April 2012 - Pesach Holiday

We are so so fortunate to have had a full week to spend with the Nusbaum-side of the family this Pesach! Not only that, but we spent that time all being "wined and dined" in a beautiful hotel in Niagara on the Lake area. Thank you, Daddy and Mommy! Please sign us up for April 2013!  :)

Trying to convince the kids to nap before the seder night.
Unsuccessful but so cute....

Some of the fun activities that we did included visiting the firehouse. We boarded the yellow school bus (like from Hila's song!) and drove 30 minutes away to the fire station. Ariel voiced some concerns that our hotel was WAY too far from the fire station and that if there is ever to be a fire at the hotel, this would be a real problem. I mentioned this to the bus driver who assured me that there was a fire station five minutes away from the hotel (just not sure why the tour couldn't have been there...).  I asked the fireman about the whole "Pyjamas under the coat" idea that I remembered reading from the Ramona books, but apparently this is completely myth.

Adin grips the "Jaws of Life"

Ariel gets his axe ready to destroy something
soon....I mean, to try and save lives. Dovid, Hila
and Penina watch. (I love Hila's expression)

Lotsa bus rides to different activities, and minimal
car sickness! Thank you, Hashem!

Uncle Larry is chosen to demonstrate safety gear!
(But we'll still remember tefillah for the ultimate protection)

The cousins stand in front of the model firetruck.

Okay, what's more fun than matching your oldest cousin? Adin and Avi "are twins"! Can you tell who's who?

Next, was go-carting. It was a lot of fun. Only Ariel met the rule for height, so I took a turn with each of the other kids. It was nauseating and exhilirating....it was nausilirating!  :)

The hygienic shower caps definitely take away from the cool
go cart helmet look....

Driving with Hila. She asked for a cigarette to complete
the look, but settled for her motzetz instead.

I tried to get Avishai to believe that he was actually driving
(the second seat has a "dummy" steering wheel for the
kids to use), but he realized the truth pretty quickly.

There was also some quiet time to spend in the fancy library.

Adin tackles another favorite "My Weird School" book
while Ariel just acts weird (without a book).

Okay, she is definitely not allowed to be doing this
but the polka dots are too perfect.

Zaidy always fits in at the library because of his suit and tie...

The hotel had round-the-clock food and treats. The kids had a great time going to the tea room to fill up on all the Kosher Li'Pesach treats and slushees that exist.

Is it just me, or is Hila drinking through her nose?

We enjoyed a picturesque "jaunt" around Niagara-on-the-Lake on a horse and carriage ride with Zaidy and Butsy.

We learned about the area, but the horse driver mostly wanted to
talk all about her horse, Obee. One of her questions, in fact, during a
quieter moment was "Do you have any questions? About Obi, I mean". LOL

Adin got to handle the reins!

How incredible that we were together to celebrate Penina's Bat Mitzvah! (We are waiting for copies of photos, and for permission from Penina's parents, to post them!) Stay tuned....

Then, a trip to Clifton Hills. Yay! Rifka, Ellie and Penina came too!

Shooting ghosts....

We got lucky x 3 at the crane game.
Luck ran out when we tried to get Ellie
a pet too :( 

Adin got to see his buddy, the Joker!

Wow, Hila may freak when she sees this photo...

Rifka helps Hila "win big"!

One morning was designated football time with the boy cousins. There were a lot of "Watch Avi's shoulder" comments and "Where is Bentzion taking the ball?"



To the Shooting Range. You heard right. The Shooting Range.

The Pompers take a very grateful Ariel to shoot his first gun. Ariel agreed that this was basically the best day of his life. (Should I worry?)

Pool time!

Our "almost-annual" photo of the boy cousins about to plunge in!
Dovid, Ariel, Avraham, Ezra, and Adin!

Hila's second balloon toy from the magician.
It quickly went the way of the first...pop!

We are sad that Pesach is over....

It's Talya's first (Hebrew) Birthday on Isru Chag!
The cousins come join to sing to her! What're her birthday gift?
A fever and Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease! During this picture, I was
saying "Smile, but try not to touch her!". Poor girl. We'll try
for a better and healthier birthday next year!