January 2020

Compared to the busy days and weeks and weekends we had in December, January gave us some calm breaths and a return to "normal" (if that even exists). Until the birthday fun at the end of the month, of course, but we covered that elsewhere.

We started the month still on Winter Break from school. This meant the children were around during challah braiding when usually I'm on my own in a quiet house on Fridays. Gabi, Ethan, and Spencer were pretty darn proud of their own "mini" challot.



That time in the mall my obnoxious children were the ones the other parents wish their children didn't see:

This lovely lady turned SEVEN at the end of this month!!! More on that elsewhere.

After an insane amount of months being loose, trying to extract it with everything from apples to corn-on-the-cob, Gabi's very first top tooth popped out with a sneeze one morning. --- Said a friend, "That's the luckiest sneeze in the history of the earth!"

This crazy kid turns THREE next month!!! More on that later. (Do NOT get excited about the middle picture below. It's not a thing.)

We are at that time of year when *everyone else* gets a birthday but Ethan. So - regardless of being 7 months early - Ethan took matters into his own hands, and his teachers at school supported his endeavors.

And this big guy got to go through a car wash with Daddy!


Ethan and Spencer are ridiculous together. And also, as soon as you remind yourself, "You're gonna miss this," you breathe, sigh, and enjoy the moments that you can.


Fun with family and friends:

We made some awesome craft boxes with popsicle sticks.

Gabi loves seeing her cousins walking to school from recess!

exploring gravity hilariously

We worked on some newly gifted puzzles from Chanukah, completing our first ever 200-piece puzzle.

excited about popcorn from a neighbor

Graham's birthday party

Perhaps it was the "cold" weather. Perhaps it was seven years of neglect. Either way, these ladies were especially fond of each other this month.

And finally-

When we asked Ethan, "Why?" The answer was, "Because she's Jewish."

Big Boy Bed

Spencer has a special way of beating me to the punch on his milestones. He weaned himself off of breastfeeding a week before his birthday, right before I would have done it anyway. Then, 6 weeks before he was to be gifted brand new furniture for his birthday, he decided to take things into his own hands, literally. (No, I had never had a child do this before.)

It all started when he was upset about the way I put him in his crib for nap. And then he was walking around the play room. Not in his crib.

(Being the blog obsessed mother that I am, I was determined to catch him in action. Being the semi-smart toddler that he is, he refused to do it on camera.)

"I WANT TO GET OUT!!!" "I DON'T WANT A PICTURE!!!"

great balancing act

Once the determined mother left the room but left behind a camera video recording, I caught the kid in the act. (Yes, I acknowledge none of this behavior should be encouraged.)

And there he goes...didn't even take any effort.

And also, it turns out, the crib was getting full and running out of space.

Spencer knew he was getting a big boy bed when he turned 3. It turned out, he managed to get it a month early! With enormous gratitude to Grandma and Grandpa for this birthday gift, our little peanut now has big furniture to fill. And boy, was he excited!

Big brother Ethan was there also to join in the excitement.

Needless to say, the transition has gone incredibly smoothly!

A Whole Lot of 7

January 28th was once again approaching. A little over seven years ago, the date was insignificant, but exactly 7 years ago, we got a phone call that changed our lives forever. Our tiny little girl is certainly not tiny anymore, and she deserves to be celebrated. We started celebrating 4 days early and kept the party going throughout the weekend!

Team Gilden came over for Friday night Shabbat dinner along with Nana and Zayde. We had yummy food, fun company, and a delicious sweet treat to top it off.

The next morning, we couldn't even have breakfast before we made our cupcake cones for Gabi's party later that day.


Our "cousins party" took us to The Splash Shack. It was fun to have water park fun in the middle of winter. Team Cohan left Houston bright and early to make it in time for all the splashing.

Ethan and Joey with Aunt Sandi

lovely ladies with birthday girl: Aunt Sandi, Mira, Nana, Aunt Syssa

Daddy and Spenceman splash together.

Cousins take turns on one of the smaller slides.

As folks started getting tired, the snuggles ensued.

Splash Shack Success!

Off to Torchy's Tacos for lunch (and hugs apparently):

Spencer and Jacob

Mira and Shayna

Aunt Debbie and Joey

That afternoon, Nana and Zayde gifted Gabi more art & craft projects than Gabi could hold in her hands.

As if the day hadn't been exciting enough, it was finally time for Gabi's "Lateover" Birthday Party. We started by decorating bowls for popcorn to come.

After pizza, it was time for the classic Cohen cupcake cones.

Mommy lights the candles.

Birthday Girl with Elliana and Aubrey

cute cousins Mira and Shayna

Arthur, Graham, Clementine, Spencer

school friends: Gabi, Elliana, Aubrey, Gracie

Ethan and Aunt Syssa

siblings Maven and Addison

The lateover continued with popcorn and a movie.

I had tried to keep it "small," and somehow I still ended up with a large amount of people in a small space.

After the live action "Lady & The Tramp," we turned to funny cat videos. It turned out to be very entertaining.

Lest you think we didn't celebrate Gabi enough, we surprised her the next day with an ice cream cake before the family-filled weekend came to an end.



The REAL January 28th was FINALLY, OFFICIALLY coming! At her 7-year-old well check, humongous girl measured 4' 4" (97%) and weighed 87 lbs. (99%).

Look closely to see what outfit Gabi picked for the last time she would ever be SIX.

We opened up presents right away: a light up pillow from Grandma and Grandpa!

Grandma and Grandpa also gifted a smart clock - with our encouragement. This could definitely come back to haunt us.

Gabi got new Gator gear from Gigi, a short-sleeve shirt and a sweatshirt: "In all kinds of weather, we all stick together!"

We got to bring some extra cheer to Gabi's school day not once, but TWICE!

Mommy and Daddy brought lunch and balloons.

Later, Mommy brought donuts for her whole class.

Aunt Syssa was the warm adult body at the home-front so boys could rest and Mommy could do donuts. So, naturally, she was entitled to birthday snuggles when we got back from school.

Nana and Zayde surprised Gabi and joined us for our birthday dinner out.

Some of us thought the birthday was coming to an end, but the kiddos were still going early the next morning. Thanks to the special crown Ethan made for her at school, we could party just a little longer.

Onto the next birthday kid...