This week's Torah portion, Re'eh, encapsulated in a Wordle:
Shabbat Shalom!
Friday, August 29, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Left Behind...
Today was a hard day.
Not for my oldest. He was pretty excited to start school. First grade, it's "all that." He's really psyched for tomorrow when he gets to eat lunch at school. He's social, he's happy, he's ready for it all to get going.
Not for my middle. He was also excited to go to school. Last year, he didn't love it so much, but I think he wasn't quite old enough. This year, he's a star. And the teachers noticed how much he's grown up, how happy he was.
Not for me. I know how happy my boys are at school! I know how much fun they're having, I know how much they're learning, I know how good it is.
It was hard for Yael. This morning, she woke up a little earlier than usual, because there was all the hustle and bustle. That was the beginning of it all. Then, suddenly (well in her 18-month-old mind), the boys, including Dad, got their shoes on in a hurry and left.
What!?
She sat right down in the middle of the front hall and screamed. She followed them out the door. She cried as they drove away.
And all day, it was like that. Just not quite right for her.
Poor baby.
I've read lots of articles about how to ease your child into preschool, how to transition to the first day of school, how to make it all okay for the ones who are doing the going.
But not too much about the ones left behind. I never even thought of it. A whole morning alone with her mom...but she didn't quite see it that way.
A little bit of extra love and kisses for my baby this week.
How did your kids do on their first days of school?
(That's my Tuesday Torah for the week. What's yours?)
Not for my oldest. He was pretty excited to start school. First grade, it's "all that." He's really psyched for tomorrow when he gets to eat lunch at school. He's social, he's happy, he's ready for it all to get going.
Not for my middle. He was also excited to go to school. Last year, he didn't love it so much, but I think he wasn't quite old enough. This year, he's a star. And the teachers noticed how much he's grown up, how happy he was.
Not for me. I know how happy my boys are at school! I know how much fun they're having, I know how much they're learning, I know how good it is.
It was hard for Yael. This morning, she woke up a little earlier than usual, because there was all the hustle and bustle. That was the beginning of it all. Then, suddenly (well in her 18-month-old mind), the boys, including Dad, got their shoes on in a hurry and left.
What!?
She sat right down in the middle of the front hall and screamed. She followed them out the door. She cried as they drove away.
And all day, it was like that. Just not quite right for her.
Poor baby.
I've read lots of articles about how to ease your child into preschool, how to transition to the first day of school, how to make it all okay for the ones who are doing the going.
But not too much about the ones left behind. I never even thought of it. A whole morning alone with her mom...but she didn't quite see it that way.
A little bit of extra love and kisses for my baby this week.
How did your kids do on their first days of school?
(That's my Tuesday Torah for the week. What's yours?)
Monday, August 25, 2008
Where do trees go when they die?
It's hard to believe that school begins on Tuesday. It's hard to believe that the summer has flown by. Every year, I tell myself that I'm going to use the month of August in productive ways, I'm going to prepare for school, for the High Holy Days, for the fall. But each year, August seems like the shortest month. It always seems to end suddenly.
I spent the last week hanging out with my kids while my husband attended his summer camp reunion out east. I tried to have fun with them and celebrate our time together (even though I was stressing mightily about what wasn't getting done on that long to do list of mine!) and we visited my parents in Milwaukee a little bit as well.
My parents have this great birch tree that, in my opinion, is the perfect place for pictures. I've taken pictures of David near this tree, but this year I got Sam to hang out around the tree for my picture-taking pleasure. (Not so Yael, she was completely uninterested in the tree.)
My father decided to show Sam the tree stump on the other side of the yard. He explained to him that the tree died. Sammy was fascinated by this idea that there once was a tree, but now it was gone. He sat on the tree stump, he stood on the tree stump, he dug around in the tree stump....he showed Yael, he showed me...
He kept saying "the tree died here."
I asked him, "Sam, where did the tree go when it died?"
Silly ima.
His answer?
"To work."
See more best shots over here at Tracy's place.
What did you do this weekend?
--
Don't forget to check out this week's Haveil Havalim. Lots of great round up of the JBlog Convention!
I spent the last week hanging out with my kids while my husband attended his summer camp reunion out east. I tried to have fun with them and celebrate our time together (even though I was stressing mightily about what wasn't getting done on that long to do list of mine!) and we visited my parents in Milwaukee a little bit as well.
My parents have this great birch tree that, in my opinion, is the perfect place for pictures. I've taken pictures of David near this tree, but this year I got Sam to hang out around the tree for my picture-taking pleasure. (Not so Yael, she was completely uninterested in the tree.)
My father decided to show Sam the tree stump on the other side of the yard. He explained to him that the tree died. Sammy was fascinated by this idea that there once was a tree, but now it was gone. He sat on the tree stump, he stood on the tree stump, he dug around in the tree stump....he showed Yael, he showed me...
He kept saying "the tree died here."
I asked him, "Sam, where did the tree go when it died?"
Silly ima.
His answer?
"To work."
See more best shots over here at Tracy's place.
What did you do this weekend?
--
Don't forget to check out this week's Haveil Havalim. Lots of great round up of the JBlog Convention!
Friday, August 22, 2008
Seven Wonderful Species
All through the book of Deuteronomy, Moses is giving his final exhortations to the people as they prepare to enter the land.If you keep God's laws
God will bring you to the Land,
and it's a Good Land.
There are seven things
that especially grow there
and make the Land great.
Wheat, barley and grapes,
Figs and pomegranates too.
olives and honey.
It's a Good Land.
Shabbat Shalom!
See more haikus here.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Aren't you Excited!?
I am so excited for these things:
** I am published in this month's special "Family" issue of Real Simple Magazine. I answered the question... "Moms: What's the One Thing You Can't Live Without?"
(Thanks, Dad, for the cool scan.)
Anyone who knows me knows how true this is.
** Tomorrow is the First International Jewish Blogger Convention and I'm going!!!!
Okay, maybe going is not quite accurate. I'm logging onto the webcast. Either way, I'm pretty excited for the event. I know there's been a lot of controversy and nastiness about the convention, but frankly, I'm just going with girlish giddiness at anything bloggy.
(And my two cents -- everyone and anyone was invited. You just have to register, have a blog, and be Jewish. How much more open can it get!?)
** I haven't posted it yet but here is the link to this week's Haveil Havalim, excellently done by The Rebbetzin's Husband.
Plus, the month of August is almost over and while things are going to continue to be busy, I'm hoping to get back to posting more regularly soon. Yay!
What are you excited for?
** I am published in this month's special "Family" issue of Real Simple Magazine. I answered the question... "Moms: What's the One Thing You Can't Live Without?"
(Thanks, Dad, for the cool scan.)
Anyone who knows me knows how true this is.
** Tomorrow is the First International Jewish Blogger Convention and I'm going!!!!
Okay, maybe going is not quite accurate. I'm logging onto the webcast. Either way, I'm pretty excited for the event. I know there's been a lot of controversy and nastiness about the convention, but frankly, I'm just going with girlish giddiness at anything bloggy.
(And my two cents -- everyone and anyone was invited. You just have to register, have a blog, and be Jewish. How much more open can it get!?)
** I haven't posted it yet but here is the link to this week's Haveil Havalim, excellently done by The Rebbetzin's Husband.
Plus, the month of August is almost over and while things are going to continue to be busy, I'm hoping to get back to posting more regularly soon. Yay!
What are you excited for?
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Random Meme from FrumeSarah
You gotta do the memes when people say you're going to! (See number 22)
1. Do you like bleu cheese? You betcha! Love it. The Bleuer the better.
2. Have you ever smoked? Yuck. Nope.
3. Do you own a gun? Absolutely not.
4. What flavor Kool Aid was your favorite? Sorry, I don't like kool aid. But I like lemonade.
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Not really.
6. What do you think of hot dogs? What do I *think* of them? I don't really think about them much. But LightLife has new chorizo soy "sausage" that is pretty good. My children like Hebrew National. Yes, that's right, my vegetarian children who have been introduced to kosher hot dogs. It's the only meat they eat, and not by my choice. That would be my husband.
7. Favorite Christmas movie? Brady Bunch Christmas special, the one where Carol Brady loses her voice. And then when they made a new version with them all grown up and Mike Brady gets caught in an architectural disaster (!?) and the whole family recalls that episode and sings the same song to get him to come out of the cavein.
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Water and coffee.
9. Can you do push ups? No, not really. If I have to.
10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? My diamond ring.
12. Do you have A.D.D.? No.
13. What's one trait you hate about yourself? Can be too critical.
14. Middle name? Anna
15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment.
1. Cutting and pasting this meme is driving me nuts. 2. Sam is not napping and I wish he would. 3. Chocolate.
16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? Water, coffee, diet coke
17. Current worry? Whether Sam will make it through the day if he doesn't nap.
18. Current hate right now? Stress.
19. Favorite place to be? Home
20. How did you bring in the New Year? quietly
21. Where would you like to go? Israel.
22. Name three people who will complete this?
anyone who wants to...
23. Do you own slippers? no, I like to go barefoot
24 What shirt are you wearing? Army t-shirt
25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? No, I like cotton sateen
26. Can you whistle? Yes
27. Favorite color? Purple
28. Would you be a pirate? No.
29. What songs do you sing in the shower? Whatever's currently in my head.
30. Favorite Girl's name? Yael
31. Favorite Boy's name? Samuel, David
32. What's in your pocket right now? no pockets...
34 Last thing that made you laugh? Sammy wandering around camp being cute
35. Worst injury you ever had? ankle sprain on the steps of HUC Jerusalem
36. Do you love where you live? Yes.
37. How many TVs do you have in your house? 1
38. Who is your loudest friend? Hmm...I think I'm the loud friend.
39. Do you have any pets? Aren't three children enough?
40. Does someone have a crush on you? Not that I know of.
41. Your favorite book(s)? Anne of Green Gables, Harry Potter, Daniel Silva's books, pretty much anything (I'm a big fan of the Torah, too)
43. Favorite Sports Team? On Wisconsin!
44. What song do you want played at your funeral? No songs, thank you.
Feel free to do this. FrumeSarah sent it via email but I thought I'd put it out here...
1. Do you like bleu cheese? You betcha! Love it. The Bleuer the better.
2. Have you ever smoked? Yuck. Nope.
3. Do you own a gun? Absolutely not.
4. What flavor Kool Aid was your favorite? Sorry, I don't like kool aid. But I like lemonade.
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Not really.
6. What do you think of hot dogs? What do I *think* of them? I don't really think about them much. But LightLife has new chorizo soy "sausage" that is pretty good. My children like Hebrew National. Yes, that's right, my vegetarian children who have been introduced to kosher hot dogs. It's the only meat they eat, and not by my choice. That would be my husband.
7. Favorite Christmas movie? Brady Bunch Christmas special, the one where Carol Brady loses her voice. And then when they made a new version with them all grown up and Mike Brady gets caught in an architectural disaster (!?) and the whole family recalls that episode and sings the same song to get him to come out of the cavein.
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Water and coffee.
9. Can you do push ups? No, not really. If I have to.
10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? My diamond ring.
12. Do you have A.D.D.? No.
13. What's one trait you hate about yourself? Can be too critical.
14. Middle name? Anna
15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment.
1. Cutting and pasting this meme is driving me nuts. 2. Sam is not napping and I wish he would. 3. Chocolate.
16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? Water, coffee, diet coke
17. Current worry? Whether Sam will make it through the day if he doesn't nap.
18. Current hate right now? Stress.
19. Favorite place to be? Home
20. How did you bring in the New Year? quietly
21. Where would you like to go? Israel.
22. Name three people who will complete this?
anyone who wants to...
23. Do you own slippers? no, I like to go barefoot
24 What shirt are you wearing? Army t-shirt
25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? No, I like cotton sateen
26. Can you whistle? Yes
27. Favorite color? Purple
28. Would you be a pirate? No.
29. What songs do you sing in the shower? Whatever's currently in my head.
30. Favorite Girl's name? Yael
31. Favorite Boy's name? Samuel, David
32. What's in your pocket right now? no pockets...
34 Last thing that made you laugh? Sammy wandering around camp being cute
35. Worst injury you ever had? ankle sprain on the steps of HUC Jerusalem
36. Do you love where you live? Yes.
37. How many TVs do you have in your house? 1
38. Who is your loudest friend? Hmm...I think I'm the loud friend.
39. Do you have any pets? Aren't three children enough?
40. Does someone have a crush on you? Not that I know of.
41. Your favorite book(s)? Anne of Green Gables, Harry Potter, Daniel Silva's books, pretty much anything (I'm a big fan of the Torah, too)
43. Favorite Sports Team? On Wisconsin!
44. What song do you want played at your funeral? No songs, thank you.
Feel free to do this. FrumeSarah sent it via email but I thought I'd put it out here...
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
Who needs a car wash? We've got Legos!
We need some new kitchen chairs.
I know, I know...not the most exciting intro to a blog post.
But let me continue...I thought, wouldn't it be nice to get these chairs that we need in some kind of secondary market? A rummage sale, perhaps, or a resale shop? This would help me to feel far less consumerish...
So, I suggest it to my husband, who, to my surprise, readily agrees to drive with me to a few rummage sales this weekend.
We did not find any chairs.
At the first stop, however, we found the most awesome collection of Legos, which we snapped up immediately. (Also another winter sled, great for the "me toos")
Then we came home and I insisted on some Lego-washing. Great activity for a nice warm summer day....
Would you insist on washing used Legos? My husband didn't want me to post this because he thought it would make us look ridiculously over-clean. It didn't seem so weird to me.
So, at the end of the day, we're still using folding chairs in the kitchen but we have some awesome new Legos to play with. I think we came out ahead!
More best shots here.
--00---
Go see: Snoopy has posted the latest edition of Haveil Havalim: Haveil Havalim #177 - Tisha B'Av Edition.
I know, I know...not the most exciting intro to a blog post.
But let me continue...I thought, wouldn't it be nice to get these chairs that we need in some kind of secondary market? A rummage sale, perhaps, or a resale shop? This would help me to feel far less consumerish...
So, I suggest it to my husband, who, to my surprise, readily agrees to drive with me to a few rummage sales this weekend.
We did not find any chairs.
At the first stop, however, we found the most awesome collection of Legos, which we snapped up immediately. (Also another winter sled, great for the "me toos")
Then we came home and I insisted on some Lego-washing. Great activity for a nice warm summer day....
Would you insist on washing used Legos? My husband didn't want me to post this because he thought it would make us look ridiculously over-clean. It didn't seem so weird to me.
So, at the end of the day, we're still using folding chairs in the kitchen but we have some awesome new Legos to play with. I think we came out ahead!
More best shots here.
--00---
Go see: Snoopy has posted the latest edition of Haveil Havalim: Haveil Havalim #177 - Tisha B'Av Edition.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
What I Did on my Summer Vacation (or...13 Reasons I'm not Blogging)
1. Reading Daniel Silva's newest book. And the new Artemis Fowl.
2. Catching up on the books I'm supposed to be reviewing on my blog!
3. Fishing
4. Watching my kids spray each other with the hose.
5. Being silly
6. Teaching David Hebrew.
7. Working on the PTA newsletter
8. Watching crazy silly television with Ellie.
9. Meeting donkeys.
10. Painting
11. Hanging around
12. Snacking
13. Napping. (Maybe that was just the kids. Naps for the ima!?)
What are you up to this summer?
See other lists of 13 here. (Although I'm way early, aren't I, for Thursday 13. Oh well...)
2. Catching up on the books I'm supposed to be reviewing on my blog!
3. Fishing
4. Watching my kids spray each other with the hose.
5. Being silly
6. Teaching David Hebrew.
7. Working on the PTA newsletter
8. Watching crazy silly television with Ellie.
9. Meeting donkeys.
10. Painting
11. Hanging around
12. Snacking
13. Napping. (Maybe that was just the kids. Naps for the ima!?)
What are you up to this summer?
See other lists of 13 here. (Although I'm way early, aren't I, for Thursday 13. Oh well...)
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
A Strange Obsession with Snacks
Me: Tell me a story, Sammy.
Sam: once 'pon time there was elephant.
Me: What is the elephant's name?
Sam: (something unintelligible)
Me: repeats unintelligible mumbling?
Sam: Yes.
Me: What did the elephant do?
Sam: sat with Sammy!
Me: What did Sammy and the elephant do?
Sam: We had snacks.
Me: Elephants like peanut butter. Did you eat peanut butter?
Sam: No! I like goldfish. I eat goldfish.
Me: Did the elephant eat goldfish too?
Sam: Yes. Elephant and Sammy eat goldfish together. We have snack together.
Later he told me a story about a lion who had a snack with the elephant.
In all his stories, there are snacks.
This is a kid who likes his food.
(at bedtime)
Me: What was your favorite thing today?
Sam: Eating food.
...as though there are days we don't have that.
And that's my kid.
Sam: once 'pon time there was elephant.
Me: What is the elephant's name?
Sam: (something unintelligible)
Me: repeats unintelligible mumbling?
Sam: Yes.
Me: What did the elephant do?
Sam: sat with Sammy!
Me: What did Sammy and the elephant do?
Sam: We had snacks.
Me: Elephants like peanut butter. Did you eat peanut butter?
Sam: No! I like goldfish. I eat goldfish.
Me: Did the elephant eat goldfish too?
Sam: Yes. Elephant and Sammy eat goldfish together. We have snack together.
Later he told me a story about a lion who had a snack with the elephant.
In all his stories, there are snacks.
This is a kid who likes his food.
(at bedtime)
Me: What was your favorite thing today?
Sam: Eating food.
...as though there are days we don't have that.
And that's my kid.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Haveil Havalim is up! Go see....
It is that time again. Haveil Havalim #176 - The Dirty Laundry Edition is live and waiting to be enjoyed.
Go see.
Come back and tell me what you think;-)
Off for a family adventure. Blogging resumes on Tuesdayish....
Go see.
Come back and tell me what you think;-)
Off for a family adventure. Blogging resumes on Tuesdayish....
Friday, August 1, 2008
Another Step Back
A few weeks back, I spoke in glowing terms about the step forward that the daughters of Zelophechad represented.
Now here we go backwards, just a little bit.
The rest of the clan
was a bit worried themselves
that land would be lost.
If girls can get land
that was their father's holding,
that is fine with us.
But what if they get
husbands from outside our tribe?
Then we would all lose.
Eventually
their land would end up in hands
outside of our tribe.
Mo made a ruling:
Daughters that inherit land
must marry tribesmen.
Just one restriction.
Does it really seem so fair?
Land over freedom.
What do you think?
See more Haiku Friday here.
Read more about this week's Torah portion here and here.
Shabbat Shalom!
Now here we go backwards, just a little bit.
The rest of the clan
was a bit worried themselves
that land would be lost.
If girls can get land
that was their father's holding,
that is fine with us.
But what if they get
husbands from outside our tribe?
Then we would all lose.
Eventually
their land would end up in hands
outside of our tribe.
Mo made a ruling:
Daughters that inherit land
must marry tribesmen.
Just one restriction.
Does it really seem so fair?
Land over freedom.
What do you think?
See more Haiku Friday here.
Read more about this week's Torah portion here and here.
Shabbat Shalom!
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