Today was one of those good days. One that I could never have imagined in my love-starved childhood. From the beginning of the day until the end of the night, it was filled with love from everyone in my family, each in their own way.
Xander's quiet shows of affection, a quick and soft kiss on my cheek as he went to school, and the touch of his hand when I kissed him good night.
Ari's passionate kisses on my cheek and his powerful hugs when he was so happy to see me.
Connor’s playful snuggles all day and the way he rested his head on my shoulder at nap time.
My wife's full-body embrace in bed as we fell asleep.
Even the cat clambered in beside my wife and me and nuzzled his head into my hand when he plopped down next to our heads, rumbling deep purrs all the way.
It was in that moment when I could hear Connor’s soft snores in the background, my cat’s deep purrs in my hand, and my wife's soft breathing as we were wrapped up together, that I realized how incredibly fortunate I am. I literally could not have imagined a moment like this before I met my wife. And when I think about it, all this love around me grew from the love we have for each other. It's as if our love is some great tree that we have nurtured and cared for and I at that moment could smell its many blossoms.
I wish I could give this to everyone in the world. If I could, I know there would be no murder, no killing, no war, no hate. Love would fill everyone and there would no room for anything else. Perhaps that is what it will be like when the world is finally healed.
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Saturday, May 30, 2015
Conferences, trans identity, and airports: a good few days
This past week I had the privilege of attending the “First 100 Days: For Every Rabbi in Transition” seminar in Atlanta, alongside rabbis transitioning nationwide. Some highlights:
- The seminar itself was awesome! The tagline was “honoring the past while shaping the future,” and it gave me tools to do just that.
- I got to reconnect with a colleague I hadn’t seen since my year in Israel. Since we last spoke I had three kids and she two; my how time flies.
- One of the rabbis at the temple hosting us is a colleague from Cincinnati, and invited me to his house to join them for dinner one evening. A home-cooked meal and sassy kids who aren’t my own, hooray!
- I was on West Coast time, so around 9pm EST when everything conference-wise was over, but I was still wide awake, I headed to the hotel lounge/bar to socialize with new people. The first night I met a lovely couple from England who took numerous vacations road-tripping across various areas of the U.S. The second night I got into a long, detailed conversation with an executive chef and her trans partner. I’d never before had such deep interactions about religion, sexuality and gender identity with complete strangers. It just reaffirmed that this kind of pastoral care is what I want to be doing with my life.
I also had fun playing anthropologist, analyzing cities through their entry portals, as I walked through four airports in three days:
The airport in Phoenix spoke to the city's physical setting, for the stores were filled with Native American jewelry and the buildings were bright with huge windows and multiple pictures of desert landscapes.
Charlotte had the tagline "the new South" plastered everywhere, and though the airport looked old and tired, it seemed to be trying to remake itself into something grand.
Atlanta is obviously a military hub as it had "welcome back!" photos of people in uniform everywhere. It's also exceedingly proud of its history, so much so that it had an actual "history of Atlanta" museum laid out as you walked through the terminals. At the same time it seemed to want to show that the Civil War and racial unrest isn't all there is, as the walls all focused on how cultured the city is, from ads like "our hospitals cure children's cancer," to showcasing sculptures from Zimbabwe, to so many pictures of tall buildings I wasn't surprised at all to hear that it's referred to as the New York of the south.
In stark contrast, Sacramento screamed "who cares about the past, look to the future!" All its ads on the walls had to do with hi-tech companies or college recruitment, the whole place is spacious and new, and cell phone charging ports and LED billboards are everywhere.
It was so wonderful to get home to Jonathan and the kids. And thankfully now I’m all done with travel… for a whole nine days. :)
- The seminar itself was awesome! The tagline was “honoring the past while shaping the future,” and it gave me tools to do just that.
- I got to reconnect with a colleague I hadn’t seen since my year in Israel. Since we last spoke I had three kids and she two; my how time flies.
- One of the rabbis at the temple hosting us is a colleague from Cincinnati, and invited me to his house to join them for dinner one evening. A home-cooked meal and sassy kids who aren’t my own, hooray!
- I was on West Coast time, so around 9pm EST when everything conference-wise was over, but I was still wide awake, I headed to the hotel lounge/bar to socialize with new people. The first night I met a lovely couple from England who took numerous vacations road-tripping across various areas of the U.S. The second night I got into a long, detailed conversation with an executive chef and her trans partner. I’d never before had such deep interactions about religion, sexuality and gender identity with complete strangers. It just reaffirmed that this kind of pastoral care is what I want to be doing with my life.
I also had fun playing anthropologist, analyzing cities through their entry portals, as I walked through four airports in three days:
The airport in Phoenix spoke to the city's physical setting, for the stores were filled with Native American jewelry and the buildings were bright with huge windows and multiple pictures of desert landscapes.
Charlotte had the tagline "the new South" plastered everywhere, and though the airport looked old and tired, it seemed to be trying to remake itself into something grand.
Atlanta is obviously a military hub as it had "welcome back!" photos of people in uniform everywhere. It's also exceedingly proud of its history, so much so that it had an actual "history of Atlanta" museum laid out as you walked through the terminals. At the same time it seemed to want to show that the Civil War and racial unrest isn't all there is, as the walls all focused on how cultured the city is, from ads like "our hospitals cure children's cancer," to showcasing sculptures from Zimbabwe, to so many pictures of tall buildings I wasn't surprised at all to hear that it's referred to as the New York of the south.
In stark contrast, Sacramento screamed "who cares about the past, look to the future!" All its ads on the walls had to do with hi-tech companies or college recruitment, the whole place is spacious and new, and cell phone charging ports and LED billboards are everywhere.
It was so wonderful to get home to Jonathan and the kids. And thankfully now I’m all done with travel… for a whole nine days. :)
Friday, May 29, 2015
A sad, but social, goodbye
You know how there are certain moments when you know you’re a grown up? Jonathan just had one, coming into the house lugging grocery bags for the goodbye party. We hosted it ourselves, not parents, not friends, but us… and it was good, but a little sad, with a tinge of surreal.
- It was meant to be an open house, but only 4 adult couples stayed for a bit then rotated. The rest of our guests were families with small children, who came early and stayed the whole time.
- This meant that we had 7 visiting families with kids, and including our own, that equaled 18 children under the age of 7 at our house for three hours. I actually loved it. Even the kids who hadn’t known each other beforehand played fabulously, and everyone was running, screaming, and jumping outside and inside, like old friends.
- At one point Connor and Lucy, the only other toddler, sat at the kid table together with their legs dangling off the chairs and calmly ate their snack, kind of looking at each other like, “Can you believe these big kids? They’re so loud.”
- I was mightily amused that one of the girls dumped all the Matchbox cars out on the carpet, but instead of racing them and going “vroom vroom,” as my children are wont to do, spent a good 20 minutes playing with them by organizing them in neat lines by color.
- The backyard became an epic battleground for armies, battles, and bad guy fights. Every toy sword, lightsaber, Nerf gun, and magic wand in our house was sorely tested.
- One adult guest, Melo, the camp director and Ari’s K’tonton teacher, wanted to take out Blackie the snake, so she and Jonathan had an entire gaggle of literally 12 children around them at one point. Xander confided to me later that Melo was one of his very few “grown-up friends,” who’s friends with him as well as with us. (That comment made me feel like such an adult, because I vividly remember characterizing my parents’ friends in the same manner.)
- Thank goodness Jonathan bought a nice large ice chest over my objections long ago – that thing was worth its weight in gold. We stocked it with water, soda cans, Capri Sun, hard cider, and then our friends know we don’t drink beer so brought their own. The Capri Sun ran out early on, so we then switched to white grape juice in cups… kids are very thirsty creatures!
- As we held it on Shavuot, a harvest festival celebrating the giving of the 10 Commandments, when you traditionally eat dairy, we served ice cream sandwiches and sorbet. It was a major hit with both kids and adults.
- I refused to say “goodbye” to anybody as they left, but merely l’hit’ra’ot, see you later. Otherwise I’d cry.
By the end, our living room looked like a toy hurricane went through it. It still looked like one for a few days, actually; I left to go to the Confirmation service right after the party ended (or before it ended; one family stayed for dinner and more playing). When I got home I packed for my trip to Atlanta the next morning, where I spent three days at a conference. Jonathan dealt with the kids on his own, and had to do a whole lot of clean-up!
- It was meant to be an open house, but only 4 adult couples stayed for a bit then rotated. The rest of our guests were families with small children, who came early and stayed the whole time.
- This meant that we had 7 visiting families with kids, and including our own, that equaled 18 children under the age of 7 at our house for three hours. I actually loved it. Even the kids who hadn’t known each other beforehand played fabulously, and everyone was running, screaming, and jumping outside and inside, like old friends.
- At one point Connor and Lucy, the only other toddler, sat at the kid table together with their legs dangling off the chairs and calmly ate their snack, kind of looking at each other like, “Can you believe these big kids? They’re so loud.”
- I was mightily amused that one of the girls dumped all the Matchbox cars out on the carpet, but instead of racing them and going “vroom vroom,” as my children are wont to do, spent a good 20 minutes playing with them by organizing them in neat lines by color.
- The backyard became an epic battleground for armies, battles, and bad guy fights. Every toy sword, lightsaber, Nerf gun, and magic wand in our house was sorely tested.
- One adult guest, Melo, the camp director and Ari’s K’tonton teacher, wanted to take out Blackie the snake, so she and Jonathan had an entire gaggle of literally 12 children around them at one point. Xander confided to me later that Melo was one of his very few “grown-up friends,” who’s friends with him as well as with us. (That comment made me feel like such an adult, because I vividly remember characterizing my parents’ friends in the same manner.)
- Thank goodness Jonathan bought a nice large ice chest over my objections long ago – that thing was worth its weight in gold. We stocked it with water, soda cans, Capri Sun, hard cider, and then our friends know we don’t drink beer so brought their own. The Capri Sun ran out early on, so we then switched to white grape juice in cups… kids are very thirsty creatures!
- As we held it on Shavuot, a harvest festival celebrating the giving of the 10 Commandments, when you traditionally eat dairy, we served ice cream sandwiches and sorbet. It was a major hit with both kids and adults.
- I refused to say “goodbye” to anybody as they left, but merely l’hit’ra’ot, see you later. Otherwise I’d cry.
By the end, our living room looked like a toy hurricane went through it. It still looked like one for a few days, actually; I left to go to the Confirmation service right after the party ended (or before it ended; one family stayed for dinner and more playing). When I got home I packed for my trip to Atlanta the next morning, where I spent three days at a conference. Jonathan dealt with the kids on his own, and had to do a whole lot of clean-up!
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Ask the Rabbi
Religious school ended a couple weeks ago, but on the penultimate Sunday I had the privilege of going into the PreK/K classroom for their requested “Ask the Rabbi.” The questions the kids asked me ran the gamut from funny to thought-provoking to deeply inspiring. I remember a few specific ones below:
Why do we pray in Hebrew?
Does God speak different languages?
Why is Israel so important?
Why do we eat challah on Shabbat?
Can you speak to God?
What happens to the notes after they're put in the Western Wall?
What is your favorite holiday?
And then my personal favorite question, the one that every rabbi should be asked at least once in their career:
Do you like penguins and frogs?
Why do we pray in Hebrew?
Does God speak different languages?
Why is Israel so important?
Why do we eat challah on Shabbat?
Can you speak to God?
What happens to the notes after they're put in the Western Wall?
What is your favorite holiday?
And then my personal favorite question, the one that every rabbi should be asked at least once in their career:
Do you like penguins and frogs?
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
25 Ways to Ask Your Kids "So How Was School Today?" Without Asking Them "So How Was School Today?"
From this article here, by Liz Evans. I've asked Xander some of these, and wow, I got so much more than "Fine." He told me all about this boy he doesn't like and why, about the tag game he played at recess, that he had to borrow a pencil today because he lost his, etc. It made me realize how much I don't know about what he does all day. And that was depressing in one sense, but also enlightening, because I realized that I could change that just by altering my questions.
1. What was the best thing that happened at school today? (What was the worst thing that happened at school today?)
2. Tell me something that made you laugh today.
3. If you could choose, who would you like to sit by in class? (Who would you NOT want to sit by in class? Why?)
4. Where is the coolest place at the school?
5. Tell me a weird word that you heard today. (Or something weird that someone said.)
6. If I called your teacher tonight, what would she tell me about you?
7. How did you help somebody today?
8. How did somebody help you today?
9. Tell me one thing that you learned today.
10. When were you the happiest today?
11. When were you bored today?
12. If an alien spaceship came to your class and beamed someone up, who would you want them to take?
13. Who would you like to play with at recess that you've never played with before?
14. Tell me something good that happened today.
15. What word did your teacher say most today?
16. What do you think you should do/learn more of at school?
17. What do you think you should do/learn less of at school?
18. Who in your class do you think you could be nicer to?
19. Where do you play the most at recess?
20. Who is the funniest person in your class? Why is he/she so funny?
21. What was your favorite part of lunch?
22. If you got to be the teacher tomorrow, what would you do?
23. Is there anyone in your class who needs a time-out?
24. If you could switch seats with anyone in the class, who would you trade with? Why?
25. Tell me about three different times you used your pencil today at school.
1. What was the best thing that happened at school today? (What was the worst thing that happened at school today?)
2. Tell me something that made you laugh today.
3. If you could choose, who would you like to sit by in class? (Who would you NOT want to sit by in class? Why?)
4. Where is the coolest place at the school?
5. Tell me a weird word that you heard today. (Or something weird that someone said.)
6. If I called your teacher tonight, what would she tell me about you?
7. How did you help somebody today?
8. How did somebody help you today?
9. Tell me one thing that you learned today.
10. When were you the happiest today?
11. When were you bored today?
12. If an alien spaceship came to your class and beamed someone up, who would you want them to take?
13. Who would you like to play with at recess that you've never played with before?
14. Tell me something good that happened today.
15. What word did your teacher say most today?
16. What do you think you should do/learn more of at school?
17. What do you think you should do/learn less of at school?
18. Who in your class do you think you could be nicer to?
19. Where do you play the most at recess?
20. Who is the funniest person in your class? Why is he/she so funny?
21. What was your favorite part of lunch?
22. If you got to be the teacher tomorrow, what would you do?
23. Is there anyone in your class who needs a time-out?
24. If you could switch seats with anyone in the class, who would you trade with? Why?
25. Tell me about three different times you used your pencil today at school.
Monday, May 25, 2015
Gorgeous going-away gift
Auntie Lois had a tallit, a prayer shawl, made for me. FROM SCRATCH. It's amazing. She presented it at the dinner mentioned in the last post. I was overwhelmed. Auntie Lois, we love you!
Tallit in its original form.
On the loom.
I don't even really know what I'm looking at, but man it looks complicated.
Closer to completion.
The final shawl. Together Lois and I put on the tzitzit, the specially-knotted fringes on the four corners, which made it a tallit. I was so touched. And so very grateful.
Bonus picture: Xander and his cousin John at dinner.
Sunday, May 24, 2015
Articulate Ari
Ari is coming such a long way in his language. He still has a lisp, but the way he expresses himself is so original and thoughtful these days. Here are three recent examples:
1) Conversation on the way home from school:
Me: "Hi honey! How was your day?"
A: "Bad. Something very bad happened, Mommy."
Me: "Oh no! What was it?!"
A: "Ava picked a tomato when it was green. It wasn't red."
Me: "So she picked it when it wasn't ripe?"
A: (solemn nod) "No one could eat it."
Me: "Ohhh.... I see. How did you feel about that?"
A: "I was sad. And disappointed with Ava. I told her 'no, no, no' and she picked it anyway. Then she cried."
2) At Olive Garden at a goodbye dinner with all of Jonathan's family, most of the adults were having the raspberry lemonade. So they didn't feel left out, we ordered the boys the same. Our tall glasses came with lemon wedges; the boys' cups did not. Ari mused aloud, watching the lemons bob up and down in the liquid in people's glasses: "Why do grown up drinks have food in them?"
3) This isn't him being articulate as much as just being funny, but at that same goodbye dinner, Lois gave the boys lightsabers as a going-away present. When we got home, Jonathan watched him systematically swing it lightly on things. Turn it off, then back on. Hit something. Retract it, extend it, turn it on again then hit something again. This went on for a while until finally he exclaimed, "Aaghh.... this lightsaber doesn't work! It doesn't cut anything!"
1) Conversation on the way home from school:
Me: "Hi honey! How was your day?"
A: "Bad. Something very bad happened, Mommy."
Me: "Oh no! What was it?!"
A: "Ava picked a tomato when it was green. It wasn't red."
Me: "So she picked it when it wasn't ripe?"
A: (solemn nod) "No one could eat it."
Me: "Ohhh.... I see. How did you feel about that?"
A: "I was sad. And disappointed with Ava. I told her 'no, no, no' and she picked it anyway. Then she cried."
2) At Olive Garden at a goodbye dinner with all of Jonathan's family, most of the adults were having the raspberry lemonade. So they didn't feel left out, we ordered the boys the same. Our tall glasses came with lemon wedges; the boys' cups did not. Ari mused aloud, watching the lemons bob up and down in the liquid in people's glasses: "Why do grown up drinks have food in them?"
3) This isn't him being articulate as much as just being funny, but at that same goodbye dinner, Lois gave the boys lightsabers as a going-away present. When we got home, Jonathan watched him systematically swing it lightly on things. Turn it off, then back on. Hit something. Retract it, extend it, turn it on again then hit something again. This went on for a while until finally he exclaimed, "Aaghh.... this lightsaber doesn't work! It doesn't cut anything!"
Lightsaber boy (with scabby face, now healed)
Saturday, May 23, 2015
Mom's retirement Shabbat! And I won't be in town. :(
|
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Random card, from Xander to Jonathan
DAER DADDY
I HOPE YOU GET EVORY THANG YOU WANT
YOU ARE THE BEST!!!
FROM XADER TO DADDY
And before anyone comments, Xander loves superheroes and the power they wield, hence the gun. He's the most gentle kid I know, and very compassionate. Just this morning he was doing origami and made "paper pockets" for two friends. Then he decided he didn't want anyone to feel left out, so made 4 more, for everyone in his social circle. :)
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Aaannnd.... never mind
Ari is sick with a fever.
No International Night for him.
Therefore no International Night for us.
Therefore no kugel.
I'm sad.
But it's probably better for my waistline anyway.
No International Night for him.
Therefore no International Night for us.
Therefore no kugel.
I'm sad.
But it's probably better for my waistline anyway.
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Living life the easy way (the smart way?)
At the childrens' school, there is a potluck event called International Night.
You may remember that last year I made a huge Israeli salad. It took me hours.
This year I'm hiring our friend Caryn, who's starting a catering business. She's making us a big pan of noodle kugel.
I am SO relieved I can't tell you!
You may remember that last year I made a huge Israeli salad. It took me hours.
This year I'm hiring our friend Caryn, who's starting a catering business. She's making us a big pan of noodle kugel.
I am SO relieved I can't tell you!
Monday, May 18, 2015
Favorite new series
I just binge-watched Grace and Frankie on Netflix. The premise is that in their 70s, Martin Sheen and Sam Waterston finally tell their wives, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, that they're leaving them... for each other. How do they and their grown children handle it? You must watch the show, it's fabulous. Amazing actors (I have to admit, I didn't even know how famous some of them were until I googled them!), the stories are beautifully written, and overall, each episode makes me laugh and cry. Highly recommended.
Sunday, May 17, 2015
Friday's amazing-ness
This Shabbat Caryn made us two challot. One was "black and white challah," one strand as egg challah with chocolate chips inside, the other chocolate challah with chocolate chips. The second was apple cinnamon raisin challah with almond glaze. Mmmm.
(This is why one of the first things Xander said when we told him we were moving was, "But Caryn won't make us challah anymore!")
Friday, May 15, 2015
Mom's visit over Mother's Day
Mom let me sleep with Connor while she took the older boys out to eat (bless her). Apparently they finished off an insane amount of pancakes.
Smiley Bubby with her grandsons.
Playing video games. Ari steers while Xander leans down to work the pedals for them both.
Ah, naps and cuddles. You can't get any better.
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
May the 4th celebration (May the Force/4th be with you)
Xander in front of a Star Wars LEGO to-scale destroyer.
Ari and I are being attacked by Storm Troopers.
Oh no, the bad guys are arresting Jonathan!
He's been jailed!
Ari ecstatically playing with his super-amazing Iron Man balloon.
Connor attempting to eat aforementioned Iron Man balloon, while Kyle the balloon guy photobombs the picture.
Xander's awesome snake.
Nerf gun battle! Note X standing on his tiptoes and Connor avidly watching the proceedings.
Ari couldn't reach over the tables, so he took an offensive position from below.
Even the statues outside the Convention Center were wearing Jedi robes. :)
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
A weekend of transition
Wow. We are leaving in less than a month. There's no doubt now. (There never was, logistically; but now it's hit emotionally.)
Jonathan and I spent the majority of Thursday at Travis Air Force Base, witnessing a Change of Command ceremony for a congregant. I'd been there once before, teaching Intro to Judaism to a bunch of Air Force and civilian medics/nursing students, but this time it was solely as an invited guest. We saw the ceremony, which was filled with pomp and circumstance the likes of which I hadn't seen since ordination; we took a tour of the air traffic control tower and the balcony (for lack of a better term), 11 stories up; we saw the radar room filled with screens and blinking lights and no windows; we walked around the base and learned an absolute ton about the authority structure in the Air Force.
Mom came in late Thursday night.
Friday morning I officiated at a funeral, and then in the evening was on the bima for Education Shabbat, when we honored all the teachers and madrichim in the religious school. The VP of Education then gave a beautiful speech about my contributions to the temple, and then my whole family was called to the ark and Board of Trustees members held the tallit above us as the senior rabbi and cantor gave us a blessing. My kids did pretty well considering they stayed up til past 9; there was only some screaming from Connor, and everyone seemed to go "aww" instead of being upset.
Mom took Jonathan to the airport at 5am Saturday morning to leave for Florida, and he said later that it was more like a family reunion than welcoming an out-of-town guest; he saw our new house, met with the principals of the kids' school, visited temple, had meals with congregants, and got to know Coral Springs even better.
For my part, Saturday morning was a Bat Mitzvah, and Saturday evening I taught my last Adult Education class at CBI, on "Introduction to Talmud." I was very pleased with how it came out, and was so touched when a group of congregants gave me a Miss You Already card with some wine.
Sunday was Mother's Day, and my own amazing mother did so much housework it was unbelievable. I Skype'd with TBO about an urgent issue, the kids were kind, I got a nap in, and they had pancakes. A good day.
And Monday morning the preparation for transition continued: we went to the pediatrician for the very last time, and they got a battery of last vaccinations they'll need for school in FL. I was intrigued to hear that Xander is in the 50th percentile for height/weight, Ari 25%, and Connor 80%. According to the doctor - and I'm recording it here for posterity, so we'll have to check this in years to come - the two eldest boys will grow to between 5'8 and 5'9, and Connor will be between 5'11 and 6'. That makes sense; I'm 5'4 and Jonathan's 6'1. So they'll still be giants in my extended family pictures, and on the short end for his. I can deal with that.
Mom left last night at dinnertime, and Jonathan came in past midnight. It's back to work and school for everyone, but with a heightened awareness of the continued passing of time, and a bittersweet feeling of sadness to leave, while still holding great excitement for the future. The process of change is hard, but necessary.
I see great amounts of chocolate in my near future.
Jonathan and I spent the majority of Thursday at Travis Air Force Base, witnessing a Change of Command ceremony for a congregant. I'd been there once before, teaching Intro to Judaism to a bunch of Air Force and civilian medics/nursing students, but this time it was solely as an invited guest. We saw the ceremony, which was filled with pomp and circumstance the likes of which I hadn't seen since ordination; we took a tour of the air traffic control tower and the balcony (for lack of a better term), 11 stories up; we saw the radar room filled with screens and blinking lights and no windows; we walked around the base and learned an absolute ton about the authority structure in the Air Force.
Mom came in late Thursday night.
Friday morning I officiated at a funeral, and then in the evening was on the bima for Education Shabbat, when we honored all the teachers and madrichim in the religious school. The VP of Education then gave a beautiful speech about my contributions to the temple, and then my whole family was called to the ark and Board of Trustees members held the tallit above us as the senior rabbi and cantor gave us a blessing. My kids did pretty well considering they stayed up til past 9; there was only some screaming from Connor, and everyone seemed to go "aww" instead of being upset.
Mom took Jonathan to the airport at 5am Saturday morning to leave for Florida, and he said later that it was more like a family reunion than welcoming an out-of-town guest; he saw our new house, met with the principals of the kids' school, visited temple, had meals with congregants, and got to know Coral Springs even better.
For my part, Saturday morning was a Bat Mitzvah, and Saturday evening I taught my last Adult Education class at CBI, on "Introduction to Talmud." I was very pleased with how it came out, and was so touched when a group of congregants gave me a Miss You Already card with some wine.
Sunday was Mother's Day, and my own amazing mother did so much housework it was unbelievable. I Skype'd with TBO about an urgent issue, the kids were kind, I got a nap in, and they had pancakes. A good day.
And Monday morning the preparation for transition continued: we went to the pediatrician for the very last time, and they got a battery of last vaccinations they'll need for school in FL. I was intrigued to hear that Xander is in the 50th percentile for height/weight, Ari 25%, and Connor 80%. According to the doctor - and I'm recording it here for posterity, so we'll have to check this in years to come - the two eldest boys will grow to between 5'8 and 5'9, and Connor will be between 5'11 and 6'. That makes sense; I'm 5'4 and Jonathan's 6'1. So they'll still be giants in my extended family pictures, and on the short end for his. I can deal with that.
Mom left last night at dinnertime, and Jonathan came in past midnight. It's back to work and school for everyone, but with a heightened awareness of the continued passing of time, and a bittersweet feeling of sadness to leave, while still holding great excitement for the future. The process of change is hard, but necessary.
I see great amounts of chocolate in my near future.
Monday, May 11, 2015
Bubble bath boys
Bubble bath selfie.
Toddler bath escapee.
Blurry Ari because he's so fast.
Xander the smiley.
Sunday, May 10, 2015
The cart of glory
I couldn't find my phone anywhere.
I looked and I looked.
I searched. Everywhere I could think of.
I finally asked Jonathan to call it.
It rang in the boys' room.
From the middle of the grocery cart.
Connor had obviously grabbed it and gone shopping.
That's a third-generation cart. Savta had originally bought it for Xander in Israel, when we came to visit her when he was 18 months old. We brought it back in the suitcase, and each boy has loved it in his turn. Talk about a great gift!
I looked and I looked.
I searched. Everywhere I could think of.
I finally asked Jonathan to call it.
It rang in the boys' room.
From the middle of the grocery cart.
Connor had obviously grabbed it and gone shopping.
(Phone removed, only spoon left)
That's a third-generation cart. Savta had originally bought it for Xander in Israel, when we came to visit her when he was 18 months old. We brought it back in the suitcase, and each boy has loved it in his turn. Talk about a great gift!
Saturday, May 9, 2015
The aging process, through the eyes of a four year-old
Ari's deep thought of the day:
"Connor will turn into a boy when Xander and I are grown-ups!"
"Connor will turn into a boy when Xander and I are grown-ups!"
Friday, May 8, 2015
Anniversary celebrations
We were married June 4, 2004. Last year was our 10th anniversary. But we had a new baby, and didn't do much.
This year our anniversary falls the week we move cross-country, and we knew ahead of time that we wouldn't celebrate it properly.
So we decided to observe it a month early, on May 4th. We... wait for it... hired a babysitter, went out to lunch, and saw the new Avengers movie. But unbeknownst to the other, both of us decided to go big on the gifts. We both happened to get the other custom art pieces!
Jonathan commissioned this amazing piece, below, delineating love in all our fandoms, in their fabulously correct fonts. He found the artist online. It's acrylic paint on wood with a silver frame:
In order, they are:
Star Wars
Firefly
Battlestar Galactica
X-Files
Princess Bride
Dr. Who
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Spiderman
Iron Man
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Lion King
Addams Family
I think he got them all save Lord of the Rings, and that's because he knew I'm not a big Aragorn/Arwen shipper, and the alternate pairings aren't nearly as well-known. It's already hanging in my office, I put it up myself.
I commissioned a mixed media piece by someone I met quite randomly. On the way back from Florida in February, I sat next to a woman who sells things on stampinup.net, a scrapbooking/artsy site. She told me all about her teacher, Bonnie, who I then contacted after the plane landed. Bonnie and I designed the below piece as a funky family portrait:
The lions are us, of course, and surrounding it are a heart, raised letters, the Hebrew phrase ani l'dodi v'dodi li, "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine" from Song of Songs 6:3, the words "discover, journey, explore," icons of travel in French and English, a nautical symbol, nature imagery and leaves, a star of David in a Celtic knot, and more.
My silly presentation.
Opening the gift. You can really see the texture.
Up on our mantle. (The 3rd baby book is on its way!)
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Morning routine
Connor was up at 6am. We kept him confined to our room so as not to wake the others.
Ari walked in at 6:30. We played with him on the bed so as not to wake up Xander.
At 7am Xander still wasn't up, so we asked Ari if he wanted to crawl up to Xander's top bunk and tell him that it was morning time.
"Okay," he said, starting for the door, "but he's going to kick me and tell me to go away." He explained it with no rancor, just very matter-of-factly.
Jonathan and I both cracked up. We had no idea that's happened before, but didn't doubt it. Brotherly love at its finest!
Ari walked in at 6:30. We played with him on the bed so as not to wake up Xander.
At 7am Xander still wasn't up, so we asked Ari if he wanted to crawl up to Xander's top bunk and tell him that it was morning time.
"Okay," he said, starting for the door, "but he's going to kick me and tell me to go away." He explained it with no rancor, just very matter-of-factly.
Jonathan and I both cracked up. We had no idea that's happened before, but didn't doubt it. Brotherly love at its finest!
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Monday, May 4, 2015
Ball tent fun
We brought out the ball tent for some variety in play. Xander took a big cardboard box I'd brought home from temple and created an obstacle course for everyone. Here he is posing in karate mode.
Potato sack tunnel.
Click here to see a YouTube video of the kids all playing together. Xander took a square tube, used a pencil to outline its dimensions onto the large box, cut out along his outline, and fitted the two boxes together. Voila! Ball-box glory.
Sunday, May 3, 2015
Simcha's new digs
Mom did an amazing thing, and built a cat enclosure so that Simcha could go "outside" and not bug any neighbors. What he wants is to see and smell the world.
He just discovered he can go up the levels!
According to Mom, he loves it. What cat wouldn't?!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)