Chanukah 2007

Continuing the catch up effort, here is Chanukah 2007. As usual, we had a great gathering at our house with the Pollock and Patel families (where we enjoyed some particularly fantastic chicken soup with matzo balls, latkes (potato pancakes fried in oil) and my favorite, the jelly donuts). We had a very festive first night, and of course there were a few presents to share with our loved ones. To cap it off, Noah had a cute little Chanukah party at his school.

Without further delay, here is the photographic evidence to prove it.

Playing Dreidel with Andrew, Annika, Lauren, Noah & Nathan (Where is Lena?) – I Lost My Shirt

Looks Like Donuts for Dessert – The Kids are Very Focused

Hey Everyone, Look Over Here

Andrew Lights the Candles on the First Night

Noah Lighting Candles on the First Night (With Help from Mommy)

Noah, Andrew & Mommy's Hands Lighting Together (Daddy Taking Picture)!

Happy Singing on the First Night of Chanukah

Two Boys Loving Each Other on Chanukah

Andrew Opening the Razor Scooter from Uncle Howard and Aunt Stacy

Noah Opening His New Laptop from Uncle Howard and Aunt Stacy

Andrew Riding the New Razor Scooter

The Boys Opening a Hebrew Alphabet Puzzle

The Boys Opening Noah’s New Pirate Ship (Arrr Matey)

Noah Making His Menorah at School

Noah and His Friends (Sammi (and Big Sister Sarah) and Gabriel)

And Marni, Sarah and Sammi's Mother, Says that Sarah Never Smiles for Pictures – That Looks Like a Smile to Me

The wave is starting to build; hopefully we can get close to current. I’m still dying to get our Australia story out. But it's 20 pages single spaced. Soon I hope….Soon….

Moooo - The Cow Project

Andrew got his first big school project from Ms. Meg a couple of weeks ago. The kids were all asked to pick an animal from the farm and then to do their "science project" on that animal. Right now, Andrew's favorite animal is the COW. MOOOO!

The project was his homework for two weeks. The project instructions requested that the parents not touch the final product (the poster board), that the kids write down where the animal lives, what the animal eats, what the animal looks like and why farmers raise the animal. In addition, the kids could add whatever artwork they wanted.

Andrew checked out a cow book from the library at school and we got to work. We helped him formulate ideas for what he wanted to do, made a stencil for him to trace and helped hold a ruler for him, but we did not touch his canvas. He was pretty motivated to do the project and was pleased with the end result.

The Project (Each Cow Head Has His Writing Answering the Questions, He Drew the Cow on the Bottom and Colored in the Ones in the Middle and on Top)

Cows Live On. . .

Cows Eat...

Cows Look Like...

Farmers Raise Cows For...

A special thanks to Aunt Theresa Pollock for providing stickers for the project. Not bad for a Kindergartener! MOOOO!

Santa Through the Years

Since we just posted about Christmas 2007, I figured it was a good time to post pictures of our boys with Santa through the years. We've finally figured out where to find the "good" Santa. In order to keep the lines short, we're keeping this secret to ourselves.

Andrew and Santa 2002

Andrew and Santa 2003

Andrew and Santa 2004

Andrew, Noah and Santa 2005

Andrew, Noah and Santa 2006

Andrew, Noah and Santa 2007

We're batting 3 for 6 with the good Santa. Here's hoping we can make it 4 for 7 next year.

Christmas 2007

For the past several years, we have gone up to Susanville for Christmas. Something about the cold, the truly incredible number of decorations my parents have, and the potential for skiing, along with the obvious chance to spend a little time with my parents and sister. It has been great. This past year, however, and largely in contemplation of our Australian Adventure, we decided to have Christmas in San Diego.

Far back in my memory, we started having Christmas Eve at my paternal grandparents' house in Pacific Beach and then Christmas morning at our house in El Cajon. It has always been a wonderful family time of year, filled with memories of gifts and food galore. This year, at our house in Carmel Valley, was not much different.

This past year, we picked up our tree from the forest around Susanville (Thanksgiving weekend), drove it home on top of our minivan, Homer, and parked it in our living room. A couple weeks later, we decorated the tree (and the house).

Andrew Tops the Tree First

Then Noah Second

Andrew Helping String the Lights

Ah, The Tree in All it's Glory

And the Stockings Were Hung by the China Cabinet with Care

Yes, We Decorated the Outside a Bit Also (The Front of XXXX Calle Mar De Armonia)

Next - Food. It is always wonderful. Nana made her famous cinnamon rolls. I caught a shot of them rising up. Mom, Dad and Karin made the spedini (an Italian dish that the family has been making for YEARS). It is pounded steak, dipped in olive oil and then breadcrumbs, and then rolled with a piece of tomato, mozzarella cheese and onion on the inside and a piece of bacon on the outside. Just delicious.

The Rolls a Risin'

Spedini Ready for the Grill

Lest we forget the presents. I'm quite sure that Andrew and Noah would not let us forget! Andrew had been asking and asking for a harp (see, we told you the kid liked music) for Christmas. Santa obliged.

Andrew Playing His New Harp from Santa

Grampster and Two Boys Discovering the Surprises in Their Stockings

Noah Racing Upstairs With His New Brobee (Yo Gabba Gabba) Pillow (Made in the USA by Nana)

Andrew and Noah Discussing the Finer Points of Brobee vs. Muno

Noah in His New Sock Monkey Slippers (Courtesy of Auntie Karin)!

The big surprise this year was that Karin somehow managed to pull off getting my parents a Samoyed dog. When we were growing up we had a couple of Samoyeds and we just loved them. My first dog was a beautiful all white Samoyed by the name of Jenny. My Uncle Michael found her while on an extended vacation/trek in Hawaii. I loved that dog. My parents' new dog is named Tiska and she seems to be adapting well to life in Susanville (snow and all)!

Excited Mom & Dad - The Samoyed is Coming!

Mom, Dad, Tiska Replica and Karin

My big score was a couple of really cool new Canon lenses for our trip to Australia. I got a 17-85mm EF-S with Image Stabilization that works well for fairly wide angle shots. I also got a 28-135 EF-S with Image Stabilization that works great as a walk around lens. The colors and crispness of the pictures has been grand.

Sierra (Our Doggie) - With One of My New Super Cool Canon Lenses

Everyone in Our Family Room - With the New Wide Angle Lens!

Bryce, Brett and Uncle Alan in the Front Yard

Christmas 2007 turned out to be a wonderful family time. The next day, Robin and I left for Australia and Nana and Grampster's adventure with Andrew and Noah began. We are getting closer to getting the story out....

Three Already . . .

Our little Noah is three. February 21, 2008 has come and gone and the boy is three. Thankfully he had a wonderful birthday and party.

His birthday was on Thursday. Noah attends preschool on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Beth Am Preschool. So his birthday fell on a school day. Robin and I both went to the school to share in his little celebration and to watch him do the honors as the Shabbat Aba. I got a huge hug when he saw me and the little party was wonderful.

Noah handed out egg shakers to the kids and they all sang little songs for him. Then the teachers handed out roses for each child to give to Noah, which was followed by a hug and birthday wishes from each child. The class then presented Noah with a cute little picture frame with all of his preschool friends pictures inside. It was truly darling.

Birthday Boy and His Crown with Mommy

Noah’s Present, a Picture Frame of His School Friends

After the celebrating, it was time to eat. Noah helped to lead the prayers and then had a little cake (that his class made) with candles and all. Just grand. The kids DEVOURED the cake and strawberries.

Noah Ready to Drink His Wine (Juice)

Excited Birthday Boy with Daddy!

That evening, we had dinner at our local Red Robin (you think this is a place just for my wife). The Patel family was able to join us to celebrate with Noah. He is such a happy and fun little guy. Noah is an Ice Cream Lover – and he polished off his sundae with vigor.

Me like Ice Cream!

I often wonder how much mischief Noah would create on his own. With Andrew leading the team (often referred to as TWO BOYS), they are mischief kings . . .

Like Andrew's 4th birthday party, we had a Pump-It-Up party for Noah on Sunday, February 24, 2008. It was a massive affair, with about 50 people (adults and kids) in attendance. Noah could truly feel the love. He had a ball sliding and jumping away at our favorite inflatable party zone! He was happy, smiling and really enjoyed his birthday song and cake. The theme for this year was Thomas the Train (picked out by Noah himself). Thanks to everyone who came from far and wide to join in the fun. Noah had a ball!

Noah, Andrew and Taylor Lyon on the Big Slide

Noah and Mommy Loving the Big Slide

Andrew Loves the Big Slide Too

Maya Rosenbaum (Too Cute Not to Include)!

Auntie Karin Strikes the Pose

Krisztina and Baby Robert Goodman

Please Sit Down Everyone; We Need to Take a Picture!

Noah Strikes a Pose for the Standard Pump-It-Up Full Party Shot

The Full Sheet Birthday Cake (Waaay Too Much Cake)

The Noah Fruit Eating Method - Pick Up Fruit with Hand, Put Fruit on Fork, Insert Fork Into Mouth

Singing to Myself!

The Third Candle is Out

Andrew Loving the Birthday Boy

Birthday Boy in His Throne

After the party, we went back home (along with the Patels) and opened way too many presents. Noah certainly did not think there were too many. His favorites are his Leapster (Robin and I refer to it as his current drug of choice), his Schleich Animal Nursery, a new Bison stuffed animal and his new sock monkey jammies.

Noah Opening His New Leapster - See the Joy! (Courtesy of Uncle Howard & Aunt Stacy)

Noah Enjoying Playing With the Animal Farm (Courtesy of Papa)

Noah in His New Knitted Cap (Courtesy of Nana)

Noah's Sock Monkey Jammies (Also Courtesy of Nana)

The post party play with the Patel girls was the cutest thing. I don't recall what it was that caused them all to hide in the couch, but they did and it was darling.

Happy third birthday to our Noah!!

The Last Bath

Contrary to popular belief, we do bathe the boys. (I've always wanted to start out a blog with "contrary to popular belief" as it is one of those phrases that not a day went by where I did not hear it come straight out of my Dad's mouth into my ear). Every now and again, we'll even give the boys a bubble bath.

The night before Andrew was about to turn three, we gave him a bubble bath and grabbed the camera. We dubbed that Andrew's last bath as a two year old. I can still remember taking pictures of him in that bath.

Andrew Sorem - August 4, 2005

Fast forward several years. Noah's turn to turn three. What to do? We ran a bath, dumped a bottle of bubble soap in the tub, let it fill up and threw Noah in there (because drowning is a major concern of ours, I made absolutely sure to be right there watching over him during the entire bath). I had the camera right there and I snapped away during "the last bath."

Noah's Curls (Just Before the Last Bath)

These Are Bubbles

TA - DAH!

I Love My Bath

Brothers and Good Friends

There will be other baths, but no more as a two year old. Time is a flyin'.

E-I-E-I-O - Piano Style

Old MacDonald had a farm - and if it were Andrew's choice, he would have a slew of cows (more about that coming soon in another blog).

After Andrew "graduated" from Music Class we searched and searched for a piano class for him. He adores music and we recently acquired a hand me down piano from a lovely lady I call Auntie Mickey (aka Mom #4). The piano has been tuned, but is still in need of a significant refinishing (somehow that has not risen to the top of the "to do list" just yet). In any event, we finally found a piano class for Andrew down in Bird Rock at a place called Nightingale Music.

The teacher is a young, hip guy named James Kerans and Andrew has taken to him like a fly to a cow pie. Andrew even enjoys his piano practice.

Andrew practiced up for his recital rendition of Old MacDonald Had a Farm. It is a very simple song for two hands based right off of middle C. Andrew did pretty well and really seemed to enjoy himself. On March 31, 2008, Andrew had his first little recital. The Pollocks (Theresa, Nathan and Lauren) even came down to the studio for the event.

We took a few pictures and a cool little video. Enjoy!

Mr. James Leading the Keyboard Class

Andrew Clapping for his Fellow Pianist

Andrew Takes the Prize

Mr. James and Andrew (Not Looking)