Family News!

Two big events in the month of April: Jacob started walking and Mike got tenure. We'll leave you to decide the relative long-term importance of each.

We are very happy.

No video of the tenure (although there is a letter, complete with signatures in purple ink, natch), but here's Jacob walking. You'll, uh, want to turn down the volume on this one, as Natalie is yowling in the background about some not-entirely-urgent injury.

 

 Here are the champions themselves:

In other spring news, it was Purim:

My challah project continues (sporadically). This is an onion and poppy seed ring, traditional for Purim since it is in the spirit of Esther's braid. Or something. Anyway, not my fave, but Mike liked it.

I thought it tasted like a giant kaiser roll; he thought it tasted like a giant kaiser roll. What can I say? Opposites attract.

Natalie's also been busy. Here she is with one of her art creations:

An elephant she made for the back of Daddy's chair: 

She's also working on writing:

 Jacob is working on reading. He has eclectic tastes.

 Here is Natalie sorting:

And wearing her spring crown:

The kids are also starting to play together, which is really fun to see:

Natalie still plays alone, too:

It's gotten warmer, but her love for hot chocolate knows no bounds:

To compensate for my ongoing love of all things chocolate, I've been starting to run again, after taking a break because of an injury all winter. Here I am with the kids at the Zoo Run 5k. I ran the whole way pushing the kids solo, since Mike was out of town that weekend.

A few JBoy shots:

Next up: pictures from South Texas, Bluebonnets, and Passover. Whew!

Spring has Sprung

Our spring was super-crazy this year! Within the span of six weeks, I had three trips, and Mike had one. Verdict: not recommended. Actually, I think we're still recovering. Clearly, I've fallen behind on the blogging.

I'm making a very honest attempt to catch-up, though. So here are some pictures from a fairly spur of the moment New-York-Minute trip I made for the wedding of a dear friend. Shockingly, there are frequent flier miles bargains to be had if you're willing to fly in/out of Newark in March. Who'd have thunk it?

Anyway, solo trip, out on Friday, back on Monday (in time for preschool pick-up, no less!). Total whirlwind. Totally awesome. Would do it again. (You know, now that I'm rested and not just delusional from fatigue. Or something.)

I arrived in the city in time for a late lunch with a knitting friend (who was every bit as lovely as I thought she'd be!). Then, Aufruf with the happy couple. I hadn't been to one of these since my own. It was very sweet - although not literally sweet, since there was no throwing of candy. Perhaps it's not too late?

Anyway, I had this weird feeling, standing there, watching one of my dearest friends up on the bimah. When I graduated from college, wow, did I know how I thought things were going to go down for both us for, you know, the rest of our lives. I knew it. And (this really ought to go without saying, but, well, the enemy of hubris is honesty, so, uh, duh), wow, was I ever wrong. Things turned out better and worse and sadder and happier and altogether different than I ever thought possible. You. Just. Never. Know.

Luckily, I was able to keep my deep thoughts to myself and be (hopefully) a somewhat pleasant dinner guest (Real conversation! With adults! About not-work! The mind boggles!). Dinner was totally awesome; my joy was only diminished by the fact that Mike missed one of the best meals of my life. 

 Just how serious are the chefs about cooking? Behold their spice rack:

I took lots of photos of the meal, but, shockingly, iPhone pictures of food + photographer enjoying the food and drinks don't make for amazing pictures. Here is my best shot:

Enjoyment:

Other weekend happiness:

I should also add that I had a very lovely meal with representatives of the Michigan crew. Which, well, must be proof of how much they adore Mike.

Can't be in New York without a (non-cranberry) bagel. Or so I'm told. And, yes, I brought some home!

Wedding scenes. This is what happiness looks like:

Birthday Parties Galore!

We've been attending a lot of birthday parties the last month or so. I have pictures from those and from, well, just living our lives.

Here's Natalie at a party at a roller skating rink. The kids could roller skate, but they were also welcome to bring and ride anything with wheels.

Jacob also got invited to a birthday party - his first invitation! It was for a girl in his class, and it was Mickey Mouse-themed.

Mickey was, um, not a big hit. To put it mildly.

Sort of the opposite of a party (or, more of the same, depending on who you ask!), Jacob has his one-year check-up. He's doing great!

 Then we had Valentine's Day. Mike got his usual gift:

Know what pairs perfectly with cookies? Oh, you know: milk!

(No actual cookies were consumed by said milk-drinker. And he looks none too pleased about it!)

The weather has been variable - we've had some really lovely days, and some days that truly pass for cold here in Texas. Here's a shot of a cold day:

 And here's a shot of Natalie readying herself for winter in the rest of the country:

 On one pretty nice day, we hit the trails at the nature reserve with some of our friends.

 
Bringing style to the trailz:

And then it was the 100 Days Celebration. Kids these days! Now, in my day, back the good old 1980s, there was none of this 100 Days nonsense (kids, get OFF MY LAWN!!!). And, I admit, I'm still struggling to figure out if we're celebrating that we've been in school 100 days or that there are 100 days to go. I gather it's the former, but, um, the latter seems more worthy of celebration, no? Anyway, there's a dissertation worth of info in this picture (taken from the class newsletter about the 100 Days Celebration):

Also, should we ever need proof of my relationship to Natalie, I believe the above will answer any questions.

I've started a new cooking project. I'm slowly cooking my way through this book. Here's my kitchen muse, hard at work:

Here are my first two efforts (My Favorite Challah, and Czernowitzer Challah, respectively):

Luckily, I've got the best babysitter to watch the babies while I cook:

Here are some pictures from Team Day at nursery school:

It's weird because I thought that basketball dude (whoever he is) was taller than that. Oh well, live and learn.

This picture is pretty dark, but it documents the first time I've been in a movie theater since January of 2012. Awww, yeah. I took Natalie to see her first movie. We saw Frozen. She was alternately interested and bored.

Speaking of watching - or not watching - things, Mike and I might be the last two people around who have yet to watch Downton Abbey. That didn't stop me from borrowing someone else's best tea party clothes and going to a Downtown Abbey-themed tea party.

 And then it was Purim. Here's Superman and Queen Esther:

Preschool mosh pit:

And we'll conclude with a last birthday party: An ice skating party! I was a little skeptical about this, but - and I'm sort of afraid to say this, Natalie had a great time, and she was pretty decent at it, all things considered!

Stay cool, er, warm!