zxHanukkah '09 was our best yet! While we didn't have family to celebrate with, we were surrounded by wonderful friends who have in essence become our Ann Arbor family. Below are pictures of a few our adventures and memories of our holiday.
We started of Hanukkah early with a Latke Hop at my school. Basically a big party with games and live music and of course, latkes. This is me learning how to play musical chairs.
Remi at the "Hop." Why do we always have pictures of her eating? Oh yeah, that's right, BECAUSE SHE'S ALWAYS EATING!
I'm the blur between the boy with the white shirt and the girl with the stripped dress. That's right, I was rockin' out. I"ve got moves NO ONE can match!
Remi finally finished eating and decided to scooch around on the dance floor,
A blurry picture, but look no hands! She's standing up by herself. Go Remi Go!
Me, taking a picture of mama, taking a picture of me!
Fred and Jack, our neighbors, invited us to help trim their tree. Not sure why they asked me to trim their tree, but I did help decorate it! My first time ever of hanging an ornament on the tree. It's fun to help people celebrate Christmas.
The first night of Hanukkah, lighting the candles with Daddy.
Opening my night one gift. I was a bit confused when I opened the box and there were just pieces of paper in there. Turns out those were tickets for the Michigan Hockey game! That's right, I got to the hockey game for my first gift. I was so excited I could barely contain myself. Getting to see the Zamboni, hear the band, watch hockey and stay up late, now that was a gift! Notice Remi in the high chair, still eating...
To my surprise, Mama invited Fred and his dad to come along to the hockey game. We got fun hats when we walked in the door and had a blast.
Being silly. Notice the popcorn in my mouth. I ate TWO boxes that night!
More silliness
The next morning, I got to have Hanukkah pancakes, in the shapes of a dreidel, menorah and star of david. Not a bad start to the day.
Sweet cheeks doin' what she does best, EAT.
We made Hanukkah cookies and I helped daddy make the frosting blue!
Frosting the cookies. Lot of fun, but I needed a change of clothes after that experience.
All of our hard work
Lighting the candles again, this time, I'm doing it by myself!
Remi in her radio flyer walker. As I mentioned in earlier posts, Rem is on a bit of deadline for learning to walk as she will be the flower girl for Uncle Brandon's wedding. I had a little talk with Brandon and guaranteed I would make Remi a biped by his wedding, and I can't let him down. No way, not for that day.
Remi practicing with our wooden menorah
Making sufganiyot (jelly dougnuts), a hanukkah tradition we started this year. They were great! We made the doughnuts, each had one, and then delivered them around to our neighbors. Jewish or not, no one turned down our homemade, warm jelly doughnuts.
This is what I looked like after the sufganiyot.
We went over to Jane's, our neighbor, one night for dinner and latkes. She adopted a shepard mix dog, whom she named Roo. Roo had to stay in the kitchen as he really likes kids and is a bit difficult to play with right now. Once he's done with his obedience classes, I foresee, many games of catch with him.
Scoochin' at Jane's.
Remi will pull to a stand on everything, whether it can hold her weight or not. Luckily for this shot, the easel could support her. It's not pretty when she and the thing she tries to use to stand up goes down! Usually a mess and lots of tears.
Another lighting the candle's shot
Opening gifts from our cousin Jayden
Remi got a strawberry shortcake and I got a pirate ship
One of Remi's gifts from Grandma Jo and Grandpa David was the learning house and it's awesome. There are lots of things to play with on it, Remi and I have a blast playing together.
Making challah for Shabbat. This is usually special time for Mama and I, but now Remi is trying to get in on the action.
Opening our gift from Grandma Sue and Grandpa Irwin. Remi got a ball popper and I got a set of magnatiles.
Working on my puzzle that I got from my friend Sam
Making food with my "new" apron. Apparently, it's not so new, as my parents have had it for over a year, but this is the first time it fit! Watch out Julia Childs, Tyler's in the kitchen now!
Making a house with my magnatiles.
Hangin' out with Mama. We didn't get out of our PJ's all day. Such a treat!
Grandma Jo and Grandpa David know how I like to shave, so they gave me my very own shaving kit for Hanukkah. I like it so much that I had to take a bath as soon as I woke up one morning b/c I HAD to shave. Nothing like a 7am bath to start your day...
