Our Big (but still little) Boy

Yisrael is very excited about his new set of משניות he got as a gift at his סיום חמישה חומשי תורה a few nights ago (I will post more about that soon, IY"H!) and on Erev Shabbos, he and Bentzi sat down to learn together.  I got a kick out of this picture- sitting like a big boy, learning משניות, yet still wearing his bib from lunch!

May he always have an appetite for learning!

True "Yiddishe" Nachas

I was talking to a friend of mine the other night, who's son is in Azriel Shraga's class.  "I heard Azriel's part in the מסיבת חומש is adorable," she said.  "Really?" I responded, "He hasn't said a word about it!"  "Well Elazar keeps talking about Azriel's תפקיד- he says its so cute!"

Of course the next day, when I asked Azriel Shraga about it, he shrugged it off in a shy voice "I want it to be a הפתעה for you, don't talk about it".

Well I was definitely treated to a beautiful surprise this morning at Azriel Shraga's מסיבת חומש.   I didn't dream he'd have a major role- just a minute before his performance, when another boy was called up to "welcome" the guests, I whispered to a friend of mine sitting next to me- "Wow- such self confidence- I don't think any of my boys could do that!"  So imagine how I felt, when he marched up to the center of the stage, and sang a beautiful solo in a sweet, pleasant voice, in front of around 200 people.  It was really cute and I was bursting with nachas!

Azriel Shraga is being an ענו about his performance and really doesn't want me bragging about it and showing off (whose child is he? Doesn't take after me, that's for sure!) so don't tell him that I shared this video with you!

Enjoy! (sorry the video is so shaky...had I known his part was going to be so long, maybe I would have propped up the camera better!)

Zaidy, is the Yiddish any consolation to you?

Ready for gan ALREADY?!

Hillel was playing on the floor one morning, and grabbed the strap of Nissim's backpack, which was laying nearby.  He must have rolled over after it looped around his arm, because a few minutes later, I found him like this:

Three amazing years....

We celebrated Nissim's 3rd birthday this past Erev Shabbos- this year it fell out exactly the way it was the year he was born, with his birthday on Thursday night.  It was a very emotional weekend for me, especially since the timing was the same - I relived the whole chain of events, from the time he was born, to his surgery (which was on Shabbos). Numerous times over Shabbos, I said to Bentzi and the kids- do you know what was happening at exactly this time three years ago? B"H it was so nice to be able to look at this adorable boy, full of energy and good spirit, and to realize how far we've come since that fateful Thursday night three years ago.

I put together a little slideshow, with pictures and videos that most of you have seen already right here on this blog- but when you see them all at once, and you witness how Nissim has B"H grown and developed so much during these three amazing years- it really makes an impact.  Its so easy to forget how sick Nissim was when he was born, how swollen his face used to be, how hard he had to work to be able to walk and run and be the joyful, energetic boy that he is today.

I cried my eyes out as I prepared this slideshow- tears of thanks to the רבונו של עולם that B"H we've made it to this point, and tears of תפילה that we should continue to see Nissim grow and progress, and that Hashem should continue to watch over him and give him- and us- the strength and סיעתא דשמיא that He's given us until now!

A MAJOR Nachas evening coming up...

And you're officially invited!

B"H Yisrael's class is making a Siyum on חמישה חומשי תורה in a week and a half- this is the culmination of three year's hard work, learning and constantly doing חזרה until the boys really know the material "inside out".  Its amazing to see how well he really knows it, and the glow of satisfaction that radiates on his face when we test him and he knows the answers.

The Cheder makes a grand celebration in honor of the Siyum, in a fancy hall (with lots of speeches I'm sure!) and while we know that most of you can't come, we'll sure you'll be there in spirit!  Stay posted for Nachas updates after the Siyum!

(Note to the Yerushalayim Aunts:  Yisrael brought home extra invitations to mail to you....can you consider yourselves invited and I'll save the money for the postage?  I don't think he really expects you to come, although I'm sure he'd be tickled pink if you actually did!)

"I Wanna Hold Your Hand"

Now that the twins are getting older and more social, its really cute to see them interact.  They love to lay on their bellies, looking at each other, and I often find them holding hands when I leave them laying near each other.  On more than one occasion, I've even found one of them sucking the other ones' thumb!  Its so cute!

Becoming a Big Brother

Lots of people were worried how Nissim was going to react to his little brothers, as he had gotten used to being pampered and treated like a prince.  B"H he's taken to them quite nicely- and he's actually grown up a bit because of them!  One night during bedtime, Hillel was kvetchy (a rare occurrence) so I put him in Nissim's bed while I brushed the other children's teeth.  I kept peaking in to make sure they were okay, and it was really cute to watch Nissim making nice to Hillel, kissing him, and even trying to give him his bottle!  It was a real nachas moment!

Little Boy(s) Blue

I caught this cute shot of my two blue-eyed boys while we were eating lunch on Lag B'Omer in Meron.  Aren't those eyes just gorgeous?