{hanukkah, et cetera)

Happy belated Hanukkah to all my Jewish peeps out there! We had a very nice Hanukkah. I went in to both Morgan and Gerard's classes this year to teach the kids about Hanukkah and teach them how to play dreidel. I love that all the second graders and their parents ASK me when I'm coming in every year. Some of those kids still have their dreidels from when they were THREE. Now I've started that tradition with Morgan's friends, too. As long as Grandma and Grandpa continue bringing me 50 dreidels from Arizona each year, we're all set! (YOU try to find dreidels HERE. Not so easy. I seriously think we're the ONLY Jews in our town!)

The kids had a blast opening all their presents each night. I can't even pick which gift was their favorite. I know big Gerard loves his new hockey skates (he'll be helping to coach Gerard's hockey team starting in January) and I LOOOOOVE my new ipod Touch.

I hope everyone had a very Happy Hanukkah Christmas Everything!

And here is our little prima ballerina. This was an informal recital in our local community center (where the classes are held). A formal recital with professional costumes will be held at the high school auditorium on June 4th if anyone is interested in coming this summer!

Check back soon for pictures from our trip to Arizona!

{sneak peak}

I'm working on putting the video from Morgan's dance recital on the computer, but it'll take me a while. In the meantime, I thought I'd share the video from her rehearsal. It's not the greatest quality because I took it with my iPod. Hopefully I'll have the actual recital video tomorrow!

{thanksgiving recap, finally!}

I know it's almost 2011, but I have some unfinished business left from 2010 to share with you. We had a nice Thanksgiving visit with Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt Debbie. The kids love watching old "videos" on YouTube of oldies songs with Grandpa. Morgan's favorite is How Much is That Doggie in the Window or maybe Perry Como's Hot Diggity Dog.

And of course Grandma came equipped with a Thanksgiving craft.

We had the usual Thankgiving dinner. Morgan DOES NOT LIKE TURKEY. At all. Ask her. It's "disgustin'!" I think everyone else liked it, though. And Morgan couldn't get enough of dessert.

We all enjoyed having Debbie here, too. Here she is indulging Morgan's "less is more" philosophy. The fewer articles of clothing, the better, according to Morgan. I smell trouble in the future! At least here she is wearing her blankie as a toga.

And since everyone was leaving the day before Hanukkah started, we thought we'd let them open one present each from Grandma and Grandpa and one from Aunt Debbie. Grandma gave them each a special bear -- they are made out of her old mink coat. They are so soft and Morgan in particular loves to cuddle with hers. Shhh....don't tell PETA.

This wasn't a Hanukkah present, but I thought I'd show you the poster I made for Gerard's bedroom. Can you tell what the "A" is?

Check back tomorrow for pictures from Hanukkah, Morgan's first dance recital (with video!) and our trip to Arizona.

{almost}

Grandma and Grandpa will be here soon! We've had another busy weekend of hockey, hockey, and more hockey. Although yesterday Gerard spent most of his time here:



And Morgan spent her time running around with her friends in the stands or watching her 3 idols. She looooves the pink gloves and pink laces:



And, of course, today we are listening to the Steelers...

{aunt debbie is here!}

Will post pictures soon... We enjoyed "shushi" with Aunt Debbie tonight. I think she was surprised to see the kids using their chopsticks. They were both so excited to have sushi for dinner but even more excited to share it with Aunt Debbie! And tomorrow Grandma and Grandpa will be here!

{shushi}

My kids have a new favorite food. Sushi. Or as Morgan would tell you, "shushi". Granted, they're only California rolls, but it's a start!

Every November for the last few years we've done a "thankful tree". This year both kids have really gotten into it. Gerard comes home from school and ASKS to write what he's thankful for on a leaf. Tonight he asked if he could secretly be thankful for 2 things, "Shhhh. Don't tell Morgan, but I am going to write TWO leaves!" It's great practice for Morgan to write her name. She's already gotten better in the last week. Wait until Thanksgiving when the tree is full!!!

{star day}

Thursday was Morgan's star day at school. That means she gets to stand in the front of the line, ring the bell, help with snack, and most importantly bring home Corduroy, the class mascot. We have to find him a button ('cause you know he lost his button in the book), sort a big bag of buttons, and keep a journal of our time with him. First Morgan had to show Corduroy her room.

Then, she got Corduroy ready for dance class Thursday night. He was such a good sport in his tutu. He even agreed to pose nicely with Morgan and 3 of their friends from preschool.

{happy halloween!}

(click on the cartoon for a larger image if you can't read the text.)

Better late than never, right? Morgan was a ballerina (surprise, surprise) and Gerard was Iron Man.




Here is Morgan all dressed up for her Halloween party at school.





Our friends were going to go trick-or-treating in our neighborhood, so they came over for dinner beforehand. Here's the whole gang...

{little ballerina}

Morgan is taking dancing lessons! Doesn't she look cute?

{mmmm, goooood}

Last month Gerard went to Maine for work and brought home some friends...