Time out in Tucson

We decided to take a break from the heat and the hurricane....so we flew to Tucson for the weekend. Actually, we really had it planned before the hurricane even came. The weekend went by too quickly, it was filled with eating and eating and more eating. That's really all we did, and of course, we visited.

On friday, we went to chabad of Arizona for services and dinner. There were over 100 kids there, wow, what a change from the last time we attended.

Saturday, Alex's parents came up from Phoenix, and we ate (of course) some homemade tamales and enchilladas. They were so good.

After a brief shopping trip, we then went to eat Greek food. As you can see, we had a very international eating spree.

It didn't end there, on Sunday morning, we had breakfast at "The Good Egg".

Another wonderful meal!

And last, but not least, on the way to the airport, we stopped at

Brueggers Bagels for dinner for the plane.

We're lit up

Power for our house is finally on, wow, a nice warm shower, working washing machine and dryer, a stove, a computer, and of course the air conditioning. Funny, the weather here is so nice, maybe 70 degrees and no humidity. It's a good thing b/c so many people are without power, still.

FEMA trucks are here, and lots of people are taking advantage of that. Everyone thinks they have something "owed" to them, it's rather sickening how people are behaving. I don't consider a few days w/o power a need for FEMA to pay for my well being. Even if i did stay at a hotel, rather then a friend's house or my own, i would never take that FEMA money. That money is really for those who don't have a choice. Yes, it's for the people who have a tree in the middle of their house, it's the senior who cannot be alone, it's those who have medical problems...it's for those who will not have power or really cannot live in their house for some time. It's not for the middle to upper class who lost some frozen tv dinners. Suddenly, everyone is claiming to have a freezer full of meat.....ummmmmm. I hate dishonesty! There are those who find a way to cheat at everything. Don't' people have morals and values! I hate those who go around the rules or laws. I hate when people lie. Why is it, in this world of so much good, that people cannot be honest, caring, and giving.

So stop your whining and complaining, we are all inconvenienced. We all have some issue with the hurricane. Pick up your head, and move forward and see what you can do to help the next person.

Still no power

The hurricane came and went and we still don't have power. Slowly, little by little, everyone is getting power back. All of our family has power at this point, it's only our neighborhood and eddie's office. Our yardman came and cleaned up the huge mess in our backyard. We lost lots of major branches and a few trees. It doesn't look like we will have any pecans this year, they all blew off!

On another note, I'm still not back at school since they too, don't have power. I've been babysitting our class caterpillar, very nervously b/c it ate all the leaves off the milkweed plant. Luckily, philip and dana had a plant, which i took. I just can't believe how rapidly it grows. It started off the size of a child's eyelash and now, after a week, it's about 1 1/2 inches long.

The final news is that Miss Sophie is going to have a baby brother. We are tickled blue!

Preparing for the Hurricane

Prepare Children for Hurricanes or Storms

People talk about how to prepare your home for a hurricane, but no one talks much about how to prepare our children. I am writing this special thought because some of you may be in the path of this latest hurricane. Some of you may have friends or family in the path so feel free to pass this on to them.

Check your own attitude. Children “catch” their attitudes from you. If they see you frightened and worried, it will make them more frightened and worried. Be brave and be strong as you prepare for the storm.

Limit media. While it is important to keep updated to know what to expect and what to do, limit the time children view and listen to media. Media often paints a dismal frightening picture and when children see this, it scares them more.

Talk honestly. Tell children that there may be a big storm. Tell them the precautions you are taking so you will all be safe.

Involve children. Make a list of everything you have to do to prepare and offer some of the jobs in preparedness to children.

Find times to laugh and sing. I know that this may sound ridiculous with a huge storm coming, but it truly is the best medicine, so find ways to laugh and smile and sing. Listen. Your children may want to talk.

Listen to their fears. Reassure them. Be there for them.Be full of hope. No matter what the weather is on the outside, it is important for children to feel hope on the inside. Things will get better. You are a family. You will be together, and together you can do anything.

Take time to pray together. I have seen children get so much calmer when they pray and know there is a Higher Power at work in their lives, and to ask that Higher Power to take care of them and keep them safe. I know it calms me too when I pray to God.

hurricane ike

So, is it coming or not? Looks like Hurricane Ike is coming right for the gulf coast. Either way, we will have lots of rain. Everytime we check, it's coming more and more north...right towards us. We'll see....and we'll keep you posted. Better stock up on peanut butter and crackers.

breadmaking

This past summer, I donated my time to teach a challah making class for 4 people. The class was on an auction at a fundraiser. The lady that purchased it brought 3 of her friends, and we made several different kinds of challah. Here's a photo that the lady sent to me, of the challah she made at home, for the upcoming jewish holidays. You'd never know she just learned. I told her next year she can teach the class!

Fumbly Fingers

I failed to mention that on Friday, I dropped my camera. It wouldn't take flash pictures after that. Then Friday night, I dropped it again. That did it in. Finally, yesterday I took it to school, hoping I could take a photo outside. No such luck, especially since I dropped it a 3rd time. Not my week for cameras. Funny, I've never dropped it before.

Today is Tuesday

Today is tuesday, but since yesterday was a school holiday, it felt like monday...all day. I was just a bit off.

Sometimes I feel like I am wearing too many hats...let's see. I teach, I clown, I take religious classes, I volunteer at 2 synogogues, I am in charge of way too many things, I have a big shabbos dinner every friday night, I am making prayer shawls to give away, I volunteer teach challah baking, I mosaic tile, I am trying to finish a quilt, I don't know how to say "NO", I am the best gramma in the whole world, and finally I have been neglecting my poor doggie. He's become fat and lazy. Poor buddy, all he wants is a walk. Maybe tomorrow.

MDA party

Snuggles and Tic Toc

Snuggles wants the cake!

Doesn't it look yummy.

Last night, Juggles and I volunteered for the Muscular Dystrophy Family Party.

It was loads of fun, lots of clowns. My friend, Tic Toc took these pictures with her phone.

Sadly, I dropped my camera and broke it. Might not have any pictures for awhile.