Additional Storyland Shots

Imaginary World

One of the joys of having little girls is watching their imaginations run wild. I remember as a kid pretending that my parents had a baby boy, Matthew, and carrying a doll around with me all over the place wanting to love him to life. (Maybe too many readings of The Velveteen Rabbit?)

Our girls, Jenna and Maya, are all day and night playing pretend. Jenna has been this way since I can remember. Maya idolizes her older sister and wants to be just like her, so in turn, has followed suit accordingly. We have an entourage of babies, each with a name. Each of the “kids” has been named for someone the girls know and love. We have: Ava-named for an acquaintance Jenna has from preschool, Matthew-the obvious Matthew Karen, Zoe-unknown origin, Brooke-Brooke Karen, Evan-named for Evan Karen, Charlie-a double naming—Charlye Sutton a new cousin and Charlie “The Puppy” Johnston, Patrick-named for Patrick Griffin, Baby Stella-named for the recent addition to our friend network Stella Langille and Morgan-named for Jenna’s middle name. The babies are cared for SO carefully by their mom or their aunt, depending on the child the girls alternate roles appropriately.

Jenna even has a pretend father to her children-intermittently her husband-known as Chick-named for Nana’s new husband Howard’s brother, Chick. (FYI-Jenna has been at a number of events with Chick, but has had NO interactions with him.) J They all live in a town, “Cougartown”-makes me chuckle each time she says it though in her imaginary world she is only 4 years old and Chick isn’t an infant or anything… Chick and some of his friends and work at a camera shop, known as “Watertown Camera.” (Not to be confused with Hunts as that is definitely where Daddy and Uncle Gary work.) Why Watertown you might ask, well because our close friend Amy teaches in Watertown of course.

The kids (the dolls) each have their own specialties, from breastfeeding to dance class to taking trips to Florida, Hunts and to the “dog bookstore,” they each have a role. The girls manage to keep straight everyone’s ages-though they do change, everyone’s areas of interest/favorite colors, foods and such, and most of all their needs. Brooke and Stella seem to demand the most attention, which does make sense, as they are the youngest in Cougartown and in real life. The girls feed them, burp them, carry them, rock them, bounce them, shh them, and those babies are getting the best care around!

Imaginary friends, playing pretend and creating this world for themselves is a joy to see it develop. I can’t wait to show it to them all when they are older!

Storyland 2011

We decided to take an abridged trip to Storyland as compared to our trip last year for two nights, this year we chose a single night at The Red Jacket Mountain View Resort. The townhouse we stayed in was newly renovated, spacious and just right for us.

Last year our trip was started off on the wrong foot for Jenna. Being still timid and young enough, we mistakenly tried "The Whale Ride." OH BOY!!! Think we scarred her for a good year. Jenna HATED the ride. (See post on Storyland last year-June 2010.) This year we were determined to do it right. We started off easy, visiting with the Old Woman in the shoe, ventured to the farm animals-work from an area of strength people-she/sometimes they-like animals. Our first real "ride" was the pumpkin coach up to Cinderella's castle. Jenna had been SO excited to meet her that she colored a portrait of her to give to her and wrote her very own message on it. As we rode up the pumpkin, the girls were so adorable! SO excited! Maya loving the "neigh neighs" and Jenna beyond words happy to know that she was going to meet a REAL PRINCESS!

Our first visit to Storyland last year, Maya allowed Cinderella to hold her, she was all of 8 months, and Jenna was not really into the idea of coming close. What a difference a year makes! Role reversal. Jenna, all dressed in head to toe pink princess garb herself, made Cinderella a beautiful picture, handed it to her and immediately was enchanted. She went with her, sat on her lap, took many a photo and talked and talked and talked. The following day, we revisited Cinderella and Maya as she promised, waved from a far, but Jenna went over and took her photo shoot again. Cinderella asked Jenna if she had any questions, and she did, just one. "Do you take a tub with Sleeping Beauty?" Cinderella was somewhat baffled and replied, "Umm, well, no, I don't. I take them by myself." A great memory for us to share with Jenna when she is older.

Our two days were spent without a speck of predicted rain and only a few tears, shed when we had to leave for naps and then the hysteria when we told them it was time to go home. Jenna and Maya had SUCH a great time! Jenna continues to talk about her trip and ask when we can go back; Maya repeatedly wants to talk about all the animals she saw.

What a fun and busy few days! We can't wait to go back again!

Dance Recital

Father's Day 2011, where else would we dream of spending it, but in The Melrose Memorial Auditorium? Jenna's very first dance recital and it was just the place we wanted to be. Nana and Howard joined Jenna, Maya, Daddy and me on that precious Sunday afternoon. Jenna LOVED wearing her dance make-up, didn't mind her tutu and even performed on stage without any real issue-except the traditional 3 year old awe of the crowds and lack of awareness that they were the stars of the show-which I loved that she didn't notice! :)

Here are a few pics from the rehearsal (as we weren't permitted to take pics the day of the recital.) There are also a few of a dancer in training...

A little girl's dream

It's been said that women marry men just like or at least similar to their dads. Whomever I was going to marry had BIG shoes to fill.

My father, Jay has been the most amazing role model for my sister Samantha and I. He is so hard-working, thoughtful, gentle, has the best (childlike) sense of humor, and has always shown us an incredible picture of what a dedicated and loving husband is. My sister and I have the fondest memories of our times with our dad, and they continue to grow as we do. My dad is known for his ridiculous nicknames for random people, he loves a great practical joke-at nearly anyone's expense and is extremely dedicated and professional in his work life.

Samantha and I have shared stories with our husbands, Derek and Scott about our dad as a younger man-like the time he and his buddies left a bloodied dummy outside the neighbor's apartment and the police were called. One of our favorites was the time he called a hotel where Sam and her underage friends were staying on New Year's Eve pretending to be the hotel security with a complaint about them-scared her poor friend Bethanne to death! Or the time he and our mom stayed in this lovely hotel in Boston with some undetermined substance on the walls-aka vomit like sprayed all over the walls. Our dad NEVER missed a soccer, basketball or field hockey game. He sat through all of our dance recitals-at home and the real ones-he stood over us at night and rubbed our backs till we fell asleep--over and over and over again.

Our dad has now had the pleasure of gaining two sons-in-law whom he and our mom have taken on as their own sons. Derek and Scott are completely amused by our dad's playful side and also call on him for advice, support and guidance. Seeing our dad, Jay as a grandfather-a Sabba-is indescribable. He is the ideal grandparent-with our mom of course as well. The girls call the house each morning and always ask for him. He plays pretend, knows all of Jenna and Maya's baby's names-a LONG list-and remembers to ask about all of their friends. Their love for him is so precious. They adore him and are so happy when they are with he and my mom. He supplies them with sunscreen-which they barely will leave the house without, no matter the weather, and Aquaphor that each of them knew how to say before they were 2 years old! The girls appreciate Sabba's love for Dunkin Donuts, Temple/religion and most of all them and his entire family.

As luck would have it, thank you JDATE, this little girl-me-did what most women do! I found a man just like my dad! Scott is SUCH an incredible father. Jenna and Maya stand by the window each afternoon and wait for him to come home. As he walks in the door, he has one foot on the outside steps and they are grabbing onto his other leg. Being with Daddy is the best! He is funny, tells silly stories and jokes and plays some really wild games. Scott gets the girls. He understands what they need and has the patience like no one else I know. When we were first pregnant and didn't know the gender of the baby (Jenna) Scott told me he couldn't imagine himself with anything but a son! Well, we couldn't imagine it any other way. He is the ideal dad for girls, boys, whatever... NO matter who the kids are now or who they will become as they get older, he loves them, appreciates their differences, enjoys them immensely and it is so apparent to ANYONE he encounters.

Scott and Dad (Jay) Happy Happy Father's Day! The girls and I would also like to acknowledge their Uncles, our newest official addition, Scott's stepfather, Howard, whom Jenna has coined him for an unknown reason "Howard Hannen" and the "Dads" who are no longer here physically-Great Grandpas Milton, Norman, Solomon, Arthur and our dear Papa Jack.

Happy Father's Day!

More Wedding Photos

There are just too many wedding photographs to not share more!

Mazel Tov!!!!

Four years ago this past February we lost Scott’s dad, Jack Farber. Jack had such a strong presence in the family. He was Scott and Gary’s work patriarch as well as their father. His loss was felt so deeply, it always will be.

We all thought about it in one way or another, what would Ellen do now? It took time, but in June of 2010, Ellen and her most wonderful companion, Howard, became engaged. They planned the most elaborate wedding; bigger and more detailed than nearly any second marriage I had heard of before. Ellen, the joyful bride, at an age and point in life that one might just want a small wedding, opted to be a “real bride.” She wore an elegant gown, in ivory and insisted on a bridal party of all of her and Howard’s children, children in law, and grandchildren. A mere 20 plus people, but they wouldn’t have it any other way. Many of us thought about the chaos that could ensue, having flower girls, ring bearers and bridesmaids ranging in age from 15 to 1. All the drama likely to take place and all the “un-wedding like” behavior that was likely to happen and then, today came.

It went off without a hitch, well at least to the general public. Yes there were the photographs that a flower girl opted out of, yes there was a ring bearer who needed to be carried down the aisle, yes too a flower girl wanting her milk during the ceremony and even a yell could be heard from the wedding party for a “potty break,” but no one noticed, no one cared and really, it didn’t matter. The sun shone down on the in love couple who stood beneath the Chuppah-the wedding canopy. There were guests with smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes.

You see, as it was so eloquently put in song and in speeches, many times over today, the wedding of Ellen and Howard was not about just them. It was the true joining of two incredible families. The Libowitz/Sutton and The Farber/Caracoglia/Estradas are now officially one. I have said to Scott over and over and over again, how lucky he and his siblings should feel. There is now another man, who just as his father most certainly did, adores his mother, cares for her, wants to fulfill her every wish/want/dream. He comes along with an amazingly fun, sincere, gentle and genuine set of children, children in law and grandchildren. They couldn’t ask for much more.

As Ellen and Howard set out tomorrow for their honeymoon, a surprise trip for Ellen, we want them to know that we are so happy to see them so happy and are honored to have shared in the start of their lives together as a married couple. Mazel Tov!