Right On To Pesach!

I'm just finally getting my apartment cleaned up from Purim and it's on to Pesach preparations over here! I've been scouring different sites for deals on clothing for the kids. Hoping to stretch out what they already have so I can buy more new things when the weather gets a little warmer. 

Every year, I like to do a big project for Pesach. This year, I asked Chanie Jacobson, our awesome Torah Tots leader, to please put a personalized haggadah using pictures of the kids into the plans for Pesach lessons. I provided some supplies and nudging and she provided a list of scenes we would need to photograph at home and a game plan. Some of the scenes will be done in the program. Then we can each print our pictures and put them in the little books and each child will have a 'guide' of what is being done during the seder, narrated by themselves!

This morning was a pretty gross day in terms of snowfall and road conditions so I chose to not make the trek to Des Moines for Torah Tots. Instead, I went through the list of the pictures I was supposed to take on my own and decided to give it a shot. I got the kids dressed in outfits I have set aside for Pesach and sat them at the table with some props ready. 

{If you need an explanation of what happens at the Pesach Seder, go here.}

I absolutely adore the way the pictures came out. The kids cooperated so nicely, like way better than I could have ever expected. They were both totally hilarious and I ended up with so many pictures. I couldn't stop clicking. In between 'scenes' too. They were just making me laugh so much! I wasn't necessarily planning on sharing these pictures but after looking through them (more times than I'd like to admit) I decided it would be unfair of me not to! They tell a story of a brother and sister just goofing off together and being super silly. Enjoy! Oh and as a disclaimer, please ignore the  messy counters behind the kids.

KADESH (Reciting the Kiddush)

Apparently I was boring him at this point.

"Can we do the next thing now?"

URCHATZ/RACHTZAH (Washing our hands)

KARPAS (Dipping a vegetable in salt water)

Dipping.

Getting ready to eat it. 

Surprised at how delicious it was. 

Tucking it into his stomache. 

Making sure it's settling where it should.

Indigestion? 

Mimicking everything her brother does.

MAROR (Bitter Herbs)

I would like to preface these pictures with this statement: Benny is one of the best fake criers I've ever met. No joke, he stands in front of the mirror and practices when he thinks we aren't watching. He clearly has more than one style.

And with that, I give you the many crying faces of my children. And I didn't have to do anything to get this ball rolling.

"Am I doing a good job Mommy?" "Yes Benny. I think we can say that."

And then came the pièce de résistance

Shulchan Orech (mealtime)

  

He remembered that he has to eat with a fork and knife and grabbed an imaginary pair.

"FROGGY!!"

"EWWWW!"

Still 'grossed out' by attempting to eat a frog.

BEIRACH (Bentching after the meal)

They were both shuckling intensely, of course.

Checking to see what Benny was doing.

Instantly copying.

And now I have the hard task of choosing which pictures to limit this haggadah to. Wish  me luck!

Purim Festivities

Purim was great. The kids has so much fun! My dad ended up coming down to stay with us for the weekend and the kids were overjoyed to have some family on our turf! We hosted our megillah reading on Saturday night, we didn't have as many people as we were expecting but we had a nice little group and the boys that came out to read did an amazing job. Everyone was happy which is what matters most! Bella was dressed as an owl, Benny was Mario, Shuky was pirate-y, I wore a green wig, and my father wore my Superman cape.

The following morning, we got ready to go out to Des Moines. I wanted to do a drop of shopping before the party and, in general, I like to come a little early and lend a hand. I had some last minute touches to do with the costumes and shalach manos.

Benny and Bella's bags, side by side

Our family bags to give out

King Benny

We were an assortment of looks. Benny and Bella were the royal couple. Shuky and I were originally going to be the royal guards but that didn't work out. We got 'derby hats' and bad teeth (the theme of the party was Purim in London = all brits have bad teeth cliche.)

She refused to wear her crown and complained enough to get out of the dress halfway through the party.

Enjoying the assortments of goodies being handed to us

Benny is up on someone's shoulders dancing with two other people

Having a grand old time 

I have no clue who this kid with Benny is but they hung out almost the entire night. This was just too adorable. 

Benny the dance master, breaking it dowwwwnnnn!

Not Quite So Princessy

Sometimes, you just have to throw in the towel and admit defeat. I've been working really hard on Bella's purim costume. In theory, it's adorable. In reality, it's falling apart and I'm not even done with it. Because it was my first BIG project, I didn't want to spend a ton on material and that, my friends, was definitely the wrong choice. I'm calling it quits on this little princess dress and not even attempting Benny's royal outfit. There are two adorable, ready made costumes starting their journey from the land of civilization and heading our way! Instead, I will now focus more on the shalach manos, which I always love putting together!

This is as far as I got with the princess dress. I'm not scrapping it, just putting it aside until I can figure out what to do with it. Or how to get it to hold the stitching. Like I said, it was in the middle of work. I have not finished the trim or put on sleeves. It was very cute in my head!!

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I spearheaded a different project today. 

Benny's kindergarten registration. 

First of all, I don't believe my child is old enough for kindergarten yet. Second of all, I have been dreading this day since we first made the choice to move to Ames.

There's no Jewish school here. We go into Des Moines once a week for a mommy and me program called Torah Tots but that's it. So next year, Benny will be enrolled in the Ames Public School system. 

I know I can't handle homeschooling. I'm just not that mom. He needs the social activity and the classroom environment. So public school it is. 

Hopefully it will be one year only and then we can hightail outta here. 

Hopefully we will have a good experience.

Works in Progress

Potty training has been fun. We are still in beginning stages. Completely! But she is going nicely, both when I ask her and when she initiates. She has woken up a few times in the middle of the night asking to go, as well, which tells me we may be switching to underwear for nighttime at the same time. Whenever it is we make the complete switch to underwear, that is.

Right now I've got a few projects under way.

I finished Bella's car seat poncho and was so happy with how it came out. I'm almost done with Benny's just finishing up the hood and details.

I'm also working on purim costumes. More working on strategy but I hope to go pick up the materials I need sometime this week. For now, I'm working on the kids' costumes. We'll see if I end up having time to do a family theme or if we will just throw something random on our own selves. I've also started working on my shalach manos. I like to make a handful from us as a family and a few for the kids to each give their friends. The other kids around here don't really give anything out but that has yet to stop me! Thankfully, this year our list of people we would like to give out to has grown! I usually have a specific list of the people I want to give out to, and then I always have a handful of extras for someone unexpected. For the past two years, I made ten. This year I will be making 15. I am also making them smaller than usual this year, just no reason to go as big as I usually like to. I do stock up for the few months before Purim to catch things at their lowest prices. I'm rambling. All you need to really know (as I have no pictures to share for confirmation at this point) is that Purim is a current work in progress!

I have been slowly decluttering and organizing as much as possible. Just getting rid of what we don't need. Working very hard to get the apartment looking nicer. Making sure to avoid going to bed with a mess on hand. When I can.

Unfortunately, my working out has stopped. I hurt my back, like couldn't breathe bad, and had to stop for a few days. I'm having a very hard time getting myself to pop the dvd back in. I definitely need to. I noticed such a huge difference when I was doing it. It's a quick routine and really gets you going! Here's to hopes for more fab and less flab.

I've also got my cousin's bar mitzvah in California coming up in a few weeks and I COULD. NOT. BE MORE. EXCITED! I'm going alone, just me and my kindle (which I am currently accepting book nominations for, by the way). Me and my carry-on luggage. Me and no diapers, strollers, car seats, toys, frumpy clothing (not required but always ends up happening). No bedtime routine to worry about, no early morning breakfast to dish out through half opened eyes. It will be a SUPER quick trip but again, could not be more excited!!! I will be going out Friday morning and coming back on Monday.

Alright, as always, I've got laundry to fold and I'm hoping to organize my closet today. Or start anyway. Got a nice shoe organizer, tried it out first in the coat closet and loved it so much we went back for another! I'm scouring Pinterest for a good hanging jewelry organizer to make. Really need to get that under control. And I absolutely need to get rid of the clothing I never wear. I don't have enough space in there, no reason to hold onto things I don't really like! Whatever I can salvage to make something 'new' will go into my sewing pile.

Hope you have a good one! In my head, I'm already on vacation.