tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-104376312012-01-26T23:43:25.914-05:00I'm just another proud mom with an unconquerable need to share my blessings with everyone. You may not enjoy this page quite as much as I do, but you're most welcome to browse all the same. And please comment. It makes my day.Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.comBlogger3581100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-3710725978312427952012-01-22T16:08:00.002-05:002012-01-26T23:43:25.923-05:00

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-34703727966013309132011-12-14T20:27:00.000-05:002011-12-14T20:27:50.579-05:00

Ada's been having fun on the computer lately making collages in Publisher and lists of things (that we already have lists for) like her class list in Excel.  She's getting lots of great skills. Tonight she came and asked me how to make another "list." I was about to tell her how to open a new spreadsheet when she said, "Oh, I remember!"I raised my eyebrow in surprise. "Really," she said. "You go

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-19988703455365490032011-08-23T18:51:00.000-04:002011-08-23T18:51:43.699-04:00

Ada: Mommy, this hurricane is so popular!  At the bowling alley, they were showing it on the TVs!

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-51560266251294595442011-06-02T00:49:00.003-04:002011-06-02T00:56:02.067-04:00

Tonight I met with the group of ladies that are coming together with me this summer on JWRP's T.A.G. Mission to Israel. I am so excited that this is really happening! It's been so much work between recruiting applicants, interviewing, ironing out issues, and preparing the participants but I'm sure it will all pay off when I see the incredible experience that these women will enjoy. I feel so

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-12753287513238521052011-04-22T00:05:00.001-04:002011-04-22T00:06:48.850-04:00

At Dovid Gabay's show at the Hudson Valley Resort tonight:"He'd be good for a minyan!"lol.

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-69237984067462708732011-04-04T13:40:00.002-04:002011-04-04T14:00:57.922-04:00

Ada completed (for the third time in her academic career) the study of the Alef-Bet letters. The milestone was celebrated in lots of ways.One day, the class had a show-and-tell where each kid brought something that started with a letter of the Alef-Bet. They were supposed to write the word on an index card provided for the purpose. Ada, of course, wanted to bring something for EACH letter of

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-3105277145697372992011-03-13T01:47:00.001-05:002011-03-13T01:49:43.293-05:00

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-62508325567348598662011-02-23T13:15:00.003-05:002011-02-23T13:29:17.579-05:00

This past Monday, on Presidents' Day, I chaperoned Sari's class on a field trip to Boomers for miniature golf. Ada came with me because she had no school. For some reason, Sari convinced her to wear a school uniform for the occasion, which pleased Ada very much! Of course, she looked totally adorable. :)The next day, we were chatting and she asked me:Why is it called a "uniform?"So I answered

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-89282508885300579372011-02-06T23:17:00.005-05:002011-02-06T23:40:52.020-05:00

Ada came home in a hysterical rage from school. She was mad at some kids in carpool who were teasing her (or some other perceived offense of which I can't remember the details - but which was either provoked or fully reciprocated). After suggesting some solutions and coming up against more anger, resentment and agitation, I switched modes. I pulled out my good ol' "How to Talk So Kids Will

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-33868280923360388422011-01-17T12:41:00.003-05:002011-01-17T12:59:08.105-05:00

My adorable, sparkling, bursting-with-life roommate from sem drove down to Florida this weekend and stayed at our place for Shabbat. Totally fun is an understatement! I got to meet her delightful family (hubbie + 6 darling kids) and, of course, reminisce about the glory days. Glorious they were! Huge thanks to the fabulous Hadarlings for an awesome sleepover!

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-22044079714614549552010-12-23T21:24:00.003-05:002010-12-23T21:28:18.874-05:00

Two samples that I discovered among my kids' writings...Mordechai: ...this little piggy cried wii wii wii all the way home.Sari: ftogrufer (Can't guess it? It says photographer!)

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-3466268142578796112010-12-08T16:41:00.001-05:002010-12-08T16:43:41.175-05:00

Ada confided to me the other day the following:I know how to make my hair in a bun. When I make my hair in a bun and I tie my sweatshirt around my waist, I look really old. Like, even 7!

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-61150686036291342242010-11-30T07:49:00.004-05:002010-12-08T16:59:22.124-05:00

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-84131576971826041772010-11-17T23:55:00.002-05:002010-11-17T23:57:33.957-05:00

Ada: Do you like being a mommy?Me: Of course! I love having you guys as my kids!Ada: I can't wait to be a mommy...Me: Oh?Ada: Yeah. Then you get to boss your kids.

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-18979961608444111082010-11-17T23:53:00.002-05:002010-11-17T23:54:54.170-05:00

Ada: I wanna tell you something in secret.I lean down.Ada (whispering in my ear): Why do you always have to be so bossy?

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-22195607370724251442010-11-17T23:05:00.001-05:002010-11-17T23:05:56.413-05:00

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-78353833500043228322010-09-14T21:33:00.002-04:002010-09-14T21:34:46.648-04:00

Benjamin Franklin on "spreading the wealth" around... I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion of the means. I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. In my youth I travelled much, and I observed in different countries, that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-40114322874337997232010-09-14T21:22:00.003-04:002010-09-14T21:27:32.013-04:00

(hat tip: momlogic)

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-39643990756338153582010-09-14T21:15:00.000-04:002010-09-14T21:17:38.700-04:00

"...not the political Islam, not the militant Islam, not the radical Islam, not the Wahabi Islam, but Islam itself. I truly believe that the West has invented this [sic] terms for the sake of being politically correct."

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-39938789355793653972010-09-06T23:56:00.001-04:002010-09-07T01:08:28.166-04:00

Finally. ;)

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-48343268090289551482010-08-26T22:30:00.001-04:002010-09-07T01:14:11.022-04:00

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-74426455848761897302010-08-25T22:24:00.000-04:002010-09-06T22:27:12.039-04:00

third- and fifth-graders

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-58363913760459565742010-08-24T22:21:00.000-04:002010-09-06T22:22:56.200-04:00

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-34238419048868359542010-07-14T23:54:00.005-04:002010-07-18T12:18:47.941-04:00

Ada: Are you a proneshiful mommy?Me: Am I what?Ada (a bit louder in hopes of clarification): Are you a proneshiful mommy?Me: Pro-nesh-i-ful? I'm sorry, sweetie, I don't know what that means.Ada: You know, like, very awesome.... Like a proneshiful lifeguard....Me: Oh, a professional mommy!!Ada (brightening): Yes! Are you?Me: Well, what do you think?Ada: I think you are.I've arrived. :)

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-52848469571645979612010-07-14T21:04:00.003-04:002010-09-14T21:08:38.740-04:00

The girls were discussing how to interact with the other girls in their gymnastics group. Sari decided she will be friendly to everyone. She noted that most of the kids probably aren't Jewish but that's okay. "And," she added, "If they are Jewish, I'll for sure be friends with them! I can even teach them stuff that maybe they don't know!"Never too young for harbatzat Torah. :)

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-61023357461084711142010-07-14T20:58:00.003-04:002010-09-14T21:04:03.559-04:00

On our way back from a trial gymnastics session, the girls and I were talking about recreational versus competitive gymnastics. I explained that sometimes a coach might notice that a student is really good and decide to ask them to be part of the team. We went on to discuss how we were NOT going to be on any teams because that means devoting hours every day to practice and traveling for meets,

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-52146729470152145042010-07-04T15:13:00.001-04:002010-09-07T14:09:02.969-04:00

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-2643645853455785782010-06-27T23:07:00.002-04:002010-06-27T23:16:12.273-04:00

Mordechai and I were the only ones home as Shabbat was winding down yesterday. We got into conversation about the Twin Towers and terrorism and Israel and Arabs and then - oil spills. (As in, what's worse? 9/11 or the oil spill? He's always asking comparison questions like that....)He said to me, "You know how I know the oil spill is really BIG? They were even talking about it on espn!"

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-50137577062682144082010-06-14T20:49:00.003-04:002010-09-14T20:58:05.408-04:00

A while back, Ada announced one night that she wants to take out her pony holder before she goes to sleep. I thought it might make her hair pretty messy and unruly in the morning but she insisted that "Ayelet (a classmate of hers with thin straight hair) sleeps without a pony holder and that's how her hair always looks so nice!" Who am I to argue with a five-year-old's beauty secrets?A few days

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-19299902828845811442010-05-30T23:41:00.000-04:002010-06-27T23:45:24.545-04:00

It came out pretty, no?

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-52589357411083459492010-04-20T18:59:00.003-04:002010-09-14T20:49:08.193-04:00

me: Oh, Ada! I told you - no stripes with florals!Ada (looking chagrined): Uch, I forgot!(Yes, she went to school like that.)

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-32269089546202761352010-04-20T09:10:00.002-04:002010-04-20T09:13:13.272-04:00

Sari woke up very excited to celebrate Israel's birthday. She asked me, in all her 7-year-old innocence, "Is this the date Hashem promised Israel to Avraham?"(p.s. A friend pointed out that Avraham was born in 1948 - the "same" year that Israel became a state. How's that for confusing her further? Hee.)

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-13937190429908132822010-04-08T21:11:00.003-04:002010-04-08T21:13:11.731-04:00

At the seder, when asked why I was pouring everyone's first cup of wine for them, I was ready with the answer that, on the seder night, we act like kings and queens and have our wine poured for us. Ada pipes up, "So you're not the queen. You're like the servant!"Hmph.

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-79440471118627695152010-03-29T18:46:00.002-04:002010-03-29T18:47:42.973-04:00

Why?Ada: because then you live longer!

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-67309352518727671562010-03-12T15:04:00.001-05:002010-03-12T15:04:52.344-05:00

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-7384463111622039842010-03-11T13:14:00.001-05:002010-03-11T19:04:22.558-05:00

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-32053933004798681052010-03-08T14:15:00.002-05:002010-03-08T14:19:55.080-05:00

(Forgive the length of the post, Uncle Meyer. I hope it won't deter you from reading it through....)I finally have Mordechai's science fair project behind me. Despite the fact that we kept it clean and simple, it was still a huge pain. Mordechai was harassing me all last week to get the final details together (order the prints, get the tri-fold board, etc.). Of course, I really should be

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-37292260121477528202010-02-11T18:23:00.001-05:002010-02-11T18:23:26.232-05:00

Ada: Please can I? Please, please? I'll be your best kid!

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-21968402640555366812010-02-03T22:18:00.003-05:002010-02-03T22:19:54.210-05:00

Sari: Lefties are better 'cause they're more rare.Ada: Well, righties are better because we use that hand to say sh'ma!

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-17414519422430140502010-01-14T18:36:00.002-05:002010-01-14T18:39:20.037-05:00

Mordechai: When people kiss on the lips in a movie, do they have fake lips? Or, no. Are they husband and wife? (pause) Yeah, they're probably just husband and wife.Sari to Daddy: Why don't you call me honey like you call Mommy?

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-48185032256595934942010-01-12T22:35:00.004-05:002010-01-12T22:51:53.273-05:00

We've had record low temperatures in Florida for the past couple of weeks. Since we live in an old house with no heating and lots of cracks and holes and stuff, it's crazy cold by us at night. So we have a couple of space heaters that we huddle around. I spent several nights sleeping on the floor of the girls' room next to their heater because I couldn't warm up in my room. It was pretty

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-31537752467096603402009-12-23T18:48:00.003-05:002009-12-23T22:31:55.028-05:00

A woman I was speaking to (I think she would describe herself as Conservative.) was telling me about some challenges she faces. She is genuinely concerned about giving her children a strong sense of their Jewishness. She mentioned that she gets very stressed out about it during December when all the holiday lights go up and some of her kids' friends have trees in their homes. This is not the

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-45713449887888532872009-12-08T08:35:00.001-05:002009-12-08T08:36:56.866-05:00

A rare occurrence, I assure you :) I'm always behind the camera!

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-1010964531186114722009-11-29T12:25:00.003-05:002009-11-29T13:01:48.757-05:00

I'm currently reading "Treblinka: The inspiring story of the 600 Jews who revolted against their murderers and burned a Nazi death camp to the ground" by Jean-Francois Steiner. Sari read the cover with the title and subtitle and asked, "Is this a Jewish book?" I answered that it was about Jews. Then she asked, "Did the Jews win?" It took me a moment to answer.Reading about the horrors that

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-16701049611796752142009-11-26T11:54:00.000-05:002009-11-29T11:59:42.037-05:00

Mordechai: ...that we have a house ...that we are healthy and safeSari: ...for my siddur that my Savta gave me ...for kosher food ...for my family ...for HashemAda: ...for my family and my neshama

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-49653645306666038382009-11-25T18:17:00.003-05:002009-11-25T18:21:35.163-05:00

Presenting Ada, as a Native American, singing the song for the letter hey:

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-51673951018260805712009-11-22T21:40:00.003-05:002009-11-22T21:49:02.939-05:00

Out of the blue, Ada announced the following: The Chinese people made two things. Chinese restaurants and Chinese jumprope. (I have no idea how she knows anything about Chinese restaurants!)*****************Ada was busily building large squares with Clics. I asked her what she was building and she told me it was going to be a box. She added: I already know how I'm going to do it.me: Oh?

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-1865578283739535262009-10-27T22:42:00.003-04:002009-10-27T22:53:29.695-04:00

Mordechai has become quite the avid sports fan lately. To "chill out," he likes to watch game highlights online. I was nearby on the couch one afternoon while he was watching what must have been an exciting moment in the game. The sports announcers were going nuts as they are so wont to do. I wondered aloud, "Why are they always yelling on the top of their lungs like that?"A few moments

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-59204747861400401132009-10-08T00:11:00.003-04:002009-10-08T00:12:52.832-04:00

Ada was sitting in a shopping cart and started scratching the back of her knee vigorously. I asked her what the matter was and she answered, "My legpit itches me."

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-60524174278336082622009-10-08T00:09:00.001-04:002009-10-08T00:10:52.245-04:00

Sari: Mommy, do I go to a private school?Me: Yes, you do.Sari (after a moment's pause): Then how come it's out in middle of the street?

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-30200877461014465462009-09-28T23:39:00.003-04:002009-09-28T23:46:13.561-04:00

About a week into the school year, Mordechai and I were sitting one night going through his daily schedule in school. He was telling me about his morning routine when he learns limudei kodesh with Rabbi Guttman. After recess, they learn mishnayos. He said excitedly, "Mishnayos is really good!" I said (perhaps a bit skeptically), "It is?" He looked at me like I was off the wall and said, "Oh,

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-32481548847458581622009-09-28T23:28:00.002-04:002009-09-28T23:39:45.969-04:00

I was so impressed last night with something Ada said to me. She had made adorable bookmarks for Dovid and I to use in our machzorim on Yom Kippur. Each one had a cute poem and a picture of her. Ada came over to me during davening needing something or other and I had to put down my machzor. That's when I realized that I had unfortunately forgotten to bring my bookmark to shul before the chag.

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-25404839917989253142009-09-23T20:31:00.003-04:002009-09-28T23:47:53.049-04:00

Totally fascinating stuff. The second clip here has some background info. Check out some of the related clips on YouTube as well... (hat tip)

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-30506692305817019652009-09-09T18:11:00.002-04:002009-09-09T18:26:17.239-04:00

This morning I woke up and went to rouse the kids. Sari - who does have a perfectly good bed, fear not! - was rolled up in her blanket on the floor. I woke her up and, as usual, the sleeping beauty grunted and rolled over. I didn't see Ada in her bed so I called out her name, assuming she was in the bathroom. No response. I checked Mordechai's room. He was already out of bed. I figured Ada

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-25615371320748814672009-09-09T18:04:00.002-04:002009-09-09T18:11:07.024-04:00

I asked Ada to bring home some cookies or cake from a siyum she is going to tonight. (I won't be there because I'll be at Meet the Teacher night for the kidlets.) She solemnly promised to wrap some up for me to go. A few moments later, she came to me and asked seriously, "Are you allowed to take home the napkins?" Something tells me she won't grow up to be one of the ladies taking home the

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-66379954477771174812009-09-07T22:35:00.001-04:002009-09-07T22:37:00.100-04:00

Here's me doing my part.

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-74318922812884764452009-09-02T22:27:00.000-04:002009-09-02T22:28:38.159-04:00

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-55740957693079449082009-09-02T22:10:00.002-04:002009-09-02T22:29:04.513-04:00

From Sari's parsha question sheet:Question: What do you do if you have an open roof?Real answer: You must build a fence.Ada's answer: You call a fixer man and ask him to fix it.Duh!

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-56067042753243960802009-09-02T22:00:00.004-04:002009-09-02T22:10:08.871-04:00

So I've been driving the kidlets to school in Boca every day. We pick up another kid along the way as well. The other day, I was spacing out and accidentally drove right past our meeting spot so that I had to get off the next exit and turn around to go back to pick him up. Mordechai was thoroughly annoyed and was delivering a lecture about how I should pay more attention to what I'm doing.

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-39759652955778199472009-08-24T23:02:00.003-04:002009-08-24T23:28:56.149-04:00

Sari nearly sliced her thumb off this evening while trying to cut a slice of challah for herself. I heard a cry of surprise from her and one of admonition from Mordechai. I saw her race past me on her way upstairs and I asked Mordechai what happened. He told me she had cut herself so I called to her to ask her where she was going. She said she was going to get a bandage. By the time she came

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-4484414914599808732009-08-12T19:17:00.001-04:002009-08-12T19:19:31.184-04:00

Someone asked Ada the other day how old she was. Her response:"Four and a half and three-quarters."

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-86751972609680402172009-08-02T19:45:00.003-04:002009-08-02T19:50:20.768-04:00

Mordechai just told me a joke about a car that had special driving instructions. Funny thing, it was just like the joke I heard as a kid. Only the joke I heard was about a horse that would stop if you said "Shema Yisrael" and go if you said "Baruch Hashem!"

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-72034322607562196352009-08-02T13:03:00.003-04:002009-08-02T13:07:37.078-04:00

Sari came over to me holding an empty box after taking the last M&M ice cream cone. I looked at her, puzzled, and told her to throw it away. She said, "But you could use it to hold the door open!" (I'd been wondering all morning what happened to my homemade door stop that holds open my kitchen's swinging door.) I was so pleased. And she said, "Isn't that great? We're recycling! We're

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-4430168798192932612009-07-30T19:11:00.003-04:002009-07-30T19:31:22.557-04:00

Mordechai had his first summer away from home. It was a huge experience for both of us. He stayed at Dovid's sister, Sari's family. He didn't say that much about his days but I do know that he was usually "too busy" to talk on the phone with me. Good sign, I guess.After the second day of Chaim Day Camp, Mordechai reported that his Rebbe was awesome. His only complaint was, "Why do they have

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-81134079462983919482009-07-16T19:06:00.000-04:002009-07-30T19:10:57.713-04:00

Me: We have to pack up the school because it's moving to Palm Beach Gardens.Ada (wide-eyed): They're going to move the whole school? How do they pick it up?Me: No! They don't move the building, just the stuff in it.Ada: Oh. Well that's good for Morah Tzippy 'cuz she lives in Palm Beach Gardens and she'll be close to it!'

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-39073129373235359402009-06-08T19:35:00.002-04:002009-09-08T18:51:17.110-04:00

Watching children get their first Chumash is an incredibly inspiring experience. Sari was a superstar! (I was reminded of her kindergarten "graduation" when we were still living in NY. There were a couple of kids in her class who refused to go up to do their part or forgot their lines. Sari jumped up to fill in for each one of them. She knew everyone else's parts by heart and apparently

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-14342115084866971902009-03-10T16:35:00.003-04:002009-09-08T18:55:22.402-04:00

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-20629557712449768592009-01-14T16:22:00.005-05:002009-09-08T18:55:54.639-04:00

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-17515970625161218772009-01-03T21:01:00.002-05:002009-04-29T16:20:31.289-04:00

On Friday, Ada and I were preparing challah dough. I was narrating the process and after we had checked the eggs to make sure they were kosher, I announced that I was going to beat the eggs. After I had whisked them for a few moments, Ada called out in glee:"You won!"

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-89495851878172477182008-10-07T23:00:00.006-04:002009-01-03T21:06:48.508-05:00

Mordechai was complaining about the lack of scheduled activites for Erev Yom Kippur.“I’m gonna be so bored!” he said. I pointed out that we could play, read, and eat. I also mentioned that we still had to do tashlich. Then I added, "Oh, and we have to do kapparos tomorrow!" His response: "Yeah, but what's the point of doing kapparos…there’s no poor people in Palm Beach!"A g'mar

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-42758094246349643332008-09-22T21:43:00.003-04:002009-08-02T14:28:27.916-04:00

The shower curtain in the kids' bathroom is a huge political world map. Ada insists that I stay in the bathroom while she sits and waits for things to happen (or longer) and makes me tell her the name of specific places that she points out. The toilet is situated facing the southern hemisphere directly in front of South America. I think she thinks Brazil is the most important place in the

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-80225384910968662342008-09-10T22:22:00.003-04:002008-09-10T22:41:07.755-04:00

Dovid offered to brush Ada's hair for her after the bath because she was complaining that it was getting in her eyes.Dovid: Okay. I'll do it very gently.Ada: Good. 'Cuz Mommy does it very hurty.

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-20194541122041529862008-08-28T22:32:00.000-04:002008-09-10T22:35:43.564-04:00

Mordechai to Sari: So which seat are you in?Sari: I'm the second to the last seat in the second row.Mordechai: Good. If you're sitting in the back, that means you're good.

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-87195661172137942792008-08-28T22:26:00.000-04:002008-09-10T22:30:47.222-04:00

Sari's reaction to her first day of First Grade:"In first grade there's no standing up. You have to sit all day."Ugh. School can be such boring torture.Day 2: "We have to write every day!"

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-50291660567123339362007-10-10T01:33:00.000-04:002007-10-10T01:34:19.700-04:00

Do you ever get the urge to put time on pause so you could get through a mountain of "to-dos" and, then, hit play when you're all caught up and ready for the world to keep turning? Ah, well. Maybe it's just me ;)

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-80335214475744506862007-07-16T23:27:00.001-04:002007-07-16T23:29:21.117-04:00

Makes sense. Just be yourself - a good Jew. Torah sells itself.

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-28165514012993838662007-07-16T18:29:00.000-04:002007-07-16T22:39:18.808-04:00

Dovid, after a grueling 7 hour oral exam, has passed and gotten his smicha. We're very proud to have a bona fide rabbi in the family!These were given to me in lieu of a Yerushalayim shel zahav (Jerusalem of gold). Cheapo ;)

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-89005888141966002662007-07-15T14:16:00.000-04:002007-07-15T15:03:55.103-04:00

...here it comes. The truck is due Wednesday or Thursday. I've been packing continually and it's just starting to look like I've made a dent. You can't imagine the amount of stuff we have managed to accumulate in this small 2-bedroom apartment! The playroom and living room/dining room have been one and the same for five years now. It'll certainly be a nice change to live in a house with a

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-36945533717854897922007-07-08T01:55:00.001-04:002008-08-22T16:55:21.256-04:00

My moving truck is coming in a week and a half. I've been blog-browsing for over an hour. Procrastinating? Oh yeah. Guilty as charged - big time.

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-91364195155509876612007-07-02T22:54:00.000-04:002007-07-02T23:34:39.286-04:00

Mordechai (who's having trouble falling asleep so I let him come out to read) just handed me a little gift. It's a piece of paper folded first accordion-style and then folded in three. On the outside are printed the words USA MAP. When unfolded, you see a drawing of the U.S. with many (mostly rectangular) divisions indicating states. Texas and Florida are fairly true to shape. Actually, on

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-89586441305502149932007-07-01T17:43:00.000-04:002007-07-01T17:47:48.337-04:00

It was a week or so after Shavuos and the kids and I were out when I met a friend who had recently had a baby. As I congratulated her, I asked her how old the baby was. She answered that she was just about seven weeks old. Barely a few seconds passed and Mordechai piped up, "Was she born on Pesach?"

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-3720633752545551712007-07-01T17:31:00.000-04:002007-07-01T17:43:11.645-04:00

Sari is blessed with many eligible bachelors who are vying for her hand in marriage. The two front-runners at the moment are Yisrael and Ben. In truth, Ben, who is a good friend of Sari's, was not a consideration until recently when the match was suggested by Mordechai. Sari immediately dismissed the idea saying, "Oh, I can't marry him because he's younger than me." Mordechai pointed out that

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-69197059276302527912007-07-01T17:25:00.000-04:002009-09-08T19:08:57.627-04:00

Mordechai and Sari wanted to go to Meema (their grandmom) for Shabbat. Discussing it, I cried out in mock horror, "Who's going to stay with us?"Sari answered matter-of-factly, "Mommy will stay with Daddy and Daddy will stay with Mommy." Mordechai chimed in, "You'll get to spend time with each other."Isn't that sweet?

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-34552299975581156862007-07-01T17:24:00.001-04:002007-07-01T17:25:05.731-04:00

Ada (2 1/2) is all too familiar with the experience of trying to put her shoe on the wrong foot. She usually figures it out when she realizes she is having way too much trouble than would normally be expected from a harmless velcro shoe. The other day she was trying to put on her sock by herself and the sock just didn't seem to want to cooperate. She turned to me in frustration and asked, "

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-43682582359906288782007-05-30T21:48:00.000-04:002007-05-30T22:00:23.592-04:00

As Seraphic Secret suggests, you must see this: an adorable play put on by adorable children in Gaza.

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-31524809895312173252007-05-30T01:01:00.000-04:002007-05-30T01:31:26.372-04:00

You don’t really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around - and why his parents will always wave back. --William D. Tammeus

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-17646851606832448542007-05-30T00:55:00.000-04:002007-05-30T00:59:55.448-04:00

Ada's into the stage where she loves to reminisce as in, "'Member when we went on the train and we went 'round and 'round and I had a buckle...?""Dreh-fis" = breakfast in Adaspeak.p.s. I packed my first box of dishes! This move is really going to happen.p.p.s. Anyone want to donate a high riser or twin beds to the Cuties?p.p.p.s. I was just remembering how we used to think it was the epitome

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-9436952646006688952007-05-30T00:53:00.001-04:002008-08-22T17:04:39.253-04:00

It's so not fair for Sari. She's at an age when hearing "I won't be your friend if you won't let me have your (insert toy/candy/article of interest)" from Mordechai leaves her with no be'chira (choice). Meanwhile, she could say the same thing and Mordechai responds with a shrug and a smirk. It irks me so. And I hate when Mordechai devises a "trade" agreement to swindle her out of her property

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-59709814276002459662007-05-25T15:55:00.001-04:002007-05-25T16:39:34.088-04:00

Mordechai's rebbe talks the yeshiva talk with the kids which they love. They feel like they're in really serious shiur. Mordechai tries to insert these "learning" phrases into his vocabulary whenever appropriate and it's adorable. At one se'udah on Shavuot, we had the whole Queens branch of the May Fam over. There was some lively conversation going on and I was agreeing with my bro-in-law,

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-2246773592879864132007-05-20T17:58:00.000-04:002007-05-20T18:24:26.237-04:00

The conversations during carpool are so amusing - when the kids are not arguing at the top of their lungs, that is. A snippet of today's discussion:Mordechai: My father is so rich. He's probably the richest in the class!Friend: Oh yeah? How much money does he have? A hundred? A thousand? A million?M: I don't know exactly but I know it's a lot.F: My father is so rich. I know because every

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-58957348134610793812007-05-11T16:08:00.000-04:002007-05-11T16:09:45.600-04:00

Mordechai was wondering about Mothers' Day and about how the whole thing got started. I explained to him the whole Hallmark thing. He then asked, "Why don't they have Brothers' Day?""Well, um, I don't really know," I replied.Mordechai shrugged and said, "It doesn't matter anyway because one day I'll be a father."UPDATE: I was telling the story over to Dovid when Sari piped up to say, quite

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-12028374064150028882007-05-07T17:50:00.000-04:002007-05-07T17:52:40.965-04:00

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-56503398039170493532007-05-06T12:41:00.000-04:002007-05-06T12:42:22.154-04:00

That's elevator in AdaSpeak. Yum.

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-55544330618111790112007-05-01T22:16:00.000-04:002007-05-11T16:10:50.177-04:00

Ada has been walking around telling everyone she meets that she's going to "Acamy Palm Beach" and she's getting a "napsap" in which she'll put her "shtraw cup with milk" and a notebook. For those of you who haven't yet heard the BIG news, here it is:We're moving to Palm Beach!You heard right. We're headed down to sunny Florida, to the island of the palm trees. Dovid has been appointed by the

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-57031582014066524922007-04-16T16:24:00.000-04:002007-04-16T16:31:10.704-04:00

At the hotel, in the children's dining room, as I'm bringing some chicken over to Ada (2 1/2):Me: Ada, look! I got you the best chicken in the house.She (laughing at the "joke"): Dis not a house!A short while later...Me (hugging her to pieces): I love you, baby doll.She (looking at me like I'm an idiot): I not a doll, I'm a Ada!

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-36710666230722820382007-04-05T23:38:00.000-04:002007-04-18T20:46:22.663-04:00

On Thursday, March 29th, the last day of school before Pesach vacation, Sari was telling me about her day at school. The class had held a mock seder with crackers and grape juice and all the fun things that happen during the seder. She said, "We had a geshmack seder at school today!""Oh?" I said. "What's that?"She was pleased to be ready with her reply, "It means a pretend seder."

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-20154766352044450172007-03-29T21:33:00.000-04:002007-04-18T20:46:55.100-04:00

My school was giving away some (really) old iMacs. Not one to turn down a freebie, I figured I'd bring it home for the kids to play with and learn to type on, etc.. They were absolutely overjoyed when they saw it. As I was putting it together, they were dancing around me excitedly. When I turned it on, Mordechai caught his breath in a little gasp and looked at me with shining eyes and said,

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-63050772111389627082007-03-22T23:34:00.000-04:002007-03-22T23:45:28.898-04:00

Sari and Ada went down the hall to visit Penina. Apparently she wasn't home because no one answered their knocks. Sari came back to the door and was holding it open, urging Ada to come back home while Ada was stubbornly holding her ground. After a moment or two of this, Sari called out:Mom, I need some assistance.Me (surprised to hear her use that word): Assistance, eh? Where did you hear

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-31335919051535737592007-03-19T19:25:00.000-04:002007-03-19T19:29:20.436-04:00

If you have a weak stomach, then don't click on this. It is a picture of a suicide jumper taken shortly after he landed. It shows him with his insides now on the outside. The looks of horror on the faces of the bystanders are quite graphic.

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10437631.post-2374128289841517772007-02-25T15:53:00.000-05:002007-02-25T16:10:23.255-05:00

I have yet to do a load of laundry where each sock is paired with a matching sock. I keep the loners in a special singles' bag hoping that they'll one day find their zivug hagun (proper match). The crowd grows and grows and the singles problem is getting out of hand. These socks need shidduchim desperately. And I am losing my mind!That's all. Just had to get that off my chest.

Ayelethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452707874685237517noreply@blogger.com10