We've had a lot of trouble with the boys not liking what we're serving for dinner.
We are not a restaurant. We will not make three meals, one for grown-ups and one each for older children.
New rule: eat it, make something yourself, or go hungry.
Last night, dinner was BBQ beef sandwiches with veggies.
Cue the complaints.
We stuck to our guns.
Xander chose to go without dinner. Ari got himself yogurt.
Amazingly, both of them ate an excellent breakfast!
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Monday, March 30, 2015
A spoon! A spoon! A spoon!
Feeding himself for the first time. He is SO proud.
The rice was relatively clean... then we tried yogurt. :)
The rice was relatively clean... then we tried yogurt. :)
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Friday, March 27, 2015
That was one hard puzzle
All the pieces were the same shape, and the colors were all shades of red and yellow. Xander was so excited I did it though (remember it was his bday present to me), so it was all worth it.
The puzzle in the top right is actually the second Avengers puzzle; Ari has really gotten into puzzles lately, so we got him another one (yay Dollar Store).
The puzzle in the top right is actually the second Avengers puzzle; Ari has really gotten into puzzles lately, so we got him another one (yay Dollar Store).
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Cleaning for Pesach
It was Xander's idea: he wanted to be like Izzy the Whiz and Passover McClean. I wasn't going to say no. (Thank you, PJ Library for providing the book!)
Ari went over the main carpet beautifully, Xander had a lot of fun with the attachments.
What a clean room we had!
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Book recs
Mystics, Mavericks, and Merrymakers: An Intimate Journey Among Hasidic Girls by Stephanie Wellin Levine
A fascinating read, given to me by Chana P. The author is a PhD student who spent a year living in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. She gives an insider take into Hasidic adolescent girls' identity, and her premise is surprisingly logical: these girls grow up in an almost solely single-sex environment, so have a strongly formed sense of self, and a confidence that is very often lacking in secular girls (I can relate to that, having attended an all-girls high school myself). The Chabad world is a family, a fishbowl, which you either love or hate. It seemed like an ideal world in which to grow up, unless you vary from the norm in any way, whether it be gender identity, being lesbian, wanting to study and not have children, etc. For the mainstream who can fit in, it's lovely. To say that I would chafe under that rubric is the understatement of the year.
Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
A lovely novel which switches perspectives from a San Francisco couple, an American woman and Indian father, who adopt a baby from India, and then that baby's birth parents. The book is really told from the point of view of the two mothers, and then the girl as she grows up and searches for her roots in India. Brought me tears more than once... but that said, so do commercials nowadays. :)
As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of the Princess Bride by Cary Elwes, aka Westley
Pure fun. It offers lots of recollections from most people involved in making the movie, serves as a lovely tribute to Andre the Giant, and talks a great deal about the prep for the famous sword fight. I especially liked the nuggets of info he gave about the behind-the-scenes stories: e.g. there's one scene where Count Rugen knocks Westley out with the base of his sword after leaving the Fire Swamp. Apparently he hit him a little too hard, and Cary Elwes dropped like a stone. He woke up in the hospital getting his head stitched up. So that's why it looked so realistic! Now I have to watch the movie again.
A fascinating read, given to me by Chana P. The author is a PhD student who spent a year living in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. She gives an insider take into Hasidic adolescent girls' identity, and her premise is surprisingly logical: these girls grow up in an almost solely single-sex environment, so have a strongly formed sense of self, and a confidence that is very often lacking in secular girls (I can relate to that, having attended an all-girls high school myself). The Chabad world is a family, a fishbowl, which you either love or hate. It seemed like an ideal world in which to grow up, unless you vary from the norm in any way, whether it be gender identity, being lesbian, wanting to study and not have children, etc. For the mainstream who can fit in, it's lovely. To say that I would chafe under that rubric is the understatement of the year.
Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
A lovely novel which switches perspectives from a San Francisco couple, an American woman and Indian father, who adopt a baby from India, and then that baby's birth parents. The book is really told from the point of view of the two mothers, and then the girl as she grows up and searches for her roots in India. Brought me tears more than once... but that said, so do commercials nowadays. :)
As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of the Princess Bride by Cary Elwes, aka Westley
Pure fun. It offers lots of recollections from most people involved in making the movie, serves as a lovely tribute to Andre the Giant, and talks a great deal about the prep for the famous sword fight. I especially liked the nuggets of info he gave about the behind-the-scenes stories: e.g. there's one scene where Count Rugen knocks Westley out with the base of his sword after leaving the Fire Swamp. Apparently he hit him a little too hard, and Cary Elwes dropped like a stone. He woke up in the hospital getting his head stitched up. So that's why it looked so realistic! Now I have to watch the movie again.
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Ah, Ari
I dropped Ari off at school yesterday. Since it was my day off, I decided to hang out a bit while he was on the playground. I set Connor down and let him play, too.
A little girl came over to hug Connor, but almost knocked him over.
Ari was there in a millisecond.
"That's our baby," he said. I was just about to thank him for his protectiveness, when he continued...
"He came out of Mommy's vagina. So don't touch him."
I stood there, jaw open, and sneaked a look at the playground teacher, whose eyebrows had shot up to her forehead. What was I supposed to say??
Thankfully, I'd had my chai that morning, so without missing a beat I was able to add wryly, "Well, he HAS been washed since!"
We both cracked up. "Ah, Ari," she exclaimed, shaking her head.
And that, as they say, was that!
A little girl came over to hug Connor, but almost knocked him over.
Ari was there in a millisecond.
"That's our baby," he said. I was just about to thank him for his protectiveness, when he continued...
"He came out of Mommy's vagina. So don't touch him."
I stood there, jaw open, and sneaked a look at the playground teacher, whose eyebrows had shot up to her forehead. What was I supposed to say??
Thankfully, I'd had my chai that morning, so without missing a beat I was able to add wryly, "Well, he HAS been washed since!"
We both cracked up. "Ah, Ari," she exclaimed, shaking her head.
And that, as they say, was that!
Monday, March 23, 2015
Friday, March 20, 2015
Heartsick, with the rest of the Reform movement
Israel is so much better than this.
Reform Movement Leaders React to the Elections in Israel
I understand that it was a quirk of the electoral system, that the majority of Israelis voted against Netanyahu, just like the majority voted for Gore in 2000. Still doesn't make me feel any better.
Reform Movement Leaders React to the Elections in Israel
I understand that it was a quirk of the electoral system, that the majority of Israelis voted against Netanyahu, just like the majority voted for Gore in 2000. Still doesn't make me feel any better.
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Operation Lovey
So, Connor nurses a lot at night. Like, a LOT. Enough that I need more sleep and not to be woken up so often.
I'm trying to use keywords to help him go to sleep. Weaning him slowly so he nurses less times a night. We even had a 15 minute free call with a sleep coach to see what to do.
She suggested that he needed a lovey, a stuffed animal to snuggle, instead of me. It should be small enough for him to carry, fluffy, washable, and made in bulk.
Jonathan took him to Toys R Us, put a row of stuffed animals that met that criteria in front of him, and let him have at it.
He made a beeline for the husky.
Xander thought it was a wolf, so suggested we call it Cor-wolf, short for Connor's Wolf.
Corwolf it is.
Corwolf goes in the car with Connor. To bed with him. If he cries, Corwolf snuggles.
He's not totally attached yet, but we're getting there.
At least I thought we were.
And then I get this email from Jonathan:
"Connor's lovey is... a power strip. All day long I've been handing him Corwolf and every time I turn around he has a power strip."
Sigh. We're trying!
I'm trying to use keywords to help him go to sleep. Weaning him slowly so he nurses less times a night. We even had a 15 minute free call with a sleep coach to see what to do.
She suggested that he needed a lovey, a stuffed animal to snuggle, instead of me. It should be small enough for him to carry, fluffy, washable, and made in bulk.
Jonathan took him to Toys R Us, put a row of stuffed animals that met that criteria in front of him, and let him have at it.
He made a beeline for the husky.
Xander thought it was a wolf, so suggested we call it Cor-wolf, short for Connor's Wolf.
Corwolf it is.
Corwolf goes in the car with Connor. To bed with him. If he cries, Corwolf snuggles.
He's not totally attached yet, but we're getting there.
At least I thought we were.
And then I get this email from Jonathan:
"Connor's lovey is... a power strip. All day long I've been handing him Corwolf and every time I turn around he has a power strip."
Sigh. We're trying!
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Playdate at the park
Xander and Mateo climbing to the very top of the rope tower.
They were majorly impressed that Maryann climbed up to take their picture.
Ava and Ari doing climbing of their own.
Connor saying hi.
Spinning him on the swivel chair.
Monday, March 16, 2015
I turned 34.... woohoo?
According to who you ask, I'm either "such a BABY!" (thanks, Auntie Lois and everyone in the office) or unbelievably old (thanks parents and children).
------
And then, at temple...
Chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream cake. One can never go wrong.
Connor very excited about upcoming cake.
Reading my birthday card from Xander.
Jonathan took them shopping, and they got gifts for me with their allowance money. X's was a 500 piece puzzle.
My goodness, this looks challenging!
Holding up Xander's handwritten birthday letter. He's so proud.
Ari got me a gift as well. Here he is handing it to me with love.
Avengers, 50 piece! We did it together that night.
Mom and Savta pitched in for Starbucks and Panera cards, which was awesome. And Jonathan got me new books and a couple CD's I'd been wanting. It was such a lovely day.
Judy crocheted me a kippah as a birthday gift! I crafted my outfit on Shabbat to match it. :)
The sticker says "mazel tov," congratulations - it was from Tot Shabbat, because it was my birthday month. :)
Sunday, March 15, 2015
Sarcasm at age 3
At the dollar store, Ari and his brothers and Jonathan were standing in line waiting to buy a hummingbird feeder that Ari had picked with his allowance money.
A little old lady behind him asked him, "What's that you're buying?"
"A hummingbird feeder," Ari said.
"What are you going to feed with that?" she asked.
Ari looked at Jonathan in incredulity, then back at her. "HUMMINGBIRDS," he said slowly, like we would say to Connor.
Jonathan had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing. The woman looked a little embarrassed, too, once she realized she'd been schooled by a three year-old.
A little old lady behind him asked him, "What's that you're buying?"
"A hummingbird feeder," Ari said.
"What are you going to feed with that?" she asked.
Ari looked at Jonathan in incredulity, then back at her. "HUMMINGBIRDS," he said slowly, like we would say to Connor.
Jonathan had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing. The woman looked a little embarrassed, too, once she realized she'd been schooled by a three year-old.
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Green Eggs and Ham, redux
Xander read up to age 34 of the book without prompting! And he read well. And seemed to enjoy it.
I recognize that I have friends whose kids are his age and reading Harry Potter. I'm doing my best not to compare them, because hey, all things considered, he's improving fast, and reading at age 6 is still right on track. I refuse to be convinced otherwise! :)
I recognize that I have friends whose kids are his age and reading Harry Potter. I'm doing my best not to compare them, because hey, all things considered, he's improving fast, and reading at age 6 is still right on track. I refuse to be convinced otherwise! :)
Friday, March 13, 2015
Explore, rescue, protect!
The boys' new TV love is The Octonauts, a strange, fun little show about Star Trek-type characters living on an submarine and helping sea creatures. At the end of every episode they have a "Creature Report" song and dance where they sing a little song about that day's sea animal, and show a real (not cartoon) video of it. I have to say, I've actually learned quite a bit about the ocean from it! The theme music is the boys' go-to song of choice whenever they're in the car - Xander starts singing, then Ari, then Connor claps.
Quasi the pirate cat, Captain Barnacles the polar bear, and Peso the medic.
Quasi the pirate cat, Captain Barnacles the polar bear, and Peso the medic.
Thursday, March 12, 2015
When you don't want to win the argument
Jonathan and I were both tired this weekend and set the older boys to watching a movie. We were flopped on the bed good-naturedly debating who would be with the baby while the other napped; both of us wanted to sleep for the first shift.
In the meantime, Connor crawled on top of us and started making happy sounds, clapping his hands and bouncing up and down. I intended to sing “There was a farmer who had a dog, and BINGO was name-O,” to go with his clapping.
But for the life of me, I couldn’t do it! I kept singing the tune to Old McDonald instead. So I tried to sing Old McDonald, but then instead of EIEIO I mixed it up and sang BINGO... and then it just went south. It ended up as the most hilarious, awful mash-up of children’s songs ever.
Suffice it say, after we both stopped laughing, Jonathan told me to nap first.
In the meantime, Connor crawled on top of us and started making happy sounds, clapping his hands and bouncing up and down. I intended to sing “There was a farmer who had a dog, and BINGO was name-O,” to go with his clapping.
But for the life of me, I couldn’t do it! I kept singing the tune to Old McDonald instead. So I tried to sing Old McDonald, but then instead of EIEIO I mixed it up and sang BINGO... and then it just went south. It ended up as the most hilarious, awful mash-up of children’s songs ever.
Suffice it say, after we both stopped laughing, Jonathan told me to nap first.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Purim 2015
Groovy, man! I loved this costume from amazon.com. I went all out and straightened my hair for the occasion. The best part was in the post-Purim Board meeting, when the President was recapping what an awesome event it was, and gave my boots a shout-out. :)
Hippie rabbi and her husband.
Spider-Ari getting his face painted at the Purim Carnival.
A very happy Spiderman. (Xander was Iron Man, and was too busy playing carnival games to bother with face paint.)
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Connor's magical expedition, by Jonathan
So, I try to come up with things to do with Connor in the day. I happened to be near the mall after dropping his brothers off at school and decided to go in. It was just opening up so I felt it safe to let him have some exploration time. I let him bolt around on his own feet while I followed close behind.
He LOVED the mall. It was filled with so many wonders. The greatest probably was the escalator. OOOOO Escalators. Truly a wonder of the world. He looked at it intently watching the steps magically come out of the floor and glide up to the top where they again magically disappeared. He was awestruck. I could just see the little wheels of his mind working this all out.
He even did some experiments: hanging onto something stable while letting one foot touch the steps as they came out of the floor, watching it get pulled away before pulling it back. Touching the moving railing and watching as it pulled his hand forward. After some time, I decided it was time to take the plunge and step on. Connor grinned madly. He didn't know what to look at first. The steps that lifted him into the sky, the unknown destination that awaited him, the ground that was leaving him, or the great vista around him that grew larger and larger.... oh... how magical the world must be for him.
Once at our destination, we found the Disney store waiting right at the top of the escalator. There a young woman was fussing with something in front of the doors. It took some convincing to get Connor away from the escalator, but he took a keen interest in the object residing before the entrance of the Disney store.
I walked over with Connor in my arms.
The young woman stopped what she was doing and spoke directly to Connor.
"Just the person I was looking for!" She then proceeded to go into her spiel about how the store couldn't wake up without magic, and she needed Connor's help to wake it up. He was given a wizard's hat a la "Sorcerer's Apprentice" and was told to use his magic by waving his hands. Connor waved, but it was more of a hello/goodbye wave rather than a magical wave. Then she hit some hidden switch and the store lit up and came to life. Connor found all of this amazing and hysterically fun.
After this, the young lady proceeded to wheel her pedestal containing the magic hat, magic book, and secret switch to the back of the store. Connor leapt from my arms, ran up to her and started to push the pedestal with her.
After leaving a very gracious Disney store employee, Connor proceeded to run around the store squealing at all the wonderful items in it. I have to admit, Disney sure knows how to make a presentation.
He LOVED the mall. It was filled with so many wonders. The greatest probably was the escalator. OOOOO Escalators. Truly a wonder of the world. He looked at it intently watching the steps magically come out of the floor and glide up to the top where they again magically disappeared. He was awestruck. I could just see the little wheels of his mind working this all out.
He even did some experiments: hanging onto something stable while letting one foot touch the steps as they came out of the floor, watching it get pulled away before pulling it back. Touching the moving railing and watching as it pulled his hand forward. After some time, I decided it was time to take the plunge and step on. Connor grinned madly. He didn't know what to look at first. The steps that lifted him into the sky, the unknown destination that awaited him, the ground that was leaving him, or the great vista around him that grew larger and larger.... oh... how magical the world must be for him.
Once at our destination, we found the Disney store waiting right at the top of the escalator. There a young woman was fussing with something in front of the doors. It took some convincing to get Connor away from the escalator, but he took a keen interest in the object residing before the entrance of the Disney store.
I walked over with Connor in my arms.
The young woman stopped what she was doing and spoke directly to Connor.
"Just the person I was looking for!" She then proceeded to go into her spiel about how the store couldn't wake up without magic, and she needed Connor's help to wake it up. He was given a wizard's hat a la "Sorcerer's Apprentice" and was told to use his magic by waving his hands. Connor waved, but it was more of a hello/goodbye wave rather than a magical wave. Then she hit some hidden switch and the store lit up and came to life. Connor found all of this amazing and hysterically fun.
After this, the young lady proceeded to wheel her pedestal containing the magic hat, magic book, and secret switch to the back of the store. Connor leapt from my arms, ran up to her and started to push the pedestal with her.
After leaving a very gracious Disney store employee, Connor proceeded to run around the store squealing at all the wonderful items in it. I have to admit, Disney sure knows how to make a presentation.
Monday, March 9, 2015
Mock-pathetic-ness of my morning
Me: "Honey, does this match?"
J (scrutinizes): "No."
Me (holds up something else): "What about this one?"
J: "Not really. What's going on? Usually you're much better at this."
Me: "Yeah, well, really I just want to wear pajamas. And I can't find any professional outfits that are that comfortable!"
J (scrutinizes): "No."
Me (holds up something else): "What about this one?"
J: "Not really. What's going on? Usually you're much better at this."
Me: "Yeah, well, really I just want to wear pajamas. And I can't find any professional outfits that are that comfortable!"
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Saturday, March 7, 2015
Household discoveries
Our boys ask a lot of questions, about everything. But they especially want to know about the world around us. Ari wants to know where the poop goes after you flush the toilet. Xander wants to know how light bulbs work.
(I generally have no idea.)
Thank goodness for my husband. He bought the book How Your House Works: A Visual Guide to Understanding and Maintaining Your Home.
Every page has a diagram on it, and it covers plumbing, wiring, heating and cooling, appliances, foundation and frames, outdoor things like lawn mowers and sprinklers, and more. The kids think it's the coolest thing since sliced bread.
The "Appliances: Dishwasher" page.
Our curious children looking inside the real dishwasher, and my industrious husband comparing the real parts to what's explained on the page.
Friday, March 6, 2015
What I came home to after a Board meeting
Passed-out toddler snoring loudly, holding on to Jonathan with both arms.
Thursday, March 5, 2015
When our lessons come back to bite us
Ari: Daddy, are black widows nature?
Jonathan: Nature? Yes, all spiders are part of nature.
Ari: So why do we hurt them? We’re not supposed to hurt nature.
Jonathan: Well… black widows can hurt us. So we need to protect ourselves from them. That’s why I sprayed in the garage, so more black widows wouldn’t come in there and maybe bite us.
Ari: Why did they come in?
Jonathan: It was raining, and they wanted protection from the rain. Then they built a home.
Ari: Let’s build them a new home! We can carry them there. And they won’t be in our garage anymore.
Jonathan: Uhhhh….
Jonathan: Nature? Yes, all spiders are part of nature.
Ari: So why do we hurt them? We’re not supposed to hurt nature.
Jonathan: Well… black widows can hurt us. So we need to protect ourselves from them. That’s why I sprayed in the garage, so more black widows wouldn’t come in there and maybe bite us.
Ari: Why did they come in?
Jonathan: It was raining, and they wanted protection from the rain. Then they built a home.
Ari: Let’s build them a new home! We can carry them there. And they won’t be in our garage anymore.
Jonathan: Uhhhh….
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Connor the unstoppable, by Jonathan
Have I mentioned Connor is a very determined child? Have I mentioned that he's also coordinated and very clever??? This isn't boasting, this is a plea for help.
I CAN'T STOP HIM!
He literally gets into everything. EVERYTHING!
He can open (and close) all doors. He can plug things in and of course UNplug them. This has been really fun for my alarm clock. He can climb onto anything, and take anything not requiring tools apart. One time I turned around when I heard him complaining. He was hanging from our exercise bike handles, feet dangling. At his feet was a remote control, the object of his desire. He had suddenly lost confidence on just dropping to the ground after somehow (I still don't know how) climbing up the bike to reach the remote control that I had purposefully placed there so he wouldn't get it. Honestly, I'm running out of places to hide things.
While at Costco, I saw my gigantic cart filled with over 300 pounds of cat food, litter, and people food moving on its own only to discover Connor was pushing it all by himself. 300 pounds by himself! Apparently I was moving too slowly and he had to take things into his own tiny hands.
Remember, he's only 15 months old.
Today I found out that he knows to push stools and chairs into position so he can climb onto tables and kitchen counters. Here is a picture of him enjoying his prize: the crackers left on the table. Notice he has the salt and pepper at the ready for seasoning.
Yes, this is for real. No, I'm not making any of this up.
I think it's entirely possible that my wife will come home to find me locked in some room while Connor watches TV, with a pile of chocolate candies at his side that he raided from the pantry.
I CAN'T STOP HIM!
He literally gets into everything. EVERYTHING!
He can open (and close) all doors. He can plug things in and of course UNplug them. This has been really fun for my alarm clock. He can climb onto anything, and take anything not requiring tools apart. One time I turned around when I heard him complaining. He was hanging from our exercise bike handles, feet dangling. At his feet was a remote control, the object of his desire. He had suddenly lost confidence on just dropping to the ground after somehow (I still don't know how) climbing up the bike to reach the remote control that I had purposefully placed there so he wouldn't get it. Honestly, I'm running out of places to hide things.
While at Costco, I saw my gigantic cart filled with over 300 pounds of cat food, litter, and people food moving on its own only to discover Connor was pushing it all by himself. 300 pounds by himself! Apparently I was moving too slowly and he had to take things into his own tiny hands.
Remember, he's only 15 months old.
Today I found out that he knows to push stools and chairs into position so he can climb onto tables and kitchen counters. Here is a picture of him enjoying his prize: the crackers left on the table. Notice he has the salt and pepper at the ready for seasoning.
Yes, this is for real. No, I'm not making any of this up.
I think it's entirely possible that my wife will come home to find me locked in some room while Connor watches TV, with a pile of chocolate candies at his side that he raided from the pantry.
Monday, March 2, 2015
Of Congregational Meetings, M&Ms, and beekeepers
This past weekend was amazing. I spent a grand total of 25 hours in the state of Florida with Temple Beth Orr, in an absolutely fabulous whirlwind. (I also felt very grown up - for the very first time in my life, and keep in mind I turn 34 next month, I packed my own hair dryer with a defuser!)
Cut and pasted from the TBO Facebook page:
Shalom! At this morning's congregational meeting the congregants of Temple Beth Orr listened to the report of the Rabbi Search Task Force and learned why the task force and the Board of Trustees felt confident presenting Rabbi Michal Loving as TBO's next Rabbi. Subsequently, Rabbi Mark Gross and members of Senior Staff discussed their meetings with Rabbi Loving and submitted glowing recommendations. Congregants observed a question and answer session between President, Steve Feinstein and Rabbi Loving, while also having the opportunity to ask questions themselves. After this all, a vote was taken and the congregation voted to approve Rabbi Loving as Temple Beth Orr's next Rabbi. We appreciate everyone's consideration and involvement and look forward to a bright and wonderful future. We are and have been blessed to have Rabbi Gross as part of our family and we look forward to bringing Rabbi Michal Loving into our family as well.
The flights back were the perfect cap to the lovely weekend. On the way to Phoenix I sat next to a young man, a Navy veteran, who spent his military career making bombs and is now in the medical field, because he wants to heal instead of hurt. We geeked out over Harry Potter, Firefly, DC versus Marvel, and quoted When Harry Met Sally and Good Will Hunting to each other. Then we got deeper, and talked about PTSD, the necessity of compromise in relationships, what we can learn from world travel, and more. I didn’t crack open my book once. The airline ran out of food before they got to us (we were in the very back), and a flight attendant gave me free M&Ms because she felt sorry for me; we split them between us. When the flight touched down and everyone started getting up, the people around us were cracking jokes about it. “You talked for four hours!” said the man sitting directly behind me. “Four hours eight minutes!” said someone else in the row in front. “I went to sleep and woke up, and they were still talking!” My seatmate and I just grinned, and he said, “That’s what happens when you get two extroverts together!”
Then, on the way from Phoenix to Sacramento, I sat with a woman who is a migratory beekeeper. She explained how one keeps bees, how they live and work, how she and her husband go with the bees from CA to Minnesota to Mississippi so they can pollinate the appropriate flowers. They make money because the farmers pay them to bring their bees to their fields, to make the crops grow, and then they sell the honey to Sue Bee Honey. Did you know that one bee only makes a quarter teaspoon of honey in its entire lifetime?
My seatmates made my trip, because the only negativity of the whole weekend was trying to board the plane. You haven’t lived until you’ve had TSA give you a full pat-down, dismantle every piece of your breast pump and go through your entire carry-on at the airport. Turns out I wasn’t carrying dangerous. No kidding.
Cut and pasted from the TBO Facebook page:
Shalom! At this morning's congregational meeting the congregants of Temple Beth Orr listened to the report of the Rabbi Search Task Force and learned why the task force and the Board of Trustees felt confident presenting Rabbi Michal Loving as TBO's next Rabbi. Subsequently, Rabbi Mark Gross and members of Senior Staff discussed their meetings with Rabbi Loving and submitted glowing recommendations. Congregants observed a question and answer session between President, Steve Feinstein and Rabbi Loving, while also having the opportunity to ask questions themselves. After this all, a vote was taken and the congregation voted to approve Rabbi Loving as Temple Beth Orr's next Rabbi. We appreciate everyone's consideration and involvement and look forward to a bright and wonderful future. We are and have been blessed to have Rabbi Gross as part of our family and we look forward to bringing Rabbi Michal Loving into our family as well.
The "Oprah-style" interview
Overwhelmed by the applause after I was voted in.
The flights back were the perfect cap to the lovely weekend. On the way to Phoenix I sat next to a young man, a Navy veteran, who spent his military career making bombs and is now in the medical field, because he wants to heal instead of hurt. We geeked out over Harry Potter, Firefly, DC versus Marvel, and quoted When Harry Met Sally and Good Will Hunting to each other. Then we got deeper, and talked about PTSD, the necessity of compromise in relationships, what we can learn from world travel, and more. I didn’t crack open my book once. The airline ran out of food before they got to us (we were in the very back), and a flight attendant gave me free M&Ms because she felt sorry for me; we split them between us. When the flight touched down and everyone started getting up, the people around us were cracking jokes about it. “You talked for four hours!” said the man sitting directly behind me. “Four hours eight minutes!” said someone else in the row in front. “I went to sleep and woke up, and they were still talking!” My seatmate and I just grinned, and he said, “That’s what happens when you get two extroverts together!”
Then, on the way from Phoenix to Sacramento, I sat with a woman who is a migratory beekeeper. She explained how one keeps bees, how they live and work, how she and her husband go with the bees from CA to Minnesota to Mississippi so they can pollinate the appropriate flowers. They make money because the farmers pay them to bring their bees to their fields, to make the crops grow, and then they sell the honey to Sue Bee Honey. Did you know that one bee only makes a quarter teaspoon of honey in its entire lifetime?
My seatmates made my trip, because the only negativity of the whole weekend was trying to board the plane. You haven’t lived until you’ve had TSA give you a full pat-down, dismantle every piece of your breast pump and go through your entire carry-on at the airport. Turns out I wasn’t carrying dangerous. No kidding.
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Dinosaur excavations
Xander and I did a great activity a couple weeks ago now - we unearthed a dinosaur! It was a birthday present from October that I'd been saving to do when we had some time. Ari and Connor were at Costco with Jonathan, so it was perfect.
The box. We weren't quite sure what to expect, but knew that it would be fun.
A pick and another narrow tool, and a big rectangle of plaster. Another kid might be put off by the daunting task, but not Xander.
40 minutes later, we had unearthed a few pieces, and more was still inside. His attention span was amazing. We kept switching tools and would very carefully chip away at the plaster like real paleontologists, never wanting to break anything.
Jonathan and the other boys got home and we were still at it. I had brought out an art brush sometime before, and X was so into it, he didn't even want to look up for a picture.
After we unearthed all the pieces, he washed them in a bowl of water while I cleaned up the (extremely) messy plaster-filled area. He was too impatient to wait for them to air dry, so blew-dry each piece individually.
Telling Jonathan all about it.
A very happy six year-old paleontologist with his T-Rex.
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