Hanukkah 2010

At 4 1/2, Claire was VERY into Hanukkah this year. Her face still lit up when my husband and I sang the blessings and lit the candles just as it did last year. For some reason, Claire played her triangle when we sang the blessings the first couple of nights of Hanukkah. Maybe she felt like that was her part since she didn't know the words for the blessings. It was very cute! Each night she took pride in taking out and lining up the candles in the menorah. She was also thinking about Hanukkah a lot as evidenced by a question she asked on the morning after the first night of Hanukkah and a statement she made the morning after the second night of Hanukkah, respectively:

"So, mommy, since tonight is the second night of Hanukkah, does that mean I get two presents?" 

and 

"We can eat gold coins (gelt) in the morning AND at night for Hanukkah."

On Friday morning the whole "Garden State Family" went to Claire's school. My husband taught the kids all about Hanukkah and I chimed in here and there. He even played a round of dreidel with 20 or so 2-4 year olds, many of whom didn't have the dexterity to spin a dreidel. It was a fun challenge! The children were all great listeners and they really seemed to enjoy the special visitor and learning about Hanukkah.

Claire drew this picture with the Crayola art kit she got for the third night of Hanukkah. Note the menorah on the bottom left and the dreidel in Claire's hands.

Claire got so many great gifts this year including a plasma car, Toy Story Barbie and Ken, the Tag reading system, a Rapunzel doll and a couple of DVDs. I will admit we kind of spoiled her this year (We still have Christmas coming up too. Yikes!!). 

 

Happy Hanukkah!!!