Purim Reflections

We had a truly wonderful Purim this year. The kids actually enjoyed wearing their costumes, and of course, with every shalach manos that came to our door, Miri thought the candy was specifically for her and meant to be consumed immediately.







I have strengthened my resolve to keep the children away from extraneous sugar now that I see how enhanced their natural hyper-ness becomes with chocolate and hamentashen running through their veins. Bedtime on Friday night was an hour long scream and sob-fest that finally ended at candlelighting time - B"H I was able to light ALONE, in peace, for the first time this year. (though I did kind of miss having the kids with me at this special and holy time just a little bit)




Miri and I made our own hamantashen for the first time this year, and with the exception of the botched first batch, which did not hold their triangle shape, they came out pretty good! Chaim even managed to bring the stool across the room and help himself to some on the cooling rack while we weren't looking!


The seudah (festive Purim meal) on Friday afternoon was beautiful and leibedik and the kids ate well (finally some real food) and had fun playing with all the other kids their age. Of course, Chaim always feels at home whenever he finds someone's broom, mop or vacuum. I think next year for Purim we will dress him up as a janitor.

Then...and now -

Purim 2006

Purim 2007

Purim 2008

HAPPY PURIM!!!

Everyone here at Fogel Central wishes you a Freilichin Purim!!!



Try not to get to shikkur tomorrow - remember - it IS erev Shabbos!!!!





(Miri's preschool class)

Our fabulous weekend

We went to Passaic for Shabbos. We forgot to bring the narcotics, so Miri screamed and complained the whole drive up there about how much she needed to get out of her car seat. Once we got there, however, it was really nice. We stayed with a wonderful family and were able to see our friends for lunch the following day (even though it was raining in buckets and we were sopping wet when we arrived!)


Ruthie's Shabbos kallah was absolutely amazing!!!!!!! It was so beautiful and inspiring and lovely and the food and the friends were great too.

Avi and I were able to go to our all-time favorite restaurant in Teaneck, Sushi Mitzuyan, on Motzei Shabbos, because the aforementioned wonderful family we stayed with let us leave our sleeping children with them so we could go out alone.

Ruthie's wedding was simply amazing. Everywhere I turned I ran into someone else I knew...from Silver Spring, Passaic, Monsey, Yerushalayim. It was so beautiful and the dancing was spectacular. The kids had a blast running all over the giant hall and dancing with pom-poms for the kallah. We stayed up until the very end and then changed the kids into jammies for the drive home. We had to stop at a grocery store somewhere in Jersey for sippy cups and milk, having left some items behind accidentally.





Sheva Brachos on Tuesday was very special as well, where we got a few quality minutes with the chassan and kallah. Can you tell I am so very happy for them???????

The golden calf

A few weeks ago on Shabbos, we were learning the parsha (Torah portion of the week) with Miri. We read from the book My first Parsha Reader, designed for children 3-8. We learned about the golden calf, but since Miri didn't really know the word calf, I explained that the Jews were worried when Moshe didn't return, so they started davening (praying) to a cow instead. Miri seemed to understand, and the next day, when I "quizzed" her on the parsha, she remembered everything from the story beautifully.

Fast forward to this morning, several weeks later....

Miri: Thank you for the oatmeal, it's delicious.
Mommy: You're welcome
Miri: Baby is eating nicely. I yuv (love) baby, he's bootiful (beautiful)...and I also yuv Mommy and Tatty and Miri. Mommy, are you gonna have bekfast (breakfast) too?
Mommy: I will, as soon as I'm done making my brachos to Hashem (morning blessings).
Miri: Ok, Mommy, but don't daven to a cow.