Hearing vs. Listening

I cannot believe we are already halfway through the summer. I am not ready to start buying school supplies and it drives me crazy that the displays are already out in full force. Why can't we just enjoy what we are currently doing? Currently, the kids are very much enjoying summer camp, and I am enjoying the more relaxed summer schedule- later bed times, no homework. We are very excited about our two trips that we will be taking in August- first to MA to celebrate my Grandfather's birthdays (85 and 90, Ka"H!) and see my brother, sister in law, nephew and brand new niece who are in from Israel and enjoy being with my large and wonderful family to celebrate happy things. Then we are off for our LA Trip to see the other side of the family! In the meantime, Amira lost her second tooth (on her own, no dentist pulling!), learned to swim the crawl, and is practising her part in the camp's production of "Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat!" Aaron started eating food (doesn't love it yet), still has no teeth and doesn't sit or sleep unless he's being held, but started to creep across the floor and gets up on all fours and delights friends and strangers alike with his huge smile.

And Yaakov had the big 5 year old Karate party and it was a blast for all of us! And now, the story that inspired the title:

At camp after swim, Yaakov's bunk was changing from swimsuits to clothing, but Yaakov was running in circles naked. His counselor called him a couple of times and he didn't listen and she went over to him and said "Yaakov, I was calling you, did you hear me?" And he answered "I heard you, I just didn't want to listen."

Oy.

When I was little

The scene:
Pre Tisha B'av Fast, sitting on the floor eating our sad little meal.
Yaakov looks at us and says, in all seriousness:
"Abba, did you know that when I was little, Gatorade wasn't even Kosher?"

It's a good thing we were already sitting on the floor, and not exactly the proper mind set to go into such a serious day with, not to mention that I had already drank 3 liters of water...
Gatorade did in fact become Kosher within the last couple months (when Yaakov was little) and Yehuda and I drank some (not so much my taste, too sugary) in preparation for the fast, and Yaakov was thrilled to partake.

The Five Year Old

Some quotes from the five year old:

How do Mommy's know EVERYTHING? (We just do.)
I wish five year olds were really big- bigger than their Mommy's. Why can't we first be big and THEN get little? (Because then it would be really hard to carry you around)

I think I burped my orange juice. (Um, thanks for sharing)

I wish I could be a baby with Aaron. Then we could wear matching clothes every day and be really cute. (You are really cute and you are wearing matching clothing today!)

Me: Go find your sister, she will build the legos with you.

Yaakov: No she won't, she's just a really grump today. (True...)

The birthday celebration continues with the birthday party next Sunday, G-d willing. In the meantime, here is the birthday boy doing what he does best and the baby "russling" on the ground with Yaakov and his best friend (who happened to be wearing the same outfit that day)

Summer Birthdays=A lot of parties

Yaakov will be 5 tomorrow. And in honor of this momentous occasion (one year closer to 13!) he will have an equal number of parties to celebrate. First there was the "summer birthday party" in school, for all those who are unlucky (or lucky? I'm going to go with lucky since poor Amira only had the one measely celebration this year) enough to have their birthdays not fall out during the school year, where we celebrated with ice cream and balloons. Then, his Hebrew birthday celebrated with family. Next, he will have his camp birthday party tomorrow, where we will celebrate with cupcakes and warm apple juice. Then we will have a block birthday cake party tomorrow night, followed by his choice of dinner (I'm curious to see what that will be!) Then, his real (as in, a birthday is not real to a 5 year old unless the actual party has been held) birthday party (A Karate party, pictures will absolutely follow) later in July. So, yes, five celebrations. And what does the birthday boy wish for his birthday:
A BIG Lego set. A really, really big one. (Anyone surprised?)

And then, he asks:
Mommy, when can I get an iPod?
Me: (distracted) Um, I don't know?
Yaakov: How about when I am six. Or Thirteen.