today we went to ikea for the dollar plate, how we ended up spending over $20 is beyond me but that is how it goes. Anyway one of the things I really wanted to do was to go to the red mill.
mill
So the old mill is now in the middle of the biggest shopping areas in NJ. This tiny small piece of land is all that remains and it is in the middle of shoppers heaven. It lies on the saddle river trail which is a great place to walk and bike. The kids LOVED this old mill. They ran and jumped and climbed through small openings. Sam said it was the best day ever!! It is great to be 7 and be pleased so easily! LOL love that kid!!

The 4th grade project in Max’s school is an artist project. Each student chooses an artist, researches the artist and replicates one of the artist’s paintings. Max chose Van Gogh. He is so excited about this project. I don’t think he has ever been into a project as much as this one. He wants to paint all the time. We even took the kids to the Met and Max could name almost all the artists in the great art hall. He is happily working on this project without complaining and that makes me so happy!! Inspired by Amy, I am trying to do more “day in the life” photography.
Here goes.

While the origins of Purim appear clear from the Book of Esther, historians have looked in vain for any sort of extra-biblical corroboration of the events of the story. Be that as it may, it is a tale that purports to take place during a time when many Jews were living in Persia. A young Jewish woman, Esther, rises to be Queen of Persia under the tutelage of her guardian Mordecai. All, however, is not right. The Jews have enemies, and a certain Haman, the grand vizier, plots the Jews’ destruction. Even though Esther has hidden her Jewish identity from all, Mordecai prevails on her to risk her life by revealing her true identity to the king. She does this and denounces the evil Haman’s plot. At the end of the story, the Jews are able to turn the tables on their enemies, who are then punished in place of the intended victims. This story is one of the most beloved in the Jewish community, because of the hope that it gives a minority living in an oftentimes hostile majority culture.

Rachel’s Purim celebration was rescheduled due to the snow and was today. Here is my sweet little princess/barbie/fairy.

playing with some sunflowers I got for Rachel’s bday and a gift from Cheryl.
I have such great friends!! xoxoxo

yes this pile is bigger than Max, and there is one at each end of the driveway, and it snowed for hours after this. I wont be able to see anything when I back up!! Calgon take me away…..

This little guy was just so cute!! Wide awake and alert but just the sweetest.

to the sweetest girl in the world. You light up my life. You make me laugh and smile. You define what joy is for me. I love you to the moon and back!!

sorry about my blogging absence, just busy with vacation, photo shoots and crocheting!! thanks for sticking around
her party was today since it was vacation week even though her birthday is on the 25th, we had so much fun at build-a-bear. the kids just loved it!!. These are the pre-party pictures, with some processing that I was playing with…