A Bunch of Comedians

This past week Grandma hosted an "Illuminating Fascinators" Conference.  Mommy, Grandma, Bubby, and Aunt Susie all made beautiful head pieces.

Derek helps Grandma illuminate her fascinator.

Bubby's finished product.

A work in progress...

All lit up with no place to go.

Aunt Susie acts as a model for our teacher.

 During our decorating, we all began discussions of funny things Derek has said recently.

Funny things toddlers say...

Recently, while the boys were spending time with Grandma and Papa, a funny conversation ensued:

Derek: I'm Cold
Grandma: So you need a blanket to help warm you up?
Derek: No, I need a nice warm cookie.


Derek has three teachers at school and one of them speaks Hebrew, while another speaks Spanish.  He has been great at picking up some of the words.  Recently he began to count:

"Uno, dos, tres, quatro, cinco, arba"

He also says, "לשטוף את הידיים"  (Wash your hands) when he washes his hands.

Sometimes, when Derek goes to read a book, he says, "I'm going to read it in Spanish now."

One evening, Derek tells Mommy to check his school backpack.

Derek: Mommy, I made you two drawings while I was at school.  Tomorrow, when you go to your school, will you draw me something?


Mommy takes Derek to a play at her school.  On the way, she explains how the actors will tell us a story and we need to listen because they have practiced and worked very hard to tell us their story.
Derek:  Mommy, I know.  I saw a play at school today!
Mommy: (Realizing Derek's teachers often role play to teach lessons) What was the play about?
Derek: Thanksgiving!
Mommy: Were there Pilgrims?
Derek: Yes! (Extremely amazed at the fact that Mommy knew this fact, but wasn't at the play)
Mommy: Were there Indians?
Derek:  No.
Mommy: Oh. (trying to figure out what kind of one-sided story Derek was taught)

The next morning, while relaying the message to Daddy:
Mommy: Tell Daddy what Play you saw at school
Derek: I saw a play about Pilgrims!
Mommy: Were there Indians?
Derek: No.   No Indians.  But there were Native Americans!!!


On Josh's 1st Birthday, Derek was Shabbat Abba for his class (for the first time this year).

Bubby joined in the festivities (along with Mommy):

Blessing the lights.

 

 

Imma and Abba do a little dance.

Bubby wanted to take Derek out for lunch (since last time he cried when she didn't take him home with her).  This time, all he wanted to do was stay and play at his stations!  Now we see why:

But, after a little bit of persuasion, Bubby treated Derek to lunch.  On the way out, they ran into the Security Guard, Israel.

Israel:  Hey Buddy!

Derek:  Israel, I am going to have a grilled cheese for lunch.  I'll have the cheese, and I'll save the bread for you! (Now if that isn't love, I don't know what is!)

At the restaurant Derek decided he would place his own order...

"I would like the grilled cheese and chocolate milk, please.  And Bubby will have Macaroni & Cheese with a Coca Cola." (You should've seen the waitresses face)!

While we're discussing food....Josh had his first strawberry (since it was so close to his birthday):

This past Tot Shabbat was themed "Pajamukkah."  The kids were allowed to wear their pajamas to services!

Josh nuzzles up to his bottle while listening to the sermon.

Derek learns all about Sammy the Spider.

Gabi and Derek discuss Sammy wanting to spin Dreidels vs. Webs.

 In other news...Derek is fully potty trained!  The day after his 3rd birthday, he wore big boy underwear and never looked back!  He also decided, after about one week, that he no longer wanted to wear pull ups while he sleeps.  So, we're done!  NO MORE DIAPERS (for Derek, anyway)!!!

Now, if only we could get him to keep his pants on!  :)

Lastly, we'll leave you with a great 80's hit by Fine Young Cannibals, "She drives me crazy!"
(Performances by Derek and Daddy Barbag) 

Happy Halloween!

So, the Barbag Monsters were out in full force!  Derek and Joshua dressed as Sully and Mike Wazowski from Monsters University.

Of course, Halloween is not just about the day...it's the process leading up to the day!  For example, making sure the costume decision was the correct one:

Derek wonders why this costume is so small on him...then he realizes this costume is really for Josh!

Raaaaaar, this is the one for Derek!

Tail included!

A few days before Halloween, Mommy's High School Baseball team had their annual fall fun ballgame (where the players dress and play in costumes, rather than uniforms).  Of course, it was the perfect time for Derek and Josh to show off their costumes, too!

Putting their game faces on!

Sully makes his way to the game.

Checking out the baseball action.

Derek liked seeing Winnie the Pooh at bat!

Finally, the day arrived.  HALLOWEEN!  Bubby helped Derek carve a pumpkin!

Testing out the end result!

Derek works on being a pumpkin.

 Then it was time for a costume rehearsal:

Like it or not, Joshie, here it comes!

He could do without the hat.

 

That Bubby!  She's sooo funny!

If Derek gets to try on my costume, why can't I try his?

 We had the Karasiks over for dinner and then went trick-or-treating with Grandma and Papa, too!

Pumpkin and Sully

Mike Wazowski

Grandma loves her little monster.

 Derek had a great time, but the late night was a little much for the little monsters:

Elmo Zac to the rescue!

Zombie Josh at his first Halloween.

Barbag boys: knocking on doors and getting treats, one at a time.

Neighbor Costume Fun!

Here are some videos of the boys trick-or-treating and having fun with the Faerman's:

Thanks for joining us!  It was fun to have the boys celebrate their first Halloween together.

And the loot wasn't so bad either!

Potty Training

For months, when asking Derek when he is going to go pee pee in the potty, he would say, "When I turn 3."  Well, the day after he turned 3, we said....to the potty!

The kid has done an amazing job and is now using the big toilet, for both #1 and #2.  In fact, last night, he decided he didn't want to wear pull-ups during the night.  He had no accidents and is really enjoying all of the Octonaut Books he has earned throughout the "training" process (along with lots of stickers of Mater and Lightning McQueen).

Derek gets out of the tub to do his business!

Joshua Breaks His Arm

Yes, we broke the baby.  Monday night, while getting Josh dressed, he decided he wanted to throw things on the floor.  Daddy held on to Josh and bent down to pick up whatever was tossed.  As he stood up, Josh decided to flail out of Daddy's arms.  Crash landing = broken arm.  Of course, Josh is a tough kid, cried for a little, and then went to bed.  So, the next morning, when Mommy put him on the floor to crawl around, we noticed Josh was not able (or willing) to use his left arm.  We took Josh to a pediatric orthopedist who suggested keeping him in a soft cast (in order to be able to bathe him at night).  Brilliant idea!  Too bad, Josh is more brilliant.  The next day, he figured out how to unvelcro his cast.  So, Mommy tried athletic tape.  Josh chose to use his two bottom teeth to peel off the tape!  So, the poor kid now has a sock over his cast.  He should be fully healed in 2-3 weeks.

Waiting happily.

Not so happy about us touching his arm.

Joshie slept it off on the way home.

Daddy check out the snoopy cast.

Kisses make everything better!

Broken arm can't slow Josh down...or his appetite!

What a smiley guy!

As you can see, after a few days, Josh's arm was beginning to feel a bit better:

Hopefully, he fully heals, quickly!

Joshua is 11 months old today!

It's unbelievable, but baby Joshua is 11 months old, already!

Lucky for Josh, Bauby and Zaidy were in for a visit!

Of course, he started the day with a greeting from his older brother!

Josh pays Derek back for waking him up, by grabbing a seat on his couch!

Of course, the day would not be complete without a little music with Bubby.  Here Josh is looking for Middle C.

 Josh loves music.  He also enjoys dancing to the music:

All in all, it was a great day.  So great, Josh decided to end it while on top (of Daddy)!