Zoe turns 3

Zoe Claire turned 3 and first she celebrated with her classmates at school. She got to wear a special crown and they showed pictures of her for each year of her life. Daddy came to the party and took some pictures of her enjoying special birthday treats with her friends. It was the first fun birthday celebration of the day.

That evening we celebrated again at home. Zoe got to open presents, including her new baby from Aunt Rebecca and Uncle Brian. Nothing like starting her out early on American Girl dolls with the Bitty Baby which she named Baby Mimi. She loves it, and it has been sleeping with her every night ever since. Zachary also got a belated birthday present from some friends which he enjoyed so everyone was happy.


Cake was fun too - we all helped blow out the candles and then we all ate. Zoe stole a snuggle with her Daddy after cake although it also looks like the choke hold ... hmmmm?

So then we had a party at our house with many of Zoe and Zachary's friends. Our theme was Blues Clues and we actually played Blues Clues. The bigger kids really got into the game including Zachary, in fact he asks me everyday if we can play blues clues some more. He was so into it and Zoe loved holding her stuffed Blue (see below). Note - the cake was princess, as per Zoe's request. Can you make out the 3 princesses?


Aunt Brooke and Nava joined us which was a real treat. Nava is quite a big girl these days, almost ready to walk.

This picture on the left is during the Blues Clues game - after finding one of the clues -- birthday hats. Of course we had to take a family picture too.

The kids had so much fun and were so good at the party, plus it tired them out and they both napped in the afternoon. We felt it was a huge success and we were thrilled.

Mini Golf and Apple Picking

Zachary has spirit day on fridays and has to wear his Ezra academy shirt. We ordered ours (a little late) and so he had to borrow this one from a friend. But he was excited none the less and we thought he looked very handsome and grown up.


Daddy took Zachary and Zoe to play miniature golf one afternoon which they loved. Zachary may not be ready for an early tee time yet, but he had lots of fun playing, watching all the crazy ways the balls go and afterward he enjoyed playing pin ball and other arcade games. Zoe was mostly excited about the candy prizes she earned.



Rosh Hashana is around the corner and so we went to pick apples, pears, peaches and nectarines. We met friends at the orchard - see Zachary with his old friend Sapir. The kids loved sampling the fruit and finding the biggest apples. We already made a peach crisp and next is apple cake for Rosh Hashana. We will have to make some apple sauce too since we got over 12 lbs of apples.


How great are these shots of the kids - what great smiles they showed off. When we look at these shots we are reminded of how lucky we are to have such adorable and loving children. With all the hub bub of adjusting to new schools and preparing for the upcoming holidays it is good to have a moment to reflect on how fortunate we are.

Fun times in the apple orchard - picking, eating and snaping pics.

Kids and classic family shot - was fun to look at pictures of us picking at the same orchard 2 years ago - reminds us how much both Zachary and Zoe have grown.

First days of School

Zoe started at her new pre-school on Monday 8/31, Gan Hayeled Nursery School. Her teacher, Ms. Connie, seems great and she is 1 of 6 kids in her class. Zoe had a great first day, except that when Daddy arrived to pick her up, she cried since she thought Mama was coming. Here she is at the end of her 1st day - already sucking her thumb ready for lunch and a nap. Starting on day 2, she ate lunch at school with her new friends and especially enjoyed her new pink thermos.

On tuesday 9/1 Zachary had his first day of Kindergarten. Daddy had to get off to work before departure time, so he asked Mama to take a picture of the kids out front, the classic shot in front of our door. Here are the kids just before we leave, notice Zachary wearing his new backpack. It seems that Zoe might have been giving a thumbs up!?

Here is Zachary, with a very cheesey grin, out front of his new school, Ezra Academy. Both kids schools are in the same Shul in the next town over from ours making it easier for morning drop off. Zachary was so excited - even though the first day was only 2 hours.

Another classic shot - Zachary sitting in his cubby in his kindergarten classroom. He has 2 teachers, Morah Judy and Morah Nettie and he is 1 of 14 kids. He has 2 friends from his pre-school with him, and has already met a few new kids. He is excited for day 2 when he stays a FULL day and eats lunch at school. Based on all the positive feelings we have and more importantly Zachary's exuberance we are feeling that Ezra is a very good fit. Now 5 years old and growing up before our eyes.

During his 1st day (in only 2 hours) Zachary made a picture, played, davened, had snack, did a project for the class bulletin board, heard a story and made his own booklet, and checked out the new class turtle. Wonder what tomorrow will bring?

At the end of the first day of school, Ezra Academy has a dinner picnic which Mama and the kids went to. The kids ate dinner, played on the playground and watched bigger kids play soccer and basketball. What a wonderful community we have joined, with many years more to enjoy.