summertime fun

we had a GREAT weekend, starting with a trip to BJ and Olivia's and finishing up with Dutch Wonderland with Rafi. Hot hot weather made it a perfect time for swimming in BJs pool and splashing in the water park.

July already?

seems like the summer is flying by! Both girls are loving camp. They come home dirty and exhausted. Stefanie spent last week at Bethany Beach,DE with her china sister Olivia and had a blast. Even though Olivia only lives in Harrisburg we don't get to see her very much so when her mom invited Stef for the week we thought we would give it a try. I was a little worried Stefanie might get homesick but boy was I wrong- turns out Stef had so much fun she didn't feel the need to call her mother AT ALL. I had one message from her the whole week that simply said "hi mom- I am having fun'. Jena was not happy to be going to camp without her big sister, even after I told her that when Stefanie was 5 she didn't have a big sister to take her to camp! We still have our beach house vacation in Aug to look forward to.
two typical after camp pictures- jena on the kitchen floor waiting for dinner and Stef on her beloved computer

Stefanie the piano player

Stefanie played beautifully at the concert as well...

Jena's first piano recital

Jena was the youngest pianoist at the concert and it was down to the last minute whether or not she was going to participate. She finally agreed to play if she didn't have to announce her name.

end of an era..

Jena had her end of year party at the JCC this week. Hard to believe that starting in September I no longer have to dive anyone to preschool in the morning. The school bus picks up right in front of our house- I just may spend the whole day in my nightgown! Jena is wearing her "not a princess" shirt, which she plans on wearing to Disney, so everyone knows she is NOT A PRINCESS!

notice anything?

look who lost her first tooth today!

Storybookland 2010

We made our annual trip to storybookland with Aunt Sarah, Uncle Dave and Rafi. This was the first year that Rafi agreed to go on many of the rides, after watching Jena do it first, of course, just to make sure it was OK. The weather was beautiful and everyone had a great day.

look what I can do!- part 2

ok- it appears i can only upload one video per post so here is video #2

look what I can do!

new computer- new video camera! here are two "test videos"

Hag HaTorah

Stefanie had a special ceremony at school this morning where she officially received the first book of the Bible. The class lead morning services and preformed a play about creation. Amah and Zayde spent the night before at our house so that they could attend and Jena even got to miss school. Every time Stefanie's class puts on a program we are all amazed at how much they have learned.

Happy Mother's Day!

It was my turn to take care of the sick babies so I spent mother's day at work. I had two beautiful handmade pins to wear on my scrubs and all the other Mommies were jealous. We had an overnight guest on Saturday night and here is a picture of everyone having fun.

Happy Birthday Stefanie!

Since Stefanie's birthday fell in the middle of Passover we had to wait until now for the party. She had her whole class and a few other friends together for a roller skating bash. A good time was had by all.

Happy Passover!

for our friends in warmer places...

a little bit of snow at our house this weekend.....28 inches of snow- 42 inches of Jena!

the X'ian girls take DC and Jena learns why football players wear helmets.

We went to DC on Sunday to meet up with BJ and Olivia (Stef's China sister) to see the Terra Cotta warriors. As soon as we arrived Jena slipped on the wet sidewalk and landed smack on her head. After a quick trip to the ER, we all saw the warriors. The next day we had the best weather - 55 and sunny- and everyone enjoyed the metro subway ride to the Smithsonian museums. All three girls like the rockets and spaceships, the dinosaur bones and the Hope diamond. Stef and Oliva chatted and giggled nonstop. The second Olivia stepped off the Metro on her way home Stef said "I miss her already" It was a great weekend, concussion and all!

home from texas!

The girls had an absolute blast during our way too quick visit to El Paso this past week. We went up to 'the bear house', which is my Aunt's townhouse in Ruiodso New Mexico and all the cousins came- 10 kids under the age of 10! A house full of instant friends. Best of all we missed the two feet of snow that fell in cherry hill and came home to a plowed driveway.

Happy Hannukah!

here is what Hannukah looks like at my house this year-

super special hockey celebration!

Instead of a birthday party this year, I promised Jena I would take her and her best buddy Jason to a hockey game. When I made this deal I figured we would go to one of the minor league games- the Phila Phantoms. I then found out the phantoms no longer play in Philly and thought I would be stuck paying big bucks to take two 5 year-olds to Phila Flyers game (at 150$ a ticket for the cheap seats!) Well- lucky me- the Phantoms came back to Philly for one game only and we were there. To say Jena was excited would be an understatement. As you can see she was literally on the edge of her seat.

Holy bat-party! theres' a five year old in the house!

My superhero chose a batman theme birthday party and a bat-crazy time was had by all! Nothing says party time like a couple of two year-olds doing the hokey-pokey and, as a special treat, Stef played happy birthday on the guitar. Jena loved every minute of her party and tomorrow we have cake and goodie bags for all her friends at school. Since Jena considers herself everyone's friend we had to get special permission to bring the two 4-year old classes together so that everyone (all 50 kids!) can celebrate together. With a Spiderman cake, of course! That's my girl!

pumpkin time!

We had wonderful fall weather for our trip to the pumpkin patch with Aunt Sarah Uncle Dave and Rafi (who is almost 2!). After picking out the best pumpkins in the patch everyone had fun at the new playground. Jena even got to wear her costume to the costume parade at Chinese School.