Couching our Feelings

Harvey Nagila!

Miller Time!

One of the reasons I love spending time at Bubbie and Zayde's is that my friends the Millers live right across the street. Today, I helped them mow the lawn.

The lawnmower wasn't working too well though, so we had to cover up the grass with a blanket.

Then I decided I'd just try cutting it with my hands!

The Bubbie and Zayde School for the Spoiled

I spent the night at Bubbie and Zayde's last night. By the time mommy and daddy came back to get me, I had already learned to smile and pose for pictures...

...and read books. If only they let me stay here another night, I'd be doing geometry!

Passunder

Passunder the Passover table is what I did! Great-Grandpa Irv had no idea where I was.

Took a short break to dance with Bubbie and Great-Aunt Sue.

Then went back at the table where a blurry Uncle D tried to passunder with me!

Ellie Like Birthday!

Karina and Matthew came over to visit me for my birthday. They're back in Chicago so I'm looking forward to hanging out with them again. I still remember some of the Spanish Karina taught me -- mas, agua... yeah, that's about it.



Fortunately, I have Dora to help me keep my Spanish up. She was the wrapping paper du jour at my b-day dinner with the Goldmans.



As per usual, Bubbie snagged me first.



And, as per usual, I was the center of attention.



Until the food came.



Waiter, waiter. There's a fly in my soup. Oh, that's a wonton?!?



Great-Grandpa Irv (who was one of the first to embrace the computer age) got me my very first computer. Now I can blog by myself. Hope you like everything in third-person!



Aunt Karen's mom, Sheila, joined the festivities. She has grandkids of her own (no thanks to Uncle J and Aunt K!) but none that eat like me.



I may be getting older but opening presents never gets old!



In leiu of birthday cake, I made a wish with a straw in lo mein.



When we got home, I tried on my birthday suit. (JK, I have a sweater on under there, somewhere.)



And then I used my computer to type my very first blog post title.

Changelings

Exactly 1 year and 9 days ago, we posed for this same photo. As you can see, a lot has changed. Grandpa's lost a lot of weight. Grandma's gotten more fashionable. The swing has been replaced with a kitchen. We keep our window shades at half mast to let light in for the plants. And I'm almost as tall as Bubbie! I guess some things never change though. Zayde still looks the same and I think he's even wearing the same pants!

V-Day

Finally, after all the suspense (and, by suspense, I mean months of blog lag-time, not any last minute bride/groom cold feet or anything), Uncle Noah and Aunt Sara's wedding day arrived! After putting on my flower girl dress, I got some practice in at the hotel so I'd be ready to walk down the aisle.

At the temple, I posed for a quickie with my other aunts (Goldman aunts, that is) before the ceremony that would officially make Aunt Sara my last aunt. Unless, of course, Auntie Em marries a woman.

Zayde got a little warmup in before the hora!

I helped Uncle Noah clean the floors a bit before the guests arrived.

When I first saw Aunt Sara's beautiful dress, I was mortified. I thought I'd be the only one wearing white!

Great-Uncle Phil takes the best pics!

Bubbie and I kept Aunt Sara company while she greeted her guests during the Tish. Even though Aunt Sara is beaming, I couldn't help wondering if the men were having more fun on their side.

Aunt Sara let me borrow her throne for a few pics. Pay no attention to the $2 sandals.

Aunt Sara taught me the meaning of "tzneus" -- it means modesty. Silly me showing up in a sleeveless dress.

The cardigan didn't last long though (gotta show off the pipes!) and I began my search for something to carry down the aisle.

Hmm, maybe this will do.

I got in a few last practice walks.

When it was time for the real thing though, I got a little stage fright.

So Mommy had to help me make my way.

Uncle Noah and Aunt Sara were hot on my heels. I ducked off to the side and they made their way up to the Chuppah. Then I think they got lost cuz they walked in circles for 7 times before deciding where to stand.

After the ceremony, it was time to boogie. Bubbie and I did a hora-fying dance.

After an hour of dancing, I was worn out and Mommy and Daddy took me to the playroom.

Uncle D stopped by to size me up for some nicer looking shoes than my cheap-o sandals. Geez, Uncle D really is obsessed with my feet.

After a while, even Aunt Sara needed a break from all the dancing.

What an amazing Valentine's Day. As much as it pained me to be away from Leo J on his birthday, this was one VD I'll never forget. (That sound you hear is Daddy biting his tongue.)

ADD it up

Today was Uncle Noah and soon-to-be-Aunt Sara's wedding shower in Skokie. Once again, I tried to steal the spotlight from the bride and groom (not to mention, steal some gifts for myself).

Over the course of the party, I went through the 4 stages of attention-deficit-disorder. (In my case, that's not an inability to pay attention to any one task -- although I have that too -- it's an inability to NOT be the center of attention.)

1. Anger.

2. Confusion.

3. Dizziness.



4. Sleepiness.