Holidayed

I had not really thought of this before, but Hanukkah has got one up on Christmas in the sense that it is usually first. By the time our family got to Christmas we already had holiday fatigue (and hardly took any pictures). On the other hand, Christmas definitely got the larger share of the shopping. But it's not a competition, now is it?

One of our first holiday events was a kindergarten performance at the University Bookstore, in which Mrs. Murphy and the music teacher led the kids in songs they have been working on in class. This being a public school event, there was a carefully secular selection of seasonal classics and one Hanukkah dirge. If I never hear that song again it'll be too soon. Jordan had no interest in singing any of it, but was delighted to run around the stacks with his buddy Sam.




In the eight nights of Hanukkah we had five nights of latkes, which is a new record for me. First night was at our house with family; then there was a Temple party, a preschool party, a work party of Dale's (at which my latkes got raves from the goyim), and on the last night a party at Kari and Danny's. Pictures from the last night only, but that's when the menorahs are at their best, anyway.

Much dreidl was played, and Aaron outlasted the older kids by quite a bit. He's good.


Then Christmas at last. We were pleased to have the eve at home this year, with just Grandma joining us. Dale is a fan of the Single Stunning Gift.

This year the big event was an electronic piano. He plays some, the boys are quite interested, and who knows, maybe I will be the next Tori Amos. Although I guess she started at age two, so maybe I will just have to inpsire Aaron.