Bella's Dictionary

Lately, I've been noticing that Bella actually says a few words. She just doesn't always use them and refuses to say them if asked. So there's no convincing her to repeat something if I'm not sure what I've heard.
Here's a list of what I think she says and what I believe it means (some are self explanatory):
Mommy
Tatty
Doddy = doggy
Baby
No
Bye
Yoooo = hello
Pappy = patty cake
Poopoo = she lets me know when her diaper is dirty
Ow
Uh Oh
Done = she also uses this to ask to go down from her booster seat
Buh = book (I know, now I'm just being ridiculous, but I think she really means book!!!)

A Royal Affair

I know we are about to head into Succos but my mind is totally on Purim already!! Tis the season to buy costumes, after all!

This year, the theme in Des Moines is 'London'. At first, I was totally baffled. What in the world does that entail in the realm of costumes? Ok, so Benny could easily be Big Ben. That's about as far as I got.

Then, after some google image research and asking around on some forums, I decided to attempt a go at the Royal Family.
Benny and Bella will be a prince and princess/duke and duchess sort of couple.
Shuky and I can either be another royal couple or we can be their security detail. I'm leaning more toward the security. I just feel like it will be easier to pull those costumes together than a whole ornate King/Queen type of outfit!

I kind of already have something that I was hoping to use for Shalach Manos but I may put those away for birthday parties and make something a bit more regal looking.

Anyway, if anyone sees anything awesome along these lines, or has better recommendations, send 'em my way!!! As I get things moving, I'll try to keep you posted!

On that note, I really want a sewing machine. There are so many projects I really want to do and could really get further with a machine!!
It's almost my birthday. Hint hint. Wink wink. Nod nod.

CockaDoodleDoo!!

Rosh Hashana was beautiful. We had a great time! I did have a crazy head cold all yom tov but aside from that, it was lovely! The kids had fun, we had fun, there was pretty good behavior all around. Looking forward to enjoying a great new year!

We got back late last night and this morning, I took the kids to their Torah Tots class. Today's project was really cute, they made chickens for kaparos.

Not going to lie, I'm really digging this feathered dude!!

Shanah Tovah!!

In the midst of the rush to get out on time over here but I wanted to stop and take a minute to wish everyone a healthy and happy sweet new year, as tonight is Rosh Hashana.

May all your prayers be heard and answered.
May your easy moments from this past year be your most difficult moments of this next year.
May we only have good news to share with each other.

Enjoy all the great food you are about to consume and think of us as we will be thinking of all of you!

Shanah tovah umetukah!!!

Summer in Bullets

I'm trying very hard to motivate myself to come back here. I absolutely love blogging and there is plenty to tell but the lull in the summer (due to a lack of a computer to blog at) really left a huge crater.

My options are to pick up where we left off, albeit with a summarized version of the summer; jump over that crater and start from here and now; just kind of peter out the blog.

Obviously, the third option is not really an option. More of my inner laziness poking its head out. Don't mind me as I swat that idea out of my face!

How about a bullet list of summer highlights and then we can move on with life! Challenge accepted!!

Summer of 2012 in Kansas City, KS, in bulleted format (not specifically in chronological order):

*Benny went to CGI for four weeks. Best four weeks of everyone's summer.
*Shuky went out of town on two separate occasions. I became a hermit with the kids on those two occasions.
*We made a TON of awesome friends.
*We were extremely tight on money, having two apartments to pay for.
*Having a social life was also expensive. But worth every penny.
*We went to Chicago for a weekend for my grandparents' surprise 60th anniversary party. Had an amazing weekend. Got a gorgeous family picture.

*Also took advantage of the photographer at the party to reinact an awesome picture we have from when me and my siblings (minus Rochel) were younger (21 years ago). We are awesome and mature folks.

*Despite having no money, we managed to see quite a bit of Kansas City!

*We loved both shuls we got involved with and the communities that came with them! 

*In true Shuky & Chani Meyer, we packed our two bedroom apartment in about two days. And left our apartment sparkling clean.

*Last summer bullet: We absolutely loved our summer experience and are happy to put Kansas City high on our list of possibilities for after graduation!

Alright, summer is done. Time to move on. Because I'm a moron and put too much on my plate, about a week after getting home from KC, I went with the kids to California for a visit and relaxation. We got the visit part covered! Unfortunately, Bella was sick almost the entire time so the relaxation was not quite what I was looking for. I was able to go out almost every night but I was worried about her and actually came rushing home a few nights. I ended up taking her to the hospital (to my amazing cousin who had us in and out of the ER within 15 minutes. I know.) to find out she had horrible infections in her ears and throat. After two days on the medication, she was back to her awesome self and I had a couple great nights out til the wee morning hours with friends!!! 

At least I got some sun while there! 

No big deal but I am planning a real getaway. In my head for now. We shall see if it actually happens.

Now we face the High Holidays and I find myself dreading things, as I have unfortunately come to do since moving to the middle of nowhere. The constant traveling and being in other peoples' homes. The packing and unpacking. The difficulty of keeping up the kids' routines. We pull it off every year but I am truly looking forward to having a real place to call home, with a community that comes along with that. 

Schoolwise, Shuky is almost done with his first month back. This is his third year at ISU. :)

Benny is back at UCC, but he has moved to a different classroom this year. Last year he was a Dancing Dragon. This year he is a Tumbling Tiger. The kids are a little older and the program is free. I am super happy! We lost one day a week by putting him in the free program but it totally works for us. There is a small mommy and me program in Des Moines, called Torah Tots, that we will now get to be a part of. And Bella gets to be a part of that as well. 

Speaking of which, Bella is home with me this year. I didn't find work so Bella and I are joined at the hip. If something comes up, we will use a babysitter instead of the school. One big change with her is she is now sleeping on a twin bed in her room. No more unused crib. No more sleeping in our room. So far so good!!

And that, my friends, is where we stand. We are officially up to date with each other. I can breath again!

**Crickets Chirping**

I apologize for not announcing this earlier but I am officially on a summer hiatus.

We don't have internet here so I am limited to whatever power I can squeeze out of my phone's battery.

Just know this: we are having an amazing time!!

Miss you all, send postcards from wherever you are enjoying your summer!!!

Let's Go T-Bones!!!!

Yesterday, we took the kids to a minor league baseball game. I knew it would be a late evening so I got a little tricky in working naps in. We picked up some pizza and joined Shuky for his lunch hour at work. Then, I drove 40 minutes out to the Plaza District to drive around and enjoy the beautiful scenery. It worked, as soon as I got there, he finally conked out and went to sleep. Bella had fallen asleep within seconds of getting in the car. I drove around a bit more, drooled as I passed the H&M with HUGE sale signs all over the windows, and headed back home slowly. Figured it would be best to be close to home once he woke up, he would probably need the bathroom! He woke up before Bella so we sat in the front of the car, playing games, while she slept for a little while longer. Then we headed upstairs and had a pretty low-key day. When Shuky got home from work, we packed up a cooler and headed out. We met up with some of his intern friends in the parking lot and had a mini tailgating party before heading into the game. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of Benny playing football with all the guys, it was really cute!

The tickets we had purchased put us on a patch of beautiful grass, on a little hill, directly in the sunlight, far out beyond the outfield.

 After ten minutes of that, we got up to see what we could do in terms of a better place to watch.

Luckily, we find a seating section between home and first base with a really nice ticket guy working there. It was in the shade, it wasn't too full at all, and he let us sit there happily! We were right by concessions and close enough for Benny to REALLY get into the game!!

He even got to meet the team mascot, Sizzle. I don't even have the words to describe the sheer joy he was exuding when he came back to his seat after taking this picture!!

 Bella required a little more attention to keep her happy, good thing she has an awesome father!! He took her for walks, hoisted her up on his shoulders during some songs, danced with during others.

The game ran late. Benny was extremely surprised to still be up when he was able to see stars. That is not a common occurrence for him! A good lesson for him that good behavior is worth it! At one point, he started a little tantrum, all it took was me gathering my stuff and Shuky saying, "We're leaving." I don't think I've ever seen him sit down and be quiet so quickly. Seriously!

Somehow, both of them made it without any serious meltdowns, the game ended and we headed out to the car.

She fell asleep the second the car started. We kept him up by going over the excitement. He went to sleep very nicely when we got home.

Now, the next day, I am paying for it all. Grumpy kids, grumpy me. Too much TV to keep things calm. I need to do grocery shopping but there is nothing short of a million dollar check in my name, and even then you can expect some hesitation, that will get me out into the general public with my kvetchy kids today. I am calling it a pantry-food-creation day! I'll do my shopping later!

Don't get me wrong, it was worth it. Completely. Even the insane amount we spent on cold drinks, way more than what we spent on our grass-hill tickets! Watching Benny yelling encouragement and seeing him understand the team we were rooting for versus the other team. He was our own little sportscaster, announcing the number of the player at bat. Clapping, singing, dancing, pretending to be the team manager and 'calling' his players from his 'headset' to give them pointers. Getting involved with everyone around us and anyone walking past. I was extremely impressed with his understanding and his behavior, despite the late hour and the requests for all the sweets around him being denied.

We will definitely entertain the idea of doing this again!!