Benji's homework

Now that he's in the third grade, it's a regular event.  Not that he enjoys it!  Like many kids his age (as I understand) he's pretty resistant and often spends more time arguing about why he shouldn't have to do homework than he does on the homework itself.
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--Victoria
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Halloween Decorations (outdoors)

The kids were very excited about getting Halloween decorations and decorating inside and outside the house.  Benji convinced me that we needed to buy a pack of "eyeballs" which proved quite hilarious.
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--Victoria
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Helping Clear Leaves Up

This weekend, the kids helped rake up and bag several GIANT bags of leaves.  The photo below show (1) helping, (2) cheering the finish, (3) & (4) celebratory air guitar playing (Benji & Daniel) and dancing (Tamar).
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--Victoria
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Birthday Party for a Preschool Friend

It was a gymnastics-themed party and the kids had a blast.  --Victoria

Holiday Visit with Susan & Yuri

Last weekend we drove up to New Jersey to visit Susan and Yuri for Yom Kippur.  Aaron's brother David and his wife Roxana had been there for the previous week and other relatives joined us to break the fast.  It was great to see everyone again!
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--Victoria
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Tamar helped assemble a cheese platter.

I'm not sure what was going on here but it looks like Daniel and "Yuri-Papa" might have been boxing.

Aunt Roxana is magic.

Cousin Sundar is also magic.

In addition to being magic, Sundar is extremely sweet with the little ones.

Almost time to head back to DC -- everyone gets snuggles!

Tamar on the way to New Jersey

We went to New Jersey this past weekend to spend the Jewish holidays with Susan and Yuri (Aaron's parents).  The trip up was pretty exhausting for some people! 
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--Victoria
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Benji's ukulele lessons

Benji has been taking ukulele lessons (thanks Grandma Pauline and Grandpa Richard!) at a great local music store called Music On The Hill.  On Wednesdays, I pick him up after his after-school karate and we head over to the store.  All the upstairs rooms (where the lessons take place) are named after cities that have a famous musical connection and Benji's lessons take place in the "Liverpool" room.  This is appropriate because one of the first songs he has been learning is the Beatles' hit "Eleanor Rigby." 


I don't sit in on the lessons, so it's a nice chance for me to relax for 30 minutes.




--Victoria
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Liverpool room . . .  to the left!

I caught him in the middle of singing along with the music.