Random 5 things.

Happy Friday, sweet friends!!

Let's get right to it because I have lots to do.... but no ambition to do any of them.

1. First and foremost, today starts my 2018 goal - get on board because it's going to be EXCITING. I've named it something clever because I'm such a clever gal. Not really. The official title? 35 BY 35....as in, I'm officially to rid myself of this extra weight I've been carrying around like a backpack for far too long. I turn 35 on September 21st which is just about 5 / month fore the next 7 months. It seems easy enough but truth be told I've packed on an additional 10 pounds in this past year alone and I'm just embarrassed and feel bad about myself, daily. The tools I will be using are Weight Watchers and a new gym. I LOVE Orange Theory but I'm only about to go to 8 classes per month which is just not cutting in. I'll be joining L.A. Fitness in the hopes my new routine will really spice up my world and allow some of the weight to come off. I'm going to try to post every Friday with updates.

2. We just got back from a nice, long weekend away. Layla had 3 days off of school for teacher planning / President's Day, so a while back I worked it out with my in-laws. They had been requesting a parent's free trip to Disney World with the kids (As in - Josh & I weren't invited which was totallyyyyyy fine by me!). They had the very best time in Disney (so much so that we're already planning our next trip to Mickey's House in January of 2019 for Benny's 6th birthday!) While they were running around my college town of Orlando, Josh & I were on a cruise-ship! It was my first (and last..) time cruising. Short of sounding like a big, fat complainer I'll just say I really disliked it. I had a panic attack the first night on the boat - I think it was a combination of the rocking of the boat with the fear of the unknown mixed with claustrophobia - the only thing that calmed me down was literally climbing into bed and shutting my eyes. I woke up much better but the whole thing couldn't have ended quick enough. Normally on a vacation, I found myself wishing time would slow down and wishing we had booked an extra night. With this? I was just waiting for it all to be over. I didn't like the ship, the room (BASICALLY SLEEPING IN A CLOSET), the schedule (you're on the boat's timeline, not your own), the ports (I liked the first day which was the ship's private in the Bahamas) but I felt like Nassau wasn't very exciting, the food wasn't very good (except we managed to eat - a lot). Our boat was all you can drink so I did enjoy the wine at dinner and the mudslides when I felt like it - I'm not a big drinker so this wasn't exciting for me. I had high hopes of laying by the pool and reading but in fact, the pool deck was crowded and gross and felt just - blah. The best part of the cruise was the company - we went with our best friends from college and it was really great spending so much time with them. I also enjoyed completely unplugging (NO cell phone for 4 days) and I loved the hot stone massage I got on the last full day. Are you a cruiser?? What am I missing?

3. The Parkland school shooting hit me like a ton of bricks. We were flying to Florida when the news flashed across the screen (we flew Jet Blue which as TVs). A few years back, we seriously considered a move to Florida, specifically Parkland. It all felt too familiar. The aftermath of this particular shooting has opened up the floodgates in the best way possible. The teenagers fighting the good fight for gun reform make me so hopeful.

4. I know at least 12 pregnant women - including several close friends. I'm so excited for all of them and also wondering why I'm not feeling the jealousy I usually do? I'm starting to become comfortable with the thought of 2 children and it makes me sad.

5. I'm obsessed with The Greatest Showman. The movie, the music, the story... ALL OF IT. We are constantly blasting the soundtrack and Layla has decided to rent out our local movie theatre to show the movie for her 7th birthday. We are just addicted.

Watch this and see why we're obsessed!


........ ok, that's it folks. See you next Friday - hopefully down a few pounds ;)

Benny Boy turns FIVE!!!!!

Benjamin Sawyer turns FIVE!!!

Weight: 44.4 pounds

Height: 46.5 inches 

Eating: ANY & ALL food

Clothing: 6/7

Shoes: size ONE - he has huge feet

"Layla, you can sit in the BIG CHAIR with me at my birthday party when they sing to me!" - Benny

This just about sums up your sweet, loving, sincere personality.

You are SO.FULL.OF.LIFE. You do everything with such passion, such gusto...it blows me away.

At school, there is a chart they use to measure behavior and you're almost always on purple (the TOP of the TOP reserved for 1-2 kids per day). This makes me so proud... (especially when you're having your 7th tantrum of the day because you can't find a toy you haven't played with in 2 years / you're not sure what you want for dinner / another reason that destroys your mood).

Happiest 5th birthday buddy - you've been waiting for this day for ONE WHOLE YEAR and it's finally here. An entire day dedicated to you - your happiness - your love - your gorgeous self.

It was just a short 5 years ago that I was (eagerly!!) waiting for you to make your entrance and then... there you were. ALL 10 pounds, 1 ounce of you. You nursed immediately after the c-section and I knew right then how in love with you I was.

Here are 6 ( 5 + 1 for good luck) things about YOU!

1. You are SO handsome - and so concerned with your looks. Starting at 18 months, you had a very strong say in what you wear and that trend has continued. Right now, your favorite outfits include your sister's jeans (you don't like baggy anything) and a long sleeve, plain shirt. You're so handsome.. BIG brown eyes full of love and life. TALL. SKINNY (where is all that chub!?) While you are so sweet to look at, your even sweeter to love on. You love fiercely - always wanting more time with your best buddies & cousins. Of course, your favorite person EVER is Layla...it's been just about 2 years ago of sleeping in the same bed every single night. Just this morning, you asked her if she'll sit with you on the bus next year when you start Kindergarten (her answer..."Of course buddy!") You two are so lucky to have each other.

2. You LOVE school - you've always enjoyed it but this is the first year you really, really like it. Last week we had a snow day and you cried because they closed school. You really love all of your friends and adapted so well to the new school. You like doing homework every week. We get a packet of 5 worksheets on Monday and you're supposed to turn them in on Fridays but most weeks you do them all at once. Your writing is slowly improving...although you insist on spelling your name "BNY" when you write it. You know all of your numbers and really like learning about new topics (most favorites include Outer Space, new countries and animals). I can't believe you start Kindergarten next year -- you'll do half day at Layla's school and half day at your current school - but you'll get to take the BUS!

3. You LOVE food..... like, really love food. Your favorites include (but are not limited to): scrambled eggs, Chinese food (Wonton Soup, pork fried rice, lo mein, spare ribs), burritos, black olives, pizza, hamburgers, ice cream, whipped cream....... I mean, you're basically most most favorite person to go out to eat with. And you'll try any foods - and you'll always try to get your picky sister to try foods too ;)

4. Your favorite things include: Imaginex toys (castles, guys, all of it), singing, dancing, tag, "family" hide & seek, soccer, Ryan's Toy Reveal on youtube, video games (especially your cousin Max's Nintendo Switch - I'll get you one eventually...), the zoo, the aquarium, cuddles on the couch, school, sleepovers ANYWHERE, birthday parties. Hebrew School.. you LOVE to just be home and also love a good adventure.

5. You are SO sensitive and loving and empathetic. You crave attention and if we focus our eyes on Layla, you immediately ask if we love you and we're proud of you. Which we are, always

6. You call chocolate syrup "siriup", Learning Experience "Learning Experiments", instead of saying she does it well, you say "she doos it well", you love telling us you saw the tooth fairy and she "looked like Tinkerbell, smelled like strawberries & pork roll and peed on the potty", you make friends EVERYWHERE we go, you're pretty amazing at counting to 10 in English, Spanish & Hebrew and you have SUPER speed. You really love skinny jeans and looking handsome, you love to be naked and you can sing Imagine Dragons beautifully.

We love you so much, Benny. Keep growing, shining and being YOU. We are the lucky ones, buddy.

We had the very best time at your awesome birthday party - Jumpin' Jacks, poop emoji theme!! I'm so sorry this is 16 days late...it's because I kept thinking of sweet things you do.

ALL MY LOVE,
Mama

(A few pictures....)

Happy 2018!!!!!

Happiest New Year --

We rung in the big 2018 last night at my brother's house -- it was low-key, full of giggles & calories & a great way to ring in the new year.

2017 was a great year. And a sad year. It was a year full of dread reading the news daily and a year full of hope as we started new schools and new routines and grew by 4 legs as family (sweet London)....

Here's a look back at 2017....(through a billion pictures)

January

We rung in the New Year at Matt & Danielle's house -- then we took 2017 by the reigns!

• Benny turned 4 and we had a great party at Bounce U. We were away from him for his actual birthday but he had the best time with his grandparents at Lion Country Safari!
• We headed to Florida to drop off the kiddies before jumping on a plane to Mexico to see Phish on the beach - it was a really amazing, memorable vacation with Kim, Michael, Matt & Danielle. 
• We finished off the month with Benny getting his second set of tubes (fun stuff!)
• Other highlights of the month include Disney On Ice and lots of birthday parties :) 
• On a personal note, Josh lost his job this month (a couple of days before our vacation...) so it was quite scary. BUT -- we rallied and we were so lucky he landed a great job at a new company. 

February

• I started off the month but taping notes to the kids' doors leading up to Valentines day reminding them daily of how amazing & loved they are. 
• We had lots of birthday parties this month and spent too much time inside thanks to Winter ;) 
• Grandma visited us which we always love!
• Justin Luke turned 9 this month!

March

• We had so much fun celebrating with friends & family this month....
• Abbey turned 10, Ava turned 11 and Marley turned 8!
• We celebrated Purim at the kiddos school....
• I signed Layla up for her new school - 1st grade!! 
• Grandma visited us again... we love, love, love her visits!!
• We celebrated one year of AMR Nurse Consultants!! 

April

• Maybe my favorite month of the year because we got our LONDON!!! 
• Remi turned 5!
• We celebrated Passover at the kiddos school....
• The kids started Quickball with Sami & Remi!
• I played Bingo with my mama for a good cause! 
• Josh & I celebrated 7 years of marriage....<3 
• At the end of the month, we flew to Florida for a quick weekend and I put together a "surprise" party for Josh's 35th birthday (which is in July...lol) - the best part was my brothers and sister flew down for the weekend! It was so much fun surrounded by friends and family at Funky Buddha!

May

• We opened our POOL!!! 
• We celebrated Mother's Day <3
• Josh went to Montreal for Kaplan's bachelor party and Grandma came to visit. 
• I saw Dear Evan Hansen in NYC (my favorite show of 2017 by FAR...and top 3 ever)
• I got two beautiful new light fixtures thanks to my Mom-Mom Millie <3
• Andrew turned 7!

June

• We always love the month of June.....
• Layla turned SIX! Grandma & Grandpa came to visit...
• We took Benny to NYC for the first time and we saw Lion King!
• We had Layla's birthday party at Chuck-E-Cheese followed by a smaller swim party at our house. 
• The next day, Layla woke up really sick and had to skip her first look at her new school...BUT...
• She made it to her big Kindergarten graduation!! It was a very special day and one I'll always remember. This was our last day at CSS and it was so hard for me to say goodbye to the school that took such great care of my babies We took her to Las Margaritas to celebrate (her favorite) before quickly saying goodbye because....
• Josh & I went to San Francisco! This is where I officially discovered my (random, new) fear of flying and I had a panic attack on the way BUT....we made it safe and after Josh went to Google for training, we discovered the magic of San Fran. This was a really amazing time and I loved it. We took the red-eye home (where I promptly freaked out again and didn't sleep a wink...) before we made it home in time for Father's Day! My whole family came over and it was a great day. 
• Benny started his new school at the end of the month! It was a bit of a transition but overall, he did great. 
• Layla started her new camp!! SSDC is a magical summertime experience and she really loved every second. 

July

• With Benny at his new school (camp for summer) and Layla at camp, we spent a lot of time playing, swimming, walking, jumping and enjoying the summer temps!
• Dada turned 35!
• We had a bunch of Benny's CSS friends over for a big swim date. 
• We headed to Brooklyn for the weekend to celebrate Kaplan's marriage to Jess! It was a great weekend with great friends. Grandma visited and staying with the kiddos. 
• We visited Layla at camp and got to see how much fun she was having. 
• Jaime started working with us at AMR!
• I got a new car :) Loving my Chrysler Pacifica!

August

• Always a tricky month because summer is winding down but we ate up every second of the warmth!
• I went to NYC with my mama & sister to see The Great Comet (loved it!)
• Grandma came to visit!
• Josh went to the Peach Festival for Scott's bachelor party. 
• Camp came to an end for Layla... 
• We had our last big hoorah of summer - we went to OBX for the week. All 20 of us. One big house. So much fun. 
• Layla went to her new school for the first time (and we promptly fell in love with her amazing 1st grade teacher!)

September

• We started off the month with a last minute trip to Ft Lauderdale after Josh's grandma asked us to come visit :) It was a great weekend and we captured some really fun family photos thanks to Crystal Fielding Photography. 
• Benny started Pre-K!
• Layla started 1st grade! This was a crazy time... including Layla missing her bus-stop on the very first day resulting in a minor panic attack. 
• We did our first 5K as a family to support and remember sweet Jenna. 
• I turned 34 and celebrated with my ladies. 
• We went to Jamaica!! SO much fun and always relaxing. 
• We celebrated Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur with family. 

October

• We got into a good groove of school / work. 
• Layla started yoga at school!
• Layla had her first school trip to the farm.
• Supported my sister's camp (Camp No Worries) - it was a blast!
• My cousin Jess had her beautiful baby boy, Elijah!
• Josh went to Florida for Drinks Around the World...meanwhile, Grandma came up!
• We did everything Halloween....birthday parties, Boo for Babies, Trunk or Treat & Trick or Treating!!

November

• Bingo at Layla's school was a blast!
• Benny tried Krav Maga (unsuccessful but adorable nonetheless...)
• I registered Benny for Kindergarten (ahhh)
• Friendsgiving!! SO much fun surrounded by my favorite women and their spouses :)
• Celebrated 1 year since Mom Mom Millie passed... a beautiful ceremony by her brother (my Uncle Lenny) followed by lunch at our house :) 
• UCF vs Temple football game with the kiddies
• Florida bound for Thanksgiving (where we promptly had to take car of Layla while she was super sick...) but awesome nonetheless. Drew's awesome Bar Mitzvah and pictures with Oona!
• Josh made it to Orlando for UCF vs USF (I missed it to stay back with my sick girl)

December

• Crazy whirlwind to Orlando (for 24 hours...), Josh & I to see UCF football game (so awesome) - made in on the news, saw campus & a bunch of friends. 
• Kelly & Ryan Live taping in NYC
• Family Hannukah party at my house... so much fun
• Hannukah officially began...8 crazy days spoiling my babies 
• NYC with Josh, Kim, Michael, Matt & DD to see Meteor Shower and dinner at Picolo Angolo!
• I passed out in the bathroom prompting my first ambulance ride and trip to the ER (Strep throat)
• Christmas at Matt & DD's house
• Capital Grille for my mama's birthday
• NYE at Matt & Danielles

...I think that's a fun (small glimpse) into the goodness of 2017. Looking forward to 2018!!!!!!