Say, there... how about a Seder?

Today we went over to cousin Ryan and Sara's house for a kids Passover seder. It's just like our family's adult seder but without all the puns. Well, and it's in the middle of the day and we don't eat Kosher food and we mostly just play. But other than that, it's just like our other seder!

The pace of play was frantic. Daddy's Droid couldn't keep up!

Sara and Ryan finally figured out that, when in the presence of a princess, proper protocol is to never turn your back and just scoot away when leaving the room.

Great-Grandpa Irv and Great-Aunt Sue taught me a matching game. I guess they don't trust mommy and daddy to pick out my outfits!

Ryan moves so quickly, I thought I saw 2 of him. Hey, that's a matching pair!

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.

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.)

Oh Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel, I Made A Lot of Pay!

Today we had our annual family Hannukah party -- aka Dreidel for Dollars. Yes, I know Hannukah is over but we Goldmans have always been a little behind. Before getting into it, we posed for a pic with all the girls. Apparently stripes are in with the under 25 crowd!

Then it was time for one with the boys +1. Looks like Uncle D is trying to grow on his head what Uncle Joshie has under his chin.

I decided to go in for a closer look. Yep, Uncle D's got some something growing under there. He always did like his fuzzies.

Mash-ups all the rage these days thanks to Glee, so Grandpa, Mommy and I rocked out to James Brown and Dean Martin -- I Feel Good/Everybody Loves Somebody.

Uncle Joshie, Uncle Noah (or just Unkie as I call him), Uncle D, and Cousin Ryan got into the act and a dance-off ensued. I busted out my best robot.

Soon it was time for presents. I waited patiently for my turn.

And then I laid into them. Cousin Sara helped me unwrap. And Daddy helped me rap.

Finally, it was time for dreidel. We all broke out our singles. Not sure why Uncle D had so many on him.

Elmo and I surveyed the action to make sure there were no false gimels.

The stakes were too rich for my blood (and Aunt Karen was cleaning up) so I decided to quit while I was ahead. If only Daddy had taken my lead before getting suckered into the high-stakes spin-off with Cousin Rob.

After dreidel, it was time for surgery. Great-Grandpa Irv started by extracting an outlet plug from my stomach. It was an electrifying experience.

Then Dr. Ryan gave me my shots. I was not so patient this time.

I was left to recover on my own in the waiting room. Where's health care reform when you need it?!?