?

We're in a Sunshine State

In preparation for our trip to Fort Lauderdale, we practiced packing our bags...with ourselves. But why do you keep saying we're taking the car?


When we got on the actual plane, one of us studied the safety card in the seat pocket in front of her, while the other concentrated on the Cartoon Network.


While mommy was working, we were lucky to spend a lot of quality time with our Nana, who hosted a mini pool party at her complex.


In return, we introduced her to one of our favorite foods--chicken fingers! (Check out the vintage photo of daddy, Aunt Abi, and Cousin Josh over my left shoulder.)


Still, there was lots of work to be done, so we joined mommy at her company breakfast. We were happy to see Hal, one of our most loyal readers, who is very down-to-earth (in this case, literally).


After a tough day of work, we reunited and took a stroll on the boardwalk...


Then we hit the pool at the hotel to show off our kicks and our "eyes-and-bubbles."


This is how I like to relax.


Even babies work up quite a thirst in this Florida heat.


Where are the papparazzi when you need them?


We had a great time. Fortunately we had the plane ride home to catch up on rest.