Most famous onion cutter in the school

Dorothy turns six today.  Impossible to believe, except when I look at pictures of myself 6 years ago and see I am clearly a half decade older.

She is still a party in a person. Before Channukah at school the kids helped prep latkes. Dorothy had the job of cutting onions. She came home and told me she was the most famous person in the school for cutting onions - apparently she did a great job.  I thanked the teacher for making her feel good about it..."Lo that's hilarious! I showed her how to cut them and you know dorothy- she woul not let up until every last piece was chopped to perfection!"

Daron dressed as Steve Jobs for a school project where they had to read a biography.  He looked so handsome in black turtleneck and jeans and he even brought an apple to school and took a bite.  He was totally energized by learning all about the different characters.

He also did Run for Fun in school this year. Where he and other kids ran during recess. Tons of kids ran 2 miles or 5. Only 2 kids ran a marathon over the course of the weeks. Daron and Leah Zackson. Love it. 

Ian is getting more than 90 on most of his test, juggling hockey and middle school and friends with grace. His sense of humor continues to be like mikes. Quiet but hilarious. The other day I hugged Stella and said outloud what I was thinking.. ."How crazy would it have been like if we never had you" - Ian who was in the playroom heard me and said "A little less." _ I didn't hear him - thought he was talking about something else and asked - "What"  "Probably a little less crazy" he said, which was so funny. And even more so because he bursts with love for her. She pats his head and gives him kisses and finds a way to sit with him.

Daron drives her around in a car and she puts on sunglasses. He also plays football with her. Stella plays hockey with both boys. And the girls are developing a sisterly bond- although Dorothy gets insulted if Stella doesnt want to do just as told.

MIke and I went to Florida for our anniversary.  Swimming with dolphins and hiking and kyacking in the Everglades was probably my favorite adventure ever. 

She pees, He Tweets, She parties, He pucks

Stella still asking to pee. She has expanded her vocabulary and it is adorable. Kuby (kirby) GutDob (Good Job) EEEEEEn (Ian) and the other kids plus a firm "noooooo"

Daron is on Twitter.  @dwelfeld. Password is hippohippo which is tender and ironic given one of his first tweets was @IDF Gaza is going down. Despite the brazen tweet, most of his tweets blend snarky with kiddy and I am in awe.  I love the he wants to hear and be heard.  Please @Jets tweet back.

Dorothy had a Princess party because of a House Party kit I got through work> Rachel, Eliana, and the Tabuouche twins were here and it was sweet.

Ian and Daron rocked back to school teacher conferences. So proud of them.

Sunday looked like this:

Parent teacher conferences (many)
Flu Shot
Shiva visit
Parent teacher conferences
Basketball
Hockey
Princess Party
Ian homework

Wouldnt have it any other way

Stella peed!

Every night before the bath I put her on the toilet and count to 10. Tonight, at 3, there was pee!  15 months. I think she was pretty surprised.

Tonight was parent night at Dorothys dancing school. Daron and Stella came because MIke waws pickign up hockey.

Stella loved the dancing and marched around the room saying hi to people and other babies. Daron looked at me and said "She's speed dating" - huh? How did he get that term?

We started turning off the hallway light so I can sleep better and Dorothy keeps asking me why I can't sleep when it is too sunny.

Hurricane Sandy.

Hurricane Sandy. Monday -Friday with no power, followed by a snow storm mini blackout. What a way to end October.

We were cold but fine, Stella took to running through the house in a flashlight in the dark.

Daron is now on Twitter. One kid won't talk to his classmates in the street, the other is prepared to tweet to the world. Couldn't love them both more. So endlessly fascinated by our kids.

Stella loves her siblings. Says "EEEEEEan, Daaaden, Darty and Mommea and Debbie and Daddy" and she laughs and now yells and runs around like an energizer bunny.

Dorothy decided to cut bangs. She also thought of the song "I won't give up on you" and hopefully her class will sing a song, do a project and share with a class deeply harmed by Sandy.

Jets struggling which is hard on Mike.

The other day Dorothy handed me papers from school but it was in the morning rather than evening before  "This is from yesterday. If you see tomorrows in here it means today."

Its October

Daron is 9.  Funny and 9.  And smart. And so funny- snarky really.  He is enjoying 3rd grade so far, he and Ian are still close as ever and he got that crazy flying fish from Caleb and Stephanie for his birthday.

Ian is in E2K, got accepted to a special science and math and made the Yavneh hockey team!  We are so excited, probably more than he is. We did just miss his first TABC hockey game tonight.

Dorothy is making some new friends at school. Her biggest fears are lunch (how could I give her things like pancakes and cereal in a bag for lunch- those are breakfast foods!- and the laughing boy - a mysteriuos kid who laughed at her at lunch? but he's handsome? not sure).  Also walking down the hall after the bus.  A teacher named Victoria seems to have been assigned to get Dorothy to and from the bus.

Stella.  Bella. Stella Bella. Bells, or per Ian .. "fleishnik" -- the bookends are adorable buddies.  A lot of the time, she prefers to the kids to us. She has said versions of "E" "Daden" and "Darty" before "mommy" although today I am "Mamey" -- she also says eyes, ears, nose, belly - or can point to them and head and diaper and her vocabulary is really growing! Except when Ian reads books to her in a jibberish that sounds like Russian and always includes "chicken flakes".

I am in a whole foods phase for the past few months. It should probably be noted.

And we have walking. 10-20 steps at a time. Stella lifts her feet high and marches/waddles proudly to and from siblings. She does best when holding something - even if it is not attached to anything at all.

It's like she waited for Ian.

Today Daron was staring at her across the Shabbos table and said, in all seriousness, "are you sure she's a girl? She looks like a boy?"  Dorothy was confused enough to ask if we knew? how we knew and Daron realized certain body parts dictate as Dorothy asked when we knew she was a girl. He gently explained.

Today, there was battle in the playroom, redone by me a few months ago with IKEA.  Daron and Dorothy wanted to race cars but each had a vision of the race track that conflicted with the other.

With an audience, Daron did his best to compromise offering several solutions, simplifying to one on the yellow carpet, the other on the boarder. That was no good for Dorothy who held her ground, complaining. When i asked what it was she wanted - she emphatically responded "both" " i want to race on the yellow carpet and the blue" - Daron continued to offer land for peace until finally she agreed to the yellow carpet - a far larger space than the boarder- and yellow was where Daron had begun.  Do i fault her for not being a wall flower? Or applaud?

Intensely rewarding to have Ian back. Little mini snippets of camp activity discussed- but mostly it is enjoyable to make food that is good - i have cooked more in the past week than the entire month since Daron and Dorothy don't eat much. Same time, she asked for spinach leaves today, he is no longer taking Miralax and both are in a fight to 10 stickers for trying new things.

Still nursing Stella morning and night, tried to ditch morning today but was really uncomfortable most of the day. Tough to cut back emotionally and physically.

7.22

Stella started to stand a while ago but life is so full it is hard to write!

She says " woo woo" "uh oh" "meow" has six teeth.

We want to visit Ian at visiting day and it was just incredible to see him. First order of busienss was he took us deep into the woods to find salamanders. we had to leave the stroller by he bunk.  Daron and Dorothy followed with incredible enthusiasm as Mike held Stella and I held a smile as we followed him to the tune of "mumble mumble poison ivy" and "mumble mumble salamandar" but even as we spoke to him on Sue's cell phone as we were minutes away from camp he asked if Avery Lijah and Grey were with us becuase he wante to show us salamandar way.

Turns out he has never seen a salamander there and we are still not sure why he had opportunity to venture so far back behind camp, but overall (aside from wheezing and coughing and seeming exhausted) he was OK. And it was wide open arms and smiles and "Smelly stelly" for Stella. By the end of the day  all fo the kids were crawling with Stella across the lawn at Moshava. It was hard to leave him there. I cleaned out the plastic bin under his bed, all the while flabergasted that I was the mom.  I seem incapable of accepting that I am the mom - when I think a mom should clean out his bin, it seems impossible that I am that mom, yet I find myself inexplicable drawn to the bin, cleaning out pretzel bits.

Dorothy went to her first Mets game today. She loved the ice cream, the guy that gets dunked in the water and had a good time. She is a swim obssesed Daron still hates to swim. Happy for him Ian comes home tomorrow.

Dog Tags before Summer Camp and an Ipod

A few weeks ago, Ian surprised me by asking about Mikey's dog tags. Later he asked where one gets them. I offered one to him and he nodded in humble request. I was slightly offput by the real purpose of a dog tag - but admit to thinking there was a plus side to him having that on when going away to camp. Regardless, what really got me was the request that was appearance related- a cool factor request. He is so damn good looking it is almost breathtaking - and here he is in wife beaters with his fit body and dog tags. He is still my little boy but glimpses of the teen he will be come through often these days. The request was another reminder. He makes so few requests - I was happy to comply. If only it hadnt taken weeks to arrive. Speaking of which - he has mastered the art of delayed gratification - having saved nearly $200 for an ipod touch! I am so proud of him and really happy for him that he bought one for himself. Most of his friends have had them for a long time. I know he will take care of and take pride in his ipod. And I know he will be able to be in touch with Mommy this way too. Camp. It is around the corner. I am happy for him - trying to be. But he will be missed during those four weeks. We started a word of the week a few weeks ago after a friday night conversation that somehow turned from football to vocabulary. From Flatulants to circumvent and other words I can't spell- they are learning vocabulary worthy of the SATs which may be extinct by the time they get there. Spencer and Jeremy came over today for a playdate. Jeremy is walking rather quickly if jerkily and speaking slowy but speaking! It is amazing. Too bad Spencer was hard to manage and the two of them fought about what to watch. Between Debbie and Stella and the twins and Dorothy and the boys asking me homework- and Mike's parents over- I missed the end of work and two calls and was a stress ball- but glad to see Jeremy is on the mend. Dorohty had her recital- she was great! Pink eye aside, she looked beautiful and had a smile and confidence and remembered all of her moves. Stella is standing by herself when not paying attention Debbie takes her to the park. Still talks on the phone too much. Still cleans really well. Daron ate spinach - twice. THat is big news.

Tired post

Got Stella new high chair and stroller - britax - treated us to it and am happy. How is it she is almost 10 months old. New playroom set up - really nice. Dorothy does a "show" for stella in her room. I love when I wake up and ike has already put Stella next to me in bed. Ian and Daron baseball. Stella stays "meow" waves, says "mamma" she cruises, stands Daron leaves jackets places. The other night Mike went on a scavendar hunt to Bromberg and the Yavneh secretary's house for jackets.

Strides

4/10 Stella had her 9 momth appointment - chol hamoed :

17 lbs and i forget how tall but she is doing great, 60th for height i think and not sure for weight - i am so tired.

Since two weeks before Pesach she started Crawling like 4 “steps” – just as Mike was away in St. Louis.

During that time Stella started shakeing her head no- to music but the kids thnk it is hilarious – esp she does it when they sing “stella bella bo- we love you

She is pulling up and starting to cruise.

Took them for ice cream today last day of school before vacation
Mike in st lous

Stella started standing and crying in crib at night
Mike going away
Pesach now

Swim

When Stella crawls - looks like she is swimming on the wood floor.
She says "uh huh" and "oooh" and something that sunds like "wow" and "mmmmama" when she is crying (which is almost never)

Best part of parent teacher conferences

was learning how much Daron loves his baby sister when we heard about it from his teacher- Mrs. - totally forgot her name right now.

Both boys had stellar reports, and Ian's shining moment was an E- in self control - he and Uri G apparently cut it up a bit during class, which made his teacher proud.

Both had reports of being very bright, great students, well behaved and good with their peers. WHat could be better.

This shabbos, Ian had Yoni Zirman over. Big boy, 5"2 0 really nice - great house guest, sweet, smart, kind, funny. Yoni Ginsberg (who still can't say "r" and Isaac Zaken came over in the afternoon. Dorothy was confused when GInsberg asked for "wataw"

Stella is fantastic- Stell Bells is a new version - and Ian calls her "Smella" - they are all so funny with her and she adores each one. SHe is still army crawling but also up on all fours and taking crawl steps. Had to lower her crib mattress. She is still sweet, super sweet - loves eating enjoys watching her brothers play sports (both hockey and basketball championships) and still nursing.

Dorothy is a panic. I dont use that word but she just is - she is amazing, interesting, full of energy and adorable at the same time.

Slept

Stella slept through the night- granted it was the first time in ages i let her try. She went to bed around 8 and woke up around 6 nd then 7:30 - and ate at 7:30. Amazing how non torturous she was.

It is going too fast!

Scorpie-

Mike brought "scorpie" back from Reno a few years ago. Rory still affectionately carries and cares for it - set in a glass dome on pink sparkles. Brought her to schol the other day - love that she still has it.

Stella is up on her hands and knees -rocking and army crawling. We were at Grannie Annie's this shabbos. Daron and Ian bth have great senses of humor - keep us laughing.

The other day I came home and as usual had pumped while driving. Daron said "shouldnt that be illegal" delivering it with perfect timimng as always.

Iand and his friends made up a P language - eveyr word starts with P.

Do you need a subway sandwich?

"Cause I think your button came off" said Daron to me just now.

Dorothy got in trouble at school the other day for saying "What's wrong with you people?" to her teachers.

Stella is sitting up, spitting, and loving her siblings. With help she gets on all fours and rocks.

Ian is a star. His group leader told me today he is the best davener. Mikey comes for shabbos a lot and is sweet and they are all funny. He and Daron dont eat much. Today- Ian was still eating after 4 minutes and Mikey wanted to go play so he looked at Ian who was making a second moo shoo beef wrap and said "Ian's a good eater"

Woodloch was great. Although Dorothy had a ITU (we went to urgent care) and Mike fell 3/4 of the way into a skiing lesson and twiested his knee. Grannie Annie and Saba Josh came up with us from Tues- Thus and then went to CHicago cause Caleb had an exibit of Dead people - Mr. and Mrs. Bones.

I had taught dorothy to wipe from front to back. At the lunc table she was touching my hair. I told her it was not polite manners to touch hari at the table. "oops" she said, embarrased. Not a beat later she said - "when girls wipe they have to wipe from front to back" - daron said "ugh- dont ruin my appetite" and she was insulted- having no idea why he would say that.

I bought a red woodloch sweatshirt. Stella ate a meatball today, some chicken, enjoys most of what we give her to eat, loves challah. Still exclusivly nursing.

What's Wrong with you People

Ian had a really amaazingly interesting assignment with school. They called it the Living Museum and each kid had to bring in sometihng that was handed down through generations. We gave him a few options and he selected my grandfather from Chicago's army knife which we learned at the event has symbols of the free masons.

WE could not ask for better big brothers and sister for Baby Stella who weighed 15.3 at her 6 mo check up. She continues to be of incredible demeanor, queit, calm. From about 6 weeks till 5 months she slept like a champ. We would feed her around 10 or 11 and she would sleep till the morning. It has been a little rougher since that time but even middle of the night she smiles and kicks her feet after a few calls to get you in the room. She is teething. Adores her siblings, can sit up well but still not a pro at rolling from front to back. Time is speeding by- it is so hard to soak up every moment. Which is why i have turned to photography as my latest obsession. Trying to freeze the clock periodically.


Daron is a mench. Funny. Adorable Has been patient with his siblings and while he is a little on the slow side when it comes to getting ready, he is speedy and talented on the bball court which is started recently. He has some great friends this year on the country club side.

Dorothy is still a spitfire. Yesterday she told me she got in time out becaseu when the teachers were late to bring her her snack- she said "What's wrong with you people?" and wasnt sure why that was a bad a thing to say. She was a bit distraught today when she said something else and realized she doesnt know which things are ok to say or not. I promised to help.

I got into bed early last night and mike got Stella at 5am when she woke up and so i feel like a million bucks.