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