Fast Forward 3 Months.............

This entry is dedicated to my mother-in-law. She, who never pressures me to do anything at all (unless its health, safety, etc related OF COURSE) requested that I blog. So, it is in her honor that I put on my writer's hat, sift through pictures, and push off my bed time for at least the next half hour.

To all of my friends, I truly apologize for my lack of activity here- I've been busy with facebook- posting pics there, etc so............for those of you who think you are too _____ (fill in the blank- frum, old, cool, etc) for facebook, I will certainly endeavor to keep y'all posted (no pun intended) here on blogger. The honest truth is that I just have no patience for their super slow picture upload feature. I guess I'll have no choice but to do something (productive?) like my dishes or fold laundry while blogger takes its time. Ugh. Who knows- maybe they've improved it in my prolonged absence?

I take solace in knowing that fantastically (somewhat) consistent bloggers (They're much better than I am, anyway) like Miriam the Mommy and my sister were originally inspired by my blog.

A quick update on the boysies.....

Yitzchok Zevi, I've discovered, is my husband in miniature. You really have to know Jason well to appreciate just how amazingly similar they are but, for those who 'get it'......

We were about to leave for the supermarket when I turned to YZ and said, "Yitzchok Zevi, please remind me at the store that we need carrots." YZ replied, "Mommy, why don't you just make a list?"

Right after Pesach we went to a supermarket that is a distance from our house. In order to pay there with cc, you need to show ID . The only way they'll bend the rule is if it's your first time at the store and didn't know of the rule previously. As we were walking into the store, I realized that both Jason and I had no ID on us. I panicked envisioning us trekking back to our house by bus and then all the way back to the store but then relaxed when I remembered that this was, in fact, Jason's first time in the store. I told him about the rule and made sure he understood that HE would be the one paying this time. Together, Jason and Yitzchok Zevi gave me a funny look and YZ was the first to pipe up, " But Mommy, you knew about the rule and you came together with Abba."


Needless to say, Yitzchok Zevi is since always sure to remind me to take ID in anticipation of going to this store.


Yitzchok Zevi is now reading beautifully and has started learning the taamei hamikra (cantilations). He davens from his siddur and is looking forward to getting his first chumash around shavuos. He's really a little man!

Aryeh Leib will be 4 next week. He is doing fantastic in chaider. Being the little brother of YZ, he had little reason to be exceedingly verbal or take much initiative at home. To my utter astonishment, in school he is super articulate, very social, and quite the leader! His teacher tells me that he is constantly sharing great ideas with the group! At first I didn't think she was talking about my Lubi. I mean, he's squishy and has a heart of gold, but a leader? I'm doing my best now to encourage him to develop those strengths at home as well.

Aryeh Leib continues to be a junk food addict but his greatest pleasure is wearing Shabbos clothes. Much to his consternation, Shabbos only comes around about once a week. There are occasions during the week, however, that indicate an opportunity for pulling out the shabbos attire. Rosh Chodesh, class parties, birthdays............and Purim.

Yitzchok Zevi had decided to be a police man. Yisroel Meir was to be a strawberry. For Aryeh Leib I'd purchased a (rather expensive!) Kohain Gadol costume. The Kohain Gadol, however, was not to be. It still sits, unworn, in AL's closet- for AL realized that perhaps he could manipulate yet another shabbos clothes opportunity. What was I supposed to say to the kid? "No you MUST wear a costume"? Don't think I didn't try ................


"Aryeh Leib, all of the children will be dressed in costumes. Wouldn't you like to wear a costume as well?"

"Nope."

"So, AL, you are dressed up as an Abba? Should I give you an Abba hat to wear?"

"No. I'm dressed up like a boy who's wearing shabbos clothes."

Honestly, I didn't really care. My only concern was that he'd come to his class purim party, see all of his friends, and feel bad that he was costumeless.

Not Aryeh Leib!

He enjoyed observing his friends in their costumes and derived immense pleasure knowing that he was dressed in his finery.
Oh, and he has the cutest Israeli accent. Call us and I'll have him tell you about our handy man "Amir", and recite the colors of the rainbow (including "Yarok"), and recall the names of his "Chaverim". He's yummy.


And...............Yisroel Meir. Saying his name makes me tired! He's a super duper mazik- I don't think either of my other boys were quite this nutty. He has a smile that could melt you but oy vay voy if you don't make sure that he gets what he wants - now. He is so unbelievably strong willed - and I know this trait will serve him quite well in the future- but in the meantime, it can throw the calm and tranquility (which I try to encourage in my house) into a tailspin. He speaks both Hbrew and English and though only I can understand him, he is speaking in full sentences.

He's decided that he's ready to make on the potty. He pulls off his diaper, arranges his training seat, and plops himself down. This is all while I've turned my head and have no earthly idea where he's gone (or, more likely, what kind of trouble he's into.) It's a very cute scene except that I had no intention of training him right now. But that's consistently YM - it'll happen when he wants it to happen. Not before and not after.

Its a party over here!

As for me, I just started working for Aish HaTorah. Its quite exciting since, while I am very content with our lifestyle choices, I'll forever be an NCSYer. Unfortunately, they haven't yet opened an NCSY chapter in Beitar. My job is by phone and my kiruv involvement is only tangential but I still feel like I am part of the process. And that makes me happy.

And, of course, Jason continues his quest to become a talmid chacham (great Torah scholar) and I continue to be proud of him.

Cheers!