English is hard

2 stories about my super 5.5 year olds
Ben turns into a superhero everytime he runs anywhere. :)
Daniel insists on volume control of the car radio. His most recent description is to lower up the music. He means to turn up the volume. So adorbs.

In case you were under the impression that English is an easy language to learn, let me put your fears to rest.  We were visiting the restrooms in a public place. They were clearly labeled as Men and Women. Daniel and I were discussing the two rooms
 He got that the mens room was for boys. And that the women's room was for girls, but he couldn't find the correct words on the signs. The Men's room didn't say boys and the Women's room had men as part of it's label. Why wasn't it the GIrls room so he could find a G or the Ladies room? So as a distraction I tried to point out the letters that he did know from his name. N E ... no go. The signs used all capital letters and he is used to writing and seeing his name with the capital D only. English is hard to learn. Even for a native speaker (or mother tongue - and there is a difference)

Jewish comfort food

Cholent hamin chunt dafina
Jonathan asked me to make cholent as I have here lately. I made a vegetarian version because Eran had made a beef flank dish already for the weekend and the chicken has not gone over well lately
SO yummy
What could be bad about potatoes that are cooked so long they melt and beans that soak up so much water they become mush?
So delish. I added some grated garlic as well as all the other spices and it was so garlic smelling that the whole house was filled with it. I guess the cooking of the meat usually drowns out some of the smell of the garlic. I can never keep myself out of the pot while it is cooking.

I just realized I cook in cycles. After the floods I prepared challah for us and other familes for several weeks in a row. Like maybe 6 or more.  I tweaked the recipe each time and it was never the same thing twice. Same with the cholent here latley. Tried it several ways and not quite sure what I like best. Just happy my kids actually ask me to make something these days.

Celebrating the half birthday for the twins which is apparently going to become a new tradition for our family because Daniel has latched on to the idea. Thanks mrs ortiz or as I refer to her Mary Poppins of Kindergarten , for trying to include the summer birthdays. I actually like it too because this way both twins feel like they are getting 2 birthday celebrations. Sounds like a win-win especially since I was able to give them leftover New Years noise makers and necklaces as favors first thing this morning as a happy half birthday surprise. Any excuse to celebrate. I think I like it, but really only for the twins which is not going to go over well for the needy middle child (at least here lately), Ms. Princess herself.  Hey, I'll be happy to celebrate her half birthday too if she wants to constantly remind me like Daniel did. Ben in his shy, reserved way enjoyed it too. He was smiling and enjoying it too.