Your children start to ask questions you can't answer? (Well, I mean, not without the help of google?)
When we first got email/Internet some time when I was in high school (my aol screen name was Shluffless ( Sleepless in Yiddish)- I totally wish I still had that one!) my mother rolled her eyes in the way only she can (although Yehuda and my brother in law will tell you that Atara and I come close now!) and said that she had absolutely no interest whatsoever in such a thing and why on earth would she want to learn how to do that!?
Fast forward 15 years or so and we now refer to my mother as "Savta Google" because she is not only amazing at navigating and figuring out the Internet (no, Ima, I still can't figure out how to set up Skype so that I can actually talk, and yes I am still embarrassed that I yelled into the computer screen assuming you could hear me in Israel when I didn't have a microphone), but she also manages to find the absolute coolest stuff out there and happily sends it along to us so that we can learn more.
Well, it looks like I am going to be following in her footsteps, but in my case out of necessity.
Last night at dinner, Amira continued with her campaign to out learn her parents by the time she is in second grade and asked us the following questions:
Amira: How many astronauts have ever walked on the moon? I think it was 12 and that all of them walked on the moon by the time Abba was born (1972) and not since then.
Yehuda and me: (beam with pride, blush with embarrassment) um....
Me: (I have to um, go to the bathroom...run to google, turns out she is right!)
Me: Amira, how did you know that?
Amira: I was reading a book about the first ever African American Woman astronaut and it said that. Why haven't more people walked on the moon since then? Have they walked anywhere else besides the moon? Why do they call them African Americans if they have lived here for a long time already and aren't really from Africa? Does it matter what part of Africa they are from?
Me: um, eat your soup please...
2 minutes Later...
Amira: Can you marry your cousin?
Yehuda and me: um.... well, you could, but it isn't a good idea.
Amira: Why?
We attempt to explain the gene pool and mutation and wow, when you think in high school and college that you will NEVER actually need to really know any of this stuff in the real world, it is just not true- all that stuff is preparing you to be a parent! Now I wish I had paid better attention.
Amira: How many languages are there in the world?
Us again: Um.......
She also likes to quiz me on the state capitals and world geography. I barely knew all the state capitals by the time I was in Junior High, forget first grade!
She told me this morning at breakfast: when I was younger, I thought the capital of Arizona was pronounced Phonix, not Pheenix. Her idea of something hilarious is that the capital of Oklahoma is Oklahoma City, how original. Loll.
Despite the feeling that I had better start studying again and get my brain into gear before she starts second grade, much less high school, I am so thoroughly enjoying this stage. She has such curiosity and a drive to know everything. And Yaakov benefits from it too. He can already locate many countries on the globe!
Last night she told us that she wants to be a scientist and a Doctor and wanted to know how she could do that. I told her she just had to keep reading and learning and paying attention and go to school for a long time and she could do it. And I really know that she can.
Parent teacher conferences are tomorrow night and I am very excited!
And in Yaakov news, he has learned all of his ABC's! I love that every time he sees a "Y" he says "Y" for Yaakov Y-A-A-K-O-V. (and I always think "Gooooo Yaakov!")
Monday, March 16, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Purim Roundup!
First of all, lots of thanks to all the wonderful people who commented/emailed me that they intended to comment! Keep them coming, please!
We are now recovering from a whirlwind Purim! We had a blast at home and in Philly with Atara and the gang and cousin Deborah and her gang. This is the first Purim that we have ever shared with family, and we absolutely loved it! We had a great time at Shul for Megilla reading, delivering our Shalach Manos and then hurried off to Philly in our best superhero fashion.
We are now recovering from a whirlwind Purim! We had a blast at home and in Philly with Atara and the gang and cousin Deborah and her gang. This is the first Purim that we have ever shared with family, and we absolutely loved it! We had a great time at Shul for Megilla reading, delivering our Shalach Manos and then hurried off to Philly in our best superhero fashion.
People were somewhat confused at my costume (Batgirl) since
a: I always wear all black, so no difference there
b: apparently the combination of my batman mask and glasses made me look more like Darth Vader.
a: I always wear all black, so no difference there
b: apparently the combination of my batman mask and glasses made me look more like Darth Vader.
Sadly (ha ha) there were no pictures taken of me in costume.
But Batman and Supergirl were super adorable!
Don't you think Atara looks great in a sheitel?
Ephraim as an elephant- too cute!
Chezzie as a Sefer Torah! And Yehuda as, um, SuperRabbi?
And now Purim is over which means that, gasp, Pesach is around the corner! But first, parent teacher conferences next week!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
What's your Super-Power?
In other words:
Delurk! Post a comment! Identify yourself! Become a blog follower!
It has come to my attention that not even my generally very loyal and ego-feeding family are reading my blog anymore. That could be because I have not really posted much recently, or it could be because they have not yet figured out HOW to post a comment, or because....you know, anything. But I will excuse it because I love you all. And I am super grateful to my ever-awesome friend Shirah for always reading!
My mother has decided also that everyone has a super power. While I have already identified mine (See Super-Yenta) and one of my mother's friends told my mother that her super power is the ability to get an appointment at 9:30 AM at any Doctor's office just by mentally telepathing the receptionist at any given office (very useful!), I am sure that there are many other awesome super power's out there!
So post a comment. Say hello. Feed my ego.
Purim is on Tuesday and we are all very excited. We are putting the finishing touches on our costumes (Super Hero family!) and our Shalach Manos (Hero Sandwich's- get it!?) and are very excited to have our first ever Purim Seudah with family! Yes, you read that right- our first! Since most of our family lives pretty far away, we are really happy to have my sister and brother in law only 100 miles (or so) away and will be heading to Philly for Purim!
Anyhow, I am pretty sure I have told this awesome story to everyone (except my brother and sister in law in Israel, and I don't know if they actually read this blog, but will hope so....)
Last week Amira, Yaakov and I were looking at pictures on Facebook of my incredibly adorable new nephew in Israel and writing comments under them. There was one picture that they both found hilarious and they were laughing and laughing and when they stopped, Amira said to me: "Mommy, that one is SO funny, you should write, like, Loll (she pronounced it like loll in Loll-y-pop), under it."
I was confused for 1/2 a second and then thought----- ohhh, LOL=loll! Ha! She reads everything, doesn't she?!
Now any time I hear something funny, I think "loll!"
Tonight at dinner Yaakov and Amira were bickering and in frustration I blurted out "If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all." And they were quiet for a second, and Amira said "Yaakov, you are so cute." And I said- that's exactly what I meant, great! Yaakov, do you have anything nice to say? And he said "Yes, I am very cute."
Loll.
Delurk! Post a comment! Identify yourself! Become a blog follower!
It has come to my attention that not even my generally very loyal and ego-feeding family are reading my blog anymore. That could be because I have not really posted much recently, or it could be because they have not yet figured out HOW to post a comment, or because....you know, anything. But I will excuse it because I love you all. And I am super grateful to my ever-awesome friend Shirah for always reading!
My mother has decided also that everyone has a super power. While I have already identified mine (See Super-Yenta) and one of my mother's friends told my mother that her super power is the ability to get an appointment at 9:30 AM at any Doctor's office just by mentally telepathing the receptionist at any given office (very useful!), I am sure that there are many other awesome super power's out there!
So post a comment. Say hello. Feed my ego.
Purim is on Tuesday and we are all very excited. We are putting the finishing touches on our costumes (Super Hero family!) and our Shalach Manos (Hero Sandwich's- get it!?) and are very excited to have our first ever Purim Seudah with family! Yes, you read that right- our first! Since most of our family lives pretty far away, we are really happy to have my sister and brother in law only 100 miles (or so) away and will be heading to Philly for Purim!
Anyhow, I am pretty sure I have told this awesome story to everyone (except my brother and sister in law in Israel, and I don't know if they actually read this blog, but will hope so....)
Last week Amira, Yaakov and I were looking at pictures on Facebook of my incredibly adorable new nephew in Israel and writing comments under them. There was one picture that they both found hilarious and they were laughing and laughing and when they stopped, Amira said to me: "Mommy, that one is SO funny, you should write, like, Loll (she pronounced it like loll in Loll-y-pop), under it."
I was confused for 1/2 a second and then thought----- ohhh, LOL=loll! Ha! She reads everything, doesn't she?!
Now any time I hear something funny, I think "loll!"
Tonight at dinner Yaakov and Amira were bickering and in frustration I blurted out "If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all." And they were quiet for a second, and Amira said "Yaakov, you are so cute." And I said- that's exactly what I meant, great! Yaakov, do you have anything nice to say? And he said "Yes, I am very cute."
Loll.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Super Yenta
Powered by: Blackberry.
Well, that's a commercial I doubt anyone would ever make, but in my head it's pretty funny. Yes, yes, I know that is not in the least bit a rarity, but don't you think people would be happier if they laughed more, even just in their heads?
This morning my father called me to see if there was any way I could use my Super Yenta powers to find out an address that no one else could seem to find for someone in Israel where Shiva would be held for a really amazing man who unfortunately passed away yesterday, BD"E. Within 7 minutes and 3 phone calls I had that elusive address and had emailed it to my father who was able to pass it on to those who needed it, since the family would only be in Israel for 2 hours after the burial before flying home for the remainder of the Shiva.
Pretty cool.
And last week when my ever-amazing parents came to stay with my kids while Yehuda and I went away by ourselves for 2 nights (to a really gorgeous Inn on the Jersey Shore that was originally built in 1888!), I was able to find them a play place to take the kids. This play place was in lieu of the apparently closed play place that they had already driven a long way for, and were sitting in front of with 4 very disappointed Grandchildren who just had to play at a place. I was able to call said new play place to make sure they were actually open, and get my parents directions, from 100 miles away, while sitting in a cafe eating brunch.
Again, pretty cool.
So, Super Yenta. And in the spirit of all things Super Hero, the Isenberg’s will be (unbeknownst to Yehuda, who I am sure will be cooperative as always) dressing up as Super Hero's for Purim.
Yaakov will be Batman, Amira Super-Girl, and Yehuda and I get capes. I bought one red cape and one black, and now Yehuda and I have to duke out who gets to wear the black one...any guesses who will win?
I may even keep the cape for the rest of the year. Maybe I should embroider a blackberry on the back.
That would be super awesome.
Well, that's a commercial I doubt anyone would ever make, but in my head it's pretty funny. Yes, yes, I know that is not in the least bit a rarity, but don't you think people would be happier if they laughed more, even just in their heads?
This morning my father called me to see if there was any way I could use my Super Yenta powers to find out an address that no one else could seem to find for someone in Israel where Shiva would be held for a really amazing man who unfortunately passed away yesterday, BD"E. Within 7 minutes and 3 phone calls I had that elusive address and had emailed it to my father who was able to pass it on to those who needed it, since the family would only be in Israel for 2 hours after the burial before flying home for the remainder of the Shiva.
Pretty cool.
And last week when my ever-amazing parents came to stay with my kids while Yehuda and I went away by ourselves for 2 nights (to a really gorgeous Inn on the Jersey Shore that was originally built in 1888!), I was able to find them a play place to take the kids. This play place was in lieu of the apparently closed play place that they had already driven a long way for, and were sitting in front of with 4 very disappointed Grandchildren who just had to play at a place. I was able to call said new play place to make sure they were actually open, and get my parents directions, from 100 miles away, while sitting in a cafe eating brunch.
Again, pretty cool.
So, Super Yenta. And in the spirit of all things Super Hero, the Isenberg’s will be (unbeknownst to Yehuda, who I am sure will be cooperative as always) dressing up as Super Hero's for Purim.
Yaakov will be Batman, Amira Super-Girl, and Yehuda and I get capes. I bought one red cape and one black, and now Yehuda and I have to duke out who gets to wear the black one...any guesses who will win?
I may even keep the cape for the rest of the year. Maybe I should embroider a blackberry on the back.
That would be super awesome.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Um, what?
Hi! It's been a while. The most festive month of the year is over, and we are buried under lots of ice and snow, so it must be February! I think I am the only person I know who really prefers this time of year and this weather to anything else. Maybe it's the Bostonian in me, maybe it's because I was born in January, or maybe it's because it is acceptable to wear lots of black in the winter, but I just love the winter. Give me an 8 degree day over an 80 degree day, any day.
Not too much to report around here. I am busy at work planning the PTA Mother/Daughter Brunch and loving it. No, I am not embarrassed in the least to admit that I have always wanted to be on the PTA and aspire to official positions. Is anyone surprised?
Amira's Chumash Presentation is coming up in a couple of weeks, and I can't believe it. I remember mine so clearly. I even remember all the words to the song I sang and the costume I wore, and the part that I wanted to play but didn't get to. If you ask Amira, though, the most exciting part is that her Saba and Savta are coming!
Anyhow, one quick Yaakov story:
Yesterday I was told that Yaakov had apparently licked his best friend's pants. Yes, licked. I asked him if it tasted good and he said, "no, it was gross." Then I asked him WHY on earth he would lick an item of clothing, and his reply? His best friend told him to taste his pants because they tasted like Pizza.
I am still giggling picturing this discussion. I just cannot imagine that this would ever happen with girls, although that could just be because my girl experience is of Amira.
So, it appears that Yaakov has inherited my gullibility...
Not too much to report around here. I am busy at work planning the PTA Mother/Daughter Brunch and loving it. No, I am not embarrassed in the least to admit that I have always wanted to be on the PTA and aspire to official positions. Is anyone surprised?
Amira's Chumash Presentation is coming up in a couple of weeks, and I can't believe it. I remember mine so clearly. I even remember all the words to the song I sang and the costume I wore, and the part that I wanted to play but didn't get to. If you ask Amira, though, the most exciting part is that her Saba and Savta are coming!
Anyhow, one quick Yaakov story:
Yesterday I was told that Yaakov had apparently licked his best friend's pants. Yes, licked. I asked him if it tasted good and he said, "no, it was gross." Then I asked him WHY on earth he would lick an item of clothing, and his reply? His best friend told him to taste his pants because they tasted like Pizza.
I am still giggling picturing this discussion. I just cannot imagine that this would ever happen with girls, although that could just be because my girl experience is of Amira.
So, it appears that Yaakov has inherited my gullibility...
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Isenberg Week
Today, the most exciting week of the year: "Isenberg Week" (with thanks to my clever friend Shirah for the excellent term!) comes to a close.
In the past week or so we have celebrated Yehuda's birthday, my birthday, my Hebrew birthday, Yehuda's Hebrew birthday, our anniversary and our Hebrew anniversary. Oh, and lest we forget the summer one, Yaakov's 1/2 birthday was yesterday. Good stuff!
One might think that after the past month, in which Amira turned 7, Yaakov turned 3 1/2, Yehuda turned 37 and I turned THIRTY (which, by the way, I have decided is awesome. In fact, my motto for the year, and maybe even the decade is now "Thirty Rocks!" clever and original, right?) I would not be so surprised to realize that as of today, Yehuda and I have been married for 8 years. Eight. EIGHT.
My sister in law just called to wish us a Happy Anniversary and laughed that we are probably sick of all the calls after the past week, and I realized that no- I'm really not! I love celebrating.
I know I just did a fair amount of writing about how grateful I am, and I really am trying to restrain myself, but I really am so infinitely grateful to have Yehuda. He is good, honest, inspiring, funny and sensitive and sweet, he knows absolutely everything but never acts like a know-it-all, he listens, he constantly works on himself to be a better person, better husband, better father, better employee and friend, and it is beautiful to see. He is gracious and thoughtful and gentle and has a great sense of humor. He never, ever, complains and as most of you know, I can count on one hand the number of times in the past 8 years that I have ever heard him raise his voice. He is, to me, the true definition of a Ben Torah and Baal Middos.
My greatest wish for and Bracha to my children is that they have the impeccable Middos of their father and that they too, are blessed to marry the loves of their lives. I look forward to many, many more years of laughter, joy, Nachas, good health, success, learning, and love with the best man I know.
In the past week or so we have celebrated Yehuda's birthday, my birthday, my Hebrew birthday, Yehuda's Hebrew birthday, our anniversary and our Hebrew anniversary. Oh, and lest we forget the summer one, Yaakov's 1/2 birthday was yesterday. Good stuff!
One might think that after the past month, in which Amira turned 7, Yaakov turned 3 1/2, Yehuda turned 37 and I turned THIRTY (which, by the way, I have decided is awesome. In fact, my motto for the year, and maybe even the decade is now "Thirty Rocks!" clever and original, right?) I would not be so surprised to realize that as of today, Yehuda and I have been married for 8 years. Eight. EIGHT.
My sister in law just called to wish us a Happy Anniversary and laughed that we are probably sick of all the calls after the past week, and I realized that no- I'm really not! I love celebrating.
I know I just did a fair amount of writing about how grateful I am, and I really am trying to restrain myself, but I really am so infinitely grateful to have Yehuda. He is good, honest, inspiring, funny and sensitive and sweet, he knows absolutely everything but never acts like a know-it-all, he listens, he constantly works on himself to be a better person, better husband, better father, better employee and friend, and it is beautiful to see. He is gracious and thoughtful and gentle and has a great sense of humor. He never, ever, complains and as most of you know, I can count on one hand the number of times in the past 8 years that I have ever heard him raise his voice. He is, to me, the true definition of a Ben Torah and Baal Middos.
My greatest wish for and Bracha to my children is that they have the impeccable Middos of their father and that they too, are blessed to marry the loves of their lives. I look forward to many, many more years of laughter, joy, Nachas, good health, success, learning, and love with the best man I know.
Monday, January 5, 2009
THIRTY
Happy birthday to me! And Happy Isenberg Week to everyone! (Isenberg Week runs from January 3rd to January 14th, plus or minus days depending on how the Hebrew calender works out in a given year.)
After approximately 364 days of panicking about this birthday, it is here, and so far, it has actually been really wonderful. I am optimistically hopeful that this new decade will be just as wonderful, if not more so.
True to form, I drove carpool this morning, in a brand new minivan- the perfect way to celebrate entering this new decade, I think. As my favorite uncle says it: "the 3o's are the decade of the minivan." I am still holding firm in my "Toyota's are better than Honda's" belief, but I have to admit that my new Odyssey is pretty cool, and hopefully I will get used to it soon...
All joking and kvetching aside (particularly about minivans and carpools, which as you all know I secretly really like), I have a tremendous amount to be grateful for.
I am blessed with the most wonderful husband (ha, I just typed about 15 other mushy adjectives and decided not to subject all of you to my gushing about Yehuda's awesomeness. Let's just say, he is as awesome as it gets and leave it there), the sweetest and most loving, huggable and kissable and honestly, really incredible (ditto on the zillion mushy adjectives removed, since it is my birthday I will be extra nice to my wonderful readers!) children who give me such tremendous nachas that I am very often overwhelmed with intense love.
I am also blessed with a truly wonderful family. My two Grandfathers who are inspiring and supportive and wise and who have taught me so much about how to live and love. My two Grandmothers, Aleihem HaShalom, who were both tremendous influences in my life. They loved me wholly and unconditionally and were giving and loving and encouraging. I only wish that they had both been alive to meet the loves of my life.
My parents, who not only gave me actual life, but who gave me the tools to live life beautifully and fully. They are always loving and supportive and wise and good and helpful and funny. They are my role models for life, for Judaism, for marriage and most importantly for parenthood. They are the best kind of grandparents, and I am so beyond thrilled with the relationships that my children have with them. I have told Yehuda many, many times over the past eight (eight!?!?!!) years, that if our children love and respect us (please G-d) as much as I love and respect my parents, than I will have achieved more than anyone could ever dream of achieving in life.
My siblings are hilarious and affectionate and supportive and inspiring. I treasure each of them with all my heart, as well as their wonderful spouses whom I truly consider full siblings (and one super awesome fiancee who is already my beloved sister), and their precious children. I only wish that we could all live closer together, since the happiest times that I have ever had have always been with my family. My nieces and nephews are all (objectively, of course) the most adorable, funny, and sweet children ever. I love how we laugh when we are together, and even when we are apart, and know that a laugh and unconditional love is always a phone call or an email away.
My Aunt and Uncle who really are my other parents, and who are also incredible models for marriage, for life, for parenting and for love. They have always been completely understanding and supportive and giving, and know how to make me smile and laugh and remember what is truly important more than anyone else. And their children, who really are my siblings as well, whom I love with all my heart and am proud of and inspired by and enjoy every minute of being with, always.
My parents in law are also wonderful role models for me and for Yehuda, and are always so giving and loving and thoughtful and conscious of being the best in laws and Grandparents. They raised the most wonderful son and for that, I owe them everything.
We are also incredibly blessed to have Yehuda's Grandmother in our lives. She is beautiful and wise and brilliant and truly the epitome of class. I was blessed to know Yehuda's other Grandmother, albeit for too short a time, and she was also a treasure, and I wish that my kids were able to really know and learn from her, as Yehuda did, and we all love his "Grandma" stories.
I love Yehuda's siblings as if they are mine as well. My two sisters in law are exactly the older sisters I dreamed of (and I am sure my own sister wishes I were more like them), and are more than I could ever even ask for. I love every minute that we are able to spend with them and with my brothers in law and my fun, adorable, smart and sweet nieces and nephews. I just wish we were able to spend much more time with them.
I have a large and fun and really special extended family of cousins, and "cousins" who are all so wonderful and a joy to be with and always enhance every simcha.
Yehuda's entire family has welcomed me in with warmth and love and acceptance and always make me proud to be a part of such a wonderful family.
And on top of having the best family anyone could ever ask for, in every possible way, I am blessed with the best friends ever, in the history of friends (and that is not an exaggeration, and yes, yes I am slightly prone to hyperbole, but this is most decidedly not one of those instances). My family has always made fun of me that I have so many "best friends," but in truth, I really do. And each one of them is best, and enriches my life in their own way. My friends know me and understand me and appreciate me even when I can't appreciate myself. They are like aunts and second mothers (and those are the highest possible compliments I could really ever give anyone, to be anywhere near the level of my Mother and my Aunt) to my children. They have supported me through misery and joy equally. They make me laugh and smile, they challenge me to be better, they remind me of all the good that I have, they make me a better person, a better wife, and a better mother. I have best friends who I have known since I started school and who can finish my sentences and understand exactly what I am saying without having to explain anything, and best friends that are more recent, but no less treasured, additions. I learn from each and every friend, and cherish the time spent together and appreciate all that they do for me.
So today, on my birthday, as I enter into this new decade, I remind myself of how blessed I am, how beautiful and full my life is, and how much I have to be grateful to G-d for. And I pray that this new decade brings more love, peace, laughter, growth and development, knowledge and wisdom, strength, joy, fun, sweetness, acceptance, success, good health and prosperity for myself and my loved ones. Of all that I have been blessed with in life, and that is so much that I could never ever even begin to type that up, my loved ones are what is most precious to me.
And grateful I am.
After approximately 364 days of panicking about this birthday, it is here, and so far, it has actually been really wonderful. I am optimistically hopeful that this new decade will be just as wonderful, if not more so.
True to form, I drove carpool this morning, in a brand new minivan- the perfect way to celebrate entering this new decade, I think. As my favorite uncle says it: "the 3o's are the decade of the minivan." I am still holding firm in my "Toyota's are better than Honda's" belief, but I have to admit that my new Odyssey is pretty cool, and hopefully I will get used to it soon...
All joking and kvetching aside (particularly about minivans and carpools, which as you all know I secretly really like), I have a tremendous amount to be grateful for.
I am blessed with the most wonderful husband (ha, I just typed about 15 other mushy adjectives and decided not to subject all of you to my gushing about Yehuda's awesomeness. Let's just say, he is as awesome as it gets and leave it there), the sweetest and most loving, huggable and kissable and honestly, really incredible (ditto on the zillion mushy adjectives removed, since it is my birthday I will be extra nice to my wonderful readers!) children who give me such tremendous nachas that I am very often overwhelmed with intense love.
I am also blessed with a truly wonderful family. My two Grandfathers who are inspiring and supportive and wise and who have taught me so much about how to live and love. My two Grandmothers, Aleihem HaShalom, who were both tremendous influences in my life. They loved me wholly and unconditionally and were giving and loving and encouraging. I only wish that they had both been alive to meet the loves of my life.
My parents, who not only gave me actual life, but who gave me the tools to live life beautifully and fully. They are always loving and supportive and wise and good and helpful and funny. They are my role models for life, for Judaism, for marriage and most importantly for parenthood. They are the best kind of grandparents, and I am so beyond thrilled with the relationships that my children have with them. I have told Yehuda many, many times over the past eight (eight!?!?!!) years, that if our children love and respect us (please G-d) as much as I love and respect my parents, than I will have achieved more than anyone could ever dream of achieving in life.
My siblings are hilarious and affectionate and supportive and inspiring. I treasure each of them with all my heart, as well as their wonderful spouses whom I truly consider full siblings (and one super awesome fiancee who is already my beloved sister), and their precious children. I only wish that we could all live closer together, since the happiest times that I have ever had have always been with my family. My nieces and nephews are all (objectively, of course) the most adorable, funny, and sweet children ever. I love how we laugh when we are together, and even when we are apart, and know that a laugh and unconditional love is always a phone call or an email away.
My Aunt and Uncle who really are my other parents, and who are also incredible models for marriage, for life, for parenting and for love. They have always been completely understanding and supportive and giving, and know how to make me smile and laugh and remember what is truly important more than anyone else. And their children, who really are my siblings as well, whom I love with all my heart and am proud of and inspired by and enjoy every minute of being with, always.
My parents in law are also wonderful role models for me and for Yehuda, and are always so giving and loving and thoughtful and conscious of being the best in laws and Grandparents. They raised the most wonderful son and for that, I owe them everything.
We are also incredibly blessed to have Yehuda's Grandmother in our lives. She is beautiful and wise and brilliant and truly the epitome of class. I was blessed to know Yehuda's other Grandmother, albeit for too short a time, and she was also a treasure, and I wish that my kids were able to really know and learn from her, as Yehuda did, and we all love his "Grandma" stories.
I love Yehuda's siblings as if they are mine as well. My two sisters in law are exactly the older sisters I dreamed of (and I am sure my own sister wishes I were more like them), and are more than I could ever even ask for. I love every minute that we are able to spend with them and with my brothers in law and my fun, adorable, smart and sweet nieces and nephews. I just wish we were able to spend much more time with them.
I have a large and fun and really special extended family of cousins, and "cousins" who are all so wonderful and a joy to be with and always enhance every simcha.
Yehuda's entire family has welcomed me in with warmth and love and acceptance and always make me proud to be a part of such a wonderful family.
And on top of having the best family anyone could ever ask for, in every possible way, I am blessed with the best friends ever, in the history of friends (and that is not an exaggeration, and yes, yes I am slightly prone to hyperbole, but this is most decidedly not one of those instances). My family has always made fun of me that I have so many "best friends," but in truth, I really do. And each one of them is best, and enriches my life in their own way. My friends know me and understand me and appreciate me even when I can't appreciate myself. They are like aunts and second mothers (and those are the highest possible compliments I could really ever give anyone, to be anywhere near the level of my Mother and my Aunt) to my children. They have supported me through misery and joy equally. They make me laugh and smile, they challenge me to be better, they remind me of all the good that I have, they make me a better person, a better wife, and a better mother. I have best friends who I have known since I started school and who can finish my sentences and understand exactly what I am saying without having to explain anything, and best friends that are more recent, but no less treasured, additions. I learn from each and every friend, and cherish the time spent together and appreciate all that they do for me.
So today, on my birthday, as I enter into this new decade, I remind myself of how blessed I am, how beautiful and full my life is, and how much I have to be grateful to G-d for. And I pray that this new decade brings more love, peace, laughter, growth and development, knowledge and wisdom, strength, joy, fun, sweetness, acceptance, success, good health and prosperity for myself and my loved ones. Of all that I have been blessed with in life, and that is so much that I could never ever even begin to type that up, my loved ones are what is most precious to me.
And grateful I am.
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