My How They Grow

Tomorrow, or is today? is my daughters' siddur play. They chose Lag BaOmer so they can have music. They chose a Friday because, I do not know. It is scheduled for 9:20 AM. I wonder how punctual they are? I wonder how long it will be for? I am also still getting over the shock or not so shocking news that no fathers are allowed to her siddur play. I will get over it. It is not that important. The fathers will have nachas from them another time, another way. Ho hum.

I keep forgetting she is turning six. Granted she has about four months or so to turn six, I keep forgetting that she is closer to six than to five. Meaning, when I was looking at a toy (skipit) it said for age six and up. I started to put it back, until it dawned on me, SHE IS ALMOST SIX! My big girl is growing up. So fast. Tomorrow is her siddur play. Tomorrow she will get a siddur. This means she already knows how to read Hebrew. My girl is not so little anymore.

Monday is my sons’ graduation. He is graduating Nursery (or Pre-K). He has grown and matured over the year. Mind you that at the beginning of the school year he was not even three and now he is three and a half. Time flies. He is so different now. His behavior, his attitude, everything.

Here they purposefully made his graduation on Monday, Memorial Day. They figured that the parents would like the fact that they do not have to miss a day of work for the graduation. True. Very true. The kids have school anyway. And because Shavuos is a week before school is over, there was no other time to make it. This made the most sense. I appreciate the Morah’s thoughtfulness. I cannot wait to see him. He has been singing his song. “..the whole EAR through…” uh oh, what can I do? He refuses to realize that the word is YEAR and not EAR.

Tomorrow is his class trip. They are going to this real neat park near us. A great place for them to go to. Shaded, lots of climbing things, it has wooden castles and different neat things. For adults it is great because it has lots of shades. For the kids it is great because there is a lot to do, no matter the age. And they have actual bathrooms. With toilet paper. Amazing. They need chaperones. I figured, hey I am off for the day, I can finally chaperone. Hey, I am off for the day BECAUSE I have her graduation. Same time. No can do. What a shame. He will have loads of fun anyway.

My kids are getting bigger. My baby will be ONE next month. He has five SIX teeth already. Off balance I might say (four on top) but hey, he is adorable and cute anyway. I thought he would be walking by now, but I guess not. He loves his walking toy. And when he forgets that he is standing, he stands much better than when he is aware that he is standing alone. He still has three weeks before his birthday…you never know….

On that note, I must go finish cooking and cleaning for Shabbos. Busy day tomorrow.

Lunch

My good watch broke. I never brought it in to be fixed. I got myself a cute, but cheap watch. The only problem I have, it does not have the date on the watch, and my old one did.
I bought myself a salad today. You know the Bodek lunchtime salads that come with salad bag, too little dressing, croutons, a fork, salt (why?) a napkin and the container is the bowl to be used for it all. Oh, don’t forget the toothpick! Why am I telling you this? There is a good reason.

Oh. I forgot today’s date. While I was picking up the salad for my lunch I looked at the date. It said May 24. I was trying to figure out today’s date. Knowing that last time I bought the salad it too had expired the day before but bought it anyway.

I came to work today. Today is May 25. Again. I almost said something to the owner/manager asking him why his salads expired already, but knew I would get an excuse and be told don’t buy it.

Does it really matter if it is one day old? Will try it today and see. I don’t like that my salad has yesterday’s expiration date on it. But what am I to do? I am hungry, and there is no food here. I need to brown-bag my lunch instead.

Which one to get?

We are looking into swing sets for the kids. They need it. We need it. We have the space for a nice size swing set. The kids love playing on them at the park.

What to do? What to do?

Do you spend a lot of money on one that will last forever or until the kids out grow them? Or do you get one that will need to be replaced before they outgrow the set? Should I get one that takes up a lot of space and offers so many wonderful features? Or do I get the basic one that has good features and not huge?

Don't what to do about it. Mixed feelings. Unsure of what is really worth it. Then again, what is worth when talking about children and their happiness?

The Little Things in Life

I did it!

I bought my daughter the much-coveted poncho. She has been asking for one for a very long time. I just haven’t seen one that I liked, or the price that I liked. Yesterday I was in a store, returning things and did a quick run through. I looked through the girls clothing and saw one. Not what I wanted, but her size and the price was great. She deserves it. She is a good girl.

On my way to bed I woke her up and gave her the poncho. I made her get out of bed to go look in the mirror. She loved it. She was so happy. So excited to wear it! It feels so good when you do something for someone and you know they love it! It was so worth it to wake her up in middle of her sleep so she can see it and appreciate it.

Me Think

I am driving too fast when the kids think the car ride is like a roller coaster.....

Horizon

I just cheated. I read the Horizon magazine before Shabbos. Intense article in there!

"Table 23 A Psychodrama" by Tali Arieff.

Mindy, where are you when I want to talk to you?

Just Stuff

I am so excited. Okay, let us not exaggerate. But I got my Horizon magazine today in the mail. Now I need to find time to read it. I guess it is reading that, or blogging, or playing on line. Tonight I chose on-line. Maybe I will just save it for Shabbos...(yeah, like I get a chance to read then.)

I am not sure what to do. My cleaning lady (yeah, I am spoiled) is coming tomorrow. Last week she was here for two hours and I gave her four things to do. She did only two of the four. Tomorrow she will be here for four hours and I am afraid that what I need most will be neglected or not done as I want, and I won't even be home to check on her. I also not so sure what needs to be done now, and never know how long it will take her to actually do the work. Sometimes she takes her time, and others she gets most of it done. So we will see. I think I might just look for someone new, but that I hate as well. I am not so good with firing people, or asking them not to come. But it is not really my fault. She doesn't speak my language, how easy is it to communicate then?

Again today was election day here in my hometown. I am not sure why they don't make the two elections the same day, opposed to a month apart. But what do I know about politics. They just like us to get out and go vote. I did. I took two kids with me as well. We got little hand outs on our way into the voting room. It was cute. Yes they were all outside the building...No politicians inside! I wonder if they actually stood there all day. One of the councilman who is running was there this morning, and again tonight when I walked over there. Could it be? Could it be there is only one place to vote here? I think not. Wonder if he went to the other area? Mind you, we have two places right next door to one another. No, really. I am serious. One is in the public school and the other is in the Shul which is right next door. Go figure. Last month I ran around trying to figure out where to vote. I was not sure which address they had. This month I remembered. I think we are done with voting...Until. next.month. Don't. ask.

Trying to get a swing set for our kiddies. You can spend over ten grand for one. Hard to chose. I guess the pocket book will make the decision easier. It is important especially since we do have the space to get a nice swingset for them to play in the backyard. If only....ah, to dream.

My have things changed over time. I remember when I was younger...before I was married I used to be very very into my JM and during this time of year I was eagerly waiting for Lag BaOmer so I can listen to my CD's. Now, I haven't bought a new CD in over a year. Things are different. My collection is old. The only new tapes I buy are Uncle Moishe no more Dachs, Wald, and forget the new singers. I wonder if it is me or the age. Which do you think?

The world is a small place. And Jewish geography is getting smaller and smaller. Went to a wedding. My cousins son is good friends with an old friend of mine. Went to make a shiva call, and someone there knew my my husbands sisters family. Knew her mother inlaw very well. Another person came, and he is extremely close with my cousins. The four corners are getting closer and closer. Last night at the wedding we were trying to figure out how we are related to one another. "I'm my own Grandpa" came to mind. It was quite funny.

Adios for now my dear readers.

Must go do work and clean up.

How come my spacing is all screwed up??

Live Life to the Fullest and Don't Forget to Love

A good friend (albeit much older than I) lost her mother over yom tov. Right after the second Seder, her very ill mother was niftira. She got the phone call. And then the police came to tell her. Then she went to the funeral home to do shmira all night and the next day. Luckily for her, she knew on Friday that the time was imminent and made all the preparations before Yom Tov, and didn't have the news sprung upon her.

I knew her mother as I have seen her numerous times. I actually visited her in the nursing home once. We went shopping together too. Even back then the early stages of Alzheimer’s kicked in. What a horrible disease. What a horrible feeling for the children who are so dedicated to their parents and not to have them know who they are. What a horrible way to go. You learn so much in life, gain so much knowledge and then to have it slowly slip your mind until you barely remember your own name. Until you are back to an infant stage of life and having others feed you and take care of your needs for you. Gone is your independence. Gone is the respect that you had demanded. Gone is the respect you worked hard for and deserved. You are put in your place. God took over and is showing who is really in control.

To live a full life and then to go backwards and still know what is going on is a horrible feeling for the person. Imagine if you know what is going on but yet you realize you are missing some social skills that seem to have gotten lost. But you are aware that you are different. You are aware that you are going down hill. You fight so hard for your independent. You do not want to lose it. You do not want to live in that black box that you see others living in. Where they are sitting in a chair in their own little world. You fight to do things your way. You fight to live on your own. You do not want to surrender, but slowly and surely you realize that it is a useless fight. You give in, but still as stubborn as ever, you blame the kids. You pick on your own children who in reality are doing the best they can in the situation. They too are hurt and confused. The role of the parent reversed. They are now their parents’ parent. They need to look and take care another child who fluctuates between being a child to being an adult and a parent. One needs to be careful and it makes life very hard on everyone.

Going to a shiva house makes you rethink your life and see things differently. You see people differently, and it also makes you take a good look at your life and make sure you are living your life to the fullest and making the most of it and with the people you care about and love.

Hamakom Yenachim Eschem Bsoch Shaar Avlei Tzyon Byerushalayim.
May we only hear of simchas from one another.

I am still here

Helloooooooooo Readers,

I have not forgotten you guys. Really. I didn't. I am just swamped because I actually took off the entire Yom Tov. It was great. It was fun. But now it is back to work. I have a weeks worth of work that I must get done on top of daily issues that I need to answer and take care of.

I will be back. I promise.

I must say again and again, I am so happy that I moved out. It is nice to visit, but to live there, I just wouldn't be able to do it. Okay, probably able to do it, if I never left, but since I left....I don't want to permanently move back! Sorry friends!