Getting ready for Passover

Despite some recent crises, we are doing our best to get ready for Passover. Noam knows many Passover songs (he especially likes to sing, with great feeling: "No, no, no! I will not let them go!") and he and the twins have been a part (if not necessarily a helpful part) of the Passover preparation process.

Here are Hillel and Akiva, emptying the cabinets of all the non-Passover things...


They specialize in Tupperware.

And here they are, climbing the boxes of seder dishes. You know, the ones labeled "fragile."

For a while, the twins took turns climbing the boxes and shrieking when they were removed. But ultimately, Akiva won the battle.
He's a stubborn little thing.
Once he decided that the top of the boxes was the best place to talk on his cell phone, there was no stopping him. And yes, he can now have some epic conversations: He says "hi" and "Bye" (that last one comes with a little wave).

More soon. Happy Passover!

Final Purim Post

Since it's going to be Passover any minute now, I figured I'd better hurry up and post the last of the Purim pictures. Purim was long this year, seeing as how Noam's school Purim show happened the day after the holiday. But a good time was had by all - probably even by the twins. And even by Noam, despite some concerns on his part that if we didn't all say, "go away, Haman!" when hearing Haman's name, that Haman would actually come and get us. He seemed to think that reading the Book of Esther would in some way conjure up Haman...
Eema: We're going to the CJL to hear the story of Purim!
Noam: But Haman is mean. (apparently he had some sort of concern that Haman would be present?)
Eema: But Boaz is reading the megilla!
Noam: (with relief) Ohhh. Boaz isn't Haman. Boaz is too nice to be Haman.
(It's a good story even if you don't know Boaz; infinitely better if you do)

Noam is really growing up. The difference between his Hannukah "performance" (characterized mainly by the deer-in-headlights why-am-I-here blank stare in his eyes and decided lack of musical participation) and his Purim performance was really amazing.

(you have to look really hard to see Noam in this video, but he is the one in orange, and he's doing all the hand motions and everything!)


So that's pretty much it for Purim. A good time was had by all, Noam ate lots of junk food and did not have any unfortunate encounters with Haman or any other scary individuals, and the twins tolerated their tiger costumes remarkably well.

Challenges in the coming weeks include preparing for Passover, while simultaneously weaning the twins off the pacifier (at least during playtime). Thanks to our fearless nanny, Melissa, they seem to be well on their way. Akiva responds well to the command: "Now take your pacifier out of your mouth and leave it in your crib." Hillel is slightly grumpier about the whole thing (and I was so sure it would be Akiva who would be distraught about this. Go figure). Now if they would just start talking (in English. They have a lot to say in seemingly the same rare Asian dialect Noam spoke when he was a baby - and they understand each other).

We'll keep you posted!

But Can We Return it if We Don't Like It?

Noam has a friend in school, a girl a bit older than he is. The girl's younger brother, aged 2.5, also attends Noam's school.
Last night at dinner, the following conversation ensued:
Eema: Noam, your friend has a new baby brother!
Noam: She does?
Eema: Yes!
Noam: Does she get to keep the old one?

(Admittedly, this took Eema a while to figure out. But when you think about it, it makes a lot of sense. Sort of. Basically, it's probably good that he wasn't more verbal when the twins were born).

Purim Pictures

Just a few - to whet your appetites. I'll have to do a proper post later on, but in the meantime...

Hillel Climbs Stairs

Not clear how long he's been hiding this talent, but Eema discovered it this morning. She took Akiva upstairs, planning on going back for Hillel a moment later (no, I cannot carry them both up the stairs at the same time - my supermom powers do not extend to climbing steps with at least 45 lbs of baby...), and found him hot on her heels. But forgot to tell anyone else about this development, so this afternoon, Noam charged up the stairs, and finding Hillel hot on his heels really freaked him out. That's right Noam, you can run but you can't hide...just wait till he learns to hit back...

A bit later in the day:

(Hillel takes Noam's kippah off his head. Noam smacks Hillel, gets put in time out. Eema heads in for a little what-went-wrong discussion).

Eema: You may not hit your brother.

Noam: But he took my kippah!

Eema: USE WORDS. We don't hit.

Noam: (considers this for a moment) Okay. But do I have to say please?

Eema: (tries not to laugh) Well, it's always nice to say please...

Noam: In school that's not the rule. In school if someone takes something I don't have to say PLEASE give it back!

Eema: Okay, you don't have to say please. But you can't hit!

Noam: (indignant) Eema, I don't hit anyone at school. I never hit at school. I only hit at home.

Um, great. Glad we had this conversation.

Seriously.

Not everything belongs in a blog. For example, most of you probably really don't want to know why, at around one this afternoon, Eema and Daddy were each holding a screaming, flailing sixteen-month old and hosing them down in the sink, while being serenaded by a three-year-old singing at the top of his lungs. Needless to say, there are no photos of this, and let's be honest, you wouldn't want to see them anyway.

So, moving on to some more bloggable events. First off, we need to post the last of our Hannukah pictures. We had a fun visit from Cousin Eddie and his guitar. Noam broke out his ukelele and they had a little Hannukah jam session.


Then the whole family opened more Hannukah presents...
...Noam got a calendar from Bubbe, so he can plan his busy life.
And the final event of Hannukah - Noam's school concert. All the children in the school - ages 2 through 5 - performed in this great event.
By "performed," I mean that they all stood there more or less obediently, while the teachers and the four and five year olds sang songs. The children Noam's age and younger largely stood around looking shell-shocked.
They look ecstatic, don't they?
By the end of the concert, he looked happy. No singing, but smiles did emerge.


And now, fast-forward to our trip to Grandma's country house. The opening paragraph of this post notwithstanding, we are having a great time. On Monday, Melissa came and played with the munchkins, while Eema and Daddy escaped for a bit. We returned to find that yet another Hannukah present was in use - this excellent tent from Cousin Marian!
Everybody loves to play inside...
And there's a really cool tunnel to crawl through...


Sometimes there's even two-way traffic...
And sometimes, all three kids go inside the tent and Eema and Daddy can't see them at all. Eema and Daddy are actually fine with that.
Of course, it is fun to watch them play...
They have been playing very nicely with each other, and with Noam. Noam goes back and forth between treating them almost as equals (especially Hillel), and patronizing them with gentle (and not-so-gentle) pats, enthusiastic encouragement, and the applications of pacifiers when necessary.We think that Akiva's first word is "tickle" (he says it while tickling us and giggling). Both babies woof (when asked what a dog says) and Hillel can also quack. When he's really feeling talkative, Hillel will even wave and say "bye-bye!"

Bathtime - a highlight at Grandma's country house, where the bathtub is big enough that all three children can successfully elude capture. Bathtubs are fun for playing, but getting clean is definitely a secondary concern at best for this group.One of our most exciting days during this visit was our MYSTERY TRIP on Tuesday. We can't fill you in on the details just yet. Let's just say that we all went out together (um, this may have been the second time that ever happened?) to get a birthday present for Aunt Debra W. A good time was had by all...

...Though it was VERY cold....
...and their snowsuits are VERY bulky.
They can't really walk in them. But nevermind that. We had a great time on our mystery adventure, which included a ferry ride and a stop at the Beach Bakery in Westhampton Beach (otherwise known as "the cookie store" or "the good cookie store." Yum.

Oh, are you wondering about the title of this blog post? It's Noam's latest verbal tic. He uses it indiscriminately to indicate...well, we're not sure exactly what. Exasperation with the frivolities of parental concern? Something like that. A sample conversation:
Eema: Noam, did you wash your hands?
Noam: (snorts) Eema, seriously! I mean, SERIOUSLY Eema!
Eema: Wash your hands!
Noam: Okay, Eema! Seriously!

Coming soon: Pictures from the mystery trip!

The Joys of Twin + 1 Parenting

The scene: At "Grandma's country house." Noam is eating breakfast - huge quantities of hummus slathered on crackers. The twins are wandering around, exploring. Eema is sitting at the table, Daddy is in the kitchen.
Noam: "Daddy, can I have more hummus please?"
(Daddy goes to the fridge, removes hummus. Opens container. Is holding open container in hand when he notices Akiva, hand in dogfood bowl, chipmunk cheeks bulging).
Daddy: "Akiva! No! No dogfood!"
(Drops to the floor, puts down hummus, begins sweeping little mouth clean of dogfood, which is both disgusting and a choking hazard. Eema runs to kitchen to assess damage).
Noam: "More hummus please!"
(Hillel, being helpful, picks up abandoned - open - container of hummus. Bring it to Daddy. Deposits it, upside down, at his feet. Big smile.)
Eema and Daddy: "AAAH!"
Daddy, on second thought: "Thank you Hillel! Thanks for trying to help..."
Noam: "MORE HUMMUS PLEASE!"

Maybe this is why we're hesitant about calling this a vacation...