Abba and Shula arrive!

The beginnings of the LEGO starship.

Car race, complete with loop and fire circle.

Trying it out.

Playing separately.

Teaching Xander how to put it together step-by-step.  He's gotten a few of these LEGO sets now, and can do them all himself.

One of my favorite pictures - bedtime stories for the win!

Dreidel giggles

Pre-Hanukkah dreidel practicing

 Ari joins Bubby's team

And now for the giggles:

A long time (two weeks) ago, in a galaxy far far away (at the kids' school)...

I was hugely pregnant and my mother did a Hanukkah presentation for X and A's classroom.  She told the story, had all the kids "light" the wooden and plush menorahs with their candles and flames, showed them a dreidel, and sang lots of songs.  

Here are the highlights.  I've only included pictures of our kids, but mom was amazing at holding the attention of more than 40 preschoolers sitting in a circle.  Go her!

 Asking... something.  I love that she wore my Hanukkah hat. :)

 Ari holding the plush menorah, which all the kids later lit.

 Showing the kids that menorahs come in all different sizes and shapes.  Kitty cats!  (This was my favorite menorah as a child, in case anyone's wondering.)

 And there are train ones, too.

Singing songs.

"A latke is a pancake, a golden pancake treat.  And inside it is snowy white, and very good to eat!"

Bubby's summary of the last two days, cribbed from Facebook

Well, about to go to bed after a wonderful morning (Brit Milah and Connor's baby naming) and then a very tough night with a sick little Ari, who had a terrible reaction to an antibiotic which he was prescribed after he fell yesterday and slammed his face into a wooden chair, shoving one of his front teeth way up and back into his gum. Oh, I neglected to mention the emergency trip to the dentist yesterday with a 2-1/2 year old? He actually was very good. The dentist said she'd never had a 2 year old sit so still during the procedure. Tonight though he was miserable. He referred to the experience as "poop coming out of his mouth." Yes, my sweet boy. Vomiting is not fun. But he was so brave. After cleaning him all up, we sat together with a bucket and he would tell me when he had to 'spit.' Happily now, he's sleeping soundly. Clothes, sheets, blankets, mattress covers.....they're in the laundry, thanks to Jonathan. It's been a big night and this bubby is running on fumes. I'll let you know how he's doing tomorrow. G'nite. 
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Ari is on the mend. Zofran really helped. He and Xander are my little Spidermen sitting next to me on the couch.    And guess what we're watching on TV? SPIDERMAN!

Pictures that seem old by now

Soooo many pictures... will update eventually.  This is Connor at three days old, but he's already changed so much, now he looks much more like Xander.

 Same pose as the other two boys; I'll have to dig up those shots for comparison.

Oldest and youngest brothers.

"MY baby!" says Ari proudly.

(And lest you think it's all about the baby at our house, yesterday morning started off with Ari falling flat on his face and shoving one of his front teeth back into his gums.  There's nothing like trying to get a 2 year old to take X-rays and get shots of novocaine preceding emergency dental surgery.  He's okay now, and hopefully they saved the tooth, but oy that was scary.  I really don't like blood.  Nor the vomit that comes with an antibiotic that's too strong for a kiddo.  He goes back to the dentist next week to see if everything held.) 

Temple announcements!

This announcement contains information about the birth of the newest member of our temple family.

Connor Merraro Loving  Jonathan and Rabbi Michal Loving are proud to announce the newest addition to their family.  Connor Merraro Loving was born on November 28th (Thanksgivukah!) at 7:33am, weighing 8 lbs, 10 oz, and measuring 21 inches long. The congregation is invited to Connor's naming ceremony this Thursday, December 5th at 10am, in the Harry M. Tonkin Memorial Chapel at B'nai Israel.  A reception will follow the ceremony.  Those who would like to do so may bring something sweet to share for the reception, but it is certainly not necessary.  RSVPs to ----- are welcome for planning purposes. May Connor Merraro Loving be blessed with long life, good health, and an understanding of Torah.We wish a hearty Mazel Tov to Jonathan and Rabbi Loving, as well as big brothers Xander & Ari and their entire family on this wonderful simcha.

And then from the temple where I grew up.....

Announcing the birth of: Connor Merraro Loving                Mazel Tov to Janet Liss  on the birth of her grandson Connor Merraro Loving  born Thursday, November 28, 2013 at 7:33 am, on Thanksgivukkah! Connor weighed in at 8 lbs. 10 oz and was 21 inches long, with blue eyes and a full head of jet black hair. We also extend a big mazel tov to parents, Michal and Jonathan Loving, and to big brothers, Xander and Ari.  A Bris and Naming Ceremony will take place in Sacramento on Thursday, December 5th. "May he grow up to Torah, much love, and ma'asim tovim ~ good deeds."

Guest post from Bubby

Yesterday began with Xander and Ari going to Denny's with their Bubby for breakfast. Ari is learning how to behave in a restaurant and was fabulous and Xander was terrific, eating 1/2 a Belgium waffle, 3 small pancakes, and 1 egg! Do I hear growth spurt?! Connor is an easy baby who complains only when he wants something. He HATES having anything in his diaper except his dry jewels (!) so he lets us know immediately when he wants to be changed. He and  Michal have 'mother/son bonding time' (as she calls it) every night from 2-6am so Mommy is very tired. Overall, all is well!