I know Crystal will think this is funny

Have faith in your dreams and someday your rainbow will come shining through. ~ Cinderella

Caught a little video today of the girls when Kylie and Crystal came over to borrow some dresses for Crystal and Jeff's trip to ARUBA! I couldn't be any more jealous ;-D.

As for the video, don't you wish it were socially acceptable to go around shouting out the names of things you love?

"ARUBA!!!" "ICE CREAM!!!" "SLEEP!!!" "AMIR!!!"

Mommy and Kiki

I always knew looking back on my tears would bring me laughter, but I never knew looking back on my laughter would make me cry. ~ Cat Stevens



Kiki and I had a blast just being silly and taking pictures of ourselves. This child makes me laugh no matter what mood I'm in. It's so easy to let these moments just pass. I'm resolved to try and cherish the simple things.

Music Class

It takes a village to raise a child. ~ African Proverb


I know this is one of the most common quotes on child-rearing, but it is worth repeating. Here is a picture from our music class this week. Crystal was getting all the girls attention! We had a great time singing and dancing as usual, and I'm so happy to see Kiki really participating and loving it. Kiki and Sophie decided to tackle me a few times at full running force. So that's why my abs are sore ;-).


Later it was off to lunch. I've said it before, but we are so lucky to have such great friends nearby. The children in these pictures have known each other pretty much since their birth! Truly lifelong companions.

Budding Picassos

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up. ~Pablo Picasso

This morning Kiki and I went with our good friends Miss Joy, Julia, and Annabelle to a children's art studio. The girls had a great time and really let their spirits guide them. The quote for this entry was actually on the wall of the studio and got me thinking.

I really wanted to "get my hands dirty" today and paint and create with Kiki, but instead I only observed and guided her. Why do we stop playing as adults? Why not be less self conscious and more involved?

My greatest joy is my child's passion for life. She has such a strong will, yet it's tempered with a gentle heart. I hope she has that enthusiasm forever. It was a beautiful morning.

Report Card

Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one. ~Malcolm Forbes

Hi everyone, it's Abba here. I just wanted to share with everyone how proud we are of our little Kikster.

Yesterday was the Parent Teacher Conference at Kiki's school and we got to hear about her progress from her teachers. We obviously see how amazing she is on a daily basis, but it's always great to hear it from someone else, especially when they get to observe her in a different environment. Unfortunately I had to miss the actual meeting, but I was very excited to read the meeting summary.

They cover things like Kiki's emotional, social, cognitive and physical development as well as language and judaic skills. She is doing great on all fronts and is a polite, loving and caring little girl who expresses lots of affection for her peers and tries to help her classmates stay out of trouble. She is very curious and has a strong desire to learn new things. She speaks in complete sentences, asks relevant questions and gives and receives information effectively.

Kiki has really shown a lot of improvement since the last time we spoke to her teachers. She is such a happy and smart girl and we just love her so much!

Easter Egg Hunt

Ask about your neighbors, then buy the house. - Yiddish Proverb

We have been so blessed to find the most wonderful people in our neighborhood that we proudly call friends. Last Sunday, the Seymour family opened their home, and more importantly, their yard for a neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt.

The children had such a great time! Kiki has a minor obsession with "big girl" Clare (see picture above), and thankfully Clare seems to enjoy having someone to play dress-up with.

Can you guess who insisted on dressing herself before the party? My little fashionista!

Check out the Seymour blog and CCJames Photography blog for more pics.

My First Sleepover

There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other, wings.- Hodding Carter


Playgroup (I forget if it's for the mothers or the children) lasted a little long this week, so Kiki got to have her first friend spend the night. The night passed with only minor incidents, and overall the girls were terrific.


The pictures are of the morning after- the girls woke up early, changed their own diapers, and dressed themselves :-D. Kiki told Sophie at breakfast "You can stay here forever and ever". Sophie can spend the night anytime!

Age of Technology

The real danger is not that computers will begin to think like men, but that men will begin to think like computers. ~Sydney J. Harris

Yet, I have been gently coaxed into the 21st century, and I thought it only fitting that my first post be a link to a dear friend whose creativity inspires me.

If you scroll halfway down her blog site, to February 13th, you'll see recent pictures of the Dekel Family :-D.

Here are the links to a wonderful photographer:
http://www.ccjamesphotography.blogspot.com/
http://www.ccjamesphotography.com/

I plan to post pictures and stories as frequently as possible to keep all our family and friends updated! If you click on the slideshow, you can see the pictures in full size.

More to come...