Chanukah 2014

There's nothing more special during the holiday season than to spend time with your family.  We were so lucky to be able to spend this Chanukah with Bubbie Z and Zaide Shermie, Cousin Jamie, and the Solomons were in town, too!  The Many Margoli made their way down, and the cousins had SO much fun together!!!  Even the Schatz's had a quick stay right before their cruise!  We wrapped up family fun with a visit from Safta Mildred!

Josh helps Grandma put the finishing touches on the chuppah she created for the Cohen Wedding!

The out-of-towners begin to arrive!

Derek gives Mommy's shoes a try.

Admiring Baby Benji.

The greatest gift on earth...another Baby Boy Barbag!

Wooooah, exciting gifts!

Zaide shares his special dessert with his Grandboys.

Kid tested...

...brothers approved!

All in the family.

How's that cookie, Josh?  Goooooooood.

 

Benji’s 1st Chanukah 2014

First night of Chanukah!

Benji's first Chanukah.

Gifts for everyone!

Some more exciting than others.

Jamie is officially ready for her cruise!

Trying out the new games and toys.

Books each night, too!

Those are the best!

The best gift of the night!

The celebrations continued at Bubby and Zaide's Hollywood home....

Benji was SO smiley for Bubbie Z!

Talking it out.

The Bubby whisperer.

Breakfast time!

A bit blurry.

Blurrier yet.

Just right!

Derek was fighting a cough...can you tell how much he likes (or not) his medicine?

Have a good trip!!!

Josh builds with Safta.

One light...

...and another!

Benji celebrates night #2.

What could it be?

Oh my!  Grandma and Papa you've outdone yourself!  I think this gift stays are your house!
The boys LOVE dancing and playing on the piano!!!

Trying another sleep method to get Josh to fall asleep.
This is the most boring book you'll ever read. 
Guess it did the trick!

Josh had a very special Shabbat Abba experience since Bubby Linda and Zaide Mike and Bubbie Z and Zaide Shermie and Mommy and Derek were all there to help him celebrate!

Zaide marched the Torah!

Tzedakah time!

Some of the work going on in Josh's and Derek's classes:

Derek must have nominated the Tucker name!

Inspecting an apple.

Josh was not happy to see us go!

The adults went on to have a nice visit with the Holzman's and Master's families.

Then it was back to the Barbag's for some fun:

Cherry and Benji!

Happy to be with everyone again!

Josh with his GREAT grandparents!

The next day we headed down to Hollywood to see the Many Margoli (we even did a sleepover to maximize our family time)!

Josh fell asleep on the way down!

Waiting for Aunt Shana and Uncle Brian to drive down from Orlando with the Many Margoli!

The package has arrived!

Big eyes!

Puppy love.

Lunchtime!

Adaya is excited to hold baby Benji.

It's hard to get everyone to look and stay still at the same time!

LOVE.

There were beds EVERYWHERE.

Family time in the den.

Bubby took out our old Karate Gees (Brian's wasn't there, lol).

Ha-yah!

 The kiddies loved playing and walking the dogs.

Another great attempt!

Snuggles with Aunt Shana.

Game fun.

It's as if they were still on the cruise together --- fun, fun, fun!

Another one making fun of Benji's big eyes! :)

The craziness of gift giving!

Snacktime!

Deeeelicious!

 Then it was time to start calming down...and what better way than with a nice warm bath!

Benji got sink duty.

And the curly heads had fun bathing all together!

And then the calm of storytime.

Even Uncle Brian got in on storytime.

The next morning everyone was back at it:

Josh earns his yellow belt -- on Zaide Shermie?!

The kids may have awoken with energy...but others needed a nap!  Aunt Shana is pregnant, what's Bubby's excuse?!
(Kidding -- she was 100% with ALL of her grandkids...for daaaaaaaaaaaaaaays!!!)

Please, no photos.

Only Zaide would give Derek a "shot" of medicine!  (At least he had a strawberry chaser!)

Ring around the rosey!

Fantasia is Fantastic!

A little exercise with Auntie Rachel.

These boys need a dog!

Uncle Ari is a good sport!

The piano came for a visit!

puppy love!

Uncle Ari uses Josh to play the piano!

Benji is still smiling for Bubbie.

Uncle Ari teaches Uncle Brian how to properly install a carseat!

The coloring station is for kids, right?

mmmmmmmmmm lunch.

A boy and his broom.

Josh feel asleep in Bubbie's arms 3 seconds after this picture!

Now that's a cute shot!

Friends for life!

Snuggles!

Fun with silly Daddy!

The very important task of selecting the candles for the evening.

More people = more presents!

Hey!  Give the kids a chance!!!

Caught red handed!

Dinner time!

Yum Yum!

Another bath full of fun and curls.

The boys are introduced to Mary Poppins.  Josh loved it more than anyone!!!

The breakfast of champions!

Still smiling for B & Z

We love Cousin Jamie!!!

Some final shots before we have to say good-bye:

We loved having you here in Florida!

Look what they started!

One last art project.

Let the good-bye hugs begin...

If only we all lived closer together!!!

Back up to Boca for dinner with Grandma, Papa, and Safta Mildred!

Daddy puts his new bug catcher to good use!  Mommy's hero caught the spider....now what?

Our anniversary gift to one another -- an addition! :)

Erin popped in for a quick visit!  It was SO great spending time with her!

Mazel Tov to Erin and Chris on their baby boy -- arriving in May!
She's totally ready!  Can you tell?!

Josh shares a friendship bracelet (made by Derek and shared with Josh) with his little brother, Benji.

Sad?

Dad took care of that!

11 weeks old!

One last night!

Chanukah 2014

Anything he does, I do too!

Josh LOVES stamps.

Thanks, Aunt Sandy and Uncle Sam!  Super cute!

He wore himself out and climbed into bed for a nap
(that lasted about 10 seconds)

Giving the new hotdog holders/cutters a try!

Delicious!

Bubby before/after her braces (She wants to know if she'll start getting acne, again, too.)

peek-a-boo, Salem!

A deep phone conversation with Safta.

As quickly as they came...they all went home.  It was SO much fun spending time with everyone and we hope we can do it again real soon!

Jamie took her new game to AZ and challenged the rest of the Samson crew (enjoy your vacay Jody!)