Tis the first night of Hanukah

And we all gathered at Gledhill

to light the first light

with Latkas, Doughnuts and Blintz Casserole too!

The families had gathered for

good times and good food

with only one of us missing

there was paper and ribbon and ripping and tearingand o

oohing and aaahhhhing but not very much sharing...

o.k. enough trying to rhyme.

The kids got into the ripping of wrapping paper.

Ashleigh just enjoyed being with her Bubbie.

So did Tracy

I had made all the little people these cute funky little scarf/hood/pocket things

and then we had the infamous.... Leslie Slut Sweaters

o.k. so maybe they are not to slutty this year... and in some cases they are not even sweaters But they were all loved... especially since they came from Leslie and Bill.

The whole evening was great fun... especially when we got down to adult games. It was Calli's first year as an adult so Bubbie showed her what to do. How to do the white elephant and then what to do with the gift?

Calli did pretty good for the first time... Morgan you better ask questions cause next year your an adult....

Samantha on the other hand is in Israel (yes I know when isn't she in Israel) and she had Barry as her person to buy a gift for... so this is what she gave him and t if you need to know more... I guess you will have to ask.

but when the evening was done .....we were ready for bed.

It's the 5th nicht of Hanukah

it's the 5th night.... nothing special to report just good wishes to all.... oh yeah Shomer has it figured out if he sheves (sit) when we light the candles he gets a treat.

Happy Hanukkah.... Woof Woof

Welcome to our Shabbos Table

It has been a very strange Hanukkah this year.... First it came so early.... yes there could still be Thanksgiving leftovers in the fridge (not ours because we were in Vegas) as we are preparing Latkas (we haven't done that yet either).... and then the house is so empty. Not like years past when we were spilling over with kids and friends.... this year we didn't even decorate... not like in years past were every little space had something Hanukkah related... to this year where we have one jelly chanukiah up and that is it.

Tonight was even smaller than normal although, I don't know how much smaller we can get and still be a we... But Ash, Bear and I celebrated Hanukkah and Shabbat tonight....yes that is why she is with us tonight .... that is our present from her, time.....It is very strange to have an empty house...I am beginning to understand empty nest syndrome... it is good and it is not so good....

Ahhhh I digress again.... Happy Hanukkah and Good Shabbos

Channukah oh Channukah

Come light my menorah......

Well here we are the month of December is young, the 4th to be exact and here in SoCal it is 85 degrees shorts weather but it just doesn't feel like Channukah.

Last year it was just Ash, Bubbie, Bear and me....and that was hard but we thought it would get better.... but no ... it is even emptier this year. Sam and Celia are gone still, Morgan is staying in Fl to work, Ashleigh is down at temple almost every night and Bubbie is leaving town on Friday... I guess this is what empty nest is all about....

So we thought that we would go down to synagogue for the Latka bar... sounds good and I don't have to clean up and I could be with my kid on channukah while she was there with everyone Else's kid.

But alas .... if you want latkas you just have to do them yourselves... or go to the deli.

So Happy Hannukah and we see how the dreidel spins tomorrow.