Happy holidays!

We have had a nice December so far, sharing several holiday meals with friends and family. Here we are at a party with other moms and kids L's age.



We had a great Hanukah this year. On the 8th night we gave Leila finger paints and a smock. So far this has been fun, and not too destructive :)







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Now playing: Green Day - Holiday
via FoxyTunes

Happy Thanksgiving!

We spent a week in Albany and then in NJ at Auntie "Suvah" and uncle Ken's house. It was a well needed break for Dada and Mama. L got to spend time with her great-gandparents Mimi and Papa.



We ate alot, turkey and all the trimmings and latkes at an early Hanukah celebration. We will post video footage soon.



Which came first, the turkey or the egg?


Happy Holidays!




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Now playing: Tom Waits - November
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Happy Halloween!

Leila is a giraffe this year (courtesy of Auntie Suzie). We have been celebrating all week long first with a trip to the Seneca Park Zoo on Sunday followed by a costume celebration at several libraries in town. We are excited to give out candy this weekend and might pay a visit to our neighbors in the cul-de-sac.

She has lots to say all of a sudden including "help blow out candles on Mama's Birthday cake," "Go back yard, run down hill," "Mama and Dada paint room yellow, and "tall trees! Leaves fall on ground."

In the autumn of her second year...

A is for Apples, B is for Books:



C is for cute.

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Now playing: Barenaked Ladies - These Apples
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L'shanah Tovah

We spent the holiday weekend with my grandparents. I stayed at home with grandma while my parents went to synagogue. I got a new warm bunny hat for the winter. Combined with my sheep vest, I look like my 2 favorite animals.



We went apple picking, and Papa boosted me up high:


Apples are delicious, especially when I pick them myself!





I also picked out my very own pumpkin.



Everyone was worn out and ready to watch cartoons:



Back in Rochester, I have discovered chalk.




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Now playing: Justin Roberts - Apple Tree
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You say it's your birthday, we're gonna have a good time

As you can tell by the arrival date at the top of the blog, Leila is now experiencing the Terrific Twos (it's not all fun and games, since we did have a burst of the Terrible Ones...). We had a great time at her party along with a bunch of her friends and ours, and she's really been enjoying all the new toys and duds:

Discussing the cake with mom:


Discussing further dessert options with the parents, since the cookies, pies, and candies were all looking so tempting:



Further dessert discussion with Papa Barry:



Everybody's got something to hide 'cept for me and my monkey raincoat:



Baby Atlas practicing holding up the planet:



Leila audutioning for a role as a farmer:



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Now playing: The Beatles - Birthday
via FoxyTunes

August and everything after (?)

As summer slowly winds down, Leila has been making the most of it, enjoying the nice weather, learning words, singing and dancing, and ordering around the universe. Here's the video compilation:





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Now playing: Counting Crows - Einstein On The Beach
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Well if you want to ride you gotta ride it like you find it

Since the last time we went to a train museum happened when Leila was negative one month old, we decided to try again at the New York Museum of Transportation/Rochester and Genesee Valley Railroad Museum in nearby Rush, NY.

We learned about Rochester's old subway, took a trolley ride, explored some train cars





and did some climbing, with a little parental assistance





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Now playing: Johnny Cash - Rock Island Line
via FoxyTunes

on our way to 2. . .

One month until she turns 2 and the tantrum are in full swing when she does not get her way. Here are some pics from our trip to California when she was still an angel.









With great-grandma at mom's cousin's wedding:


The happy couple:

Recent Adventures

Leila had a good time with her grandparents while Mom and Dad went to Toronto for a weekend. She says her favorite word is "Papa"







Stopping to smell the flowers in our yard. You can just see the garden with tomatoes and peppers in the background.



Celebrating Dad's Birthday. Not sure what to make of lobster:



Strawberry picking:



Leila went to a soccer class. She was the only girl and the only one to kick the ball the whole way across the room. She does think the cones are hats though:



At the Renaissance fair: