hanukkah

Last night was the first night of Hanukkah. We were supposed to have our usual family dinner and celebration at my mom's house, but then she came down with the flu. With my husband having to unexpectedly work a great deal of the day yesterday, plans were a little all over the place. I tried my hardest to keep the magic of Hanukkah alive regardless (which isn't easy. I had to run to the grocery store last minute because I'd managed to brutally ruin my first batch of latkes!).

Oh, latkes. I remember being newly pregnant and inhaling all of the latkes I could get my hands on over Hanukkah, knowing the nausea would kick in and that'd be it, but it was so worth it. It looked like Ethan remembered that unconditional love for latkes we shared when he was in utero because he sure went to town on his.

Tonight, the second night, was lacking copious amounts of sour cream and applesauce (our dining room table is relieved). We went out for dinner and came home to light the Menorah and open Ethan's present for the evening. He opened a bag of Crayon Rocks tonight, following last night's sun catcher painting kit. Each of his Hanukkah gifts this year are art supplies as Ethan is all of the sudden really into making art. (He was the kid who hated getting his hands dirty up until a couple of weeks ago.)

My grandmother passed away during Hanukkah of 2009. Hanukkah didn't happen that year, as we spent it at her hospice bedside and then inevitably planning her funeral. This evening my husband went to go get gas and her favorite song came on the radio. In my own sappy, sentimental way, I like to think it means she's celebrating Hanukkah with us this year.