Day two of preschool

Today we picked up Dovi in our car and drove to school. I asked for the choo-choo train song, so Mommy popped in that CD. I even sang "Su Salonga" to Dovi so that he could learn the words.

When we got to school we saw these huge balloons at the front door. We headed into our classroom and put our name tags on the chart to show that we've made it to school. I sat down and started doing the puzzle that I had prepared for myself yesterday and let Mommy slip out without making a fuss. I'm really growing up!!

Dovi's mommy picked us up from school and brought us home. I didn't kvetch as much today as I did yesterday. Mommy's hoping that my good behavior continues.

I'm off to the park with Annie,
Naava

My first day of preschool

I've been really bad about posting lately (I will backfill, don't worry), but wanted to share today's milestone with you - I started pre-school today! I'm in a class called Buds Bet with my friend Dovi. We're going to be carpooling together every day. Yesterday I dropped off my new booster at his house. Today we carpooled in his van for our first day.

I started off the morning by eating a full breakfast consisting of eggs with mushrooms, canteloupe & cereal. Freddy joined me in my old carseat.

Then Mommy did my hair and I packed up my backpack and headed outside. Dovi picked us up and off we went.

I met my new morahs today - Morah Tsippi, Morah Becky & Morah Aviva. They played with me for a few minutes in my new classroom. I did a puzzle, cut some paper and looked at the books. They have some fun things there for me to play with. I was a little shy, but started getting comfy towards the end. Tomorrow should be better. My morahs seem so nice.

There's a picture of me on the door and on the corkboard and there's a special cubby for me with my name on it. I recognized it right away and put by spare change of clothes in the bottom of the cubby along with my smock.

After a quick lice check, Dovi and I (along with our mommies) headed out for some donuts.

We both colored with the cool crayons our morahs gave us while we enjoyed our donuts. Dovi even told me "I love you" via a brown paper bag. Not so romantic, but sweet. ;)

I kvetched all of the way home, just to give Dovi's mommy a sense of what's to come. I'll try to behave better tomorrow.

I'm a big kid now!
Naava

Coconut

Daddy enjoys everything that has to do with coconuts. Recently he's gotten on a kick about eating fresh coconuts. I saw some in the fridge today and asked Mommy for some. She gladly obliged. After I took a bite I made a face and told Mommy that, "I only like it in ices."

Oh well,
Naava

Sunday to ourselves

This weekend Bobbi, Abba, Sara & Devorah came to stay with us. We had a great Shabbos, especially at the park. Speaking of parks, Mommy & Daddy told Bobbi & Abba where the new park is that we discovered the other week. So off we went. (Mommy & Daddy ditched us for the day to go rafting. They invited me, but I was too worried about not having a bathroom.) We also got to go swimming later in the day.

Thanks for taking care of us! (And for the ices and cookies and cake and candy...)

Naava :)

100 Piece Puzzle

Today I completed my first 100 piece puzzle! Uncle Dody & Daniel bought me a Fancy Nancy doll and puzzle for my birthday. What makes Nancy fancy, you ask? I'll tell you. Some of the puzzle pieces have glitter on them! It was so cool putting this puzzle together. I worked on it all week long. Each morning before camp and afternoon after I returned home from camp I would put some pieces together.

I can't wait for the next challenge!

Naava

New park & The Fair

This morning we planned to go to local park that we've been to before, but not for a while. When we got there it was all gone! The whole thing was torn down. It was very sad to look at. Luckily we asked a nice man who was watering his lawn if there were any other parks in the area. He pointed us to a park not too far away, so we checked it out. It was great! It had two separate climbing sections. One for little kids and one for big kids. I tried my hand at a few of the challenging sections on the big kids side and was successful! Then I tried walking the balance beam. I must admit, I was pretty good at it.

Later in the day we went to a fair. The best part about it wasn't the rides I went on, but the the deliciously drippy cherry Italian ices. My shirt and skirt enjoyed it about as much as I did!

When we got home, B&B were waiting to go swimming with us. Our neighbor Nick stopped by as well and watched us splash in the pool. He's got a real pool and keeps asking me when I'm going to swim in it. I'm not really sure. I'll stick with my kiddie pool for now.

Naava

Skinny

Today I complimented Daddy. I told him he was skinny. After he stopped laughing, he asked me why I said that. I told him it was because I had seen the skin on his tummy and so that made him skinny.

Naava

Pool time!

Well, it's officially summer! We had some fun in the sun this afternoon. Aunt Yenti bought us a new pool for this summer for our birthdays. It has this cool slide and funny giraffe face, too. It's great!

Splash!
Naava

Chicago friends

This weekend I had a whole bunch of girls staying over (and one little boy named Max). But getting back to the girls. Mommy's friends Avi & Gila came for the weekend and they have three of the most fun little girls. We played together nicely whenever we had the chance and we did our nails together before Shabbos, too. This was my first experience and I loved it! I can't wait to get them done again.

When Mommy told me that they were all coming she told me that one of the girls is named Ariel. I immediately asked her if she has the little things on her feet like a mermaid. Mommy told me that she a little girl like me. I still asked for her to stay in my room and not the other room. I got my wish for one night. Actually, the girls rotated beds each night, so I got a chance to have each one of them sleep in my room. Sleepovers are so much fun.

Don't we make a cute bunch?

Naava

P.S. Oh my goodness - I totally forget to mention that today I got to see Laurie in person! Yes, she had a pajama concert and we all went to see her. I think Mommy & Daddy had a better time than Freddy and I did because they were clapping and bouncing their legs and stuff. Us kids weren't doing any of that.

Pajama party

Nothing much happened today, but Mommy snapped this cute picture of us before bed time. (Yes, that's a kippa on Freddy's head. Doesn't he look cute?)

Zzzzz,
Naava

Graduation day

Today was our graduation celebration from school. Mommy showed up just in the nick of time to see our performance. But just like last time, I refused to sing a long with the group and just wanted to sit on Mommy's lap. After the program was over, I was my usual self. I ate up a huge piece of cake and yummy watermelon and hung out with my BFF's Basya & Bayla.

Naava

Family weekend

This weekend we spent with Zaidy & Baba Lea and the girls. They are off to sleep away camp in a few weeks. I wonder what they do there... Anyway, we had a great time playing all day long. But when it came time to taking pictures, I refused. So I have nothing to show you. Sorry.

I was willing to have my photo taken when playing with a pogo stick at Bobbi's a little later in the day. This toy was a ton of fun. I can't wait to get back on it. With Bobbi helping me out, I was able to do over 60 consecutive jumps!

Then Daddy shared a delicious coconut ices with me. I've had them before, but there's nothing like an ices outside on a hot summer's day. Ahhh.

Oh, I forgot to mention. Zaidy & Baba Lea & Co bought me this awesome Dora tent and lantern for my birthday. It's a great place to hide from Mommy when she wants me to get into the bath or brush my teeth. Although, she always finds me... And Freddy got this cool car. We were so excited about the car that we couldn't wait for Daddy to finish building it before hopping in and trying to go for a ride!

Vroom!
Naava

The circus is here!

This afternoon we took a trip to a small circus. It might have been small, but the animals were huge. I saw camels and horses and elephants. Whoa were those elephants big. We saw some crazy motorcycle stunts, some juggling, some high wire acts and other really cool things. I even got myself a special light up thingy. (Freddy chose a SpongeBob doll.)

On the way out we saw a huge fire engine! Freddy was so excited. Fire engines and SpongeBob all at once? He was on cloud nine.

Naava

Goodbyes

Today was our last day in London. Time to go home.

I really tried to be a good girl on the plane, but it wasn't so easy. Before we even took off I had already annoyed the people in the seat in front of me. They were in for a long ride... ;) But at least I got to play with stickers and made some funny faces with them!

Back home, as we were loading up our car, we had a great time watching the planes get into position for landing. They kept coming one after the other. Airports are such fun.

Back to school tomorrow.

Naava

The Queen's Castle

Today we went on an adventure. First we rode a double-decker bus. I went to the top and sat in the front seat with Mommy. We could see *everything*! Then Mommy started to get car sick, so we moved back a few rows.

When we got there, we placed a phone call in the special London phone booths. (Okay, we were just pretending.)

Then we had tea and crumpets (aka chocolate digestives - who came up with these names?!) with the Queen at her castle.

Later in the evening we went to Sheva Brachot for Benji & Rachel and then I took a picture with my Great Uncle Michael and then headed off to bed.

Zzzzz,
Naava

Wedding!

So here we are all dressed up again. This time for real! :) It's finally Benji's wedding. I can't wait to see the kallah!

Freddy and I met a new cousin this trip - Dovi. Actually, we had met him nearly two years ago at Eytan's wedding, but we didn't really remember him.

Anyhow, we had a really great time. Even though I didn't get into the dancing until the wedding was practically all over, I really enjoyed myself. It was great to see the beautiful kallah so much.

Wow,
Naava

We have arrived!

Well, we're here in jolly ol' England for Cousin Benji's wedding. First order of business (well, okay, a really long nap to make up for being up for a lot of the flight was really the first thing I did, but the second was) for all of the ladies to get their nails done. Fine, so I'm not a lady, but that's what my mommy did. I just watched. Here's a pic of me, my mommy, my safta and my great-safta, or Safti. Pretty cool, eh?

Naava

Amateur photographer

Usually when my parents get home from work we're already bathed and in pajamas. Tonight was no different. But, I did get to try my hand at photography.

My first subject for tonight was Booba. Can't you tell?

Say cheese!
Naava

My new school

Today I went to see my new school. Mommy & Daddy have been there a few times, but today, I finally got a chance to see it. When I got there I was given a purple bag with bubbles and a special picture frame. Then they took a picture of me with my parents on this special camera that prints out the pictures right away. It was so cool to hold the paper and watch the picture appear. We went on a little tour of the school and I got to meet the class bunny. We also got to play in the playground a little. Because today was my actual birthday, I also got special stickers and the class said yom huledet to me. I think I'm gonna like it here.

After that, we headed back to my current school for my birthday party there. First I gave everyone a penny to give tzedaka and then we the school gave me a special torah as a present.

Then we had a huge birthday cookie!

Yum!
Naava

Hair cut!

Mommy and I got our hair cut this morning. First Mommy got her hair cut. It was nice that she went first, because I was a little scared. When it came to my turn, I sat on Mommy's lap and everything was just fine. What do you think?

Later in the day we went to the zoo with Basya & Bayla. We had a great time, especially on the carousel. This was the first time that I went on the horse all by myself. I'm 4 years old now, y'know?

Yeehaw,
Naava

Happy Birthday to ME!

Today was awesome! It was my birthday party! I'm turning 4 tomorrow!
I had over so many friends and we made crowns and tiaras and then decorated them. Then we made sand castles. This was all keeping with the "princess" theme. Then Mommy made this huge castle cake and it was the best ever! WOW!

After every body left we went bike riding in the park a little bit and then headed over to cash in on my free ice cream scoop.

This was the best day ever,
Naava