New Mug From My Granddaughter

At our big family Chanukah Party last week, I brought presents for absolutely everyone. I've continued with the custom I began when I was working in Yafiz clothing store, buying pajamas for all of the children. I managed to find them all in one big shopping session in the Pisgat Zeev Mall a few weeks before Chanukah. Sales had already begun, and there were all sizes. I had to get adult sizes for the oldest ones, who are all taller than I am. And in one of the big children's chain stores, Kiwi, I found cute sweatsuits for the younger ones. So far, reports are that they all fit.

For the grownups, I went to my favorite store, FOX Home, and I wasn't disappointed. They had a wonderful selection of mugs at discounted prices. To make life easier for myself, I got all the kids identical mugs and something else useful for my husband.

I was surprised at the party by a personal gift for me. One of my younger granddaughters bought everyone presents with her own money. This mug has praises written all over:

"My Grandma is THE BEST"
"My Grandma is Young at Heart"
"Beloved Dear Grandma"
"Grandma #1"
"Perfect Grandma"

and more wonderful words💖💝💟

Yes, she's a very special granddaughter!

Craft Kit Rip-off

 You may have read my post from a few days ago about the lovely work, design and assembling, my not yet seven year old granddaughter had done with the beading supplies I had picked up in a Jerusalem Hobby supply store.  Not only had she chosen the beads I had bought for her teenage sisters, but I had looked forward to making necklaces from them, too. There was nothing at all childish in her taste and designs.

When I went over yesterday to spend time with the kids, I thought of bringing the bag of beads and clasps along with me, but since they have an arts & crafts supply closet at home, so I didn't.

I found a "necklace" kit, which had never been opened/used.

It wasn't quite as creative as the variety of beads I had purchased, but it looked interesting. So we opened it and checked the possibilities. We carefully followed instructions, and she used up all the usable* supplies making necklaces. We pasted what needed to be pasted with the enclosed glue and left everything to dry.

No surprise of course the glue didn't stick, and everything just fell apart. It did keep her busy for awhile, but that is all the kit accomplished. I just have to get more supplies from the regular hobby places. And while I'm there, I'll look for projects to suit her cousin, the young manicurist, too.

*One necklace clasp didn't work, glitter glue had dried out, and there weren't enough backings for the tiles.

Perfect Manicure

The most adorable and talented three year old rushed to get me the lilac nail polish she had picked out for me when in New York, and she painted my nails so perfectly. Not a single drop on my skin. She does a better job than I do.

I'm not going to redo my nails for a long time!

Celebrating Six 6!

The other day my daughter finally got to make her six year old a birthday party. When the actual birthday is during the super busy Jewish Holiday Season, celebrations get postponed. But since the princess got to "plan" the party, which included all that she wanted, she didn't care that it was actually over a month after the date.

Being just the grandmother, I had no real role other than glorified "gofer" and photographer, which meant that I could just enjoy myself and kvell. I especially enjoyed seeing my older granddaughters take over all sorts of important roles and responsibilities, very much like their mother did when she was their ages.

I even set the table! As you can see, the birthday girl likes pink.

The gorgeous cake was baked and decorated by the family, meaning that a few of us, including the birthday girl, took part.

Thank Gd a good time was had by all, Baruch Hashem, ken yirbu; may there be many more smachot, happy occasions for all the family.

Fun Time with a Grandaughter

Every week or two I do some "babysitting," though it's not real babysitting anymore. The older kids are old enough to take care of the youngest who's the only one not old enough to be on her own. So my "job" is just to pick her up from gan, preschool, bring her home and make them all some lunch.

The youngest had her dance class that afternoon.

And afterwards she wanted to play in the playground.

I had to bribe her with a trip to the grocers for ice cream so she'd go home. Yes, that's something my kids would never request, but I'm now a savta, a grandma and the rules are different for me.

Friday Fun in Shiloh

My granddaughters didn't have to travel all that far for a fun Friday in Shiloh. They came with their mother (my daughter) to the pool, lunch and then some playground time.

We don't live all that far, and even there's a war going on in Israel, it's not in our neck of the woods. So they had some summer fun, thank G-d.

Dressing Dolls, Like Grandmother, Like Granddaughters

One of the things I do at work is to keep the mannequins well dressed in the latest fashions. It's an unofficial special responsibility I've taken on in Yafiz, Sha'ar Binyamin. I started dressing the dolls, because I really didn't like how they looked and I thought they needed clothing/fashion changes a lot more frequently then they had been getting.

I really get a thrill out of hearing customers come in wanting "just like the mannequin is wearing." And when I have to strip the poor doll of her clothes for a customer I thank the customer for telling me what a good job I did in putting together the outfit. It really does make me feel good when one of the outfits I had put together has attracted a customer into the store.

Another of my small touches to the way the store is set up is when I change the order of outfits hanging together so that the one I consider most attractive or has the best color is in front. Playing around with style, being an unofficial "stylist" makes the job lots more fun for me.

During one of my babysitting times for the grandkids I saw that the granddaughters also like to dress and accessorize dolls. I guess I shouldn't be all that surprised. they are my granddaughters...

Always Performing

My youngest granddaughter is full of surprises. There's always some reason she doesn't want to leave gan, nursery school with me, but at least I can usually negotiate with her and find a way to get her to come with me.

Last time I went to take her home, she kept on ignoring me and the teacher who kept telling her:

"Your savta* is here to take you home." 

She and her friend were standing up and singing a Chanukah song together. They were holding invitations (upside down, or at least hers was) to the gan's Chanuka Party and pretending to be reading the words.

She was so serious.  She just kept on singing and singing at the top of her lungs.

Three year olds are so funny.

*grandmother

Sometimes Even The "Scene-Stealer" Refuses The Spotlight

From the time my three year old granddaughter was born, you could always cheer her up by taking her picture or putting her on the stage as center of attention.  A couple of months ago at my son's wedding, the little star even upstaged the bride.  But yesterday, when I was babysitting she refused to let me take her picture.

I guess she was just being a very contrary three year old, which does happen.  Yes, it certainly does when they are three.  I just wonder how long this stage will last.

Very Grown Up!

The young lady pictured here will be starting the next stage in her education in just over a month.

She'll be starting gan, nursery school.  She'll be in for a disappointment, since she thinks she's going to SCHOOL like all her elder siblings.  In her mind she's the same as they are.  I'm sure you can see that.  Can't you?

I missed the Bible Contest

I usually get to my cousin's home during the last round of the International Bible Quiz on Yom Ha'Atzma'ut, but this year I didn't. Too bad, since there was a very interesting little incident.

The winner seemed upset, so upset that he was called to the judges' section. What bothered him so? As he was going over the questions and answers, he had already given, in his mind he realized that he hadn't answered something 100% correct. Therefore he wanted the points to be deleted from his score.

The judges tried to explain to him that according to their criteria, his answer was acceptable. I admire that level of moral standards.

I spent the day at my cousin's and I enjoyed seeing the younger generation getting along.



I bought them all little arts and crafts kits, consisting of an unlined notebook, crayons and sparkly glue. As you can see, our granddaughters played together beautifully.

Watching our own children getting along and the next generation was the best way of celebrating the holiday.

Old fashioned fun!

The same fun I once had!


Today I had to babysit for my granddaughters, and the plan was for me to keep them playing outside awhile.

I went shopping to try to find some sort of toy. A friend was with me; she's my age and also a grandmother. Suddenly we noticed something we played with, as did our own children...
...bubbles, yes those little containers of "soap" and the stick with a hole, a round circle. When you blow on the thin layer of soap, lots of bubbles fly all over.

My granddaughters had a very good time! And so did I!

Springtime for sure

One of the first signs of spring here are the new leaves on the grape vines. I noticed them a couple of hours ago. Grape vines always look dead in the winter, and just before winter ends, you're supposed to give them a "crew cut." My son did that during his last visit, the day after Purim.

This year the irises are each "doing their own thing" and blooming almost "one at a time."

And soon I'll be off for my weekly babysitting for my granddaughters, who are featured in the latest Carnival of Family Life. Take a gander; there are some great posts.

Teach 'em Young!

My two pre-school granddaughters are learning how to cook. My daughter is a firm believer in teaching them young, whether it's cooking, cleaning or washing the dishes. She didn't learn it from me, unfortunately.

She's right. The theory is that too many of us stop/ped the kids from doing potentially helpful things, because the child is "too young" or making a mess. Then by the time the kid is "old enough," he or she couldn't be bothered.

My granddaughters are pictured here getting the rice ready, after checking for bugs, stones etc.

And while we're talking about cooking, please don't forget to send me links for the next Kosher Cooking Carnival!

Either send to shilohmuse at gmail dot com or to blog carnival. Thanks!!!