Happy Halloween 2011!!

Well, there was no school today due to the storm damage (and it still looks like a tornado ripped through the street and several others around).  Mommy took the ladies to the doctor because both have had coughs and after being up at night with Emma for over a week, it was time. They dressed up, because, it is Halloween!

Emma seems to have some asthma (mild) and got a nebulizer treatment in the office and now, the Gornstein's are proud owners of a nebulizer machine! She was very good- the iphone and some bribery didn't hurt- and held the mask over her face for the entire treatment.

Clara has a cold- and the good news is that her ears were clear, but that of course, can changes. So, everyone is hoping for the best.

Both were excited to "trick or treat" at the office. They enjoyed a lunch at Panera and then had their therapy- which included more treats.

They couldn't wait to get home and put on their real costumes! Clara dressed up as Cinderella and Emma as Ariel. The sitter was here to help and put makeup on the ladies and they were both so pleased with how lovely they looked. Chelsea was sweet and brought them special cupcakes too!

The gang stopped at the Dobbs Ferry trick or treating in the village before doing some in the cul de sac- avoiding areas where trees were dangling.

They loved looking through the candy and were pretty good about picking just two pieces for tonite.

What a fun day!

Weekend in Maryland for Auntie Alyssa and Uncle Ryan's Engagement Party #2

Clara and Emma took a day off from school on Friday to head down to Maryland. They were so excited to go - Clara even channeled Mommy as she decided she needed to pack up all her stuff on Thursday afternoon.

Even though they were tired, they were so excited to see their cousins, Lucas and Noah (and their parents too).

They enjoyed breakfast out on Saturday before coming home for the party. A special treat was meeting their twin cousins, their age!! They loved running outside to see the snow too.

In Maryland, just a few flakes fell, but in NY, it was quite a storm that had some snow accumulation and tree damage.

It is always nice to see the family together, but much too quick!

Library Fun

Clara and Emma continue to be thrilled to go to Club Lunch at school on Tuesdays. They love to pick out what they want for lunch and help pack it. And, somehow, Mommy manages to get carrots in the lunch bag and they even eat them!

The library had a free Halloween themed crafts hour this afternoon. Clara and Emma made several necklaces. Clara worked on cutting a bat out all by herself and making its face- and then carried it with her around and insisted on sleeping with it. They really like being at the library and playing the games on the computer too.

Fall Fun

It was a busy Saturday filled with lots of fall fun! This morning, the gang enjoyed a tractor ride around the store at Stew's - where the ladies also had their first tootsie rolls.

After helping with the leaves, the kids took a nap. Clara made herself a little bed inside the tunnel and took a nap curled up inside. Emma napped too- and even though she had a tough time waking up- she was very pleasant for the afternoon.

The ladies enjoyed a Storytime Stage show at the library and Clara even participated! For dinner, the gang headed to The Yard in Ridge Hill- which just opened today- for dinner with the Konigs. Before sittign down, the kids got balloons, saw a juggling show  that was part of the opening weekend celebration. They ven got a glimpse of the fire ring when sitting down. It was yummy and a fun nite.

Nursery School Update

This week in the Fours Oct. 19, 2011

In Music, we played with the shakers and the drum. We clapped and sang "piano" and "vivace". (Ask your children what thaese mean!) We also practiced the musical scales.

We decorated the sukkah with the flowers that we made. We ate snack in the sukkah on Monday, and on Tuesday we had a sukkah party with very special snack to celebrate the harvest of all the fruits and vegetables. Cantor Janet came and sang with us in the sukkah too! We waved the lulav and etrog and sang how G-d is everywhere. It was fun to party with the threes. Thank you to the moms and the PTA for putting together such a lovely party for us!

To celebrate Simchat Torah (which falls Thurs. night and Friday), the fours made their own Torahs.We read about the Torah and how the first story in the Torah is how G-d created the world. We also looked inside a real Torah with the rabbi to see what the words look like - the letters are very fancy and some even have crowns on top! The Torahs looked very beautiful. We saw pictures of how a sofer wirtes a Torah. He uses a special feather called a quill and even has to make his own ink from berries and nuts! The class drew with feathers so they could get a feel of what it's like when a sofer writes a Torah. Some of the children drew pictures in their Torahs depicting creation.

The threes and fours had a Torah parade and we sang "Torah,Torah" to celebrate finishing reading the whole Torah and being able to start all over again. We looked at the ark in the main sanctuary and saw that the Torahs have a beautiful house to live in. The doors are decorated with all the symbols of the different holidays during the year. One of the children thought we should add Halloween onto the doors, but we'll keep them as they are for right now. We also looked inside the ark at all the Torahs and counted how many there were, 11 in all. Jackie told the children that all the Torahs would come out to dance on Simchat Torah! We looked at the beautiful silver crowns and breastplates and yads (pointers), and decided that the Torah must be very, very special.

We are looking forward to a full week of school next week!

Have a good holiday.

Shabbat Shalom!

 

Sukkah Party

The ladies got to celebrate Sukkot at school today.

And, they stayed for club lunch and made some name necklaces!

New Beds!

Clara and Emma went to soccer with Daddy and then greeted Grandma and Grandpa Gornstein outside.

It was off to Aquefest, where Clara and Emma enjoyed a little art project, listed to a few bands, did some yoga and sent some rubber duckies floating down some tubes. They had a great time!

While Grandma Silvia and Mommy were with Clara and Emma at Aquefest, Daddy and Grandpa Sam took apart their toddler beds (and what once were their cribs) and put together... real big girl beds!

Picnic at School

At school today at Club Lunch, the ladies had a picnic! And, yes, Clara and Emma at their whole lunch (which is way more than they have done at home recently!).

Photo Shoot

Clara and Emma got their pics taken by a very talented Nikki Baxendale on Friday. Here are some of the pics- amazing!

Scarecrows

While it is Columbus Day, thankfully, Clara and Emma had school- a good thing - because they don't hae school much of this month due to the Jewish holidays.

The firetruck came to school to visit. Below are some pics that were sent by the school!

After school, since it was in the 80s, and no therapy due to the holiday, Mommy took the ladies to Lyndhurst to see the Scarecrow Invasion. By far, their favorite display was Wizard of Oz and the yellow brick road. They also enjoyed the rose garden!

Tantrum Dance

Clara and Emma ran out of Club Lunch with huge smiles and kept saying how great it was.

On the way out, Emma and Clara had this conversation.

Emma: "Mom, Justin is my boyfriend. I just love him."
Clara: "Yeah, Mom, it is true, he is Emma's boyfriend."
Mommy: "Justin- are you Emma's boyfriend?"
Justin: "Yes, I told her I love her at lunch."
Clara: "Justin, can I be your boyfriend too?"
Justin: "Yep."

Clara is exhasted and when she cries, it is hard not to laugh, but it does break your heart. 
She says things like "Mommy, Mommy. Listen (using her two hands as if to stop someone). Listen to me. Your not listening to me. I want to tell you what I want and I want you to let me do it. That is why Im not happy. You aren't letting me do what I want. That is why I am crying. I won't cry if you let me do what I want."

The tantrum dance worked with Emma tonite and another piece was added. It now has several parts- stomp, stomp, flap, flap, clap, clap, march, march, jump, jump, run around, angry face. They both like to add parts and it gets them off the crying, whining etc. and it is kind of fun for all.

Two Tired Little Ladies

It was back to school for the ladies and the routine. It was questionable at 2 am whether they'd go to school. They both had a rough night of sleep leaving everyone tired. They have been napping every few days, but Clara is having a very hard time with no snooze and is exhausted and having meltdowns daily.

Today, Chelsea was here to play with them and they got to paint pumpkins!

Tomorrow, the kids will start staying late at school on Tuesdays- until 2 - for Club Lunch. They are VERY excited and have been begging to do this for a year. The kids have picked out their lunch boxes (they have several that they received as gifts and will alternate) and made lunch request. For Emma, challah with cream cheese and jelly, apple sauce, boiled egg, whole carrots, grapes, and a cheese stick (orange). And, for Clara, challah with cream cheese, apple sauce, shredded carrots, an egg, and a cheese stick (white). It might seem like a ton of food, but who knows what they'll actually eat. Mommy is also a little excited to have a few extra hours!