Bath Babies (reprise)

Benji Reading

His reading skills are really improving!  We love that he enjoys it so much.  --Victoria

Tamar's Baked Bean Face

Daniel Loves Tacos

On the same night that Benji had his Dinner Adventure, we fed Tamar and Daniel broken up pieces of the bean tacos. Daniel, however, didn't want his dinner broken up and cried until we gave him a large piece of taco shell. Then he held it to his mouth, broke off a piece with his four teeth, and said loudly, "MMMMMMM!!!"

He's not subtle about making his point!

--Victoria

Dinner Adventure

Benji has been doing a great job eating new and different foods. He's usually very reluctant to try something new, but once convinced, cajoled, or bribed to do so, he will admit if he likes it--which is most of the time.

He really like croutons on salad but we were getting frustrated when he ate ONLY the croutons and not the other parts of the salad. So Aaron invented a game called "Dinner Adventure" in which the rules are that Benji is on a hunt for croutons but he has to eat the salad off the top of the crouton in order to be able to eat it. Benji loves this. He hasn't yet figured out that the alternative name for this game might be "Do as we tell you but call it something fun sounding."  :)  Aaron wins another genius dad prize!  --Victoria

P.S. This photo is from a night we were having bean tacos, which Benji likes, but he specifically requested a salad as well!  It works!  In the photo, he is counting the number of colors in the salad veggies, because Aaron told him it was a "rainbow salad."

Dinner on the Patio

Earlier this week, it was warm enough that we enjoyed dinner on the patio a few times. It's colder now, but I am really happy that Spring is here!  --Victoria

Loving Their Big Brother

Tamar and Daniel LOVE Benji. They follow him around, laugh at every funny or silly thing he does, imitate him when they can, and listen with rapt attention when he reads to them. He enjoys the attention although he's not enjoying their growing ability to do things like grab his toys or mess with his stuff.  --Victoria

Evening Walk

We saw a beautiful courtyard in which the cherry blossom petals had been blown into the grooves of the stones by the breeze.  --Victoria

Tamar at the Seder

That Can't Be Comfortable (six year old edition)

Fancy Dress Horror and Resignation

We were in New Jersey this weekend for a cousin's bar mitzvah and Aaron's parents' friends Lena and Kolya visited and very generously brought gifts for all the kids. Lena loves to buy baby clothes and she wanted to try this dress on Tamar to make sure the size is right. Aaron took these photos (I was still at home in DC at the time). I think the expressions on Tamar's face are priceless. 

I should note that the dress in the photos is not the one Tamar wore to the bar mitzvah (photos of that will follow later) but a pretty cotton sundress that will be great for the summer. Which does not diminish the hilarity of the look on Tamar's face!

--Victoria

Tamar at the Picnic Table

Daniel Asleep

Fast asleep in his car seat. Just looking at this photo makes me relax.  --Victoria

Tamar shows off her tummy!

The photo is fuzzy but the pose is irresistible!  "Look at my tummy!"  --Victoria

New Series: "How do you do it?"

People ask me this all the time.  How do you manage with twin infants?  How do you take three kids out shopping by yourself?  The answer varies, but usually involves the word "slowly."  Sometimes, though, a little creativity is required.

A few days ago, I was taking the babies out shopping and I needed to carry three things from the house to the car: (1) Tamar in her car seat, (2) Daniel in my arms (because his car seat stays in the car), and (3) a large grocery bag.

Creativity to the rescue!

--Victoria

Swinging Babies (with chocolate cake faces)

Benji the Builder

One of his presents from Aaron's parents, Susan and Yuri, was a bucket of "zoob" building pieces. These were a huge hit!  --Victoria

Matzah Boys

Benji (2010) and Daniel (2015), wearing the same bib, at about the same age.  --Victoria

"I am Tamar, hear me roar!"

Patio Babies

Tamar, Acting Like Big People (Brunch at Valerie's)

Before a recent dance tour with my Morris dance group, we had brunch at my friend Valerie's place. Tamar was very excited be to sitting on a chair and having brunch "like big people" and she chowed down a piece of veggie quiche, some strawberries, and most of an apple muffin.  --Victoria

Things Daniel Destroys (Passover version, part 1)

At Passover, we read from a little booklet called a Haggadah to tell us what to say and/or sing during the seder meal. Daniel was very excited about having a Haggadah of his own.  --Victoria

Happy Birthday Benji! (age six)

Sometimes pensive and sometimes happy. I think he takes after me. --Victoria

After School Daniel

He was inspired by Benji's rope jumping!  --Victoria

After School Tamar

Jumping Rope After School (With Audience)

Portraits of Daniel (13 months) with Victoria (looking youthful)

Portraits of Tamar (13 months)