First Night of Hanukkah!

We had a super busy day today.
Right after breakfast we made some crafts. I had to include this one because it is too cute.

All day long, Zev said, "We made Santa face!" He wanted to do it again right away. We used finger paints to make a menorah next. We have made it the last two years, and I wanted to see how the boys' hands grow over time.

Here is Tahl's:

Zev's:

After this we went to a play date where we decorated Christmas cookies, then home for lunch and a nap. After that we went over to my mom's house where she gave Zev an early (by just a few hours) Hanukkah present. He LOVED it. He has been asking for a scarf.

She got it in navy to match his winter coat, and of course, it wasn't quite as cold today and I let him wear his fleece. We will get more pictures later I'm sure. He also wore his scarf and hat to meet Santa at the mall, which I am sad to say you are not allowed to take your own picture of. You have to pay $25 for the package, which being married to Ari, I cannot do in good conscience.

Right before we left to meet Santa, I asked Zev again what he was going to ask him for. He told me, "everything." We have been talking about asking him for "working guy stuff" (a construction worker costume) and a train for a week or two, but apparently that hadn't sunk in. Then Zev told me he would ask him for a book, no many, many books. (I think he got this idea from a book we have been reading about a bear who gets a book from Santa.) Last, he told me he would be asking for a phone. I said, "You already have a phone." Then he said, "A phone that plays music like mommy..." So, he wants an iphone from Santa, or at least an ipod. I told him Santa doesn't make phones, only toys...

When Zev did meet Santa, he asked him for just a book. Santa asked him if he wanted anything else, and then he said a train table. He did great sitting in his lap, and he wasn't shy at all.

Not too long after we got home from meeting Santa, we started Hanukkah which is even more exciting to Zev. There has been quite some build up for Hanukkah this year at school. The school also has a video on YouTube of the Hanukkah songs, which we watch many times a day.

First only Tahl was involved.

Then Zev came over to help, and I distracted Tahl from the candles with the camera.

Time to open a present.

Tahl got to open his first Hanukkah present ever with dad. He is getting books and old toys of Zev's that we took down from the attic and wrapped.

Then as a big surprise, Ari put out the new train table that Buby and Buster got the boys. I think Tahl likes it.

I think Zev likes it too. The only thing missing now is a train, and I think Santa just might bring that...

I'm sure Zev is saying something very nice to his brother...

We are excited to have seven more nights of Hanukkah, and it is almost Christmas! This is a fun (and busy) place to be in December.

Park

On Saturday we went to the park. My mom and Kade met us there. Zev and Kade had fun together. Here they are driving.

They play pretty well together, at least at the park.

Tahl had tons of fun at the park too! Here are two short videos of him giggling on the swings.

This isn't the park, but it is Zev playing our ipad while wearing mom's shoes. He loves to wear my shoes...

Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah. Expect more pictures soon!

8 months (+ some extra fun)

Tahl is EIGHT months old!

He is an amazing, fun, and happy baby. He is active and silly. He is crawling everywhere, pulling up, and is very verbal. We do wish he would sleep better though the night, but he is otherwise practically perfect in every way.

We got the one above picture of Tahl in the chair before he decided he should leave.

When I put him back, he discovered he had a sticker.

He took one more picture in the chair before he moved to the floor for safety.

If only he would keep his hands out of his mouth, he'd have lots of cute pictures.

Tahl went to pick up Zev's shirt. Zev, of course, took it away. When I asked him to give it back, this is where it ended up. Luckily Tahl doesn't seem to mind yet.

He went over to the bookshelf to play. Earlier this week, Zev took a book from Tahl's room. When he was taking it off the shelf, he told me, "I borrow this from Tahli's library..." It cracked me up.

Somewhere else fun to pull up.

Zev wanted Tahl to touch his head. He was mad when Tahl pulled his hair.

Zev got over it quickly though because he went to get his guitar. He told me he was going to sing "many let it be's"...

He also decided he needed to take his picture with the sticker.

"CHEESE!"

This guy is cute.

That is until he has an itchy tushie.

I know this picture is boring, but it shows some progress. Zev decided (on his own) to share his guitar with his brother. It lasted about 20 seconds, but progress is progress.

This sweet little guy was crawling down the hall to me in my room.

Until he heard Zev in the living room.

He turned in the doorway to see this...

Zev, who was rearranging the furniture.

Tahl, naturally, has to get right in the middle of the mess.

Last, but not least, Zev finished putting the furniture back, and he decided to sing the Dora song: "I did it! I did it!" Here are the pictures of the accompanying dance.

All this excitement, even before breakfast. It's never dull around here.

Random

Here are a few random pictures of the kids.
Zev went to a birthday party on Sunday at Chuck E. Cheese. He had a great time, and he definitely LOVES chocolate cake.

Sunday night we made a gingerbread house. Zev even got to sample a little.

Tahl is currently pulling up ALL the time. He can't do it on the table, but anything a little lower is fair game: drawer handles, Zev's kitchen, stools, and his crib.

Tahl is not quite sure how to get back down yet. He fusses sometimes and I will look over and find him stuck all sorts of places. Yesterday we saw him stuck up on Zev's kitchen with just his mouth, no hands.


We also got out the tunnel. Tahl loves crawling through it.

I ran out of time today for Tahl's 8 month pictures, so I will have to take them tomorrow.

Indoor Safari Park

It is FREEZING in Dallas today, so we went on a trip to the Indoor Safari Park. (Thanks Emily for the coupons.) The boys both had lots of fun. It was really empty, so Mr. Tahl got to play in the balls.

Zev loved the ball pit too.

There were two little girls playing with Tahl in the ball pit. They were rubbing his head and talking to him. He loved it.

Here he is all by himself.

That is until this guy comes down the slide. He likes to "swim" in the balls.

He also rode on the train all by himself.

Tahl and Zev both also had fun crawling around in the baby section.

Zev did end up in timeout though for pushing his brother...

There were so few kids that I let Zev go up into the 5-10 year old crawling structure. He had a good time.

He thought this was pretty hard though. I had to go under and talk him through.

Tahl really wanted to go on this balance beam. Maybe next time.

Here is Zev in the lion's mouth.

Tahl doesn't seem to want this hug I made Zev give him.

Here they are watching another kid ride on the robotic animals.

Zev decided to ride the zebra.

He seems very serious, like always, but I think he really liked it.

Last, here is a video of Zev going down the slide.

Zev had lots of fun, and Tahl seemed to like it too. I'm off to order the top picture of Tahl in the balls! We need more pictures of him around here.