NO MORE TRAINING WHEELS

Both kids started riding their bikes today WITHOUT training wheels after a week of no pedals ... they both did GREAT and had so much fun.  They can't wait to ride again.


Here is Zoe just after she got her pedals back: and here is Zachary after he got his pedals back:

Zoe's Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast at School

Zoe's class had a Thanksgiving Feast and Daddy joined her.  The food was delicious - some made by the kids themselves.  Surprisingly Zoe enjoyed the sweet potato dish, which we have the recipe for.  She also very much enjoyed having Daddy be there with her.  The kids (Kindergarten and 1st grade) sang and adorable song for the parents about gobbling turkeys, too cute. 

Thanksgiving Cheesecake & Pasta Making 2011

Our "Schulman" tradition of making cheesecake and homemade pasta for Thanksgiving continued again this year.  Zachary had a sleepover and hike with his best friend so Zoe helped Daddy make the cheesecake - YUMMY!

Zachary has gotten really good at rolling out the pasta dough, helping Daddy make long sheets for cutting into papperdelle as well as for the ravioli.  Zoe also helped as you'll see below and this year each kid made their own 'personal' ravioli.  This year we made cheese and mushroom filling - both kinds were delicious.  Meanwhile Mama made cream sauce for the raviolis and a salmon cream sauce for the papperdelle.  It was the best Thanksgiving meal we have had ... yet!

 They also worked together and Daddy supervised.  They make a good team and each year the raviolis are better than the last.

Philadelphia visit - Soosaar Family

We went to Philadelphia for the weekend to visit Aunt Jen, Uncle Alvar, Aurora, and Sebastian.  We also visited with our old friends the Sasson family on our way back.  It was a great weekend including a trip to a local park where Daddy took these fall shots of the kids cavorting around.  The kids all behaved fantastically and the parents enjoyed a fun night out saturday night.  We can't wait to visit with Soosaar family again soon.  

Hashem Sheli for Zoe Claire/Shaina Zahara

Zoe had her Hashem Sheli program at Ezra Academy - where we share how she got her name.  It was very exciting for her and she did great.  Zachary came along too (missing part of his morning).  Here are the kids just before the program in Zoe's classroom.

 Zoe sitting with her classmates and singing some of the Tefillot (prayers).

 Zoe and her classmates singing about getting a name - they were so CUTE!

GG was here for her birthday for the first time EVER so the kids really enjoyed eating ice cream in honor of her birthday.  They donned some costumes (Bride and Astronaut) and went trick-or-treating with our friends who were in New Haven since their power was out after the insane snow storm we had.  They all had a lot of fun, and got some yummy treats too!

Enjoy this picture of all the kids ...

Sukkot 2011

Sukkot this year was lots of fun - although we didn't eat in our sukkah as much as we would have liked since we got invited out for quite a few meals and there was some rain.  Here is a picture of the kids in our sukkah which turned out quite beautiful this year, and Zoe eating cake another night to celebrate a friends birthday.  Don't the lights look cool????

Zachary lost his 5th tooth

 Zachary lost his 5th tooth at school today.  It has been dangling for DAYS and even though Mama really wanted to yank it out, Zachary wouldn't have it.  It came out on its own while eating cold pizza at lunch time.  Zachary got a sticker and special "treasure chest" to keep it in, from the school nurse.  Wonder what the tooth fairy will bring him ....

1st Soccer Game Fall 2011

Zoe played in her fist soccer game - and she did awesome!  She had a lot of fun and kicked the ball a few times and kept up with the game quite well.  Enjoy some pictures of her on the field.

 Look at her in with her teammates getting the ball!  Also getting a snuggle from Mama between quarters.

 Zoe as Goalie - she saved a goal for her team and shared a thumbs up with us on her good job.

 Zachary looking cute before his game.

 Throwing in the ball for his team and getting the ball away from his friend who is on the light blue team.

Hope Gold and Burgundy have great seasons!  They both won their games today so it was a good start!

First week of school

 We are a little late in posting this ... First week of school at Ezra Academy - Zachary began second grade and Zoe kindergarten.  Everyone had spiffy new sneakers.  The first day was rainy so the kids brought their umbrellas (Zachary is holding his open in first picture).  Zoe chose a dress for the first day (a running theme for her) and Zachary wore his newest tye die that he made at family camp. Everyone enjoyed the first day and already started learning how things work in their new classrooms and with their new teachers. 

 Zoe looking very proud in her new classroom - she couldn't wait to start Kindergarten and be a "big kid"

 Zachary got an Israel shaped eraser from his Judaics teacher on his first day. 

 

By Friday - it was Ezra spirit day and the kids wore their Ezra shirts. Zoe wore Zachary's old one (which is still quite big on her) and Zachary's  shirt which we got used last year shows some wear and tear already - stains from many a shabbat dinner. 

Our new shofar

Check out this picture of Zoe holding the shofar that Daddy and Zachary made!  Zoe even blew it over the loud speaker with some of her Ezra school mates.  She is amazing - figured out how to blow it and can make a long and loud sound!   Zachary accompanied her to the office the first day she blew it to lend moral support.  When asked if he wanted to blow it over the loud speaker he said, "I don't like the taste of Ram's horn".  They make a good team - making and doing in the spirit of Rosh Hashannah.  What great kids we have.

Zachary did try blowing it a few times at home and can make a little sound but Zoe and Daddy seem to be the family experts, as for Mama - nothing!

Family Camp - Camp Yavneh, New Hampshire, 2011

We went to family camp at Camp Yavneh in New Hampshire during the last week of August.  We had so much fun being with friends and making new ones, trying out life at sleep away camp, and learning new skills.  We had to leave a little early because of Hurricane Irene - which lead to other adventures in southern New Hampshire.  But meanwhile we think we will be heading back to Family Camp next year, and Zachary would like to go to sleep away camp for 2 weeks there next summer ... we shall see.

 The first morning Zachary and Daddy participated in the fishing tournament.  By the time Mama and Zoe got there we missed the chance to take pictures of all the fish that Zachary and Daddy caught - but we got to see some of our friends catch fish, Daddy helped lots of people prepare their rods, and Mama put quite a few worms on hooks.

 Zoe made this beautiful necklace during her "camp" time - she had really nice councelors and her friend Jacob and his cousin Ruby to hang out with in the 4 year olds group.  All the kids had age appropriate groups in which they had "camp" time with counselors and typical camp activities.  Both kids enjoyed this time very much, had good counselors (one of Zachary's counselors was from Westville and grew up in our shul), and made beautiful things in their arts and crafts time. 

This is Zachary looking cute in the Chadar Ochel - Dining Hall.

Sporting our "Family Camp shirts" just before the all camp photo.  Each year they provide t-shirts in a new color.  A nice keepsake from our time there. 

Zachary and Zoe loved sleeping in the top bunks of the bunk beds in our "bunk".  Zoe had a little trouble getting out at first, but she (being the monkey that she is) figured it out.  The kids actually slept well in the bunks beds (although most nights they got to stay up later than usual) and no one had any problems (ie no falls, lost lovies, or bed bugs :-).

One of the exciting events of family camp was the family rocket launching.  We ordered our rocket well in advance of camp but somehow it got lost in the mail and sadly never arrived, but our dear friend Amy and her family saved the day for us and some other friends at camp too.  She bought extra launching parts (that is a technical term) for their rocket and each kid got a chance to launch - a total of 8 launches in all.  Daddy was a big helper in assembling and preparing for launch and Mama was the picture taker.  We got lots of pictures of the launches - too many to share here but a few of our kids pre-launch and catching the rocket (with attached parachute) are below. 

Camp wouldn't be the same without Tie-Dying and Mama sure was in her element.  She helped tie lots of folks shirts up and the results were fantastic.  Daddy's spiral was amazing.  Zoe and Zachary both dyed their own shirts and Daddy dyed Mama's for her.

Mama and Zoe enjoyed sitting by the Agam (lake) while Zachary swam to the aqua trampoline.  He had to wear a life jacket to go out there but he swam to and from, not to mention bouncing on and off the trampoline a bit.  The Agam was a HUGE hit for the whole family.  Mama and Daddy went on a boat ride while the kids had "camp" time and then (see below) Mama took Zoe for a ride too.  Zachary swam a lot in the Agam (as did Zoe) and enjoyed jumping off the dock.  Zoe also did some more fishing and watching some of the other kids catch sunfish.

The kids enjoyed a visit with JuJu the clown during some of their camp time - and each one got a balloon guy (see the pictures).  These guys made the trip back to New Haven with us and are currently shrinking in the play room.

There were many other fun activities - a talent show which both kids performed in with our friends, Mama and Daddy learned some cooking techniques, adult wine and dessert tasting, a water slide and wet moon bounce for the kids, Israeli dancing, foam - a gazebo filled with bubbles (for the kids of course), shabbat puppet show, singing at the campfire while roasting marshmallows (yum) and much much more (and a lot more pictures).  Hope you enjoyed this snippet of our time at camp. 

Family picture just before shabbat - don't we look swanky.  It was a lovely shabbat - we had a nice meal and the food and challot were delicious.  We davened, rested, ate, relaxed some more, and enjoyed the Yavneh shabbat experience.