Our Temple Emanu-El Shabbaton concluded with a Havdalah service under the stars on a crisp, clear evening in February. Ella holds our family’s candle just before it is extinguished in the wine cup signifying the end of Shabbat and the beginning of another week.
For more information and pictures from the Shabbaton, visit the Lomdim site.
LA’s current favourite cocktail is the French 75.
Served in a flute, the ingredients are:
Directions: Combine sugar, lemon juice, and gin in a shaker full of ice. Shake well, then pour into a tall glass and top with champagne. (If possible, ice the glass ahead of time.)
(What!? She makes great tips and it will help her through university.)
After much anticipation and some consternation, Ella’s tooth finally decided to come out.
The blood flow couldn’t dampen her enthusiasm to see what the tooth fairy would bring her. Unfortunately, the tooth fairy had some trouble finding the actual tooth which she had placed between her two pillows rather than under them. Hence the tears in the morning when she found the tooth still ensconced between the pillows and concluded the tooth fairy had not come. There was some visible confusion on her sweet face when she discovered the tooth fairy had left her a $5 bill under the pillow (where the tooth was supposed to go), but just forgot to take the tooth (or, perhaps, couldn’t find it.)
We’re not sure how long the tooth fairy will be coming to our house. After all, this is the girl who figured out 3 months ago that Santa was just the Christian kids’ parents and had to be reminded not to tell all her friends of her revelation.
Today, we attended Ben and Ella’s dance performance at the Music Hall on the Danforth. Check it out!
Ben and Ella started French Immersion Senior Kindergarten today. They look so big. ;-(
Leigh Anne was getting Ella changed after an evening swim. While brushing her hair, she tells her how proud she is of her swimming.
“Momma, do you think there are very many five years old who can swim as good as me?”
“I’m sure not very many five years old are so lucky to have a pool that they can swim every day,” LA responds.
“Ya and not so many have grandmothers with five grandchildren.”
LA says: “Oh, there are lots of grandmothers and grandchildren. But lots of grandmothers don’t bother with what their grandchildren want. They just do what they want. They might not want to swim every day.”
“Yes, well we wouldn’t bodder with her either if she was like dat.”
This year marks Ben and Ella’s fifth year - a seemingly landmark year.
The babies are gone. Well, they still come out once in a while, but they are rapidly moving into the next phase.
I met Maddy when she was six. I remember how sweet she was during those years before the great change - the great transformation into a young adult.
These truly are the good old days.
Happy birthday my son and daughter.
Saturday was dress rehearsal and picture day for the first ballet recital.
Ella’s troupe (Baby Ballet, Tuesday class) are doing the Magic Dust dance in Cinderella.
When I look at these pictures, it’s as if I’ve been sprinkled with magic dust.
It was a warm, bright morning. We were on the front porch and I was snapping pictures furiously when she asked: “Want me to pose, Daddy?”
“Sure Sweetie,” I replied.
Then, I got this pose.
All of a sudden, all the driving to and from class, the fees, the rehearsals, the fees for the custom-made costume, and the exorbitant Ticketmaster prices for the recital tickets seemed so worth it.
Magic.
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We celebrated the first day of spring with a fun-filled Purim carnival. Leigh-Anne did the make-up for everyone.
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We though Ben was over his stomach problems. So did he. So we were all surprised when he barfed in the van on the way to the Magic Kingdom - again. (Maybe it was something about that park, in particular.)
Eventually, the day got straightened out and Ben was back to his normal non-barfing, high-spirited self.
In my typical grinch-like fashion, I bemoaned the line-up and the price of the facepainting at Disney. But, as you can see, it was fabulous. And they loved it so much.
Thank god for Leigh-Anne. Sometimes, she just knows the right thing to do so long before I get it. It’s scary.
Speaking of scary…check out Ben!
And who could say no to a sweet butterfly face like this?
Highlights of this trip to the Magic Kingdom: Barn Burner kid coaster (Ben and I went 4 times), Dumbo ride, Pirates of the Caribbean, McDonald’s fries, 3D movie.
This wonderful day ended with a pizza dinner around the pool and a birthday cake for Liora who was lucky enough to be celebrating her ninth birthday at Disney.