Fifth Night Specials

Tonight was the fifth night of Chanukah, for those of you not keeping track. Shuky had his last final from 4:30 - 6:30. I kept the kids up, let them do presents early (they opened them while doing a video chat with my mom, tonight's gift sponsor!) and was waiting at school to pick him up when he finished. He surprised us and brought a classmate to the car to come home and light menorah with us. The kids were both super excited! We have been a bit deprived this Chanukah, what with it being finals week and all, we just haven't made it to any of the events in Des Moines!

 And so begins my nightly Chanukah barrage of pictures. 

Benny and Bella had a blast showing him all their newest presents while Shuky set things up.

Benny did a spectacular job of saying the brachos almost entirely on his own, song and all! 

Bella lit nicely! 

Shuky lit nicely!

D, the classmate, lit nicely!

 It was so nice having a guest!! D is an exchange student here for a semester abroad, from Sydney, Australia. Benny heard that and asks, "Like the Sydney Opera House? They do plays and shows there!!"

We all sang together and, in honor of the fifth night, we gave out some real gelt and chocolate gelt. Benny immediately asked where the tzedakah box was to put it in. He wanted to do a mitzvah to help put a brick on the mikdash hashlishi. The kid really amazes me. On a regular basis. I'll go into that a bit more after Chanukah, the mitzvah/moshiach topic that is. He is obsessed.

 The kids played a nice, safe game of climbing in and out of Benny's nightstand (a storage ottoman) while getting ready for bed.

Enjoy. Love you all. Miss everyone. Wish we had some family around for the holiday.