Weather troubles!

Rain and Snow go away
Come again another year!

Okay, I know it doesn't rhyme. I know that we need the rain, to make the grass grow and flowers bloom, blah, blah, blah. I have been home for a week with 3 cranky, bored children and it has either been raining or snowing. Unfortunately today was a cold, sunny day. I don't mind the cold, but unfortunately we were having guests for dinner and I was cooking and cleaning all day. So only Dahlia went outside. She ran outside for 3 minutes, drew a chalk picture on the driveway and ran back inside, complaining about how cold it was.

On Wednesday,I couldn't take it anymore. I came up with "Indoor Olympics" I had to do something to get the kids to stop fighting with each other for 5 minutes, turn off the tv and get their body moving. We had 4 events.

The 1st event was the "How fast can you make it from the rocking chair in the livingroom around the kitchen to the hall and back Event" Since there is a no running in the house rule, we were only allowed to walk as fast as we could. I learned two things. I can do it in 9 to 11 seconds, my children are alot faster than I am and I am getting old. (Okay, okay, so that's three things!)

The second event was "Throw the Ball Event" You had to throw the ball to your opponent and go back and forth until you lose all your points. You start at 20 and each time you drop the ball you lose a point. Dahlia cheats. Maybe that's a little harsh, I should say she makes up rules as she goes along. If I dropped the ball I lost a point. If she dropped the ball either I didn't throw it properly or she wasn't ready and I shouldn't have thrown it yet. Zachary, patiently or not, was waiting for his turn and rooting for his mother because he doesn't want to play with his "dumb" sister. His words not mine.

Didn't he read the rules of Indoor Olympics. No fighting for at least 5 minutes. I guess the 5 minutes are up!!

The third event was "Balloon Volleyball". Self explanatory, works the same way as event number 2.

The last event was "Balloon Keep it Up" You had to see how many time you could bounce the balloon on your hand without letting it fall to the ground. This event didn't last very long because they only wanted to use the balloon that their sibling was using. Even though I had 4 balloons, they only want to use the same balloon at any given momment.Once again breaking the first rule of Indoor Olympics.

At this point the sun came out. I made them. Yes that is what they said, I made them get their stuff on and go outside. It was cold, but Zach rode his bike while Dahlia and Noah decorated the driveway with sidewalk chalk. We weren't out more than 15 minutes when...yup, you guessed it, the rain started to come down.

All tired out, we had a snack and watched tv.

Hurray, for Indoor Olympics!

Time Flies!

I can't believe how time flies. It's been so long since I last posted. It has been a world-wind (is that the right expression?!) few weeks. I finally have a chance to sit down at the computer.

After we got back from Mtl. school became crazy with report cards, curriculums for May and June and then getting ready for Passover.

I love Passover. I have always loved it. The traditions of it. My parents have an eclectic set of dishes. Some of which were used when my father was a little boy. Some things belong to my mother's parents and some to my father's parents.

Each item has a story and/or a specific food, the little green glasses, my father used when he was little, are for juice, the NY Mets beer glasses (one for me and one for my sister) are used for chocolate milk...The list can go on.

We haven't been to Mtl. For the seders (traditional meals where the story of Passover is told) in quite a few years. For the last couple of years my in-laws have come, but this year my father-in-law isn't well enough to travel (next year for sure!). We are hoping that my parents will join us next year.

Carmi's sister and brother-in-law and their son , as well as a the Katz family, very dear friends, who have become like our family, joined us for the first Seder. We went to other friends for the second Seder. It was fabulous.

The draw back about Passover is all the work. I didn't realize how hard my mother worked until I had to do it myself. We change everything over. We have separate dishes. cutlery, pots, pans,bake ware, kettle. You name it. I even cover my counters with liners that I cut to fit. By the time the seders are finished I am exhausted!

As I work in a Jewish school, classes are closed until next Tuesday. As my children go to this school they are home with me. Okay, I can sleep in a little, so it's not so bad. Did I mention that it snowed all weekend and then rained until this morning? They are going a little stir crazy. Hopefully the roads will be dry enough to get on bikes this afternoon. In addition to the weather troubles, they are constantly complaining there is nothing to eat.

I take this personally. All I have done is plan a meal, cook a meal, serve a meal, eat a meal and clean up a meal. Then it starts all over again. It's not that there is nothing to eat, it's that there is nothing that they want to eat.

My mother keeps calling "Did you try making _________ for them (fill in the blank with various foods). My kids are so picky most of the time they won't eat it. But, I keep telling her "When they are really hungry, they will eat something that I have!" That's what happened today. We'll manage till Sunday night!

If you can't tell this holiday is all about the food. But at the same time it's about family as well. It's about sharing stories and traditions with each other. Isn't that what life is all about?

Happiness and Sadness at the same time.

We were in Montreal for a friends wedding. One of my oldest and closest childhood friends got married last weekend. Both the wedding and the bride were beautiful. It really filled my heart with gladness, to see how happy Barbara was.

At the same time we were also filled with sadness. My parents closest friend past away just before we arrived in Montreal. Lily past away after a short illness. Her husband Teddy past away 1 year and 1 week before her. I grew up as much in their house as mine.

I always remember Lily and Teddy with an open door. There was always room for one more person at the table. I grew up with their youngest daughter Ronna. Ronna and I can go months without speaking, but pick up like we last spoke yesterday.

Growing up, I always knew that if I needed something and my parents weren't there, then I could count on Lily and Teddy.

I wish there was something I could do to make this time easier for her and her family. It's hard living so far away.

As I think of Lily, I try to us her policies. I always have room for more people at my table and I hope that people always feel comfortable and welcome in my home.

I like to think that Teddy isn't lonely anymore.