Hakunana 2016

Shortly before they came to visit us for Hanukkah 2016, Rebekka sent us a video of Molly adorably calling one of our favorite festivals of light "Hakunana." The name stuck: and Hakunana was a blast filled with delicious food, fun with family,  and some awesome memories:

The first night of Hanukkah this year was on Christmas Eve, so we lit the candles and sang with Yaya and Baba:

The Second night was at the end of a very, very long Christmas day. So...yeah...we were tired!

Night three was just the four of us: 

Night four, we welcomed visitors: your teacher Ms. Mary, her husband Brent, and your friends Korah and Teddy: 

On night five we welcomed Molly and Aunt Rebekka as well as Mimi and Pops to our home for a lovely celebration! 

Imperial Guard Lego!

The Wallet!

...and Pajamas for everyone!

Night six was super fun, and followed a super sushi dinner:

Night Seven was the main event with Uncle Ross joining us for the whole latkes, donuts, brisket craziness at Mimi and Pops house!

Donut, don't tell

Lovin the Legos

Lovin the quilt from Mimi and Pops

And crazy night eight, was New Year's Eve. Happy Hanukkah, Happy New Year. Good night!

May the warm glow of the Hanukkah Candles remind us of the warmth of nearness to beloved family throughout the year.

Hannukah (Oh, Hannukah!)

Hannukah 2014 was a whirlwind of candles and presents, latkes and donuts and dreidels, family and fun, singing and traditions. Aidan, you really are learning to spin a dreidel with ease. You even brought it to Show and Tell! Julia and Aidan, you both got to light candles by yourself! As we continue to learn, fire is hot!

 

 

So many precious moments shared with this whacky holiday. Some of them are immortalized in the following photo-splosion:

 

 

 

Because of your insistance on being naked, we renamed the holidy "Ha-nakey-kah" for many nights. It is dangerous to be naked so close to hot wax, but some lessons have to be learned the hard way.



 

 

 

 

 



It's a GIRAFFE!

A SLINKY!

 

FROZEN PANTIES! Julia, you were so happy that you had to carry a dozen pairs of Frozen panties around with you all over the house.

 

Aidan, Mimi taught you how to make a Slinky 'walk' down the stairs...at a rapid clip.

 

DONUTS! As we all know, donuts are best eaten in this order: icing; filling; trash the rest.

 

Or, for the beginner, just licked...

 

Spinning the dreidel never looked so good! Next year we'll start the gambling!

 

DOUBLE DREIDELS!

 

 

Before you know it, the candles are burning low and another Hannukah has come and gone. But the memories of fun, family, and FIRE remain like the smell of long-since eaten latkes in a house with no ventilator over the stove.