Eight Nights

This year was exceptionally fun to celebrate Hanukkah.  Eli was extremely excited and read Hanukkah books the weeks leading up to Hanukkah, admired his presents that were sitting under the fireplace (while Owen ripped into one or two, or three on a daily basis), and talked about lighting the candles.  I think what Eli loved most (other than new toys) this time of year was seeing all the Christmas lights on houses.  He would literally yell "decorations!!!!" every time we passed a house with lights.  It got to the point that both boys were yelling in the back seat every night we were in the car and we went out of our way many, many times to see the beautifully decorated streets in our neighborhood.

We celebrated mostly at our house just the four of us, but spent a couple nights with my family celebrating, and one night with all of our cousins, aunts and uncles for the annual Latkepalooza Hanukkah party that my cousins Sara and Ryan throw.

Like the good Jews that we are, we spent the first three nights going to see Christmas lights after we lit the candles and opened presents.  On the third night we let Eli choose his favorite place to go to dinner.  He chose Chuy's, so we went for some Tex-Mex and headed to the Zilker Tree.

We even went back one night with my friend Becca and her son Jonah and let the boys run loose.

Jonah stepped in poop walking up to the lights and somehow kicked Eli and got it on him.  He was just so confused as to why he had poop on his knee...hence him starring at the poop.

We spent an afternoon at my parents while Blaine was at work and made some homemade challah to take to a neighbors house.  My mom is way more patient and willing to clean up big messes than I am.  She makes everything so much more fun that it really it.  She let the boys play with flour and some dough while she kneaded the dough and didn't flinch as they swung flour around and made a complete mess of the kitchen.  She even let them make a mess of her face!

It was really a great Hanukkah, the boys loved their gifts (kitchen, trail table and Legos especially!!!),  all the festivities, and Eli is already asking when it comes again!