Blissful Day

We started out with a christmasy brunch, homemade waffles: We opened presents which ended in roomful of toys, DVDs, computer CD-roms, puzzles, books, roller blades, and even a real pirate treasure chest. Shayna wore her 2 Tamagotchi's around her neck on their lanyards. Skyler opened this last and started playing with them right away:


We watched the Eagles game while smelling the aroma of the Turkey dinner roasting in the oven, and then had a delicious turkey dinner with stuffing. It doesn't get much better then this. We recently got DVR* through Comcast (aka TIVO) and enjoyed relaxing and watching some of our "series" recordings (Charmed for Shayna/Grey's Anatomy and others for me). I watched Oprah's Christmas episode while Manny and Shayna played with thier new games on the laptop (world of warcraft) and thier new games on PSP (play station portable - my gift to Manny).

we are reading Eragon simultaneously so I am going to try and catch up to Manny (page 354) and Shayna (264). The last time all 3 of us read the same book at the same time it was the 6th Harry Potter book.

After we finish Eragon, we will start this, one of Shayna's presents:
Secrets of the Alchemist Dar :
which is MORE then a book, its a real life treasure hunt. The book itself is gorgeous and colorful, with a spell book on the back side (flip book around). It has real clues and codes to find over $2 million worth- 100 rings. Here's the websites which explain it much better:
http://www.alchemistdar.com
http://www.atreasurestrove.com

*I love this-- why didn't we get this before?!

Good job Santa!

Its a hit!

Shayna and Skyler both opened one present Sunday night.

Shayna got a dance revolution game, like the ones in the arcade. Skyler liked it too, he loves dancing:

Skyler got a V-tech workbench which he loves. what a cute toy:

Christmas-winter solstice- hanukkah- festivus

what ever you call it...for us its winter solstice mixed with a bit of christmas (with lots of discussions about messiahs, world peace, what is real and what is literature of fantasy, because really all religon is just made up, same story/different version/different culture whether it be egyptian or roman or cavemen)....but bottom line is everyone can celebrate the winter solstice, that is a fact of science, and everyone can celebrate the ideas behind christmas whether or not he was "divine" or not, I agree with his main concepts: do not judge others and be a GOOD person, live a good life, and non-violence (notice how this is similar to gandhi and the Tibetan monks line of thinking, because J. of Nazereth spent time in Asia with the monks). I do not know what is true or real, nor am I a rabbi or a priest, all I know is life is short and you need to live the best life you can, enjoy every moment you have, and enjoy your family. You only live once...so do it right (besides the obvious work to eat/shelter): enjoy good food, good restaurants, travel, enjoy nature and its wonders (the ocean and sunsets), get the best seats, enjoy music and the arts or whatever you enjoy doing, go see live shows and music/concerts...leave something meaningful behind for your ancestors to remember you, your written memoirs and photos will be all that is left of your essense and soul for them to remember.

if you are jewish/catholic/muslim/agnostic: enjoy whichever holiday you choose to celebrate- happy holidays to all!

anyway- now that you understand my philosophy- here is my gorgeous tree, look at all the presents Santa left:
My moda GQ 2 year old boy:

My amazing 9 year old- look out Harvard- or Hollywood:

Note: my holiday- new years cards are going out late this year so watch your mailbox.

Box

Manny bought a new microwave and a toaster oven, and Skyler had fun playing with the styrofoam inside the box:

Then he had fun playing IN the box:

Class Party

Shayna had her class party today (4th grade). I sent in the digital camera and here are 2 photos from the party. Shayna is sitting with her party "group." They had lots of goodies: cupcakes, candy, cookie cake, popcorn, chips, even a veggie tray. pictured above: LEFT: Haily, Shayna, Tori
RIGHT: Solomia, Danielle, Tabitha

Cupcakes for class party

We made a cupcake christmas tree for Shayna to bring to her class party tomorrow. It was very easy to make! The ornaments were from her birthday cake at her 8th birthday party, the tree trunk is made from mini Twix bars. We 'glued' both the trunk and the cupcakes (so they won't slide around in transit) using frosting.

I'm sending in our old digital camera with her, so hopefully she comes back with some photos.

Teacher Gifts

The last two days Shayna and I have been busy baking and putting together gifts for her teachers.

This is the gift for Ms. Welch, her SIP/gifted teacher: Same gift wrapped with clear cellophane, card is taped to bottom. The gift in the middle is a set of 3 candles.
Today right after school Shayna had her Jr. choir (PA Youth Chorale) christmas party with a card pollyanna. The person who had Shayna wasn't there so she will get hers in the mail. Then we went shopping. When we got home after her homework she wanted to decorate the remaining 3 snowmen. She had a lot of fun and wanted to be creative (not like the ones I finished up fro the gifts, all the same). I had suggested when we make baked goods, esp. ones with faces, to make them all exactly the same, because when they are different she feels bad eating them, saying "no, he's too cute, you can't eat him."
The final result. Which is your favorite?
Mrs. Richman's gift. There is a present in the middle of the bowl.
Same gift, all wrapped up:

What we gave Mrs. Richman. A Christopher Radko snow globe. We printed out a special sentimental message from Shayna, which Shayna glued to the bottom.

Tomorrow night we need to bake again for Shayna's class holiday party. They divide the class into groups of 6 and they plan thier own party. Shayna already brought in her pollyanna ($1 gift, which we found at Target), and a mini menorah. Tomorrow she will bring Mrs. Richman's gift and the Nutcracker CD (to play during the party). She signed up for those (bringing CD and menorah) plus cupcakes and popcorn. We have something really cool planned for the cupcakes...so will reveal that tomorrow night.

ps-- if you are wondering about christmas cards and the holiday portraits of the kids...I haven't even gotten to that yet but hope to schedule them at Sears.

Sentences

Skyler recently started saying a few 2 word sentences. You can tell a lot about the life of a 2 year old based on the sentences he says, and uses frequently:

1. help me

2. it broke

3. ewwwww yuck

he also says "bye bye sissy"

Nutcracker and the Kimmel

Shayna and I went with my parents to see the Nutcracker today at the Academy of Music. It was even better then the production we saw in the same place 4 years ago. I love the Academy of Music, and hope I can find venues for theater, music and ballet as majestic in South Florida.

Here is Shayna the tree in the lobby area: Shayna with her friend Nancy. Nancy was in the Nutcracker today, she is an angel. She had changed out of her costume already. Nancy goes to the Rock School of Ballet in Center City, which does the Nutcracker at the Academy of Music along with the PA Ballet.
Afterwards, we went across the street to a Nutcracker tea at the Doubletree hotel ballroom. They had some of the characters there and a small orchestra group (flutes, violins) playing music from the Nutcracker. I prefer the tea we went to a few years ago at the four Seasons. At this tea today, they gave out a wonderful gift bag at the end that had an adorable Nutcracker inside.

After the tea, we went to the Kimmel center for thier 5th anniversary event, where they were having free concerts. We listened to a band in the open area for a bit, then went into the gift shop, and then explored the Kimmel. The Kimmel is an amzing and beautiful place, and the architechture of the place is just breathtaking. We were able to see inside the Perelman but not the Verizon Hall. Its hard to describe the way the Kimmel is set up, but its like being outside inside the enormous building. the two main halls are built like seperate buildings inside the main building. They have what is called the Rooftop Garden which is at the top of the Peralman "building." Since the main rooftop is all glass and curved it feels almost as if you are outside. We arrived there just in time for a gorgeous sunset...
Shayna had fun running around the rooftop garden, saying "this is sooo cool!" here in the garden we found Ben's plant...what I call Ben's plant, because I got the same plant from his apartment after he passed away. The plant is still alive and well and is the hardiest plant in the world, even surviving Skyler picking off all its leaves more then once. Below, my dad and Shayna next to Ben's plant: Shayna and the sunset:
Shayna looking out over the wall down below, Verizon hall is across from her:
This is in another part of the Kimmel, across from both halls. Behind Shayna is the bigger venue, verizon hall. she was having fun popping in and out of the circular sofa. Down the hall from here is the restaurant, Cadence. The menu looked pretty good.

I told Shayna she can pick an upcoming concert or event at the Kimmel and I will get tickets. I also am planning to take both kids to the Mum Puppet theater...the one place in the city (ie museum or venue) I have not taken Shayna (besides the new Eagles stadium, and that is not happening with all the crazy drunks).

Blue Shirt

We have been trying to get Skyler to say 2 word sentences. Manny will sometimes say something and try to get him to repeat it. Of course in his attempt it doesn't quite sound the way its supposed to

Manny was saying "blue shirt" and the way Skyler said it, it sounded like "B_ll Sh_t."

By the way, I was successful in getting him to say "ay yai yai" (yiddish) and the Jamaican guy at the swim up bar at beaches got him to say "Yeah mon."

South Beach

For just one night (Friday-Sat.) we stayed in the art deco district of South Beach, Miami, in the Best Western on Washington Ave. which was right in the heart of everything- one block from Ocean Drive and the beach, and a few blocks from Espanola Way. Espanola Way, for those hwo have never been to South Beach, is the "spanish street." It is an adorable street, blocked off from cars, that has art galleries, shops, and restaurants. There is a Spanish tapas restaurant on the corner that I LOVE. They have a flamenco dancer live show there. we didn't eat there this trip. Here we are on Espanola Way: Enjoying a meal on Ocean Drive, what else but Calamari? when Manny and I went to south beach in 1996, we ordered calamari app. just about everywhere and I called it the calamari tour. calamari is one of those dishes that is made differently so never gets boring. Ocean Drive is great fun for people watching - only thing better may be City Walk at Universal Studios. there were other parents with kids and strollers too...still too early for the party club scene switchover.
we went to a Thai restaurant for dessert...Shayna was brave and tried something new...think it was Thai doughnuts:
Skyler got sticky rice in the cutest little bamboo container:
we left very very early saturday morning to catch a 9am flight, the sun was just rising as we left. The art deco hotels in south beach are so old and our room was so small it was comical. it was just for one night and we were short on time so I opted to stay right there rather then further from the airport in North Miami Beach. The elevator was the small old fashioned kind like in my grandparents apartment building on 46th St. in Brooklyn. This hotel had a cool lobby, that was all done up south beach style, neon lighting, velvet chairs, moda accents, etc.

Leaving Turks & Caicos

After we checked in our bags and were about to go through security and customs, an airport agent walked up to us and said "One of your suitcases has been targeted for inspection, one of you needs to come with me."

So I followed her past the check in counters and through a series of hallways to a room in the back. Another passenger (family) from beaches who was on the van with us was asked to come as well. There sitting on a small table was Skyler's suitcase!!! his little suitcase was the one they chose to search.

I watched as a young native lady wearing rubber gloves opened up his suitcase and gingerly looked through, lifting up a few layers. His little bear was on top. She lifted it up and gave it a squeeze. It took all my self control to stop myself from laughing.

I was then told I could go.