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| Julia's Witch Birthday Party |
Julia wanted all her friends to come dressed as witches; the girls each made a witch's brew with foods like boiled ladybugs (red jellybeans) or toasted fingernails (bugles corn chips); they got into groups of 3 or 4 and choreographed dances...Fun!
Libi's party was "High School Musical" of course!! We decorated with as much HSM stuff as I could find, and the kids all sang karaoke with Libi's birthday present from Gomer & Gofer. They also decorated foam banners with stickers and paint. Each girl took home a set of pompoms and a megaphone, just like the cheerleaders in the movies. Both were really fun parties.
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| Libi's High School Musical Birthday Party |
Thanksgiving came soon afterwards and I hosted a family meal. Josh's parents, as well as his sister and her family (and au pere), drove down to Philly. Josh's aunt, Mary, and uncle, Jacques, and cousins, Jeanne & Peter, also joined us along with Peter's new fiancee, Jane. We had a big crowd but the meal was lovely. Our children are old enough to sit at a "Kids' Table"! I made the meal, Jillian made the desserts, Solange made the salad and Mary made the cocktails. It was all delicious, and it was so nice to host everyone at our house.
On Marigold's birthday we flew to Satellite Beach, Florida where we stayed at the Las Olas Resort for a week. Granny & Grampa were also there, along with Keri & Lavi and Ari!! We really had a great vacation, despite the awful "Red Tide" that stayed with us all week long. The resort was absolutely the best timeshare apartment we've ever stayed at. It was right on the beach with a really nice pool as well! The weather was wonderful (80 degrees almost every day). We took Julia, Libi, and Marigold to Magic Kingdom at Disney World one day. That was so special for them!! (We forgot our digital camera--geniuses--so we still have to develop the disposable cameras we bought on the trip) Another day we took just Julia & Libi to EPCOT. They loved it! My parents watched Marigold all day, and even took her to the local zoo with Keri & Ari. Thanks Mom & Dad!
I recommend going to Disney World before school vacation if you can. There were NO LINES for the rides!! Josh and I love Disney, and we'd love to take another, longer, trip there again with the girls...most likely when Marigold is at least 4 years old.
Then we came home and Julia began 2nd grade. OK, I'll explain. We got a phonecall from the principal after Thanksgiving and she said that they recommended moving Julia up a grade as soon as possible. All her teachers agreed that her math and reading levels were more appropriate for 2nd grade. I'm simplifying a bit for the sake of space here...but after thinking very hard about it we agreed and Julia made the move. So far it's worked out really well. Julia had a Hebrew tutor almost every day of Winter Break and she learned to read and write the Aleph Bet in script (1st grade is still learning the "print" letters, and they are only up to Chet, the 8th letter). Her tutor is extremely happy with Julia's progress and Julia is loving the whole process! Julia even told me that she enjoys learning with the tutor more than relaxing at home.
Libi is beginning to read and we are so proud of her! It's just amazing when the reading process clicks. Marigold has such a big personality. She's a lot of fun to watch and interact with. She'll be starting school for 2 mornings a week after this break and I hope she likes it. I think she really needs to be in a social environment--she'll like it much better than being shlepped around with me in the car all day.
Well thank you for sticking with my extra long post. I hope that I won't wait so long between posts next time...Happy New Year to everyone! And post comments so I can keep up with you too!
