Jewish Mommy Meme

HomeShuling tagged me for the following meme. Here goes nothing...


The Holiday version of the Jewish Mommy Meme:


One menorah, or several? Hillel or Shammai? (just kidding about that part)

Many. We have a plethora of Chanukiot in this house - kid friendly, kid-created, wedding gift, etc. We usually light several at a time.


Do you buy your children gifts for every night of Chanukah?

Not really. They get gifts from the family, and one big gift from Mommy and Daddy. The other nights of Chanukah are small - candies, etc.


Do you and your spouse/partner or any other adults in your life exchange gifts?

No. Chanukah is for the kids.


Special family chanukah traditions?

Every year, I attempt to make latkes. Every year, I fail miserably and we end up ordering them or buying frozen.


Latkes or sufganiyot? If latkes, sour cream or applesauce?

For me - latkes with sour cream, although I am not sure my new teeny-tiny stomach will let me have them this year! My kids would definitely pick sufganiyot - chocolate.


Favorite chanukah book?

We read so many stories, probably the traditional story is favored here. Music, however, is big. We tune in to the XM Radio's Hanukkah Channel, and we love listening to Craig Taubman's "Celebrate Hanukkah"


Do you actually play dreidl? If so, what do you use for counters?

Yes. When my son was four, his teacher asked me to come to preschool to teach about Chanukah. I decided jelly doughnuts and dreidle would be fun for the little kids. The teacher watched me play dreidle with the kids, and asked me, shocked, "Is this like GAMBLING???"


What relationship, if any, do you have with Christmas and all things Christmas-y?

None. My son, who went to preschool in a decidedly non-Jewish area and was the only Jewish kid in his class, is totally uninterested. My daughter, who went to synagogue preschool in a VERY Jewish area, is all about all things Santa. We decided that it was better not to make a huge deal out of it. Our kids are very comfortable with their Jewishness - and a fat man in a red suit really doesn't threaten us. When she asked if Santa would come visit our house, we told her that his job is for Christmas, so he would not be coming to our house. We also told her that Santa is friends with everybody, just like she is. If she wants to say hi to him, that is okay!.



Okay - if you are reading this - TAG, YOU'RE IT!!

Alive and well

I made it through. I actually did quite well - off all pain meds only two days after surgery. And, I apparently did well enough on the pre-op diet, because they were able to do the surgery laproscopically.

Now I am drinking one ounce at a time and am completely full. This will take some getting used to!

Two more days...

In forty-eight hours, I will be on the operating table. What a scary thought! However, I know this is the best decision I can make.

I never want to see another Slim-Fast as long as I live!!!!!!!!

Countdown

My surgery is two weeks from today. As such, I began today what is commonly known as the two week pre-op diet. For the next two weeks, I will only be allowed to have Four cans of High Protein Slim Fast per day, with raw veggies as needed for hunger.

Day one is almost over - I have one more shake to go.

This is terrible!

Here goes nothing....

I am revealing a big secret today. Some in my priate life know about this, but I am not advertising it.

On Oct. 14, I will undergo a Roux-en-Y procedure, more commonly known as the gastric bypass. It has taken me a long time to get here. While I am terrified, I know this is the right thing to do.

Please...no judgment. This is NOT an "easy" way out. It is a way to ensure I will be around for my kids.

I Need Some Hebrew Help!!!

My mother in law gave me a beautiful gift for my fortieth birthday. It is a silver necklace from Coolil.com - the "Shema Israel Double Silver necklace."


Here's my question - Inscribed on the top of the necklace charm are the words "Shema Yisrael" in Hebrew. The bottom of the charm has the Hebrew letters bet, shin, kof, mem, lamed, vav.


Does anyone know what the letters signify????????

Forty and...Fabulous?

I am turning 40 tomorrow. I am really, really, really, really not happy about this.

I have no idea why I am fighting this birthday so badly. I have a terrific husband, great kids, great house, good job, etc. I am exactly where I wanted to be at this point in my life.

But I DO NOT WANT to turn 40. 40 is an adult. 40 means I can no longer join organizations with the word "Young" in the title. 40 means I am no longer too young to have all of this gray hair. 40 is - gasp - middle aged!

In my mind's eye, I am still that silly kid down in Champaign, IL who is hoping that cute boy I met at Chin's will call me. In reality, I married that cute boy 15 years ago.

Sigh.