3 kids, 1 mom, 1 dog, 1 hamster in the van on our way! |
When planning the neighborhood, we are confident they were very thoughtful about the "turn around tree" which is the most popular puppy walking destination in Driftwood.
Jews who are not quite as nerdy as our folk may not have noticed anything particularly odd about this year's calendar. For the rest of us, we had to search for chametz two (!) nights before seders began since they began on a Saturday night, after Shabbat. Once again, we spread bread all over the house that is supposed to be rid of bread. Then, we went around with a single candle as our light source to collect said bread. And then, we continued to eat bread for 2 more days. It's a weird religion.
Have we spent a lot of time with family this year? Absolutely. Have we spent a lot of time at Driftwood this year? You bet. Does it enable my children to have a beautiful, extended idea of immediate family? Most likely.
Remember when we searched for "all the bread in the house" 2 days before we officially had to refrain from eating bread but also in a house that wasn't supposed to possess bread? So, we ate outside for a couple of days.
The weird and symbolic religious traditions continued when we burned the bread searched for and collected the night before, representing that any remaining bread should be considered "dust of the earth." (And yes, we kept eating bread for 24 more hours.)
Thanks to TCPC and other questionable parenting choices, these kids were so prepped and enthused for the holiday that when introduced to brand new haggadot for the season, reading through them became a well-loved activity.
Hanging out, chillin, and prepping for many days of yummy food!
Krazy Krew was finally ready to begin the seders.
Krazy alright, but only selectively smiley:
Last year, the realities of the worldwide pandemic were newish, scary, and highly restrictive. A year later, we found ourselves sadly used to the restrictions and thought very little about having laptops and screens all over the seder table once again. We were grateful for the physical presence of Aunt Sandi and the virtual presence of our family in Boston so that we could all be "together" as much as possible.
Scenes from around Seder 1:
Family togetherness continued the next day:
Seder 2!
Spencer decided he was comfortable and brave enough to sing Mah Nishtana outloud:
Mira and Jacob joined us virtually from their dad's family's Passover weekend for part of the second seder. Knowing I (very unfortunately) missed my chance to grab a screen shot of the family with Boston Kayes the night before, I remembered to do so on night 2.
When the seder weekend was over and Aunt Sandi had to return to Houston for her work week, it also meant that Reggie's cousin bestie Knox also had to return to Houston.
If we've learned anything this year, we've learned it takes a {tight-knit, podded} village.
One morning, we took a walk along the edge of Nana and Zayde's neighborhood with the promise of meeting up with some friendly horses.
Another adventurous day took us back to Charro Ranch Park that we had discovered and enjoyed over Winter Break.
Let the selfie session begin!
And speaking of selfies, raising this child in the 21st century means always expecting these kinds of shots in your camera roll. Prepare your eye rolls now.
And speaking of eye rolls, when Nana brought out a great craft for all children between the ages of 3 and 8, Debbie used the materials on a canvas ofmyher own.
During the work week, we were still operating Team Cohen Passover Camp while the Gilden adults did their day jobs. Here, we used blocks to build the split water of the Red Sea, crossed onto dry land to safety, let the water tumble down on the Egyptians, and celebrated our freedom from slavery!
Back to that village that is so crucial in the success of these get-togethers:
|
Jews who are not quite as nerdy as our folk may not have noticed anything particularly odd about this year's calendar. For the rest of us, we had to search for chametz two (!) nights before seders began since they began on a Saturday night, after Shabbat. Once again, we spread bread all over the house that is supposed to be rid of bread. Then, we went around with a single candle as our light source to collect said bread. And then, we continued to eat bread for 2 more days. It's a weird religion.
|
|
|
Have we spent a lot of time with family this year? Absolutely. Have we spent a lot of time at Driftwood this year? You bet. Does it enable my children to have a beautiful, extended idea of immediate family? Most likely.
|
Remember when we searched for "all the bread in the house" 2 days before we officially had to refrain from eating bread but also in a house that wasn't supposed to possess bread? So, we ate outside for a couple of days.
|
The weird and symbolic religious traditions continued when we burned the bread searched for and collected the night before, representing that any remaining bread should be considered "dust of the earth." (And yes, we kept eating bread for 24 more hours.)
|
|
|
|
Thanks to TCPC and other questionable parenting choices, these kids were so prepped and enthused for the holiday that when introduced to brand new haggadot for the season, reading through them became a well-loved activity.
|
Hanging out, chillin, and prepping for many days of yummy food!
|
|
|
Krazy Krew was finally ready to begin the seders.
|
Krazy alright, but only selectively smiley:
|
|
|
Last year, the realities of the worldwide pandemic were newish, scary, and highly restrictive. A year later, we found ourselves sadly used to the restrictions and thought very little about having laptops and screens all over the seder table once again. We were grateful for the physical presence of Aunt Sandi and the virtual presence of our family in Boston so that we could all be "together" as much as possible.
|
Scenes from around Seder 1:
|
|
Dayenu - If only it were enough... |
|
Ethan's "Mah Nishtana" |
a dramatic singing of "Let My People Go" |
|
|
Zayde searches for the Afikoman so the seder can continue. |
"Who Knows One" grand finale |
|
Family togetherness continued the next day:
|
|
Seder 2!
|
Spencer decided he was comfortable and brave enough to sing Mah Nishtana outloud:
|
Mira and Jacob joined us virtually from their dad's family's Passover weekend for part of the second seder. Knowing I (very unfortunately) missed my chance to grab a screen shot of the family with Boston Kayes the night before, I remembered to do so on night 2.
|
Aunt Debbie leads a dramatic retelling of the 10 plagues. |
shankbone, the "Pesach sacrifice" |
maror |
charoset |
|
|
Aren't you jealous that you're not married to this guy?! |
When 2 cuties come out of their rooms, coincidentally dressed like this...Oh man... |
When the seder weekend was over and Aunt Sandi had to return to Houston for her work week, it also meant that Reggie's cousin bestie Knox also had to return to Houston.
|
|
If we've learned anything this year, we've learned it takes a {tight-knit, podded} village.
|
|
|
|
One morning, we took a walk along the edge of Nana and Zayde's neighborhood with the promise of meeting up with some friendly horses.
|
|
|
|
|
Another adventurous day took us back to Charro Ranch Park that we had discovered and enjoyed over Winter Break.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Let the selfie session begin!
|
|
And speaking of selfies, raising this child in the 21st century means always expecting these kinds of shots in your camera roll. Prepare your eye rolls now.
|
|
And speaking of eye rolls, when Nana brought out a great craft for all children between the ages of 3 and 8, Debbie used the materials on a canvas of
Each time Jon took a picture of himself, he assumed the ridiculous charade was over. |
Maybe the craft should have stayed with the 3 through 8-year-olds. |
|
|
During the work week, we were still operating Team Cohen Passover Camp while the Gilden adults did their day jobs. Here, we used blocks to build the split water of the Red Sea, crossed onto dry land to safety, let the water tumble down on the Egyptians, and celebrated our freedom from slavery!
|
|
(Shhh- We're whispering |
because Micah's sleeping.) |
Back to that village that is so crucial in the success of these get-togethers:
|
|
|
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