Hanukkah started mid-December this year. Perfect timing if you ask me…while Hanukkah is certainly going to fall when it does based on the Jewish calendar and not my personal desires, I really do enjoy when it is not too early in December but not too late either. Too early means I generally haven’t gotten my plan coordinated with Christmas gifts just yet and too late in December causes overlap with Christmas and I find we are rushing through the two.
The first night this year was December 12, which was also my mom’s birthday. We went over to my parents house – my mom cooked a brisket, potato latkes, and asparagus. Despite the fact that Avery, Emerson, and Harper ate none of it, it was delicious…my mom’s brisket is excellent and last week it was especially tender and cooked to perfection. We had a chocolate mouse cake from Cenans for dessert! My parents finally took me up on my idea to follow in the steps of my maternal grandparents Adele and Sol and give money in envelopes to the girls each night. The first night started off small (a quarter) and then doubles each night. My parents also got them each one gift that they opened the first night that they had previously requested. Avery got a Baby Alive Doll, Emerson the game “Pop The Pig”, and Harper sunglasses. They also received a few other smaller gifts some nights from my parents but overall much smaller scale than in years past due to the money gift each night. This was by far my preference as the girls really didn’t need or even want much.
On the fifth night, I realized we had yet to take any pictures. So we attempted. Seriously, I wish I could say these were a joke! The girls are not a fan of taking pictures together. Emerson especially….stone face everytime when the camera comes out!
On the seventh night, one of the other gifts the girls received from my mom was a coupon for a day out with grandma. Each of the girls wrote on the coupon what they want to do with grandma. They were all three thrilled about this gift as they all love their one-on-one time. Justin and I loved this gift idea as well as we value experiences significantly more than things, especially random things. I absolutely love how Avery and Emerson are sounding out their words. Emerson’s says “Spend the day and sleep over on the weekend. Eat ice cream with movies “Sing”. Read a book to you. Go to the mall.” Emerson believes hers requires two days with grandma.
Some of Avery’s are especially awesome. Avery’s says “We will have a fun day. A sleep over. Go to Dairy Queen. Go out to dinner and out to lunch. Watch a movie with ice cream. Go to Washington DC. Go to the toy store. Great Falls. Go to Ledos. Go to Grandma Adele’s. Go to the mall”. Avery believes she needs about 6 weeks for her special time!
Harper wrote the word grandma and I’m so impressed with how well she is doing with her letters. Harper wants Grandma to pick her up from school, followed by ice cream, the movie SING, the mall, and then a sleepover! 
Seriously, I LOVE these! On the last night of Hanukkah, I thought we would try for a few more pictures. It was still pulling teeth, but the outcome was slightly better!
My parents stopped bye for the last night. For the eighth night, my dad deviated from doubling the money from the seventh night. He gave them each a $100 bill and wanted to see their reaction. Not surprisingly, their reaction was probably a let down. I don’t think they truly understand the concept of a dollar or the value of money….thus another reason that I LOVED the money each night from grandma and grandpa. Each night we turned it into a little math lesson! Not only that, but I can remember one Hanukkah gift I got from my parents as a kid (and I’m pretty sure I received one every night) but I have such vivid memories of opening up the Hanukkah money that doubled each night from Adele and Sol. In fact, if my memory serves me correctly, they actually folded the money up tightly in loose leaf paper.
Anyway, until next year Hanukkah…and speaking of next year, we made a promise to the girls to do some dreidel games next year and indulge in some jelly donuts (since they don’t like latkes)!