The latke queen

The other day I chatted a little with my dear cousin from Australia (love you Yaaronet), and she said I haven't shown photos of my self for a while. So last night I took some photos of my very very tired self... I'll have to try again some time next week, I miss taking photos of my self.

Yesterday I volunteered to make latkes at the temple for Maya's class. Another mom helped me and we had a great time cooking together. Of course we were a great match, since she let me control the whole thing and boss her around, the control freak that I am in the kitchen.
I'm sure some people think to them selves right now: only in the kitchen?? Alright, I'm a control freak sometimes.
I should probably explain what latkes are: latkes are potato pancakes. They are traditional Jewish food for Hanukkah. Traditionally, you grate potatoes, mix them with some eggs and flour and... fry them, yes that's right, with a lot of oil! It's so good, it's bad! But I make them even better ;) I don't make potato latkes. I make potato-onion-carrot latkes, and sweet potato/yam-onion latkes, and zucchini-onion latkes and... everything latkes!
I wish I could write down here the recipe, but I never follow any, and I never measure and that's too bad, because I think others should be able to make them too!
Anyway, yesterday when I was done cooking at the temple, it was about 20 minutes before Maya finished her school day. So I went and grabbed Lia out of her class to eat some latkes with Maya's class. When Lia and I walked into Maya's class, Maya was busy drawing. It took her a few seconds to see us, and when she did, she called: "Imaaaa!" (=mommyyyy!) happily and kept drawing! What? How could it be...? Was this really my Maya?? She wasn't crying, or emotional at all, she wasn't squeezing me and clinging on to me, she wasn't holding my leg or grabbing my pants! My Maya is starting to like school! She became so much more outgoing in the last couple of weeks. I love her so much, that when I think about all the changes that have been made in her lately, it makes me so emotional. She is growing and from a toddler she's becoming a girl. I'm going to cry.



This is the amazing Hanukkiah Maya made at school. It's crazy how it looks like her drawings - she has been drawing circles in a line, like a train for the last couple of months. It's so Maya, I love it!
This is Lia's Hanukkiah she made at school. I cannot believe the order. There is such a clear pattern with the candle holders! She's so brilliant!
Last night we were supposed to go celebrate Hanukkah with our friends in Tiburon. One of their children was not feeling 100% well, and even though I was really looking forward to going there (haven't seen them since July!!), we decided to stay at home.It was rainy here yesterday and we were tired. It felt so perfect to just stay at home last night. Just the 4 of us. We lit the candles and had a really good dinner and then opened the presents.

Lia got a special Tinkerbell coloring book with special markers and Maya got a doctor's kit! She's been "doctoring" us around ever since, it's great!
I love looking at the Hanukkias (Menorahs) in the dark. I guess some things don't change, how we love fire when we're kids and when we grow that fascination doesn't go away, it sticks with us. It gives me such a warm feeling.

Well, Maya just got up from her nap, and she's sitting on my lap cuddling with me. I should go and cook dinner. We're having a small Shabbat dinner tonight, cause we're going to temple later for a "Shabbanukkah" service (Shabbat&Chanukkah ;).

Have a great weekend!
Shabbat Shalom!