Too Cool for School. Metaphorically Speaking?

The Hot Shots, Raia and Lucas - Too Cool for School.

Don't be deceived by those backpacks -
they are not meant for school. Since there is none.

Heading somewhere. Just not sure where!
And we have plenty of time to figure that out.

Imagine mommy's shock while picking us up from school the other day when Lucas' teacher said she'd see him again on October 7.

Wait. What? No, that cannot be right. Today was September 24.

Hold on. October 7? 

The kids hadn't even been in school a month. A month which began with three less-than-half days. A month interrupted by 2 holidays already, both of which added up to 5 days off so far. A month fraught with disjointed weeks of alleged learning at our respective schools. And now this bit of sheer lunacy (mommy's words).

October 7?
OCTOBER 7?
Maybe she didn't hear that right.
October SEVENTH?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Why did they bother starting school in the first place??

Now it's not like we hadn't received calendars from our schools replete with holiday schedules. We had. We just hadn't had time to really read them. Also, my parents assumed that there would be "day camp" at our schools between the bookends of days off at the beginning and end of Succot. You know, so that we would not be completely disconnected from school for two entire weeks before we even really started getting into our routine. Alas, logic must be dropped at the door when one enters the city school arena.

Admittedly mommy is still scarred and traumatized by the last few weeks of summer vacation, just a mere month ago, when everything completely unraveled from (failed) potty training and sanity to any semblance of order and hygiene in our humble abode.

As a fresh wave of shock and terror washed over mommy, she began processing her rapid-fire thoughts:

• "Fortunately I quit my job to watch (etc) my kids full time since ... I will be watching my kids FULL TIME." 
• "What do we pay the schools for if not to teach/watch my kids??" 
• "What will I feed them for TWO ENTIRE WEEKS?" 
• "Will all of us come through this unscathed, or even alive, mainly me?" 
• "What was God thinking when he ordained these holidays and stacked three major ones into about three and a half weeks commanding 'generations to come' to observe them - generations that He knew would include adults trying to maintain jobs and children allegedly attending school."
• "Thank God my parents are here!"

Yes, Mimi and GongGong are here to save the day. And as you can see, we are quite pleased with the new school schedule of no school! Happy albeit confused!

My joyous reunion with MM&GG as they made a surprise appearance at my school!

Lucas sprinted toward MM&GG when they surprised him.
And then immediately launched into a recap of his life since they last
saw him - a verbal stream of consciousness which hasn't ended yet actually.

Raia made a beeline for MM at her school.
But GG made sure to get his hugs anyway!

Too cool for school. Literally.

Happy holidays everyone! 

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Sweet and Innocent or Bonnie and Clyde? You Decide!

Warning: This blog contains photos that may cause nuclear meltdowns due to its sheer cuteness. Be forewarned and resist screaming aloud in public places. 

Who could resist the radiant smile, checkered dress and pink glasses? I could not.

We don't go to the same school and play dates haven't occurred recently, but every so often I have the good fortune of running into my betrothed, Hallel, even on random street corners.

And how could she resist my blond swirl and
fluorescent orange shirt? Who could?!

And so today, our paths and our starry gazes crossed ... and this cuteness just happened.

Hallel and I have history, in fact our history practically began at birth. During our first year we shared an early intervention program and even a heart surgeon. It doesn't get more intimate than matters of the heart! Now we share a therapy center, although not at the same time.

We also share the auspicious and rare label of going to regular city schools thereby causing bureaucratic nightmares and massive upheaval in the lives of many people not the least of which are our parents!

US?? Sweet innocent little us causing
"bureaucratic nightmares and massive
upheaval"?? Can't be!

Clearly I couldn't contain myself.

Holding hands just isn't enough sometimes!

And this from June 5, Hallel's 5th birthday...

 Do you sense a theme here?

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Street Corner Romance

Warning: This blog contains photos that may cause nuclear meltdowns due to its sheer cuteness. Be forewarned and resist screaming aloud in public places. 

Who could resist the radiant smile, checkered dress and pink glasses? I could not.

We don't go to the same school and play dates haven't occurred recently, but every so often I have the good fortune of running into my betrothed, Hallel, even on random street corners.

And how could she resist my blond swirl and
fluorescent orange shirt? Who could?!

And so today, our paths and our starry gazes crossed ... and this cuteness just happened.

Hallel and I have history, in fact our history practically began at birth. During our first year we shared an early intervention program and even a heart surgeon. It doesn't get more intimate than matters of the heart! Now we share a therapy center, although not at the same time.

We also share the auspicious and rare label of going to regular city schools thereby causing bureaucratic nightmares and massive upheaval in the lives of many people not the least of which are our parents!

US?? Sweet innocent little us causing
"bureaucratic nightmares and massive
upheaval"?? Can't be!

Clearly I couldn't contain myself.

Holding hands just isn't enough sometimes!

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Fun times, Cute Faces

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Perpetual Motion - and I don't Mean the Airplane

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Fun Math: Counting Down to Vacation!

We three.

The countdown began in earnest several days ago, but now, after a lot of meaningless and annoying erasing of numbers in a gimmick designed to teach us math, we can finally see light at the end of the tunnel: We are leaving for New York City in mere days! In fact, you can almost distill it into hours. But do so at hour own risk.

Here's a lesson for parents of small children: Don't start counting too soon. For instance, 30 days, never. Eleven days, pushing the limits. Three days, perhaps. One minute, best option yet. 

See, we have zero concept of time. Seconds blend in to years and we don't even know what that means. All I am aware of is right now, the present, and what I want at this very moment. So if you get me excited about seeing GongGong and the Statue of Liberty, my excitement indicates that I expect to see them NOW! I don't know what 10 days from now means. 

Hence, you, dear parents, have caused my slide into depression since all this hype has yet to be fulfilled. You keep saying GongGong and Mimi and yet all I see is you in the morning. 

And we haven't even embarked upon 12+ hours of plane time plus excruciating hours of security lines and changing planes at the Italian airport. You are taunting me with your promises. 

The countdown was exciting. For the first few days anyway.

Time is vague. Lucas, for example, uses the word "tomorrow" to indicate yesterday, today, later today and, obviously, tomorrow. Also next week. Tomorrow is now. Tomorrow happened. Tomorrow is yet to be. It is vague. Days, even more vague.

"Sleeps," maybe that makes more sense. But still somewhat obscure.

The Empire State Building ended up looking more like the Chrysler Building. Oops.

In his excitement, Lucas built a Statue of Liberty
replica comprised of blocks and Raia's bottle

But he had to defend it vociferously from certain destruction 

Raia had a point - it was her bottle. 

Look out America! Here we come!

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Best Bed Time Routine for Babies

Four little monkeys...

...launching themselves from the bed like NASA rockets...

...and enjoying every single moment of this semi-legal activity.

And this time none fell off and bumped his or her head! And no one jumped on Joshua either! Joshi, as he is known in our place, stood for a few seconds and then realized it was more fun (safe) to sit and benefit from our jumping. All of the bounce and none of the work. That's a baby for you - the younger they are, the more brilliant!

Our overall Monkeys on the Bed fall score is Raia 3, Daniel 2, Lucas 1. I'm uncertain who is considered the winner or loser here because in the world of babies, bruises and bumps are badges of honor.

Mommy has sanctioned this particular activity. Though extremely dangerous and prohibitively unacceptable in most beds worldwide, mommy ratified bed jumping at our home: In lieu of a backyard, which we do not have, we are allowed to jump on our parents' bed in order to spend our limitless reserves of energy. This is much easier and more accessible than gearing us up to brave four flights of stairs to find a nearby park.

We do not take this allowance for granted. Oh wait, yes we do! We toss their pillows on the floor, scale the flimsy ikea headboard and lick the wall in order to add flavor to our makeshift trampoline game!

It was the storm before the calm. But we slept well that night. After we were actually corralled into our beds. 

Eventually. 

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