Five for the Fifth

An inappropriate photo for a Hanukkah themed post. They love their $1 Target Santa hats. Sorry but I couldn't resist.

Why, hello!

Finally, a moment to touch the stone here.

Tonight is the fifth night (I think, right? It's strangely confusing to figure out) of Hanukkah, so here are five bullets:

1. The results of Friday’s ENT visit are that as an early Christmas (we celebrate that one too in our house) present, Leo will be getting a new set of tubes and saying goodbye to his adenoids on December 23. Yup, Merry Christmas Leo! Sorry, guy, but hopefully it will greatly improve his health and reduce the amount of antibiotic treatments. I think we’re on round number three in the last four months…not good.

2. The ENT appointment was not as bad as I had expected although I think my thighs are still sore from clenching them to hold Leo’s legs and prevent him from kicking our dear doctor where the sun don’t shine. And I’m sure Leo with his nasal cavity numbing spray and the tube with the light on the end of it but have a different opinion of how bad the appointment was. Luckily Ellie’s view of the whole procedure was blocked by the doctor so hopefully all that Leo screaming won’t traumatize her for life (don’t ask me what it will do to Leo).

3. The kids are really enjoying lighting the menorah this year. Leo calls it “dora” and the first night Ellie called it “birthday candles.” Last night the kids got their first gift (hey they don’t know that some kids get a gift every night and we plan on drawing out that innocence as long as possible). Upon opening, they swooped around the house appropriately.

4. Leo’s teacher is Jewish and I think she’s definitely pushing Hanukkah more than teachers in the past have. I know that this week they’re learning about Kwanzaa though so maybe they’re just actually giving the holidays equal treatment for a change. I’ve lived on the East coast for about ten years now and it still shocks me a little that I don’t feel like an alien because I celebrate Hanukkah. People actually put menorahs in their windows and decorate for Hanukkah. There is a Hanukkah section at Target for goodness sake. Sorry, Hanukkah rant over.

5. The whole “finish your Brussels sprouts and you’ll get your Hanukkah present” line—it totally works. Last night Leo ate an entire bowl of rice and beans in exchange for his present. This is a boy who could probably happily subsist on scrambled eggs, cheese quesadillas and grapes.

It's just a shame Hanukkah only lasts eight days.