What a week it was!

Disney Cruising!  Yes, we set sail to the Caribbean – in part for grandma’s milestone birthday that happened in Oct.  The weather was delicious and the food supply flowing, and that giant AquaDuck water slide there on the top of the boat was a hit with the kids.  (Take a sample ride in this video here.) Disney really knows how to keep the kiddos entertained … and thank you g’ma and g’pa for the amazing memories! (and thank you to Becca and Greg for the additional pix!)

ahhhh I miss the dinner-time sunsets and our family happy hours

Castaway Cay has beaches, waterslides, sting ray tours and even a play zone for kids

cousin Jake’s 12th bday lands on Christmas so, we crowned him with a napkin to start the day

the mommas get a well-deserved glowing holiday bevy and break

Zoe got to chat to princesses about hair tips, and I’m sure other princess pointers

we were on the ship for Christmas so .. the lobby was done up so festive!

on the open seas for a day or two .. but then stopping in some super fun ports.

we have these 2 to thank for such an amazing vacation!

Back on board for Pirate Night!

gregkesslerphoto

Pirate Night went on real late, and was topped off with fireworks (I’m surprised my kids stayed awake for it!) gregkesslerphoto

gregkesslerphoto

gregkesslerphoto

strange beasts on the beach when we dock in Cayman Island

the kids love making the pictures in the halls come to life – by scanning their cards to solve mysteries

sun freckles are the yummiest

docked again for Cozumel (that blog post to come) and Castaway Cay fun

we loved the entertainment like ‘Buckets and Boards’ – the kids got a chance to get on stage and bang a bit

(and of course Ezra also performed at the kid’s talent show a couple days earlier!)

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The family holiday roundup

Every year my side of the family rounds up to do some gift opening and general holiday cheer.  This year we were even gifted with a little dusting of snow from Mother Nature… not enough to keep loved ones from traveling, but enough to make the setting seem perfect.  And tonight, we start our own Chanukah candle lighting …

 

 

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More scenes of the beach

Our last grasp at summer… the waves were amazing, the blown sand made it all look like the moon. And we finally got to play with those incredible kites that grandma and grandpa got from their trip to China!

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Eid Mubarak

Lots of excitement outside our apartment building door this past weekend. It’s the end of Eid – we’ve posted about this before. There are tables set out where women are putting henna patterns on hands, and iftar boxes are being sold. We are not moving far, but I will miss being in the thick of this. Often I feel transported to another place, for sure. Humans Of New York caught some shots of the festivities going on in Flushing Queens – gotta love New York City for all this cultural exposure. I had never heard of this holiday before moving here. Eid Mubarak!

instagram.com/humansofny

instagram.com/humansofny

instagram.com/humansofny

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AND Zoe’s little Halloween feast

After checking out Ezra’s march around the block I had to race to Zoe’s school to see her and her friends in their costumes, having a little feast of fruit! She inadvertently picked a book character as well … she was ‘Pinkalicious‘ for a day. And later joined her brother for the Jackson Heights Halloween Parade – to march down our main street and collect candy.

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Some Beautiful Things before Spring Break

Photo from ohthelovelythings.com

I feel like my quest for Beautiful Things has been hampered lately by chasing kids, their schedules, an upcoming ballet recital, a huge homework packet … you know the mamma drill. But I did manage to find some things that evoke spring before frolicking with the kids (both of them, now that Ezra has some time off from school finally).

Enjoy!

— Favorite spring picture books.

— Some beautiful spring colors and eggs (for Passover or Easter or just as a symbol of renewal.)

— More lovely lively colors to take my head out of winter.

— Colorful coats for the end of the season, and don’t forget the red lipstick again!

— It’s fascinating to see children around the world with their favorite things.

— And just cute kids in general, on film, saying some great stuff (love the one about Valentine’s Day!)

— A great lunch option, I’m about to Google whether or not bulgur wheat is kosher for Passover.

— What do to with your cherry tomatoes when they go past their prime.

— Pretty macaroons!

— Do you remember when Banana Republic Merchandise looked like this?

— A kosher-for-Passover treat and favorite at our house.

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Beautiful Things roundup

image by HonestlyWTF

Happy Friday. Here are a few beautiful things we found this and last week – enjoy!

–I love the way the Seinfelds celebrate December.

–Nothing is more redeeming than seeing college-age kids dress the way I did when I was in college – (and if you know me, you’ll know why I love a post on strong brows).

—Taza blog’s makeover and photos of Italy make my heart sing.

—Cup of Jo’s great news and stylish pregnant attire.

—A yummy winter meal.

–Our talented Jackson Heights neighbor Samarra really knows how to cut a snowflake!

–Have you seen the northern lights?

–I love the colors in Stella McCartney’s new line, and the coat proportions are hilarious. You get the impression that the models think so too.

–In an ideal world my family photos would be impromptu and black and white, like these beauties.

— I have to get back to Evolution for shells because this DIY earring idea is great!

—Birds as architects.

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Prolific artist

Zoe makes wrapping paper for Chanukah! Such a helpful gal..

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