Dare Devil

Chuck E Cheese

 Asher's friend, Michael, celebrated his birthday at Chuck E Cheese.  This was Asher and Elie's first time there and they LOVED it of course.  I remember how much I loved it as a kid.  In fact I think my fourth birthday party was there.

 Asher met a new friend sitting next to him at the table.  They were cracking up having so much fun hitting each other with their party favors.

                                         The birthday boy!

Dadados

Dadados (dinosaurs) always seems to pop up in all of Elie's conversations these days.  He'll be telling you about something like the trees or big trucks and somehow dinosaurs will tie in to the discussion.

Incognito

Elie likes to go incognito.  (I took this pic with my phone a long time ago and forgot to post it.)

Lil' Yogis

Asher's class had a yoga day at school and the parents were invited to watch or participate.  Elie was excited to check out all of the interesting classroom toys.

We have some new friends!

We have a perfect little nest with perfect little eggs in our crab apple tree right outside our dining room window.  It's amazing what colors you'll find in nature!

Gefilte Fish

I have been wanting to make gefilte fish from scratch for several years now.  Finally I got around to it and it was very easy since I had the fish market grind the filets and reserve the nasty bits for me.  It turned out great and Moises gave it a stamp of approval.  Next time I will make loaves instead of balls, add more salt and, sugar.  Yes I said it... a touch of sugar.  (There is a dividing line among Ashkenazic Jews who prefer their gefilte fish with sugar or no sugar).


10 pounds whole fish (a combo of white fish, carp and pike) cut into fillets and reserving bones and     heads for the broth
8 medium onions, quartered
8 medium carrots, roughly chopped
6 stalks of celery with leaves, roughly chopped
3-4 whole matzos
2 cups plain seltzer water
6 whole eggs
3 egg yolks
2 tablespoons salt or to taste
1 teaspoon of pepper
1 cup matzoh meal as needed
1/4 lemon juice

Combine the fish bones, skin and heads in a stock pot.  Add half of the onions and carrots and all of the celery.

Place fish filets in food processor and pulse until coarsely ground.  (You may need to do it in batches) Set aside.

Put remaining onions and carrots in the food processor and chop medium-fine.  Mix with the ground fish by hand.

Soak the matzohs in the seltzer for 5 minutes, then squeeze dry and crumble.  Add the matzohs, whole eggs, egg yolks and half the salt and all the pepper to the ground fish mixture.  

Lightly shape the fish mixture into balls 2- 2 1/2  inches.  If the balls will not hold their shape or if the mixture feels too sticky, add matzo meal until it is the consistency of meatballs.

Place the balls in the pot on top of the bones and vegetables.  They can be in a a double layer.  Add cold water to cover the fish balls almost completely.  Add lemon juice and remaining salt.  Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer uncovered for  1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until the balls are solid and the liquid has been reduced by half.  Frequently baste any uncovered balls as they cook. 

Remove the fish balls with slotted spoon.  Place on a platter and wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

Let broth simmer to reduce again by half.  Cool; strain and pour a light later over the fish balls.  Chill.  Broth with gel.  Serve with Fresh Horseradish.

Potty Time!

Recently Elie has been very interested in the potty.  Ever since I sat him on it a couple of weeks ago just to get him acquainted, he asks to go every time I'm changing his diaper or getting him dressed.  Each time I have sat him on he goes!

Asher and Elie's birthday party

 We had the boys' birthday party at the Family Museum.  We had the dinosaur cupcakes and dinosaur puzzles as party favors. 

Asher and Elie's Dino Cupcakes

I made these cupcakes by dipping them in green coconut shavings and topping them with mini dinosaurs wearing glittery party hats. 

Happy Birthday to Julio

With all of this "Happy Birthday" going on lately, Elie has been singing it all the time to Max and Julio.

My Asher the Artist

 Asher drew this picture for me.  On one side he wrote, "Asher loves Mommy" (written from the bottom up).  And on the other side he drew me holding a flower in one hand and food in my tummy.

Playset and backyard...

                                                              ...we will miss you!

Deb

We have had Deb as a housekeeper since Asher was a week old and then when Elie was born she started babysitting and dog sitting for us.  She is like family to us and we wish we could take her with us when we move to San Diego.

Faffle

Elie LOVES theses waffles but calls them faffle.

Arrrrgh!

 The boys got all sorts of cool things for their birthday from Babi and Zeide, including this pirate costume.  They've been having so much fun with it if you couldn't tell!