Mishenichnas Adar....

Like every year, the kids in גן* came home with costumes on ראש חודש.  Nissim was an adorable leopard (cheetah?) with a long tail in back, and Naftali was מלך האותיות  (they are almost finished learning the א-ב so his גננת decided to make it an educational experience as well).  Aren't they both adorable?

* Yes, once the girls start כתה א and the boys start מכינה, no more costumes.  So while we had 4 kids in Gan last year, this year we're down to only two!  Oy, איך נפלו גבורים!  Good thing we had twins so that we can get that number back up!  (just kidding!)

Purim 5773

(Clockwise, staring from top left)

Yisrael- dressed up as a monster (you may remember this mask from when Bentzi wore it a few years ago). I really didn't like the idea of my sweety-pie dressing up like a monster, but when I told that to Yisrael, he said "But on פורים, its ונהפך הוא - so since I'm such a nice boy all year, on פורים I HAVE to do something הפוך!"

Hillel and Yehuda Leib- the only matching costumes I was able to borrow were skunk costumes (maybe next year I'll have time to make something for them!) - but even though I've never seen a skunk with a bow-tie, I must admit they looked awfully cute!  Yehuda Leib didn't want to smile for the picture...oh well.  He's only 3 months old, so we'll forgive him.  But next year, no more excuses, young man!

Nissim- was too busy "clowning around" to pose nicely for his picture...B"H he's such a happy little kid, this costume was just perfect!

Azriel Shraga- decided he wanted to be a tree, despite my efforts to talk him into being a policeman (we had a police costume in the house already).  So I gave in, and made him an adorable tree costume....and then of course he changed his mind and decided that he DID want to be a policeman!  Well, after all my hard work, I put my foot down - it was a really nice, original costume which elicited lots of compliments!

Bruria- was even more gorgeous in her Kallah gown than she was last year....good thing that it'll probably be too small on her next year (who wants to borrow it?!) since otherwise I'll really have to start worry about "chasing the chassanim away"!

Naftali- dressed up as מרדכי הצדיק- but I think he was more excited about the horse part of the costume than anything else- at one point he even told someone that he's dressed up as מרדכי הסוס!

May the simcha of Purim accompany us all year long!

Announcing...the answer to my riddle!

Last week, I presented you with a riddle in my post about our trip to the zoo on Shushan Purim.  This riddle generated a lot of very creative responses from my readers in the western hemisphere (should that be capitalized?)  I must admit I was disappointed from my readers here in the Middle East, as they did not participate in the fun.  At least one reader here admits she was offended by the zebra's position (she would have preferred a front view)- I apologize, and next time I will try harder to get the zebra to pose nicely!

I must admit, that this is one of those examples where you could say that the question is better than the answer.  I DO have a real answer, however, it is much less exciting and creative than some of the suggestions that were given.

In order to give you the answer, I first need to give you some background:

A while ago, I read an interesting article in the Mishpacha, about the "Living Torah Museum", started by Rabbi Shaul Shimon Deutsch.  Rabbi Deutsch's mission in founding the museum, was to display concepts mentioned in the Torah in a tangible way, making them come to life.  The museum features artifacts, real "stuffed animals", as well as diagrams and models.  (Sounds like a really nice place to visit if you're ever in Brooklyn or Lakewood).

I'm going to quote part of the article, where the answer to my riddle is found:

At this point in my tour, a school bus pulls up and deposits a group of seventh-graders from the Mirrer Yeshivah, accompanied by their rebbi. Rabbi Deutsch, clearly practiced in leading this type of group, starts right in with a splash:

“In Megillas Esther, it says Mordechai sent riders mounted on extremely swift animals — referred to as haachashtranim bnei haramachim — to tell the Jews they could defend themselves,” he tells the boys. “Does anyone know what a remach is?”

They shuffle expectantly; no one knows. “One source tells us it means zebra riders,” Rabbi Deutsch says. “Look, I just got a baby zebra. Anybody want to hold it?” He reaches up to pull a small zebra, posed in a sitting position, from a shelf. A dozen pairs of hands reach out to pet it.

“A lot of people think that zebras can’t be domesticated, but they can,” he goes on, clearly in his element. “Rothschild did it — he had a team of four zebras brought to England, and they pulled his coach.” He flicks on a monitor mounted near the ceiling, and a photo flashes of Lord Rothschild, seated regally in his carriage behind four harnessed zebras. Then he directs their attention to a nature video showing zebras leaping through the savanna, to show the boys just how fast they are.

Well, there you go!  Hope you learned something!  (You can read the full Mishpacha article here)

Shushan Purim in the Zoo!

Since the Friday after Purim was one of the rare occasions that the whole family had off (now that Bentzi started teaching he doesn't get much "בין הזמנים" anymore...), we decided to take advantage of the opportunity, and go on nice family outing to the zoo.  So as Purim drew to a close, I quickly whipped the house back into shape, set the Shabbos table, and got things ready so we could leave for the zoo in the morning. 

There was a real Purim spirit in the zoo- starting with a clown walking on stilts that greeted us at the entrance (the kids asked me, "is he a REAL clown or was he just מתחפש to a clown?!"- I explained to them that ALL clowns are really people dressed up as clowns).  They also had a "Lion" and "Tiger" near the entrance, which Yisrael and Bruria got a kick out of, but the younger kids were too scared to go near them no matter how much I coaxed or explained!

All the zoo staff were wearing headbands with animal ears.  Why, even the elephants had "face paint" (and tushy paint too)!

Now, a Purim riddle for all my dear readers.  What does this picture have to do with Megillas Esther?  Post your answers in the comments below, and stay tuned soon for the answer!

Happy Shushan Purim!

Purim Costumes!

Each year its getting harder to get all five kids together for one Purim picture...this year, I don't think I had all 5 awake in the house at one time the entire day!  With Yisrael learning in "ישיבת מרדכי הצדיק" and Bruria prancing around town delivering משלוח מנות to her friends,  and Nissim needing a nap, just getting a picture of each of them didn't prove to be such a simple feat!  (Not to mention that Mama was pre-occupied with getting ready for a Seuda which we hosted!)

B"H everyone looked adorable in their costumes.  Yisrael wanted to be the כהן גדול again (he wore the same costume last year)- he just finished learning פרשת תצוה in Cheder and was very excited to wear it.  Only problem (if you can call it that!) is that he learned the Chumash so well, that he knew all the measurements of exactly how long everything was supposed to be, exactly of what type of material, and kept on complaining about the innaccuracies in his costume.  We did make a new ציץ and מצנפת which were more authentic looking, but I put my foot down when he asked for an אבנט that was 32 אמות long!

Bruria was a כלה, and she relished the opportunity to get all dressed up and wear makeup.  She was a real beauty, and I must admit at one point when I was watching her, I had a thought that before we know it  I'll be marrying her off!  (okay, well a bit longer than that....but time really does fly!  Seems like just yesterday they were just babies!)

Azriel Shraga was  מררכי הצדיק (in the picture he's missing his beard...oh well).  He loved his costume and was especially proud of the horse and the sign that he wore which we made together.

Naftali, who is always a bit of a clown, decided to make it official and dress up as one.  Good thing I got a picture right after I did the face makeup, becuase right afterward he ate a chocolate hamantasch and got it smeared all over his face!

And Nissim was a clown too- which matches his bright, happy personality.  The ribbons in his hair drew lots of comments- they just added to his natural cuteness!  (he didn't want to keep his hat on, even just to snap a picture...oh well!)

I did not manage to snap a picture of Tatty with his hat...he picked up some strange Santa style hat with braids (not sure what it was really meant to be!)  He wore it to Cheder and his students (all Americans!) called him "Mrs. Santa".  Definitely a bit didfferent!

Enjoy!

 

!משנכנס אדר מרבים בתחפושות

Like every other year, on ראש חודש אדר, the kids come home from Gan all dressed up.  Its amazing to see all the original ideas the Gananot think of every year!   Bruria had a carnival in Gan and came home dressed up as a clown, along with a cupcake which she decorated as a clown!  Azriel Shraga came home dressed up as shepard/sheep, with "צאן קדושים" written on the back (Naftali's gan also dressed up as the same thing, but he was home sick, poor thing).  And Nissim came home dressed up as a candy, with a sweet poem about how he's the sweetest of all...

(Sorry, Yisrael..in 'כתה ב you don't get any of this fun stuff....)

Purim!!!

Purim was, of course, a hustle and bustle and fun-filled day.  I gave up on trying to get a picture of all 5 kids at once, and instead opted for individual shots.  Yisrael was a כהן גדול - part of his costume was borrowed and part (the חושן, ציץ and מצנפת) we made ourselves.  Bruria was מלכת אסתר- and of course her favorite part of dressing up is that I let her have makeup!  AS and Naftali were clowns (just like they are the rest of the year) and Nissim was an adorable pudgy monkey (thanks for the costume, Bubbie!)

The biggest excitement this year was that for the first time, Tatty dressed up too!  He was quite a sight- and a scary one too!  Poor Naftali was petrified of Bentzi, even after we showed him it was just a costume!  Eventually he did calm down and even enjoyed trying on the mask!

Wishing you could have been here to share the fun!

...משנכנס אדר

!מרבים בתחפושות

Every year, on Rosh Chodesh Adar, the גננות make costumes for the kids- aren't they cute?!  (Poor Yisrael only got a mask...that's what happens when you're a big boy and you have a Rebbe!)

A Wet and Happy Purim!

We had a really lovely Purim, B"H. Despite all the rain (B"H its been pouring for days now!) we still managed to have a wonderful time. We weren't able to run around delivering so many Mishloach Manos but we still had a lot of Simchas Purim. Yisrael and Bruria both sat through Megillah (I still can't believe I let Bruria go!!) and our Seuda was really wonderful. The only problem is that since it was such a wet and busy day, I barely had a chance to get pictures!!! (Its a good thing I dressed the kids up a week ago so I could take pictures to send out!)

Here's our cuties, all dressed up (a week ago!)

Aren't they precious?

Bruria and Yisrael sharing an umbrella on the way home from our Seuda

The "swimming pool" in our backyard from all the rain-

I stuck a ruler in and it was about an inch and a half deep!

How's this for a wacky Purim site?

A palm tree alongside a pile of hail- not something you see everyday!

Happy Rosh Chodesh Adar!

Here in Israel on Rosh Chodesh Adar, the teachers dress up their students and they come home wearing adorable costumes.

Yesterday, Bruria came home dressed as the Brachos Queen - they just finished a unit on Brachos, so they had a big Brachos party to celebrate, and each of them got to dress up as well! The cape has a picture of each Bracha, which the girls colored/decorated themselves. It is really something!

Azriel Shraga's Morah had a really cute outfit, depicting "Mazal Adar Dagim" with a matching hat, vest and tie- which of course he refused to wear! So sorry, no picture of that!

Here's what the kids came home with today- not as glamorous as what they came wearing on the first day of Rosh Chodesh, although still quite adorable!

All dressed up for Purim!

Yisrael the fisherman!

On Rosh Chodesh Adar, all the kids come home from school dressed up (their Morahs must stay up half the night before, making all those costumes!). This year, Yisrael came home dressed up as a fisherman!

(Bruria was home with chickenpox, so no pictures of her...)

Happy Purim!

We had a really nice Purim- Yisrael loved it because everywhere he went, he kept getting nosh (which kid doesn't like Purim?!) We ran around to give out Mishloach Manos, and then had our Seuda in Sanhedria Murchevet, by a friend of Bentzi's from Yeshiva. It was very nice and lebedik- real Purim spirit!

(This picture is actually from a few days ago, Bentzi wanted me to make him a silly hat to wear on Purim so I sewed strips of red felt onto a Yarmulka, as a sort of wig. But I must admit that it looked much cuter on Yisrael than it did on Bentzi!)