happybirthdaynewcsaboxfarmfieldtripchanukahohchanukamakingtoastdayattheparktrainingthefourthchef

we did a lot this month. so much, that i haven't had a chance to blog about it. so here is one big catch up.

the month of december began, as it always does, with the day of my birth...

i was lucky enough to have dinner with my family, preceded by a day at the spa, which i will not speak of further, but it was also the place where i'm pretty sure samuel was conceived...

next came our pick up of our first winter CSA box. so i suited up shira and samuel, and we biked on over.

and shira began her chef duties with our newly acquired produce

we went to the farm for a field trip with our preschool class

samuel showed his true colors as a pyromaniac this chanukah, much like his uncle david. in order to satisfy his desire for fire, he insisted we light two menorahs each night.
steve and i realized how few of the chanukah songs we actually know all the words to, since samuel began to ask for chanukah songs at bedtime. dreidle dreidle sung many times in a row just did not satisfy.
this chanukah marks the first time samuel truly began to understand the concept of gifts. he was excited about unwrapping them, and was more interested in the contents,
than the box (most of the time)
samuel putting his new matchbox cars into his new matchbox carrying case (courtesy of auntie lauren and grandma joan, respectively)

samuel playing maestro as lauren and lena play the piano after chanukah dinner: (video at www.mysunmoonandstars.blogspot.com)

this month also marks shira's half birthday. and boy is she growing up: (video at www.mysunmoonandstars.blogspot.com)


samuel is also growing up. his latest burst of independence** includes making his own cheese toast from start to finish. the steps to make this happen
1. samuel pulls his chair over to the freezer, opens it, pulls out a piece of bread, puts bread on chair, pushes it over the counter, climbs on the counter, opens the toaster, puts bread in
2. opens the fridge, removes the cheese, brings it over to the cutting board, asks me to cut him two slices*
3. places the slices of cheese on the bread
4. closes the toaster turns the dial on and waits for it to toast
5. pulls out a plate from the cabinet, puts his toast on it
6. eats it happily


*when samuel doesn't want any help at all, he slightly modifies this step, and instead of cheese, uses butter - he rubs it straight on the bread and doesn't need my help (or approval)

**the first time he did this, he did it all without my knowledge. i just showed up in the kitchen to see him eating toast, and he proceeded to show me how he made it happen.