Halloween 2009

Halloween fell on shabbat this year ... so we didn't go trick or treating but the kids did lots of other fall/halloween related activities and enjoyed, check out the pics to prove it.
This is our new favorite picture of the kids - I mean could they look any cuter? The weather friday afternoon was pretty warm so they hung out in the front yard and posed on the front steps. Notice our lovely pumpkins which Mama and the kids painted.

Here is Zoe painting her pumpkin. She was very busy putting A LOT of paint on - the colors blended into a pinkish/brownish/purple. She was very intensely painting and then proceeded to paint her mini white pumpkin too.


Zachary immediately painted a face on his pumpkin - and a pretty good one at that. He asked Mama to paint his name on the other side and he also painted rainbow stripes on it. Later he asked to cut into his pumpkin too ... but we didn't - too messy without Daddy who was working.

How awesome did they come out ... Mama did the stripes, which Zachary loved. Hope it doesn't rain too much or the steps will not be white.

On Halloween night the kids got into costumes to answer the door - Zachary chose his Veterinarian costume (Zoe is holding the puppy) and Zoe was a fairy. The kids don't remember going trick or treating 2 years ago so they weren't sad to not be going out this year - especially since we let them have some candy and stay up late in hopes of averting the early wake time with daylight savings time ending.


We got a Halloween package from Aunt Marcia and Mamma (Rita) - it included these funny glasses. The kids looked so funny in them we had to share. The funny mustache tickled Zachary's face and the other glasses almost gave Daddy a headache!


Hope everyone enjoyed their activities - Halloween and Shabbat.

Joshua Ari turns 2

Joshua turned 2 and we went down and stayed with him for the weekend. Much of the play time was spent watching the kids play with trains, or riding cars around the house. Zoe and Josh often took turns (not always willingly) or "chased" each other. Zachary was a bit big and less interested in the ride and he was excited to set up Josh's trains for him and also enjoyed watching Thomas the Train on TV.

All the family at Josh's party (except Ethan) posed on the steps for a "family" portrait. The kids tried to cooperate and it is nice to have now. Also Mama got a chance to snuggle with her adorable nephew Ethan who seemed soothed by her with all the chaos of the birthday bash.

Daddy and Zoe stole a moment together - and yes she is holding a football. Don't get too excited, she does not have a good throwing arm, yet! Also a Schulman family portrait, Mama loves to have these and luckily the kids cooperated. Zoe is looking quite coy in this one.

Maller family portrait - love seeing them all together, Josh wasn't so excited about it, but hey it was his party and he could cry if he wanted too. Doesn't his conductor outfit look cute, since he had a Thomas the Train party. Mama and Aunt Rebecca looking good with the birthday boy ...




Zachary and Zoe asked once again to hold their newest cousin - but he is getting so big that he is harder to hold now ... but we love seeing them together and look forward to lots more pictures like this.

Joshua's Grandma Miriam baked him a Thomas train cake complete with an actual Thomas, for his actual birthday The family enjoyed lunch and cake together. GG and Zoe shared cake and the kids joined Joshua in singing and blowing out his candles.

Sukkah Fun 2009

Before Sukkot (and Shabbat) began the kids humored Mama and posed for some pictures in our Sukkah. Sadly Daddy had to work so we ate without him. The kids love eating out in the sukkah and so far the weather has been good for it. In this first picture the kids are standing under a paper lantern that Zachary made at school.

Posing with kiddush cups - getting ready to make the brachot. The challah was sweet and the grape juice too.

On monday Daddy was finally able to join us in the Sukkah. So we had mexican night and we took some new pictures. There had been some rain on and off over the weekend but everything had dried out.


Dessert - yummy fudgicles. The kids decided to pretend they were lipstick, and this was quite entertaining. I think they haven't been watching Mama so closely or they would know that lipstick doesn't go on ones cheeks.

Zachary took this picture of Mama and Daddy - we are so proud to have our sukkah -- this is the 4th year! Also we are proud of Zachary, perhaps he can start snapping some of the candid photos. Chag Sameach!