meeting cousin Peyton

GG and all her grandbabies! It took some lollypops but we are very excited to have this picture of everyone with GG and Peyton enjoyed her first dum dum lolly! Just kidding.

Peyton Elizabeth Maller was born on March 16, 2011 in Maryland. We went to visit her on April 1 and we were ALL so excited. Zachary said he had butterflies in his stomach all morning at school (we picked up the kids early to head down to Maryland) and Zoe could hardly wait to hold Peyton and teach her all about brides. Zoe was truly in love with her new cousin, and really enjoyed holding her (all weekend), and helping at diaper time, a real Mama in training.

Zachary also gave Peyton some snuggles, although he was a little more interested in playing trains with Joshy then changing Peyton's diapers and holding her. Zachary helped Josh set up lots of train tracks, and both Josh and Ethan enjoyed having their big cousins visit.

Hungry hippos was a big hit ... although it was also very noisy for the grown-ups. The kids had fun and the hippos got full!

How beautiful is baby Petyon, what a sweet face - reminded us a little of her big brother Ethan and a tiny bit of her cousin Zoe. She is such a good baby and Aunt Betsy sure did enjoy snuggling her over the weekend.

Purim 2011

So this year Zachary planned to be Darth Vader again, until he heard that his best friend was dressing up as a karate "guy" and then he decided he would do that too. As for Zoe, a bride (Callah in hebrew) was her request and thankfully we had a bride costume and this beautiful flower girl dress she could wear.

For the first Megillah (Purim story) reading on saturday nite, even Daddy dressed up. Everyone took a nap in the afternoon so that we could stay up late to hear the Megillah and party for Purim. The kids enjoyed listening to the story and shook their groggers every time they heard Haman's name. Then they begged to stay later so they could eat pasta and treats. By the time they got to bed it was very late ... but they did sleep in on sunday morning.

Here is a picture of Zoe with the grogger (noise maker) she made at school. She was very excited to shake it whenever they said Haman.

On sunday afternoon the shul had a lovely purim suedah (meal) organized by Mama and some of the other ladies. It was delicious and lots of fun too. Zachary and Zoe dressed up again and even Mama had a mask to wear. Their was a DJ and Zoe enjoyed a lot of dancing, see her and Mama dancing here. Before Daddy took the kids home for bed (Mama stayed to help clean up from the seudah) she wanted a picture with her two purim cuties. They are holding balloons which were part of the centerpieces -- why does that always happen at these things, oh well as long as the kids had fun and the party was a success we don't care!

A friend took a family picture of us, so stay tuned.

Zoe's Shabbat Dinner at Gan Hayeled

Zoe's preschool, Gan Hayeled, hosted its annual Shabbat Dinner. Last year we didn't go since it begins right before shabbat and Zoe's school is too far to walk home from. However this year there was enough time to be there for the pre-dinner singing and still drive home in time to light our shabbat candles, so we were so excited to be going.

This is Zoe's self portrait -- complete with her green polka-dotted rain boots. She wore her brown dress and brown tights that day too and we love it and can't wait to hang it in her bedroom.

Daddy and his cutie.

Mama and both her cuties, when we could catch them long enough to take a picture. The kids did quite a bit of running laps before the singing.

Zoe on the bimah with her friends singing shabbat songs. They were adorable. They sang shabbat shalom, shabbat dinosaur, oseh shalom, dovid melech and more, and then lit the shabbat candles.

Zoe running laps in her purple ruffle dress - it was so beautiful and she was very excited to wear it. Not to mention how it moved when she ran!

The kids all wore kippot, although somehow the one Zoe came home with is not the one pictured here ...?????

Zachary lost his second tooth

Zoe wanted in on the tooth action - so we took a picture of all of her teeth. Soon enough it will be her turn.

Zachary lost tooth number 2 and is excited to find what the tooth fairy will leave him. He wrote her a note requesting that this time he keep his tooth. This time the adult tooth isn't in yet so he has a gap, a badge of pride for a 1st grader we suppose. There is one more tooth that is loose, but we don't suspect that there will be 3 teeth in 3 weeks ... but we shall see.

Zachary lost his first tooth

Zachary finally lost his first tooth - it has been really wiggly for a couple weeks already and the new tooth has started coming in. Zachary had been so worried it might hurt or bleed a lot and although it did bleed a little it didn't hurt at all. He showed everyone his lost tooth - even our cats. He was so excited.

The tooth fairy was the topic of bedtime chatter and what she would leave him. Zoe was also so excited that she told GG that they had to leave the window open so "that woman" could come in.

In the morning Mama overhead the kids in Zachary's room. Zoe asked, "What is the tooth fairy's name?" and Zachary said, "She doesn't have a name, the note just says the Tooth Fairy". Then when asked what he got Zachary said, "I have never gotten so much money, I don't even know how much it is!"

Mama helped Zachary count the money: 3 dollars bills, 1 two dollar bill, 2 quarters, 1 dime, 1 nickel and 1 penny. Zachary finally concluded, five hundred sixty six, WOW!

This made our week, and we hope Zachary's too. We think everyone's expectations got met, and we hope that Zoe's first tooth is just as exciting and special for her too.

The first big blizzard of 2011

It started snowing the night of Mama's birthday (1.11.11) and by the 12th there was a snow day and a backyard full of snow. Zachary braved the cold to hit the backyard and for play - and he enjoyed the swing and the slide.

By 1.13.11 there was another storm, and the kids were off again, this time with Daddy. They went into the backyard again and this time built a snow fort - which was awesome, until it snowed some more and more and buried the snow fort! But the kids loved it and Daddy was proud of his igloo building prowess.

It is VERY important to note - that by the time of this posting, there had been 6 snow days, at least 2 delays and 1 early dismissal on the eve of a 1-2 punch storm promising at least 1 additional snow day if not 2. What a winter we have had!!!!

Mama's Birthday 1.11.11

Mama had an excellent birthday this year ... the kids made signs, cards and wrote beautiful message in the cards. Daddy got Mama a cake, flowers, a new umbrella (on Mama's wish list), a new CD, and the kids also got Mama a gift card for a manicure and pedicure. Daddy and Mama had a sitter lined up, but the snow kept them home, not to worry we still had a good evening. Mama also got to go out with some lady friends for dinner and dessert on another night and she treated herself to a facial. What fun it is to have a birthday and celebrate with the ones you love.

Zoe gave Mama a musical fairy card - it was fun for Zoe and Mama to read and listen to.

Thanks for the cake and candles too - gotta love the fun of blowing out the candles. Of note, Zoe wanted to wear a dress for our family celebration, and since she was staying in, it was ok that she chose her summer sundress.