Yehuda reminded me the other day that I had forgotten to mention in my mall post about what happened with Yaakov in the bathroom while Amira and I were discussing somewhat obsolete phone technology. After washing Yaakov's hands, Yehuda took Yaakov over to the hand dryer to dry his hands while Yehuda washed his own. Yaakov did not realize that he had to bring his hands very close to the machine to trigger the sensor … in frustration, he started blowing on the hand dryer and it went on! The hand-dryer actually went on because in his effort to blow at it, he brought his hands close enough to trigger the sensor, but he kept blowing because he thought that was how you keep it on!
Anyhow, we are busy with all the last minute shopping and packing and checking off lists that inevitably takes place before a trip! As of tomorrow, we are off for 11 days of fun in the (not unbearably and miserably humid-so-you-can't-breathe and mosquito-ridden-so-you-can't-sleep) sun in LA!
Before we head off, though, we have Amira's end of camp musical/dance production of Wicked, entitled "Which Witch is Which," and which we are all very excited to see!
Only one more day 'til we go to California....California is the place for you and me!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
What's that?
In a first for the Isenberg Family, today all four of us went....to a mall. We have never actually done this as a family, and now, at the end of a long day, I remember why that is (Yaakov's comment "but that wasn't really FUN" being part of it).
We needed a new suitcase for our upcoming (yay!) trip to California (Yay!) on Thursday (Yay!) and so we headed off to the one mall that is somewhat close by and not closed on Sundays (we have blue laws here, and oddly, even though I love to shop, I generally like not being able to shop on Sunday) to find a suitcase and a scale for luggage so that we don't get into overcharge for overweight luggage like we did two years ago.
We found a luggage store pretty quickly, found ourselves a new large rolling duffel, in navy because it was the only not black color they had, and I really wanted Neon Yellow or something like that, but alas, the one time in my life I actually want a bright color, it is not to be. We were able to leave the suitcase in the store while we walked around the mall and saw what there was to see, which was helpful. We found a newly Kosher Certified Rita's in the mall, and joined a whole line of excited Frummies and had some truly yummy Italian Ices and custard, and then of course needed the bathroom. While Amira and I were waiting outside the bathroom for Yehuda and Yaakov, she saw something strange on the wall, and after pondering it for a while, she finally asked me "Mommy, what is that?" After I stopped laughing, and after the three women around us stopped laughing, I answered her "That is called a pay-phone. That is what we used to use before they had such a thing as cell phones." Amira (incredulously) "Saba and Savta didn't have a cell phone when you were a kid?" Me: (as the women around me laugh again) no...cell phones didn't even exist until I was almost finished with high school. Amira (pondering) "wow. So how do those pay phones work?" Now that, I can explain. Ask me how a cell phone actually works, though, and I have no clue.
Speaking of cell phones, we also went to the Verizon store to try and upgrade Yehuda's cell phone to something that would actually let him talk on it, and the lovely sales lady who was helping us was named She-Ra. And as we shmoozed about our shared name, I realized that we had met before and asked her if she used to work at the Paramus store and she said "Yes- and I remember you, too! You bought a blackberry and were very reluctant about it!" I couldn't believe she remembered that and told her that I absolutely love the blackberry now!
Yehuda did not find a phone, because the one he liked the best was one of those flip phones, but when you flipped it open, it was purple, and we decided (him somewhat reluctantly) that it was a little too teeny-bopper for him.
And now, for the Sendors amongst us, I will end with the following:
(Music Notes) Only 4 more days 'til we go to California, California is the place for you and me! You see, there's lots of fun, things to do, places to go, pools to swim in, too. Can't wait 'til we go to California...CALIFORNIA! (Music Notes) (I know there is another paragraph, and that of course Atara remembers it, but alas, I do not.)
We leave Thursday for 11 days of fun in the sun with the West-Coast Family and friends and are super-duper excited!!!
We needed a new suitcase for our upcoming (yay!) trip to California (Yay!) on Thursday (Yay!) and so we headed off to the one mall that is somewhat close by and not closed on Sundays (we have blue laws here, and oddly, even though I love to shop, I generally like not being able to shop on Sunday) to find a suitcase and a scale for luggage so that we don't get into overcharge for overweight luggage like we did two years ago.
We found a luggage store pretty quickly, found ourselves a new large rolling duffel, in navy because it was the only not black color they had, and I really wanted Neon Yellow or something like that, but alas, the one time in my life I actually want a bright color, it is not to be. We were able to leave the suitcase in the store while we walked around the mall and saw what there was to see, which was helpful. We found a newly Kosher Certified Rita's in the mall, and joined a whole line of excited Frummies and had some truly yummy Italian Ices and custard, and then of course needed the bathroom. While Amira and I were waiting outside the bathroom for Yehuda and Yaakov, she saw something strange on the wall, and after pondering it for a while, she finally asked me "Mommy, what is that?" After I stopped laughing, and after the three women around us stopped laughing, I answered her "That is called a pay-phone. That is what we used to use before they had such a thing as cell phones." Amira (incredulously) "Saba and Savta didn't have a cell phone when you were a kid?" Me: (as the women around me laugh again) no...cell phones didn't even exist until I was almost finished with high school. Amira (pondering) "wow. So how do those pay phones work?" Now that, I can explain. Ask me how a cell phone actually works, though, and I have no clue.
Speaking of cell phones, we also went to the Verizon store to try and upgrade Yehuda's cell phone to something that would actually let him talk on it, and the lovely sales lady who was helping us was named She-Ra. And as we shmoozed about our shared name, I realized that we had met before and asked her if she used to work at the Paramus store and she said "Yes- and I remember you, too! You bought a blackberry and were very reluctant about it!" I couldn't believe she remembered that and told her that I absolutely love the blackberry now!
Yehuda did not find a phone, because the one he liked the best was one of those flip phones, but when you flipped it open, it was purple, and we decided (him somewhat reluctantly) that it was a little too teeny-bopper for him.
And now, for the Sendors amongst us, I will end with the following:
(Music Notes) Only 4 more days 'til we go to California, California is the place for you and me! You see, there's lots of fun, things to do, places to go, pools to swim in, too. Can't wait 'til we go to California...CALIFORNIA! (Music Notes) (I know there is another paragraph, and that of course Atara remembers it, but alas, I do not.)
We leave Thursday for 11 days of fun in the sun with the West-Coast Family and friends and are super-duper excited!!!
Sunday, August 9, 2009
How they grow
Yaakov had his official 4 year old checkup with the pediatrician on Friday. He is now 39 1/2 inches tall (which means that instead of his regular 25% on the chart, he is now at a whopping 35%! Yes! Only short instead of shrimpy!) and 30 lbs, so yay for Yaakov!
The pediatrician always asks my kids what he is going to find when he looks in their ears, and this year he asked Yaakov "Am I going to find Bob the Builder in there?" and Yaakov looked disdainfully at him (like, um, dude, Bob the Builder is SO three years old!) and said with a completely straight face "no, but you might find Anakin Skywalker and his blue Light Saver in there" (he still insists it is a light Saver and that Boba Fett is pronounced Bubba Fett, no matter what I tell him!) and turned his head so that the pediatrician, who almost fell over laughing, could take a look in his ear.
The way their minds work really just fascinates me. Yaakov always loves to run and jump on me to cuddle, and now I have to remind him not to jump on my tummy, since there is a baby growing in there. On Shabbos, he ran and jumped on my lap and then quickly jumped right off with a stricken look on his face and said "Mommy, I have to say sorry to the baby because I jumped on your legs and that could hurt the baby's legs!" I told him, "no Yaakov, the baby's legs are also in my tummy, not in my legs." And with a very confused look on his face, he said "the baby has no legs?" I said "No!....G-d forbid! The baby is just very tiny and curled up in my tummy. And he looked even more confused and said, "but I thought that when you will go to the hospital so the doctor can take the baby out, he would put the pieces all together?" And laughing so hard I could barely breathe, I explained that really, the baby just comes out in one piece, please G-d, and it's not like Legos that you have to put together!
The pediatrician always asks my kids what he is going to find when he looks in their ears, and this year he asked Yaakov "Am I going to find Bob the Builder in there?" and Yaakov looked disdainfully at him (like, um, dude, Bob the Builder is SO three years old!) and said with a completely straight face "no, but you might find Anakin Skywalker and his blue Light Saver in there" (he still insists it is a light Saver and that Boba Fett is pronounced Bubba Fett, no matter what I tell him!) and turned his head so that the pediatrician, who almost fell over laughing, could take a look in his ear.
The way their minds work really just fascinates me. Yaakov always loves to run and jump on me to cuddle, and now I have to remind him not to jump on my tummy, since there is a baby growing in there. On Shabbos, he ran and jumped on my lap and then quickly jumped right off with a stricken look on his face and said "Mommy, I have to say sorry to the baby because I jumped on your legs and that could hurt the baby's legs!" I told him, "no Yaakov, the baby's legs are also in my tummy, not in my legs." And with a very confused look on his face, he said "the baby has no legs?" I said "No!....G-d forbid! The baby is just very tiny and curled up in my tummy. And he looked even more confused and said, "but I thought that when you will go to the hospital so the doctor can take the baby out, he would put the pieces all together?" And laughing so hard I could barely breathe, I explained that really, the baby just comes out in one piece, please G-d, and it's not like Legos that you have to put together!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Birthday Party and Sushi
Before I get to the important part of this post: The Birthday Party, I just have to share my excitement and surprise that when the four of us were deciding what kind of take out we wanted for dinner tonight, post birthday party, Amira suggested and Yaakov quickly seconded: Sushi.
In fact, Amira and Yaakov were so impressed with the Magician's tricks that before bed they tried to replicate one of the tricks using a blank coloring book and saying the magic words: "Happy Birthday Tzvi and Yaakov" over it and were both perplexed and disappointed when the blank pages did not fill with pictures as the magician's had!
One of the guests father's laughingly commented to us that birthday parties are like Yom Kippur- at the end of the day you are happy it's over and that you don't have to do it again for another year.
Yaakov has loved Sushi since the first time he tried it, probably 2 and a 1/2 years ago, but Amira generally will absolutely.not.under.any.circumstances ever try anything new. A couple of months ago she begrudgingly tried a piece of grilled salmon sushi when Saba and Savta came to visit and actually liked it, and so we ordered tonight from our favorite Teaneck Restaurant: Sushi Metsuyan, and the meal truly was metsuyan (excellent!) for all of us! Amira even tried the picked ginger and decided that it made the Sushi even more delicious!! Gasp!
Next up, we try to convince Amira that fruit actually tastes good.
Anyhow, the main event of the day: The Birthday Party!
Yaakov's best friend (in the whole world since the minute they were both born 3 weeks apart, four years ago) lives 2 houses away from us, and luckily for us parents, they love sharing a birthday party. When we asked the boys what they wanted for the party this year, their only requirement was that it be a pajama party. So an afternoon party with 30 kids in pajamas it was, and boy was it fun! This year we hired a local, highly recommended teen aged magician who was just amazing! He kept the kids (all 30 of them!) riveted and laughing for an entire hour!
In fact, Amira and Yaakov were so impressed with the Magician's tricks that before bed they tried to replicate one of the tricks using a blank coloring book and saying the magic words: "Happy Birthday Tzvi and Yaakov" over it and were both perplexed and disappointed when the blank pages did not fill with pictures as the magician's had!One of the guests father's laughingly commented to us that birthday parties are like Yom Kippur- at the end of the day you are happy it's over and that you don't have to do it again for another year.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Where is the Mom?
A couple of nights ago I spent 45 minutes in intense discussion with Amira regarding strikes, picket lines, factory worker's rights, factory owner ethics and the mechanics of health insurance and other benefits received in addition to salary. And it is moments like these where I sometimes find myself wondering: "where is the Mom?"
Other such moments; in the midst of a battle of wills between one of my children and myself as I find myself on the losing end, with my temper flaring and my objectivity non existent...."Where is the mom, and why can't she get her kid to behave??"
Also- anything involving throw up or large amounts of blood. "Where is the mom" is generally followed very closely by: YEHUDA!!!!!!!!
Well, the throw up and blood I am learning to handle, mostly. My kids know from a very early age that "throw up makes Mommy nervous" and thankfully as they have grown older, their aim has improved. And I am really trying not to hover nervously as my kids run and jump and ride and just let them learn and explore while I grit my teeth and close one eye nervously at close calls as if that will make any scrapes and falls easier to bear.
But when it comes to knowledge and Amira's prolific reading and both kids inquisitive natures, well, then I find myself wondering when I will ever know as much as my parents always do. Even now I sometimes find myself responding to a question of Amira's, well- I don't know. Let's call Saba and Savta. And they always know. And sometimes we call Yehuda, and sometimes I google, and sometimes, luckily, I can explain.
And those explanations often evolve into these amazing conversations with a little 7 year old girl who loves to learn and to know and finds just about everything fascinating and a little 4 year old boy who may not care about factory worker ethics, or just how a uterus sustains a baby, but can discuss endlessly what the fastest and best car is, the way to properly throw a baseball, and why C3PO and R2D2 are friends.
And those are the parenting moments that truly remind me that I am the Mom. I am the one responsible for everything about them, and while those responsibilities are constantly changing and evolving as they get older and bigger and stronger and smarter, I am evolving and changing and learning more as a Mom, at the same time. And I remind myself that I may not think that I know anything, but my kids think that I know everything. For now.
Other such moments; in the midst of a battle of wills between one of my children and myself as I find myself on the losing end, with my temper flaring and my objectivity non existent...."Where is the mom, and why can't she get her kid to behave??"
Also- anything involving throw up or large amounts of blood. "Where is the mom" is generally followed very closely by: YEHUDA!!!!!!!!
Well, the throw up and blood I am learning to handle, mostly. My kids know from a very early age that "throw up makes Mommy nervous" and thankfully as they have grown older, their aim has improved. And I am really trying not to hover nervously as my kids run and jump and ride and just let them learn and explore while I grit my teeth and close one eye nervously at close calls as if that will make any scrapes and falls easier to bear.
But when it comes to knowledge and Amira's prolific reading and both kids inquisitive natures, well, then I find myself wondering when I will ever know as much as my parents always do. Even now I sometimes find myself responding to a question of Amira's, well- I don't know. Let's call Saba and Savta. And they always know. And sometimes we call Yehuda, and sometimes I google, and sometimes, luckily, I can explain.
And those explanations often evolve into these amazing conversations with a little 7 year old girl who loves to learn and to know and finds just about everything fascinating and a little 4 year old boy who may not care about factory worker ethics, or just how a uterus sustains a baby, but can discuss endlessly what the fastest and best car is, the way to properly throw a baseball, and why C3PO and R2D2 are friends.
And those are the parenting moments that truly remind me that I am the Mom. I am the one responsible for everything about them, and while those responsibilities are constantly changing and evolving as they get older and bigger and stronger and smarter, I am evolving and changing and learning more as a Mom, at the same time. And I remind myself that I may not think that I know anything, but my kids think that I know everything. For now.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Happy Birthday little big guy!!!
Yaakov is still not 13, much to his continued chagrin, but now that he is FOUR he is much closer! This morning started out wonderfully with the kids sleeping until 7:10 AM! Happy Birthday to ME!! And there was no fighting, no kvetching, and lots of smiling. A great way to begin any day!
Yaakov happily had us sing every birthday song we know for him, particularly his favorite"numbers one" and yelled along with us "Are you one, are you two, are you....and then he yelled out very happily are you THREE! while Amira and I laughed and continued: are you FOUR! And his face just lit up as he realized he is four now, not 3 and 3/4 anymore!
Four, you see, is VERY big. Four means you can ride a super fast scooter (Thank you Saba and Savta!) down the block with the big kids and keep up. Four means you can ride your bike for 2 miles without getting tired and get ice cream from the ice cream truck at the end. Four means you can race your sister on her 2 wheeler (!!!) and almost win. Four means you can run really fast and jump really high, and take swimming lessons in a really big pool, wearing cool goggles and not be scared at all, even of dunking under the water!
Certain parents of said four year old are wondering, however, if four will finally mean sleeping every night, all night in his own bed...and hope with all our hearts that four means more laughing, more fun, more hugs and kisses and snuggles, more fascinating conversations about rockets that shoot fire and smoke, how airplanes fly, what makes an engine run, which race cars are the fastest and the best, and why battle droids are good or bad (lucky boy that his mother has always loved Star Wars, too!) and how to build a Lego car that is both symmetrical and super fast, among other things.
We hope and pray that our sweet, funny, loving, creative and all around delicious boy continues to grow and develop and learn and love and thoroughly enjoy everything he does, Ad Meah VEsrim. We are so very proud of you, Yaakov.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Amira rides a bike!
Today we took Amira to a parking lot and with the help of my friend she learned to ride a 2 wheeler all by herself! She started out nervous (which is exactly why she hasn't been taught until this point- the combination of nervous child plus 2 nervous parents apparently equals not learning to ride a bike, and why we brought my un-nervous and well practised at 2 wheel teaching friend), but quickly gained confidence and by the end of the hour she was even starting by herself and can ride perfectly! (see videos below) We are, of course, extremely proud and excited but more importantly- she is so proud of herself! What a great day! And Yaakov is riding his training wheel bike really well now, too! My friend and I took Yaakov and her almost 4 year old son (Yaakov's best friend) to a bike path a couple times this week, and they very easily biked a mile plus, while we jogged along behind them! And maybe next summer, the (less now? Eh, probably not) nervous parents will be able to teach a clearly not-nervous son how to ride his 2 wheeler!
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