Twins

Robin and Miriam are quite the pair these days. Of course they love to fight over the ONE toy they ABSOLUTELY have to play with (which just so happens to be in the other's hands), but generally they enjoy being together. They are simply hilarious with some of the games they play. The other day, Miriam explained that they had turned a little cart into a "flatboat" that was "going down the Mississippi River, just like Abe Lincoln." They filled the cart up and promptly sent it sailing down the staircase. Our neighbors appreciated hearing that at 7:15am...

See no evil...

Snowless winter : (

Two years ago, we were digging our way out of yet another massive snowstorm. These days, we're more likely to be out in our short sleeves! We have had a grand total of about 1.5 inches of snow this winter -- below, Daddy shows Miriam how to make snowballs with wimpy snow.

Time is running out, so Miriam and Robin have had to resort to carpet sledding, using some jerry-rigged sleds (that's Robin's booster seat she's sitting on):

The Hokey Pokey

Robin spends much of her time these days singing and jumping around the house. She is a goofy, giggly kid...

She shoots...

She scores!!!

Sharks galore

We spent several days up in Worcester, Mass., where Auntie Ann live with her four hockey-crazed boys, Matthew (9), Damon (6), John (almost 2), and "Unc" Mike (40+). We spent much of the time watching, playing, and talking about hockey. Mike works for the Worcester Sharks and the boys play for the mini-Sharks, so pretty much every item of clothing in the house has a shark on it. They even gave Robin a Shark pillow pet for her birthday (the teeth were actually pretty sharp, and it bit the birthday girl when Daddy nuzzled it too close to her).

The Shark prepares for its assault on the birthday girl...

With deft, one-handed stick work, Robin steals the puck

from her rookie cousin in the basement.

Miri skates with the big boys at the Sharks' arena.

High-sticking, Robin! Two minutes in the sin bin!

Happy Birthday, Robin

After weeks of anticipation, Robin turned two today! What did she want for her birthday? Cupcakes, and for people to sing happy birthday to her. Done and done. Here was our great day.

Breakfast. Even though Daddy cooks amazing pancakes, sweet potato oatmeal, and waffles, Robin wants cereal. Kix, Honey Bunches of Oats, and Raisin Bran!

At Brookside Gardens seeing the "mini-trains." There was an amazing model train display and Robin and Miriam loved to watch them. Then we took a walk around the beautiful gardens.

Lunch at the Tastee Diner (a Silver Spring institution since 1935). Waffles dunked in chocolate milkshake for Miriam (see above) and mac n' cheese, applesauce, and a chocolate milkshake for Robin. We won't mention what the parents ate, but it is the "Season of Gluttony!"

We had a Skype date with Grandma Jean and Pop Pop (who sent a great singing card, which Robin danced to, a lot!) and then Uncle Rob, Aunt Vida, and Cousin Pearce came over for a birthday dinner, and CUPCAKES with chocolate icing. See the results, above!

Playing with her new trains before bath and bedtime. This girl LOVES trains! Now we are off to Worcester, Mass., to visit the Myers clan.

Happy Hannukah!

The Asch Family (especially the kids) have been eagerly anticipating Chanukkah...the candles, the gelt (yum!), the jelly doughnuts (yum! yum!), and the presents. What could be better?In preschool, Miriam made a great chanukkiah, which she kindly gifted to Robin who doesn't have one yet. After we lit the candles (but not, thank goodness, the girls' hair, as we've done in the past), the girls opened their first presents: beautiful Shabbat coats from Nana.

The girls in their coats. Dickens novel? Nineteenth century Eastern Europe? You be the judge.

Robin with the chanukkiah that Miriam made her.

Miriam is enthralled with the candles.