363/365: a new pet

For the last night of Hanukkah, we surprised Sam with his first pet, a colorful betta fish! His name, Mr. Maccabee Latke Dreidel Goldsteinfish, so we are sure to never forget when he joined our family! Here's hoping that the way the oil lasted 7 days longer than expected, that Mr. Maccabee lasts longer than expected, too! Thank goodness for a new pet

362/365: reaching new heights

We are like broken records in this house, "Sam! Please stop throwing things!" This time he went too far and Murphy wound up in the fan! I would like to think that maybe this would get Sam to learn his lesson, especially when I said that Murphy may be scared up there, but it doesn't take long before something else is whizzing past us...thank goodness for reaching new heights

360/365: digital watch

Sam's first watch was a Sam-I-Am flip-up watch that he got for his 4th birthday and he loved it...until it went one too many times in the water table at school and that was the end of that. Then Mimi and Pop replaced it with a Spiderman watch which also didn't make it too long in the life of a toddler. We are hoping the third time is a charm with this camouflage Gap watch! Sam was pretty excited to get it on and test out how the numbers light up in the dark...cool! If we can only get him to stay in his room until the numbers say 730 A.M., then it will certainly be money well spent! Thank goodness for (hopefully Sam's last) digital watch

359/365: Hanukkah on Ice

What a great way to spend Christmas...on the ice! Sam laced up for the first time and Jay took him out on the ice at the annual Chabad event, Hanukkah on Ice at The Flyers Skate Zone. We enjoyed fun Hanukkah music, yummy traditional foods and of course, some ice time, too! Sam braced himself with a big orange cone and did awesome for his first time...no fear and determined to do well! Sam and Jay's matching Flyers cold gear got them some attention and they are going to be in the AC Press tomorrow! Luke and I were great spectators, too! Thank goodness for Hanukkah on Ice (a great way to spend Christmas)!

358/365: luminaries

One month after we moved into the neighborhood, we got a notice on our front door about the neighborhood tradition of Christmas Eve luminaries. It was made to be a "mandatory" obligation that we felt forced to comply with but after a couple years of seeing the beautiful finished product, we now enjoy seeing the streets of Schoolhouse illuminated for the holidays. Thank goodness for luminaries

357/365: peanut butter and jelly muffins

Some creamy peanut butter mixed into the batter and a little spoonful of strawberry jam in the middle makes these little treats a yummy favorite! Thank you Parent magazine :) Thank goodness for peanut butter and jelly muffins

356/365: festival of lights

Like Mimi shared with me from the Jewish Exponent, the real miracle of Hanukkah is not that the oil lasted for eight days, but rather that someone tried and tried seven subsequent nights. Thank goodness for the festival of lights

354/365: continuing traditions...

Since the boys have been a year old, we have always shared a night of Hanukkah together so this year was no exception. "Mom-Mom Area" made yummy latkes and we enjoyed lighting the menorah and hearing the boys sing their preschool Hanukkah blessings and songs. Thank goodness for continuing traditions

352/365: meatloaf

The onion soup recipe for meatloaf is such a breeze and Luke loves it too which is an added bonus! I don't remember eating meatloaf growing up...but then again I think I spit out more food than swallowing it so that isn't saying much! This is an easy new recipe to add to the repertoire for a day that I work. Thank goodness for meatloaf

351/365: Aunt B's latkes

Not too greasy and not to dry... Not too big and not too small...not too salty but not lacking taste...these latkes were just right! Which made them perfect for our Hanukkah party this year because being together is always "just right!" Thank goodness for Aunt B's latkes

350/365: my kamish bread

I think I have it down to a science now! I never quite understood how people had a "specialty" but now I know that this is my specialty because I no longer need the recipe in fact, I have even added and changed things to make it my own! It is quite a fiasco to make it...make dough in advance and chill overnight and then when baking one loaf, I am cutting another loaf and sprinkling with cinnamon and sugar to put back in the oven for a few minutes...it takes time but it is worth it! Thank goodness for my kamish bread

349/365: beautiful holiday homes

I have been admiring this Margate house for the the few weeks that it has been decorated for the holidays. It reminds me a little bit of the house from the movie Home Alone. I love the brick, the front columns, the location on the corner in the parkway section of Ventnor Avenue...and all illumincated for Christmas, it is just exquisite! Thank goodness for beautiful holiday homes

348/365: Magnatile creations

Sam has been loving these Magnatiles since getting them for his birthday and the things he creates are sometimes so amazing that I am shocked he created them by himself! He likes to play with his cars inside and he forms elaborate parking garages, "villages," and different archetectural creations. When it eventually crashes, it is always fun to see what he will make next! Thank goodness for Magnatile creations

347/365: vegetable barley soup

A great new recipe...hearty vegetables...easy to prepare! Thank goodness for vegetable barley soup

346/365: Cat trucks

Ever since Mimi and Pop got the boys stocks in the Caterpillar Corporation, we get excited when we see these trucks and equipment at work. Thank goodness for Cat trucks

345/365: belated birthday gifts

When Aunt Rachel and Uncle Carl came to visit the boys, they brought Luke a birthday gift since they weren't able to come to his party...this bin is sure to come in handy for toys, outgrown clothes or anything requiring storage. Thank goodness for belated birthday gifts

342/365: first time on skates

Sam did great for his first time on roller skates! He was not afraid and loved using to skate mate to help with his balance. And if that didn't work, he simply crawled over to his friends! Thank goodness for Sam's first time on skates

325/365: little turkeys

The JCC Thanksgiving feast was this morning! Sam sang his Albaquerky Turkey song on stage and so much changes in a year...he went from running to me and not going on stage last year to repeatedly asking me if the video camera was charged and ready to film him on stage! And Luke LOVED the turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes...what a great eater! He went back to his classroom and slept for 3 hours and then woke up to eat the lunch that I packed! Thank goodness for my little turkeys

323/365: magical parties

The magnificent Max had a magical 6th birthday party and it was great! The magician was great...especially "finding" money in all parts of Max's body and the kids just loved it! The parents were cracking up, too! Mimi pulled out her Kindergarten charm to get the rowdy kids to cooperate and Lola loved hanging in the back with Jay and Luke when the magician got a little loud and crazy. It was a great party and just like magic, right before our eyes Maxer-Moops is 6 years old...wow!!! Thank goodness for magical parties

320/365: morning entertainment

Sam likes to see Luke in his crib in he morning and when we are dragging to get out of bed, Sam is able to keep Luke happy until we get in to change his diaper, get him dressed and move along with the morning routine. This morning Sam found an Elmo puppet to entertain Luke with...they are both so lucky to have each other and I think they both know it! Thank goodness for morning entertainment

317/365: holiday card picture

Every year it takes some time to figure out what to do for a holiday card picture...when to take it and where...how to dress everyone and then of course, the hard part is getting everyone to cooperate! This year was a breeze! We had the beautiful mums and fall foliage out our front door and the boys had matching ties from their school photo this year. To keep Luke from crawling away, he sat in the wagon and bingo! we did it! Thank goodness for our holiday card photo this year

315/365: first soup of the season

Apple butternut squash soup...Luke and Jay enjoyed it and I was able to get Sam to taste it! Thank goodness for the first soup of the season

314/365: experimenting

I was playing around with the camera today while Luke napped...love how the sun burst came through the trees! Always trying out new things to learn with my camera. Thank godness for experimenting

309/365: being in the driver's seat

A year old and already Luke is sitting in the driver's seat! I love everything about this picture...the natural light through the windshield, Luke's little hands gripping the wheel, how the sweet coat fits him, the little hair getting caught on his long lashes and that sweet, candid expression. Thank goodness for being in the driver's seat

308/365: soapy favors

Thank goodness for little pumpkin pump soap favors for our sweet little pumpkin!

304/365: favorite "things"

Happy Halloween 2011! Thank goodness for our two favorite "things!"

303/365: cobwebs

Never thought I would "thank goodness" for cobwebs but it was fun getting into the spooky Halloween spirit to photograph a big ole cobweb! Thank goodness for cobwebs

286/365: daddy daycare

Today was Sukkot and the JCC was closed for the boys, but I had to work so it was daddy daycare! And what a success! I came home to both Sam and Luke being happy, fed and not even noticing that I walked in! One little trick helped...we put away some of Sam's birthday gifts so we can "open" something new throughout the year so on this rainy day where the boys were inside, daddy set up the train set from Aunt Chrissy & Uncle Phil and Sam is loving it! Glad today worked out because we need to do this again next week when it is Simchas Torah! Thank goodness for daddy daycare

279/365: BJs shopping cart

I love the double cart at BJs and so did the boys! It was so cute having them side by side and Luke would continuously want to slime Sam and Sam would tickle Luke...we certainly had no problem getting our shopping done in this cart...it was built-in entertainment! Thank goodness for the BJs shopping cart

278/365: the final result

So the mums are planted and the front step is complete...thank goodness for the final product!

277/365: fall mums

I am so happy that finally our front walkway is looking a bit more welcoming this fall! We repaired the front step, trimmed away bushes and trees that needed to be pruned and now we planted mums all the way up to the front door which looks great! Thank goodness for fall mums

276/365: the paddington bear coat

This coat was Max's, then Sam wore it and now, third time is a charm on this little charmer! The zipper is broken but I love the little toggles and it is so fun to see the same little fall coat on each of the boys! Thank goodness for the paddington bear coat

275/365: 11 month old cuteness

Luke is 11 months old today...three more top teeth came in along with one more on the bottom! Luke is an awesome eater, so much so that Sam tries to pass his leftovers to Luke! He loves everything we put in front of him and has become less and less interested in the bottle. Luke is loving his 3 days at the JCC, especially his visits when Sam comes by. The teachers say that Sam crawls on the floor with Luke and tickles him, but now Luke is sad when Sam goes back to his room...what a sweet brotherly bond! Your birthday invitations have been mailed and we simply can't believe your first birthday is right around the corner! Thank goodness for 11 month cuteness

274/365: doing your own thing...

Do you see our Sam? Look very closely...all of Sam's soccer teammates are ready for drills, prepared with a ball by their feet or at least facing forward and then there is our Sam, chatting and turned the opposite direction! Thank goodness for doing your own thing

272/365: everyone knowing...

"Does everyone know"...my sweet nephew, Max...and that he loves "challah bread," chick noodle soup, applesauce, all the family at big dinners, Jewish holiday festivities..."does everyone know" that we love him and everything he says! Thank goodness for everyone knowing we love Max

271/365: Reaching this Day of Remembrance

"Many are our blessings on this Day of Remembrance. We give thanks for life itself, for all that sustains body and mind, for love and friendship, for the delights of the senses, and for the excellence of the Torah which deepens our life and enriches our days. O let abundant life be the heritage of all earth's children!" Thank goodness for reaching this Day of Remembrance 5772

263/365: matching pajamas

Once in a while, there is nothing like two little siblings matching exactly...I love it! Thank goodness for matching pajamas

262/365: sweet sleeping baby boy

Can you tell that daddy did bedtime tonight? Luke's snaps are all misaligned and his diaper is out for all to see...but it didn't stop him from getting a non-stop trip on the shluffy train. My favorite times are checking on my sleeping boys before I go to sleep myself...thank goodness for sweet sleeping baby boy

260/365: pee wee soccer

Today was Sam's first day playing organized recreational soccer! He was so excited for the cleats, shin guards, team orange shirt and especially the snack at the end of the game! We were excited to mingle with the mommies and daddies and enjoy the short little walk to fields from our house. Day one was a success! Sam started out clinging to me and moved to running with the team, scoring a point for the opposing team and having a great morning! I'm sure there will be many blog posts of Sam in action on the field every Saturday morning! Thank goodness for pee wee soccer

259/365: favorite books

So I picked up this funny potty book for Sam when he was first learning to use the toilet and the title is, Everyone Poops. It talks about all the different animals and how they go and of course how adults go and at the end of the book it shows all the animals lines up and says "everyone eats so..." and then you turn the pages and it is the back of all the animals and it says, "everyone poops!" When I went to tuck Sam in tonight, there he was amongst his "buddies" and says he wanted me to take an "everyone poops picture of him" ha ha! Thank goodness for favorite books

258/365: the birds

It looked like an Alfred Hitchcock movie in our back yard tonight...there were so many of these white birds perched all throughout the trees! I tried to snap a photo or two when they began flying away after they heard my camera but many were blurry. This is definitely a skill I want to work on during the next class I take in October...being able to show movement minus the blur and still demonstrating quality and clarity. Thank goodness for the birds

257/365: bubbly love

When I haven't taken a picture all day, and it has been harder to get them in now that I am back at work part of the week, the boys and their bath is my picture-perfect time to capture a priceless pic! Tonight there were many cute splashy photos but this one really captures just how much Sam loves Luke and he really loves baths with him...actually, lately, he would rather shower if Luke isn't going to be in the tub with him! He loves on him, tries to get him to giggle and his baby talk with Luke is the cutest! Thank goodness for bubbly love

256/365: tolerating water on our head

Sam has many little "shticks" that keep us on our toes...he prefers to be "line leader" and walk first down the stairs, you can't give him a straw before he picks out his smoothie in the morning, you must pause a DVD before shutting it off entirely, the list goes on and on and on and on and on and on...ha ha! Anyway, on that laundry list is when Sam gets his face or specifically his eyes wet in the bath, he likes a towel right away to wipe his eyes. Well tonight he surprised us with wanting to wash the shampoo out of his head all by himself! We take careful precaution to tip his head back and barely get a drop below his forehead which is why this picture is such a hoot! He made a little "visor" in attempt to block the water, but as it came pouring down, he laughed and loved it and did it over and over again! What a perfect precursor to our imminent swim lessons! Thank goodness for tolerating water on our head

255/365: a new front step

The front step has been crumbling down little by little so after finally deciding the best way to fix it and settling on the details, loads of rain prevented the job from starting! But finally the mason was able to pour the concrete and we are now on our way to a new and improved front step...which is the first step to a welcoming front entrance to the house...no pun intended :) Looking forward to some pretty mums up the walkway, maybe a bench of some sort on the landing and we will soon be getting some knocks on the door! Thank goodness for a new front step

254/365: day of remembrance

Ten years have passed since we felt this horrific jolt in history...I remember vividly where I was on the Ithaca College campus when I saw that first plane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center and thinking over and over to myself that it appeared to be a tragic and awful "accident" and then the second plane crashed into the South Tower...my heart came up to my throat and we all knew from that moment that things can go terribly wrong in our world and this was a living nightmare! It was a very tough day today recalling the day's events and hearing the names of nearly 3,000 innocent victims and their families...our lives and the country will never be the same. I recall traveling when Sam was 15 months old and the airline security insisted I remove his shoes to ensure nothing dangerous was hidden on his body. I began to cry at the thought that someone could and would do this and the fact that Sam and all of us now live in fear. Each year on this day and each day in between I think about the brave men and women that fight for our freedom to live in this wonderful country and I am so grateful. After watching and hearing the stories of many people caring for one another and helping to survive that dark day and the ten years following, it is clear that September 11, 2001, taught us that we as Americans must find comfort in our capacity for love and to understand one another. Thank goodness for this day of remembrance

253/365: Ithaca offspring

Today we hosted a little Ithaca reunion and what a great afternoon! The weather held out for most of the day and little and big Ithacans had a ball! And it is so great that no matter how much time goes by, these kids still have so much fun hanging out...literally :) Thank goodness for Ithaca offspring

247/365: a little lemonade stand

Our neighbor and friend's daughter, Rian had been wanting to have a lemonade stand all summer long so this last weekend of the summer, she finally did! Sam loved walking down the bike path to purchase a cup from his buddies and each customer received a seashell! Thank goodness for a little lemonade stand

246/365: bumper cars

This was the first summer that the boys did the bumper cars together along with some other non-kiddie rides! As always, they love being together on rides, each boardwalk fries, holding hands...doing just about anything or nothing at all! Sometimes it's fun not having them look at the camera and smile or wave...so here's is the only one with both boys in the photo! Lola sat this ride out! Thank goodness for bumper cars

244/365: Margate JCC

Today was the official first day of preschool for Sam and Luke's first day where I actually go into work and he stays until 3:30pm...not an easy day for mommy! In 10 months, Luke never cried and today he cried when I left the room, I tried to wait until he settled before I left the building which didn't happen so I complete sobbing mess, I eventually had to go to work and resorted to calling every hour! I am not sure how I am going to do this, but just hoping that Luke gets more adjusted and starts to enjoy his room and that fact that his sweet big brother is right next door! All I can say is I feel very comfortable with Luke's loving teachers who send me sweet texts and pictures to get me through the workday and Sam is so happy in the building with his buddies and all the staff that he knows and loves! Thank goodness for the Margate JCC