Happy Hanukkah!

Tonight was the first night of Hanukkah. Our chavurah traditionally goes out for Chinese food on Christmas day, so a few families decided to stick with their traditional Hanukkah plans while the rest of us combined the two: take-out Chinese while lighting the first Hanukkah candle! It worked well and it was refreshing to not have to keep the kids in line. Hannah, Brendan and Ted played well together and were SO CUTE lighting their menorahs and playing dreidel with chocolate gelt (why oh why didn't I take pictures?!?) Ted's preschool had a little fundraiser, selling Hanukkah bags filled with gelt, a dreidel, Hanukkah-themed notepad, crayons and a tattoo. We bought a few but didn't know who to give them to, so this was perfect! They loved playing dreidel most of all I think, and were disappointed to stop (Brendan kept landing on Gimel and Ted ran out of gelt). It was very cute. After our guests left the boys each opened one gift and the screeches of delight were really fun to hear! Ted got a red Power Ranger and Sam a Dora book for his LeapPad. We spent the day at the zoo, soaking up the 76-degree sunshine, so all in all, it was a beautiful day!