While we were sick....

a lot of things happened in december. and we are way behind...

because im exhausted this pregnancy

and we were pretty much sick (stomach virus, cough, sinus infection) the entire month.

first we finished off hanukkah. the big family hanukkah celebration was the night that i began to feel like death. my dreams of this huge party turned into mush. we went through with the party. philip cooked a bazillion amazingly delicious latkes on his brand new electric skillet ( my parents gave him for hanukkah). he is a hard core latka maker.

they looked, smelled and tasted amazing.

our hanukkah spread

latkes, brisket, rotisserie chicken, hearts of palm salad and steamed mixed veggies

i set the dining room table for the adults. we used paper hanukkah plates. no shame

china woulve just been too much feeling like crud with 10 guests.

asher's stack of hanukkah presents....ready for opening

we started a tradition last year where we all pick names. we did it again this year and we even skyped with eliza and rich while we all opened our presents to and from each other. it was great fun and a tradition that we will continue to do. it helps make it a more budget friendly celebration and everyone gets a present!

asher got a awesome melissa and doug train table that he has been obsessed with since hanukkah. he also got this buzz light year toy. as you can see once he realized what it was, he sat back and exclaimed..."BUZZZZZ LIGHTYEAR MOMMY" he was ecstatic.

daddy put the table together after he went to sleep and set up buzz on top for when he woke up in the morning. it was a huge hit.

asher and i made the banner hanging from the mantel. its precious. love it. and love we did it together.

we also participated in the latka cook off at temple for the tot shabbat event.

of course my child wanted to protect the fire extinguisher in case the hanukkah candles caught fire...

the kids patiently waiting to light their menorahs

lots of families gather together to light the candles...

serious business...

later on when we started to feel a little better and we needed to get out of the house we took asher's bike for a stroll. he has always been a hefty boy so peddling his own weight up until recently was a challenge... now he can peddle all on his own. he looks so grown up to me in this photo.

during hanukkah my girlfriend jill delivered her second baby girl emery 3 weeks early.

we brought them brunch the day after christmas and got to love on baby emery... well not really since we were all still sick, but we got to admire her from afar. asher and tahli got to play which was a treat and we also got to visit and catch up with our friends sarah and robert who moved to denver, but were in town for the holidays...

asher and tahli enjoying their bagels and cream cheese

ya think he liked it?

sarah and baby

and finally the last night of hanukkah

we decided to continue a childhood tradition of mine that includes hiding on the couch face down waiting for your hanukkah present each night as the hanukkah present is delivered via a shouting parent " im coming, im coming..." and we place the present on his back. he seems to love it as much as i did so im sticking with it. because it really makes me smile and reminds me of such fond memories of my childhood celebrating hanukkah. you can hear my congestion in my voice. oh memories...

next up... new years!