Ga-Ya's Goodies!

Auntie Heidi is one of those creative types. Not just the type of person that can draw well or design something unique, she's got incredible talent! She envisions things, plans them out and then creates them and every time, I walk away in awe. Auntie Heidi is also one of the most thoughtful, generous, kind, and warm people our family is blessed to have. She is always thinking of our girls, as if they are her own, and they feel that genuineness.

Heidi has a knack for making "clippies," hats, headbands, aprons, you name it. Just recently she even started up her own official business Lalaloo's! (Named from the nickname of her precious daughter Lilah.) Jenna adores Lilah (as well as Dave and Heidi.)

Heidi has been giving Jenna extra materials here and there and faster than one can imagine, we are attempting to replicate Heidi's expertise on a 2 3/4 year old's level. :) (She is pretty talented though, I have to say...) We've made many many a clippy, only to recently try our hand headbands, a hands down favorite past time these days.

This morning Jenna asked me if we could "start her own company." I was floored-company? You aren't even 3! :) We talked about the details of what she was thinking about and it was immediately clear-she wanted to have her own "company" just like Auntie Heidi. She could share her clippies and headbands and stuff with her friends and family just like Auntie Heidi shared with Maya and her! We then began tossing around names of her desired company and came up with "Ga-ya's Goodies Company"-she insisted that the word company be in the name so that it was a "real company!" "Ga-ya" was what Jenna called herself before she could say Jenna, it has stuck as a nickname we call her now.

We even looked at websites that offer free business cards and planned out a model one. All the time reminding myself she's a toddler. This evening on our dining room table sit four completed headbands; one for Jenna, two for our cleaning women and one for Lilah! So I guess things come full circle in a way, she's giving back to Heidi, due to Heidi's inspiration.

People often say that you can't choose your family, however, it's a no brainer, we'd choose Heidi (Dave and Lilah as well) to be part of our girls' lives in over and over and over! The positive influences she provides our girls are immeasurable. Jenna spent many months pretending she was pregnant with a baby named Lilah just after Heidi gave birth. She has now even asked to wear her hair in a style Heidi does!!! Jenna's adoration for Heidi is so sweet. We look forward to see how it pans out as she grows and so does their relationship.

So be on the lookout today, tomorrow, years from now for Ga-Ya's Goodies (Company).

We love you Auntie Heidi!

It's just like a Family Heirloom!

This afternoon after naps were over, I was racking my brain as to what to do with the girls that was simple, reasonably priced, (dare I say FREE) and did not involve being cooped up in the house for a moment longer. Then it came to me, we should go to the library and get Jenna her own library card.

For some bizarre reason, that I still cannot discern, Jenna was adamant that we NOT go there. She's been to plenty of libraries, truthfully though, for sing-a-longs, story hours and holiday projects--all pleasant experiences, but she really might not have had a clue as to what else the library could offer.

After much coaxing, she gave in. We bundled up, (only to discover it wasn't really THAT cold out) and headed to the Wakefield Public Library. Well this is one moment, a rare one, that I didn't photograph the moment as I should have, or at all for that matter.

Jenna took Maya by the hand and approached the desk side by side with me. As I filled out the paperwork, the girls examined the rubber duck display. Then Jenna was handed her very own special library card! She beamed with pride-her very own card!!!!!! (And the librarian said HER name as she gave it to her!)

We ventured downstairs with her invaluable card gripped tightly in her right hand. As we arrived at the children's section, we were greeted with other patrons giving a standing ovation with rounds of applause and a "bubble party!" This was all to celebrate Jenna getting her first library card!!!!! Maya announced "BUBBLES!" Which made her day and Jenna turned to me and said "Mommy this getting a library card is pretty cool stuff!!!"

The next twenty minutes or so are a blur somewhat; we searched for princess books, Clifford books and other favorites, coming away with a McDuff book and D.W.'s library card story. As I corralled Maya (who could have stayed there all day virtually cleaning the shelves in a whirlwind of "This book, that book, Mama") I looked down at Jenna still clutching her library card in the same position in her same hand. She was so proud of it, she didn't want to let it go.

We checked out our books, or should I say, Jenna and the librarian checked out her books, and I watched on the periphery with Maya. SO grown up! The librarian congratulated Jenna and told her she hoped we'd be back again soon. She said nothing, but didn't need to, her smile said it all.

Our conversation on the way to the car was priceless.

Jenna: "You know Mommy, we should put this library card somewhere special so I know just where it is and don't lose it."

Mommy: "Hmm, where do you think is a good place for it? I'll happily keep it in my wallet with mine if you want."

Jenna: "Umm, I was thinking about in that space where we keep the tea cups Great-grandma Ann gave us, you know the REALLY special ones." (They are from MY Great-great Grandmother!)

Mommy: "That is a perfect place for it."

So there in our china cabinet in our dining room sits, two tea cups-family heirlooms, two of the most special items I've ever been given and atop them, is Jenna's very first library card, her most prized possession. :)

The BIG Vacation...

In a few short weeks, Mommy and Daddy will pack their bags and head out on a first-a kids free vacation. As the pieces of the puzzle fall into place the anxiety continues to grow and the excitement skyrockets! Time alone with each other for nearly a week, something we haven't experienced in nearly 3 years!!!

Planning ahead for our time away is a thousand times harder than planning for a substitute teacher was when I was teaching. Preparing the girls for our trip is an additional step-though Jenna seems to think it will be "Just great!"

Time will tell how Mommy handles the 5 hour plus flight, hopefully a cocktail will ease the ride. Will be nice to get away and also nice to come back. How I do adore our girls!!!!!

Christmas at The Farbers

There would be no tree, no Santa, no presents, but the day was jam packed with fun, family festivities and fabulous food!

Christmas Day in our home is just another day, only we can't go very many places due to most of the world observing the holiday and nearly everywhere being closed.

We did some home improvement and art projects during the early morning hours-felt like we'd accomplished the world all before 10 a.m. :) We then opted to head out to the backyard and test out the sled and warmth of our hats, mittens, boots and coats. What a BLAST! After returning from being outside in the cold, the girls enjoyed their first tastes of hot chocolate along with whipped cream and marshmallows!!!!

The evening dinner was a delicious Chinese food and sushi, yum! A great day was had by all!

Proud Mama!

There are those moments that you catch yourself tearing up, smiling, looking for some other adult to notice that magnificent moment your child just took part in. Whether it is the first time a word was said, the first steps, or some other major milestone, those likely all get documented in your child's baby book (and possibly blog!) But then there are those moments that stand out and whether the busyness of life gets in the way or whatever, they just don't get the recognition they truly deserve. Here are a few of those moments of recent for us:

-Seeing the girls generously donate some of their new Hanukkah toys into the Toys for Tots donation boxes.

-Listening to Jenna explain to Maya about all the important people in our wedding album, then answering her hard questions of "Why didn't I get to meet Papa Jack before he died?"

-Watching the girls play together and genuinely share because they want to and not because we told them to. :)

Jenna's School Hanukkah Party

Jenna's school friends and their families celebrated Hanukkah on Thursday. They ate celebratory foods, sang songs and gave/received gifts.

In addition to her family, seeing Jenna in her class, it appears she has the best gift one could wish for, her adorable friends and devoted teachers.

Jenna was THRILLED to have her entire family there. (Maya did NOT want to leave, she was having so much fun being part of the class.) We completed the afternoon with lunch at Friendly's and a rather quiet ride home-both girls fell fast asleep! An amazing time was had by all!

December Pics!

Here are some cute pics from this month!

Our Favorites--as of today!

Jenna:

yellow

dogs

babies

dress-up

grilled cheese and tomato soup

Maya:

monkeys

Winnie the Pooh

cereal bars

blue

crackers

Mommy:

Jelly Belly jelly beans

time on the treadmill

bedtime snuggles

green

Daddy:

coming home to hugs from the girls

peanutbutter and jelly sandwiches

gray

bbqing

Kids say the darndest things!

"We don't know when we are going to have another baby, but pretty soon!"

"POOP!" "POOP!"

"Did you know Lucie and Lois live at school?"

"What is that man doing?" "Sweetie, that is a lady." "NO Mommy, that is NOT a lady, it's a man, I am pretty much sure!"

"Mommy, you didn't put the grocery cart back in the right place. It is just rolling away all the way across the parking lot. Mommy, you probably should go get that!"

The Little Things

It's the little things that make them seem so big and the little things that remind you of just how small they still are.

Going potty all by herself (without an Abby Cadabby seat)

Needing help to reach the sink to wash her hands

Saying goodbye at school with a HUGE grin on her face

That cupped hand wave that I just never tire of

Sharing lunch with her at Starbucks

Buckling her into the highchair so she doesn't wiggle away

Watching her put on her coat, independently

Starting the zipper (So she can finish it!)

Listening to her belt out proudly the Shabbat and now Hanukkah prayers on her own

The joy and jubilation she exhibits at opening her gifts as if they are the best thing EVER!

Our girls are growing up so very fast. If I could capture their happy free spirits and keep them that way always, I would do so in a heartbeat. We love love love our little sweets!

1st Night of Hanukkah

Potato latkes eaten-check

Holidayesque meal served-check

Candles lit-check

Three prayers said-check (the first one said independently by Jenna!)

Gelt eaten-check

Gifts open-check

Happy and sleepy family-check

Short recap of opening of the gifts:

Photos to come...

Daddy opens his gift, sneakers Jenna picked out for him-gray and YELLOW of course, because gray is his favorite color and yellow is her's! Jenna opens her gift, a dress up set---immediately starts testing out the accessories. Maya opens her first gift, an Elmo phone-possibly afraid, definitely disinterested. Jenna opens gift number 2--an acoustic guitar, she is still playing me her music class songs-over 30 minutes later!!!! (A hit!) Maya opens her second gift--an "ahh--ahh" (monkey) lovey. She initially is fearful, and is now in her crib clutching not only her adored kitty lovey, but also her "ahh-ahh" one! (This one is going to be hard to detach!) Mommy's gift arrived at about 1:45 p.m. today--thanks to two young delivery men. A TREADMILL! Now THIS is a reason to get up early tomorrow a.m.

Curious what the rest of the holiday has in store for our little troops! Happy Hanukkah!