Ethan had his winter concert on Thursday morning.  Both Marla and I went, and it was a great concert, the first and second graders all sounded great.  Ethan was very dapper in his winter concert duds and sweater.  Pictures are here.

Later, I’m going to post a sample video for you to try out in your web browser – if it works for enough people who read this blog, then I’ll post a few more videos of Ethan’s concert as well as some Hanukkah activities around the house.

Ah, the last candle lighting of Hanukkah.  Tonight we went out to eat early at Gullivers and had pizza, chicken strips, soups, and appetizers.  Then we came home and lit candles.  I always love the eighth night, when all the candles are blazing.  You can actually feel the heat in the living room.

All in all, a subdued if not enjoyable Hanukkah this year. Quick story – last week, Justin made a gingerbread house at school.  He brought it home, and we had to go out for something and left it in the living room.  When we came back, we found its scraps on the floor, having been eaten by our dog, Eyeeore.  Justin felt very bad.  So today, Ethan’s class made gingerbread houses (I was there to help too) and Ethan gave his gingerbread house to Justin, to make him feel better.  Somewhere in the pictures (linked below) you’ll see a picture of Justin opening his new gingerbread house with a big smile on his face.

Saturday, the last full day of Hanukkah, we would normally bake cookies, but I think we’re going to be busy, between haircuts and having to wait for Comcast to come and fix our perpetually broken cable service.  But now the kids are on winter break, so we might bake cookies later this week.  If we do, I’ll blog about it. 🙂

Pictures of the generally good times being had by all are here.

Tonight we had a lot of fun.  We’re down to opening all the “family” presents now, which are all Blu-Rays for us to watch during the kids winter break.  On Black Friday (or at least, the night before) I found an online store that was selling a bunch of Blu-Rays on sale for under $15 each, so I spent about $90 on a whole bunch.  All in all, I ended up getting: UP (Pixar), Batman Begins, Madagascar, G.I. Joe, Star Trek, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Night At The Museum (both), Land of the Lost, Snow White, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Star Wars: Clone Wars, and the Fantastic 4 / Daredevil 3-movie pack.  So we have lots to watch, all in hi-def.

Pictures of the festivities are here.

Tonight the kids were better behaved, so they got to open presents.  But let this be a lesson to you, stay off my lawn!

We’re at the point now where the presents that we’ve bought them are starting to run out, and the “family” presents (things like movies and games that we buy for everyone to play) are what’s left.  They’ll still get gifts from Bubbe and Zayde later, but for now Aaron had to open a “family” present while Ethan and Justin opened their last personal presents.

And family present #1 was: Pixar’s UP in Blu-Ray.  HD movies! Yay! (Yeah yeah, pictures here.)

I’d like to say that tonight was uneventful, but it was quite a night.  Our youngest two have learned a lesson about the real reason for Hanukkah.

It started when both younger kids were being particularly difficult – ignoring our admonishments to finish their homework and clean up their messes before we’d even think about handing out Hanukkah presents, and then digging in to some of Marla’s keepsakes and using them as toys.  So tonight, except for Aaron, the “present” part of Hanukkah was cancelled.  We lit candles, sang songs, said prayers, and everything else – but no presents for them.

So, no pictures of them opening presents.

By the end of it, though, we had read them many stories about what the real reason is for Hanukkah, and the seem to understand – it’s not about the presents.   It’s about the lights.

By this time in the second century BCE, the Macabees must have been pretty amazed!

Each night this year, we’ve been reading a Hanukkah meditations – basically topics to think about during Hanukkah, when most people (kids) are just thinking about presents.  I don’t know if it’s sunk in, but each night we stop the normal Hanukkah present madness to read them a passage.  Tonight, we talked about a particularly appropriate topic – the kids, both Jewish and not, around the world who go to bed hungry every night.  It’s appropriate because, even with our family’s latest financial challenges to overcome, we still have a full refrigerator and three meals are put on the table every day.  The safety net is there for us, and with it, we should strive to help those who don’t have a safety net get the most basic sustenance.

Ah well enough philosophy, you want the pics, right? :)  Happy Hanukkah.

An uneventful 3rd night, we lit candles and then, since Hanukkah is early this year, the kids went back to doing their homework.

We did open Nana’s presents, so she’ll probably want to see the pictures of utter joy on the kids faces HERE.

Ah, my favorite night.  Why? Get ready for it.  Are you ready?

LATKES! 🙂

Latkes!

Guess what we ate tonight?

Anywhoo, tonight as far as presents go was “book night”.  And, in all honesty, the kids knew exactly what they were getting – because they picked the books, the other day when we were at Barnes & Noble for Aaron’s first public performance.  We bought them the books with the caveat that they would have to wait until Hanukkah to “open” them.  Hey, we’ve got eight nights to cover here, historically everything purchased by the family after December 1st technically becomes a  Hanukkah present.  If we still run out, we start giving them socks. 🙂

So everyone opened their books (including Dad & Mom) and we then, amazingly, sat quietly and read them.  For about 20 minutes.  Then normal chaos resumed.

Pictures as usual.

Well family, you do not have to worry.  The musically-inclined gene, which I am absent of, has passed on.  Come on, don’t patronize me.  Yes, I loved making music when I was younger.  And I’m sure to my parents, it sounded great.  But I couldn’t play anything but the guitar, and even there all I could do was play chords.

Aaron, on the other hand, has really got it.  The other night, he was playing with his keyboard, which we bought him when he was younger.  He found it in his closet, pulled it out, and promptly started playing Ode to Joy by Beethoven.

Now mind you, he’s played this song before.  On the Trombone.  He hasn’t touched a keyboard since he was a tyke.  And now, after digging it out of his closet, he’s playing classical music on it.

Yeah, I get to brag.  Sue me.

Here we are, at a time where we think about the miracle that occurred when the Maccabees overtook the Seleucid empire and rededicated the Holy Temple of Jerusalem.  The story tells us that, despite our own troubles today, there have been tougher fights that we have won, and harder obstacles that we have overcome.

We started today a bit unprepared.  I had not gone to the store to buy candles,  but like the Maccabees a miracle occurred and we found some old Hanukkah candles, buried in a cabinet from years past.  So the lights went on, and presents were opened, and pictures were taken.  Well, I don’t think the Maccabees took pictures.  But you get the idea.

Happy Hanukkah!