{hanukkah}

Here are a few pictures from the first night of Hanukkah. These pictures were on my point-and-shoot camera that I brought with us to Arizona. I am pretty sure I took more pictures with my DSLR which I left at home, so I'll upload those when we get back.

There were some flight delays on Saturday so our flight was about an hour and a half late. The kids were remarkably good. Of course I packed everything but the kitchen sink for them to play with, so that kept them pretty busy. Here they are waiting patiently in the airport:

It's been pretty cold since we got here but we have still been enjoying ourselves. We took the kids back to the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park and road the train and the carousel and then played at the playground. We were comfortable in our sweatshirts even though the natives were all bundled up. Then we went to our favorite NY-style deli with mile-high sandwiches, bagels & lox, knishes, and Morgan's new favorite -- Elmo cupcakes.

And for all of you back home, here's what Christmas looks like in the desert:

{misc}

I know you have all been waiting anxiously for new pictures and I'm sorry I haven't been able to deliver as often as usual. My excuse this time is that we're on vacation in Phoenix. To tide you all over until I have time to post pics from this trip, I thought I'd share a few from before we left...

Here Gerard and Gerard went on his class field trip to an old homestead. They were working on a unit about "Now and Then" and they had a lot of fun learning about "the olden days". You know, like when Grandma and Grandpa were young. :)

Gerard is usually the only Jew in his class at school so I've gone in each year since preschool to teach the other kids about some of the Jewish holidays. Just before vacation I went in and taught them about Hanukkah. I read a book, showed them some of my menorahs and taught them how to play dreidel.

While I was at school, Morgan played with Savannah next door. Don't they look cute?

We're having fun in Scottdale, despite the unseasonbly cold weather and the rain. Yes, rain. In the desert. Our bathing suits remain packed in the bottom of our suitcases....

{it's about time}

After weeks of nagging by various parties (you KNOW who you are) I figured I had better post some new pictures! Here are some from Thanksgiving:

Grandpa and Gerard making Pilgrim hats out of Chocolate wafer cookies, mini reese's peanut butter cups and yellow tinted frosting

We had a snow day today and school is already closed for tomorrow, too. We spent some time playing dreidel and the kids sized up their presents while we were stuck in the house today. It was the perfect day to FINALLY try to take some pictures for our holiday card. (Don't expect yours in time for Hanukkah!) For every nice shot I took, I must've gotten 10 goofy ones. Here are a few of the outtakes:

On the agenda tomorrow: latkes! And if the weather cooperates, we'll go to temple for family services. Then this weekend is hockey, hockey, hockey!

Happy Hanukkah to all my Jewish friends out there!