Catching up....

yeah, yeah, we know, slackers we are... Not exactly starting off 2011 on the right foot in terms of bloggin, but we've been busy, as I'm sure all of you have been.

We left off with Hanukkah days 1 and 2 and let us tell you, nights 3-8 were just as exciting! Celebrating with friends, eatting latke's at every dinner, the Frog room Hanukkah celebration, making sufganiyot and just enjoying being together as a family.

We even got to celebrate the last night of Hanukkah with Grandma Sue, who graciously changed her plans to come take care of us while mama and daddy visited St. Louis, trying to figure out where to move our family. Grandpa Irwin flew in for the weekend and we hit it hard! Dinners out, hockey, attending The Big Chill (watching U of M take on Michigan State in the Big House with over 111K other people), making snowmen, sledding, making snow forts and in general, wearing down grandma and grandpa until they could stand up no more...

The next event, or non-event as it turned out was mama's birthday. This was heard the day of her birthday:

T: Mama why don't you have a cake?

M: Sometimes adults don't have cake's on their birthdays.

T: Why does daddy always have a cake for his birthday...

M: (silence) Well, sometimes mama's don't have cake on their birthdays.

T (several minutes of silence and looks of consternation) It's a good thing I'm never gonna be a mama!

The Brandt's (my best friend for my second year of life) came to town over the holidays and we got to spend an afternoon and evening with them. Lily and I picked up as if we'd never been apart, the only thing different is that we both have annoying little siblings we have to deal with now. It was great to see them and hopefully we can plan a trip to Austin next year to see them!

Then, probably the most monumental event that happened over our break from the blog or possibly all of 2010 was....

DADDY SIGNING A CONTRACT AND OFFICIALLY HAVING HIS FIRST REAL JOB

That's right after 4 years of med school, 3 years of residency, and 4 years of fellowship, daddy has finally decided that it's time to get a REAL job. Where are we moving you ask... Cincinnati!

While mama is a bit concerned about my well-being when we live in Ohio b/c I break out in "Hail to the Victors" (The Michigan Fight Song), at any given moment and at full volume! Hopefully I won't be beaten up too many times as we adjust to life in Ohio. Ohio... Not sure if I feel comfortable saying that I live in Ohio... Daddy will finish his fellowship in Ann Arbor the end of June and then starts in Cincinnati on August 1st.

Way to go Daddy! We are so very proud of you and to be honest, it's nice to know that all of those daddyless days, nights, weeks and sometimes months have paid off. Remi and I have both been told that we will be getting new rooms and a bigger yard. We are making this publicly known, so mama and daddy can't go back on their word!

And now, for the pictures..

Remi lighting the Candles

Her new stroller

spinning my new globe

Remi in her new coat and pushing her stroller

Making sufganiyot (jelly donuts) with daddy

"I'm going to eat a donut!!!!!"

Waiting for the dough to rise, passing the time on our trampoline

fryin' the donuts up!

Remi's turn

the best part, sprinkling the powdered sugar

again... Remi's turn

Enjoying our hard work...

"how many can I have?"

Celebrating with friends

I am no allowed to light the candles all by myself

The latke frying station at the Frog Room Hanukkah celebration

Hanukkah Memory game

We got to make our own Hanukkah candles with beeswax sheets

and make our own menorahs!

Remi is the class mascot since mama is the class parent, so she got in on the make your own applesauce action

Having a class sing along before he headed to the gym to have a huge Hanukkah meal with the whole school. Notice Remi snuck in next to her crush (Emiliano)

We made homemade pita and falafel for dinner one night. It was yummy!

This is Lily and me hanging out in the laundry basket when she came to visit

This is Lily and I hanging out in a laundry basket 3 years ago... We miss you Brandt's!

Remi in the basket. Yes, she is wearing her hockey helmet. She wears it several hours of every day, and people have actually asked if she is "special." She is, just not in "that" way!

Lily's little brother, Max

Daddy signing his contract. A big moment for our family

and for him too. I don't know if that smile is from happiness or relief. Maybe bit of both...

Making challah... Yeah, that's what we call it, but it's just our excuse to try to fit as many toys as possible in the laundry basket and then throw fits when it's time to clean it all up!