Hershisms

-Today in the car we were listening to our favorite station, JamON, and Weekapaug Groove came on.  From the back seat we then hear, "This is Phish!"

-This morning Hersh was listening to the iPod on his head phones.  At one point he said, "This is the Grateful Dead." Upon checking, he was correct.

-Hersh has been very into wearing his 'keys' and pretending like they are magic and that he can lock and unlock anything.

-If Jacob and I are discussing a songs and one of us remarks that it sounds funky, Hersh will chime in and say, "Garfunkle?"

In his visor and track suit, he's ready to take Boca by a storm.

Sukkah Time

We've spent this past week welcoming friends and family into our Sukkah.  Hersh has loved having everyone over for meals, and really takes pride in mitzvah of welcoming.  We are now trying to let him know that the holiday is over and we have to take the sukkah down:(

Tonight at Shabbat dinner he informed us that "Aunt Mimi is a flexitarian."  We were very surprised to hear him use this word as we were not aware that he knew it.  Tomorrow we are planning to attend DCVegfest, thus he has been thinking a lot about who eats what.  We've also been struggling a bit with getting Hersh to nap each day.  This mostly has to do with him getting older, but we are sticking with the nap as long as we can, and as long as he shows us that he needs it.

Alte is well--doing the sweet baby thing.  Hersh took a "Baby Faces" book out of the library for her, which she seems to be enjoying, and we are enjoying her sweet baby face :)

14 years, 1 month, and a Booth

This week we celebrated mine and Jacob's 14 year anniversary of when we first became "an item."  I can't call it dating, because we were 19 years old, and didn't really date.  We just started being boyfriend/girlfriend, and the rest is sweet, sweet history. What an incredible 14 years it has been--we've gone from NYC to Seattle to Vienna to Silver Spring.  Traveled all over the world, had innumerable life experiences, have 2 children, and still really, really love each other.  To both create and share a life with your best friend is a gift that neither of us would trade in for anything.  We are so fortunate to be experiencing life with the love, support, and companionship that is our relationship.

  We also celebrated Alte Luna's 1 month birthday.  She is a delicious 11lb (90%), 23in  (99%) bundle of baby love.  The doctor said that Alte is developing perfectly.  She is just starting to smile a bit, and just today we took her for our first trip to the zoo.  Hersh loves his little sister and definitely seems glad that she is a part of the mishpacha.

Finally, we are currently celebrating Sukkot.  Jacob and Hersh built an awesome Sukkah that we have been enjoying many meals in, and have been welcoming guests.  Hersh made some impressive decorations, including a "name sign" in which he wrote each of our names.  His interest in writing, drawing, and spelling seems to be developing quite quickly and it is exciting to support him as he gains confidence and competency.

Smiles!

 Sukkah Time:

Snoozin' in  the sukkah

Sukkah decorations in process

Waiting to see Dr. Erica Rupar

Go Green Team!

This morning we had Hersh's first official soccer practice.  There are so many adjectives that appropriately describe the experience of watching approximately 20 3-4 year-olds run around a soccer field--hilarious, organized chaos, beyond cute, wholesome, all-American, and just plain fun.  Hersh was really excited to meet Coach Mike, a man I have a lot of respect for.  He does an amazing job instructing the kids.  They ran, kicked, jumped, sat on balls, stretched, pretended to be various animals, did some relays, and had an all around good time.  They took water breaks, which Hersh took very seriously.  At the end of the practice Hersh stripped off the green shirt he had been given and tried to give it back to Coach Mike.  Coach Mike kindly said, "that's ok, Hersh.  You can keep the shirt and wear it next time.:)"

In other Hersh news, he has been saying some hilarious things like using the word unfortunately, or saying "Like, come on, dude. Ya know?"  When he wants us to think he forgot something we told him he'll say, "Ima, I lost my mind today."  While we're making dinner, he'll sometimes snatch something off the table and say, "I'm having an appetizer."  When asked who he played with at school he listed some new friends, and then said, "and certainly I played with Jack, Hannah, and Tessa."  When asked at school what he was sorry for (in preparation for Yom Kippur), Hersh said, "I'm sorry for having popped an edamame on the floor."

In Alte news, she is getting more and more delicious each day--we can't believe she will be one month old this week!  Our life as a family of 4 is settling nicely, and we are figuring our how to make everything work.  Alte does seem to have a "witching hour" (or three) from 9pm-midnight.  We are hopeful this is just a stage :)

Bath time

2 lovely ladies

 Soccer!

Folk Festival

Sibling love