Anyone who knows us, knows just how much those three words mean. Yehuda has been studying for (and when I say studying, I mean serious, diligent, intense studying of materials that make my eyes cross just looking at them, staying up all hours of the night) and taking these exams since he graduated college. Over the past 9 years since we met, he passed exams 5, 6, and 7, and since passing exam 7, it's been 4 years and 4 attempts and now finally---
PASS!!! Exam 8 is no more! Come next spring, there will be ZERO studying for an actuarial exams in the Isenberg home because there are NO MORE left to take! (I mean, unless one of my kids randomly decides to take it, since I can assure you I most certainly will not be!) We are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel-- because he only has ONE more exam to go! One more in the fall and please G-d that one will go just as well as this one!
And even more amazingly, and the result of even harder work over the course of many, many years, he is within a month or two of completing all of Shas (Talmud Bavli), learned in depth, no Bekius for my Yehuda (that should be his motto, I think!), each page 8 times over.
My heart overflows with joy, and love, and pride in my wonderful husband and his truly astonishingly amazing accomplishments, all as a result of his incredible perseverance and hard work.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Recital!
Note to self: almost 4 year old boys and 2 and a half hour ballet recitals are not a particularly good or pleasant mix. Therefore, please excuse the dearth of photography and on a related (but cannot blame said 4 year old for) note, please excuse the poor quality of those few photographs, as I was sitting very far away, and probably need a better camera and instructions on how to use it. (and thoughts or recommendations as to good cameras, beyond little point and shoots are gratefully accepted! My camera is great for outside, notsomuch anything else.)
That said, what a recital it was! The first act had all the "little kids" (and just the fact that my own little kid is no longer in this group makes me tear up) and they were just adorable. Really and truly adorable. And Yaakov loved the first act, and probably the second as well, but by the 10th, well...let's just say he didn't so much love it. And I am very grateful that the ballet studio is making up professional dvd's of this lovely show, because I missed a good portion of it trying to stop Yaakov from climbing all over the seats, which of course he didn't weigh enough to weigh down, so floped up and down happily in.
The show's theme was music and dance from all around the world. Amira's group did Africa, with the "Circle of Life" song from The Lion King. And really, she was just fantastic. She is elegant and graceful and a real ballerina.
That said, what a recital it was! The first act had all the "little kids" (and just the fact that my own little kid is no longer in this group makes me tear up) and they were just adorable. Really and truly adorable. And Yaakov loved the first act, and probably the second as well, but by the 10th, well...let's just say he didn't so much love it. And I am very grateful that the ballet studio is making up professional dvd's of this lovely show, because I missed a good portion of it trying to stop Yaakov from climbing all over the seats, which of course he didn't weigh enough to weigh down, so floped up and down happily in.
The show's theme was music and dance from all around the world. Amira's group did Africa, with the "Circle of Life" song from The Lion King. And really, she was just fantastic. She is elegant and graceful and a real ballerina.
(Amira is all the way on the right)
(Amira is all the way on the right)
Perfect fifth position!
Thankfully, they also took professional photographs in addition to the Dvd, which I can't wait to see! We are very, very proud of Amira and all her hard work!
Summer!
Ironically, given my blog title (and new super awesome blog header thanks to my super awesome graphic designer friend Yaeli!!!!) , I will not be driving a single carpool this summer. Amira is headed off to day camp ON A BUS! and Yaakov is going to a backyard camp around the corner from us, so we will be walking to camp! Oh, well, I forgot the once a week carpool to swimming lessons, but really, in the grand scheme of carpools, that is so little that I feel I can still happily call my summer carpool free!
On the other hand, this past week has been filled with so many carpools back and forth to play dates, the beach and Amira's ballet rehearsals (seriously, she had rehearsal every Sunday and Tuesday for the last month, plus the last week every single day an hour and a half!), that I think 10 weeks off (for good behaviour?) is well deserved.
We are off to Amira's Big Amazing Exciting Ballet Recital, and more blog (with the ever important pictures!!!) to follow!!
Happy Summer Everyone!!!
On the other hand, this past week has been filled with so many carpools back and forth to play dates, the beach and Amira's ballet rehearsals (seriously, she had rehearsal every Sunday and Tuesday for the last month, plus the last week every single day an hour and a half!), that I think 10 weeks off (for good behaviour?) is well deserved.
We are off to Amira's Big Amazing Exciting Ballet Recital, and more blog (with the ever important pictures!!!) to follow!!
Happy Summer Everyone!!!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
The Wedding!
And what a wedding it was.
It was the perfect Davidi and Becca wedding. Every little perfectly planned detail, every aspect of the wedding reflected who they are individually and as a couple and it really just incredibly beautiful and meaningful.
I am still processing and recovering, almost 2 weeks later, in fact. And I miss my family dreadfully now. Two weekends in a row, filled with parents, grandparents, siblings, and siblings in law, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, and while it can get overwhelming, it makes me happier then anything else. Especially watching my kids joyously playing with their adorable cousins and sitting at the Shabbos table with the whole family singing Shabbos song after song, and hearing all the beautiful voices singing in harmony.
This was our Mezinke wedding, and just writing those words makes me well up with tears of joy and thankfulness and prayers of hope that Yehuda and I too, will merit such an incredible blessing.
Towards the end of the wedding my parents were seated with crowns of flowers and smiles of pure joy as my siblings and I, our spouses, our children, and the rest of our amazing extended family danced in circles around them celebrating the incredible blessing of having now married off all four of their children happily. Watching the generations of family, the love shining from each and face, and reflecting on all the beautiful traditions that have now passed down for so many generations, the feeling of belonging and of purpose and connection as well as sheer gratitude just overwhelmed me.
And while Yaakov had to be bribed to walk down the aisle (Yaakov, if you walk down the aisle with Mommy and Abba and SMILE there will be a big Lego set waiting for you at the end! He did and there was!) he also had a great time. And this is my favorite picture of him-- ever!
And my other favorite picture:
All in all, it was an amazing 2 weeks, filled with laughter, singing, family and most of all love, and my bracha to Davidi and Becca is that their marriage should be equally so.
It was the perfect Davidi and Becca wedding. Every little perfectly planned detail, every aspect of the wedding reflected who they are individually and as a couple and it really just incredibly beautiful and meaningful.
I am still processing and recovering, almost 2 weeks later, in fact. And I miss my family dreadfully now. Two weekends in a row, filled with parents, grandparents, siblings, and siblings in law, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, and while it can get overwhelming, it makes me happier then anything else. Especially watching my kids joyously playing with their adorable cousins and sitting at the Shabbos table with the whole family singing Shabbos song after song, and hearing all the beautiful voices singing in harmony.
This was our Mezinke wedding, and just writing those words makes me well up with tears of joy and thankfulness and prayers of hope that Yehuda and I too, will merit such an incredible blessing.
Towards the end of the wedding my parents were seated with crowns of flowers and smiles of pure joy as my siblings and I, our spouses, our children, and the rest of our amazing extended family danced in circles around them celebrating the incredible blessing of having now married off all four of their children happily. Watching the generations of family, the love shining from each and face, and reflecting on all the beautiful traditions that have now passed down for so many generations, the feeling of belonging and of purpose and connection as well as sheer gratitude just overwhelmed me.
My kids had an absolute blast at the wedding. Amira and Ahuva took their flower girl duties very seriously, but were absolute dance maniacs! They barely sat down for a minute. In fact, I lost count of how many people remarked to me jokingly, "oh, she isn't shy at all, huh" and I would reply, "well, actually, she IS! She would never TALK to you!" Loll!
Months ago, Becca had mentioned to Atara and me that she wanted to do something special with the nieces and nephews for Davidi during the Tisch, before the ceremony, to take some of the pressure off for him. Since he loves kids, and especially these kids, and always lovingly refers to them as his muffins, we dressed them up as muffins (but got a lot of "what's with the cupcakes" comments) and they were a big hit (thanks to super amazing artist Meiravi!)!
And while Yaakov had to be bribed to walk down the aisle (Yaakov, if you walk down the aisle with Mommy and Abba and SMILE there will be a big Lego set waiting for you at the end! He did and there was!) he also had a great time. And this is my favorite picture of him-- ever!
And my other favorite picture:
All in all, it was an amazing 2 weeks, filled with laughter, singing, family and most of all love, and my bracha to Davidi and Becca is that their marriage should be equally so.
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