tales from a far-land

Happy 11th Birthday, Madilyn Rae! Now that you are 11, you're going to start growing up even faster than ever, so just have fun and enjoy every moment along the way. You re officially a tween! These next years will be full of transitions, moodiness, drama, and changes, but you have got this! You are kind, mature, affectionate, a little aloof, hard-working, and fun-loving. We hope this next year around the sun is filled with every desire and aspiration that you dream of. We love you so much! Birthday Wishes Front Yard Birthday Photo Shoot Birthday Greetings from Mina Birthday Gift from Aunt Melinda To celebrate Madilyn's birthday, she had birthday blow-out.  She invited all of her favorite friends to go ice skating with a sleepover following.  She is incredibly loved.  Friends from all areas of her life joined her for this amazingly fun day.  We were so thankful that Peoria AzIce  could accommodate us, even with the pandemic still continuing.  It was a ...

Summer 2020 was an unusual one.  It was a summer of cancellations.  No fireworks for 4th of July.  No Jewish summer camp for the kids.  No blockbuster movie releases.  No family reunions or gatherings.  No swim team or summer sports.  And yet, we were able to find so many silver linings. We enjoyed swimming in our pool with family and friends. Josh constructed a screen in the backyard so that we could watch movies as a family and with friends. The kids did enjoy a couple of sleepovers and playdates. Family shabbat almost every week. A couple of trips to the cabin in Munds Park. Morning walks with the dogs. Family celebrations for holidays and birthdays. Pool time with Sydney and Campbell And Hope and Faith And Addison and Ben And with each other Movies on the Big Screen Sleepovers/Playdates with Gretchen Father's Day Pizza Night Summer Shabbats

As I reflect back on our summer, it was full of so many fun times (and one so not fun time).  We were blessed to spend time with our friends playing cards and swimming.  We celebrated birthdays.  We enjoyed sleepovers with friends.  We all loved spending time with our cousins and grandparents.  The kids had a wonderful camping adventure with Josh and the dogs.  And I was able to spend an evening catching up with my Palmer sisters.  The only unfortunate thing that happened this summer was that I got into a car accident on my way to the airport for a business trip.  Thankfully, I was safe and luckily still made my flight. I know I say this every summer, but it passed by so quickly.  But we can honestly say that we enjoyed every moment of it. Enjoying Neighborhood Games with the Raetz Family Sleepover at the Woods House Friend's Birthday Party An Evening with my Palmer Sisters Playing Pinochle in the Pool ...