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.
Wow, you blink for one second and suddenly your daughter's first Hanukkah has come and gone.
Julia, one of the virtues of having an October birthday is that you were born in a super cool month!
One of the drawbacks is that your first holiday season (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, New Years) are kinda, well, uneventful for you. You're still a newborn, you know? So next year, your second Holiday season, you'll be a Holiday season seasoned vet, but probably won't know it.
So, your first Hanukkah was, like I said, a bit uneventful...for you! But not for the happy people who got to hold you, celebrate with you and just be with you. Heck, you even got some pretty cool gifts (diapers! rattles! chew toys! (baby kind, not doggy kind) dolls!
So...you may have been a bit concerned about all the fires being lit nightly.
But, I think every thing turned out quite well for your very first ever Hanukkah.
After all, you'll fight and win each fight you win, but you are only 2 months old!
Now, Aidan, this was your Third Hanukkah, and you definitely got the gist of it now.
Granted, when we told you what we were going to do, "Candles! Singing! Donuts! Presents!" You said "Happy Birthday!"
But, then we told you more and taught you a new one: "Happy Dreidel!"
Donuts!
Family!
Dreidels!
The Menorah!
Presents!
We Promise, you'll like them!
Fun fun fun!
And singing!
We had a lot of fun with both of you every night of Hanukkah. Sure, we got some pretty cool gifts, like a new water bottle, new sweater and books. But, you two are the only presents we truly want and need. And getting a smile out of you, or watching you spin like a dreidel, or sing your version of the Hanukkah prayers while playing with your new wooden menorah (l'shanah, l'shanah), or just watching you coo in front of the fire is enough gift for us for a hundred Hanukkahs. Every day is a celebration when you're a parent, especially of two lovely, creative, smiley, children like you. It's just not every day you get to celebrate with donuts, latkes, candles and dreidels!
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