Mirror, Mirror on the wall

One feature of the Minkus house which you just can't miss is the wall of mirrors along the living room wall.  Growing up with a house full of girls, those mirrors got PLENTY of use- we'd admire our outfits in front of them, put on makeup in front of them, dance and act in front of them, why, we'd even just talk to each other while looking at each other in them, rather than facing each other!  (Remember those days?!)

I hadn't thought much about those mirrors lately...until I went with Bruria to Gedalia Minkus's wedding last week.  Before we went home, I took Bruria to the bathroom...and right before she entered the toilet stall, she noticed that one wall was covered with a wall-to-wall, full length mirror.  Bruria was ecstatic!  She pranced around in front of the mirror, turning around slowly to admire her dress, she lifted up her arms and danced, watching her reflection...it brought back such fond memories!  Since we don't have any full length mirrors at home, she doesn't usually have this opportunity!  I had a hard time getting her to actually use the bathroom, since she was so enamored with her reflection!

100%

In case you didn, know, B"H Yisrael is a bright young fellow (takes after his mother, of course!)  He does very well in school, always bringing home 100's on his tests and worksheets.  His Rebbe is very good about writing comments on his work - and as soon as Yisrael comes home, he rips out his paper to show me what his Rebbe wrote.

Yisrael was sick at home for the last two days.  This morning, as he was getting dressed, I joked around with him that he missed two whole days of learning (at the pace they learn at in their Cheder, that's at least a perek or two in Chumash and Navi) and that maybe he won't do so well on the next test.

Well when he came home, he was smiling ear to ear- and handed me his test.  Sure enough, he got 100%.

And read the comment his Rebbe wrote:

It says "!תגיד לי איזה מלאך הגיע אליך ללמדך תורה, שגם יבוא אלי- בסדר"

May we be zoche to see Yisrael use his potential!

As a side note, Yisrael's Rebbe this year is a gem- he's a great-grandson of R' Aryeh Levine, and he definitely inherited his Elter Zeide's warmth and love.  He is loving and encouraging, and can really understand the mentality of a 7-year-old.   Yisrael loves him to pieces!

The ULTIMATE compliment

My darling Bruria is ever the social butterfly, always wanting to go to play at a friend's house.  So imagine how great I felt after the following scenario:

Yesterday I bought Bruria and Yisrael each a deck of cards- card games (primarily war), have become the new obsession in our home.  I decided to teach Bruria how to play "Spit" so that she'd have a variety of what to play.  So we were sitting on the rug, playing "Spit" (I was letting her win; isn't it nice that I can control myself for my daughter's sake!?) when the phone rang.

"שלום, זאת רבקי ברים, אפשר לדבר עם ברוריה?"

I handed the phone to Bruria, sure that our game was over.  I only heard Bruria's side of the conversation, but it went something like this:

"מי זאת?"

"מה את רוצה?"

"אבל אני משחקת עם אמא שלי!" (said with a shrug of her shoulders, her body language that means, I don't want!)

"שלום!"

Aaaaaaawwwwwww...

Nissim: Two posts in one

I've got two blog posts to write about Nissim, but they both apply to the same video- so I'll combine them as a two-in-one:

POST #1:  "I did it all by myself"

I'm so used to the kids coming home with projects that their Morah made, that when Nissim came home with some sticker projects from Maon, I thought, oh, yeah right-  Nissim can't do this- why do they even bother?  Until the kids sat down and pulled the orange stickers off his tree (they are learning about oranges)- and he took them and stuck them back on!

Since then we've been doing lots of playing with stickers- it is SO good for his fine motor skills- he transfers it from his left hand to his right, makes sure to get the sticker on the tip of his finger, and rolls it off of his finger onto the paper.  Each time he sticks a sticker, he claps his hands and looks to his audience for a round of applause.  SO ADORABLE!

(Of course in the video, he decided to make shtick and put the stickers in his mouth, which he NEVER does when we are just playing...I guess he's like some of his other siblings who get silly in front of the camera!)

POST #2:  Nissim's New Look 

By now, most of you have heard that Nissim needs glasses- and a select few have already Skyped with me and saw him live!  He just got them today and has to get used to wearing them- when he's not distracted he tries to pull them off, but I'm hoping he'll get used to them soon!

And now for the video....

Trouble viewing the video?  Click here to download it

Yungers in Action: Reaching new heights!

Nissim learned how to climb up the stairs- and we are all thrilled!  (Don't worry, we're putting the gate on the stairs!)  Its so exciting to see him growing and developing and reaching new milestones!

Trouble viewing the video?  Click here to download it.

Cute Quote: Don't mess with me!

Yisrael is learning פרשת משפטים in Cheder- and it looks like he's taking his learning seriously!  He came home one day and told me about the following incident- in a totally serious tone of voice!

Troublemaker:  Yisrael, I dare you to go do XXX!
Yisrael:  No, I'm not going to listen to you!
Troublemaker:  If you don't listen to me, then I'm going to tell my big brother to break your arm!
Yisrael:  He wouldn't do that, because he knows that if he breaks my arm he'll have to pay me for שבת, ריפוי, נזק and צער!

Well, the kid had nothing to say to that!

Chanuka Sudoku

I prepared a cute Sudoku with Chanuka symbols for Bentzi to give out to his students...so I figured I'd share it with all of you! 
Enjoy!