Celebrate Good Times Come On!

The big weekend had finally arrived - it was time for Debra's Bat Mitzvah celebration! So off on a plane we went yet again, this time into Newark where Grandpa and Uncle Jason picked us up. We arrived there without a hitch and became more and more excited to see everybody. Friday night was a blast with yummy homemade food (I could not get enough of that Chicken Barley soup) and lot's of family to play with. I stayed up way past my bedtime, but it was worth it because I got to hear Aunt 'Lissa's great speech.

We woke up early so that we could get to shul and hear Debra give her speech. I was so proud of her for getting up on that stage and delivering such a wonderful D'var Torah - she did such a good job and mom said I should pay attention so that I'll be ready for my Bar Mitzvah. We then had lunch in the shul with some family and friends which was very nice. After shabbos I had to go to bed, but I got to hear all the details about the party at the Sunday morning brunch, as everyone relived the evening before. From what I heard it was truly Debra's Candy Land - lollipop place cards, Reeses Pieces, Mike & Ikes, and M&M's tables, cotton candy machines, make your own chipwich station, etc. I heard Mommy tell Daddy she really liked the Mojito bar - not sure what a Mojito is though. Daddy told mommy he loved the Sushi bar. I know what sushi is because daddy talks about it all the time.

On Sunday Debra was very sad for her fiesta to end - I tried to give her some wet kisses to make her feel better. Talking about kisses, I got lots of them when Grandmom and Sabba stopped by to say hi to me. It was great to see them since it has been a while since our Hawaii trip. I really gave Sabba a treat when I decided for him, Grandpa and Grandma to walk a few steps all on my own!! I knew I could do it but I was waiting for a perfect moment. Everyone was clapping and yelling - I chose it well!

That afternoon I went with mom, Grandma and Aunt 'Lissa on another plane ride - this time to Florida to surprise GG (Great Grandma Millstein). Well, before surprising GG I gave Grandma a surprise - by throwing up all over myself and her at the airport. Luckily, Aunt 'Lissa came prepared with an extra outfit for herself and mom had one for me. So with a bunch of outfit changes (Grandma in what Aunt 'Lissa was wearing, Aunt 'Lissa in her extra outfit, and me in my extra one) we boarded the plane. The airport attendant was kind enough to recognize I was not feeling very well and gave me a seat of my own. I think mommy was very thankful as well.

So we got to GG's and gave her a BIG surprise - she was so happy to see me and said I got sooo big. After that I went to bed - I was wiped from the long day. Unfortunately for my roommate (Grandma) I ended up getting sick twice in the middle of the night. I definitely caught a stomach bug (and it wasn't from eating too much candy – like my cousin Stevie!). The bug lasted a while - but I didn't suffer alone cause Mommy got it, and cousin Rebecca got it, and GG, and Great Uncle Ira, and Great Great Uncle Lenny. Not a great way to start a vacation....

However, along with our health improving so did the weather - and by midweek we had lots of sun. I spent a lot of time outside by the pool and walking along the Riverwalk bridges. All the people here seem to have dogs – so I became friends with China and Pogo and lot’s of others. But most of all, I spent time seeing people: GG, Great Grandpa & Rose, Aunt Granny (AKA -Great, great Aunt Rita) & Great Great Uncle Lenny, Great Aunt Renee & Great Uncle Ira, Great Great Aunt Ann & Great Great Uncle, Rebecca, Zachary, Amy, Anthony, Tony, Great Aunt Roz, Cousins Danielle and David, and the entire Baena clan (who knew I had so many female cousins!). Even though we traveled all the way to Florida I also got to see Grandmom and Ethel who saw first hand how much I love pancakes!

You know, throughout the trip I tried to stay out of trouble. But it was really hard to since Grandma kept tickling me all the time. In order to get her back, I found all the tissue boxes around GG's house and decided to have my own fun.

I also had a lot of visitors at the pool. My friend Jack and his mommy Jen from Chicago came over to swim one day, and Great Grandpa and Rose came on another.

Great Grandpa chased me around the pool and played with me on the stairs. Are we sure he is really 90??!

Overall we had a great time and we were very sad to leave the beautiful weather. We got back to Chicago safe and sound - and you know who was at the airport? Uncle Jason! No one tells me anything so it was a very exciting surprise. He stayed for the week and we had some nice bonding time. He even went with me to Gymboree and watched me slide down the slide and pop bubbles. I was sad to see him go but am hoping he will come out again in the summer so he can see all the beautiful things Chicago has to offer.

Life is relatively back to normal for now. We had a nice outing with our Kellogg Kwest families and I go to gymboree 1-2 times a week with mommy. It's nice to be at home with Daddy and now that I know how to put a ball in a hoop we play basketball everyday. I am continuing to take big strides (literally) and each day I can go a little bit further.

In other news, I am turning 1 in about two weeks and I can't wait. Mommy and Daddy are throwing me a party and I hear the theme is Sesame Street. Woohoo - I love Elmo! Now I just have to figure out what kind of present I want.......

Who said sand doesn't taste good??

The first few weeks in December were relatively uneventful. Daddy had a lot of studying to do for his finals, and Mommy and I laid low after such a long time away from home. And just as I got back into my routine and sleeping schedule - they throw me back on a plane - this time all the way to HAWAII (Not that I am necessarily complaining)!
I should mention that the ride to the airport itself was pretty eventful. The cab driver who picked us up was possibly the worst driver on the road, and almost got us into a number of accidents. He also couldn't hear anything so when Daddy told him there was an accident in front of us and we had to switch lanes it didn't really mean anything and we were stuck in that lane for quite a while. Mommy and Daddy were pretty traumatized (whatever that means) - and were very happy to see Aunt Leez at the airport when we finally arrived. The first leg of the flight was pretty fun - I read some books and played with some toys. We met Grandmom and Sabba in Phoenix and caught the longer flight to Maui. I was awake most of the trip but I had a good time watching Mama Mia and listening to some music.

We landed at around 6pm Hawaii time, and luckily everyone's luggage arrived (mommy and daddy were not looking forward to a repeat of what happened on their honeymoon). After a bit of hassling to get the cars we were finally on the road to the villa. We stayed at a beautiful place - and the views of the ocean, mountains and other islands were incredible! All of us spent a lot of time sitting out on the lanai (Porch). Mommy had arranged with a company to deliver a stroller and toys for me, so I felt right at home in our villa. Since I was asleep by the time we got to there, I did not get a lei until the next day - but how cute do I look?!

Since I thought it was morning around 4:30am, I woke up Grandmom and she played with me so mommy and daddy could sleep. After a while I was exhausted, and since Grandmom did not want to wake anyone, she put me in the only place that was empty - the giant jacuzzi bath tub!

Uncle "whistler" Mike and Aunt Tovah arrived and we had a nice time catching up with them. Since I was not on Hawaii time I woke up the following morning at 3am, and it was a perfect wake up call for the family so that we could all drive up Haleakala (a non-active volcano) and watch the sunrise. It was freezing up there but it was worth it to see the constellations - while I have never been to a planetarium I was told that what I saw that morning was unbelievably better. We watched and waited for the sun to come out and wow was it a sight to be seen. We stood above the clouds - and it was if we could reach out and touch the sun.

On the way down the mountain we saw a huge full rainbow - it was breathtaking. We also saw bikers riding down the mountain and realized how crazy mommy and daddy were for doing that just a few years ago. We spent the rest of the day enjoying the sun on the beach. This was my first time touching the waves and playing in sand - the ocean was a little loud and the sand a little strange - it took a while to adjust. But by the end of the trip I realized how fun it is - and wow did I have a blast (not to mention ate a little sand)!

The next day was filled with adventure, as we went out onto the high seas with the Pacific Whale Foundation to go whale watching. Both Grandmom and Sabba went on the boat prepared with sea sickness bracelets, while the rest of us figured we could weather out the boat ride. Or so we thought.... Well slowly but surely Daddy, Aunt Leez, Uncle Mike, Mommy and Aunt Tovah all ended up in the back of the boat where you have to go if you felt sea sick and were likely to throw up. Only one of us on the trip did (but I will never tell who!). I was fine (at least I didn't verbally complain) and remained at the front of the boat with Grandmom and Sabba.

The next few days passed by quickly. We did some shopping in Lahaina, went on a plantation tour, and played on the beach and in the pool. I built sand holes with Uncle Mike and Daddy (they kept hogging the pails) also saw a lot of neat fish and even sharks at the aquarium. Everyone had a great time - it was a perfect vacation for some R&R.

The flight to Phoenix was a bit hectic, as the US Airway computers were down and they had no record of where people were supposed to sit on the plane or who should even be on the plane - eventually though we had to say goodbye to sunny Hawaii, and a few hours later, a hurried goodbye to Grandmom, Sabba, Uncle Mike and Aunt Tovah. It was time to head back home to snowy Chicago. I slept most of the trip and got home safe and sound. Mommy and daddy really enjoyed the time zone changes on this end, because on my first night back I slept until 10 in the morning!

Now that we are back I am adjusting to the cold weather and having to stay indoors. All the flying and weather changes finally hit me, and I now have my first real cold. Hopefully it will be gone soon.