As I mentioned last week, we went to Arkansas to celebrate Passover with my family. By some miracle comparable to the parting of the Red Sea, the parent generation overruled the grandparents, and we all went to the community Seder at the synagogue.
Between us and my brother, we have 6 energetic, excited toddlers, ranging in age from 2.5 to 4. Even though we had 8 adults, it was not what most would call a "manageable" situation.
Gram bought Pearl a new dress for the occasion. Although she complained about it at first, later that night at bedtime she said that wearing the dress was her favorite part of the day.
She did not care for the religious ceremony too much, concluding "that guy must be too wise for me." The "guy" she refers to is the rabbi.
Carrie, the youngest of the children, tried to find ways that she could participate. In this photo, she is trying to enact the plague of the wild beasts with some of the older children. Luckily for us, she did not invest in this role to her full potential, because it is a part for which she has had considerable practice at home and even a certain amount of expertise.
My favorite moment of the Seder (and no, we certainly didn't make it to the end) was another of Carrie's antics. In the middle of one of the rabbi's extended prayers in Hebrew, Carrie raised both arms straight above her head, much like the football referee does to indicate a touchdown, and she yelled at the top of her lungs: CHOCOLATE!
Next year in Jerusalem.
CHOCOLATE!!
hilarious!! :)
Posted by: mamcwifey | 23 April 2008 at 06:56 AM
fantastic story! happy pesach!
Posted by: amy | 23 April 2008 at 08:30 AM
So, was there a response to the chocolate request/praise?
Posted by: ppb | 23 April 2008 at 08:51 AM
Here in the South, the polite response to such outbursts is oblivion. Carrie was ignored completely. Alas!
Posted by: Robin Reagler | 23 April 2008 at 10:41 AM
Hah I love the "he must be too wise for me" line. Smart cookie that one.
Posted by: Heather | 23 April 2008 at 01:43 PM
Wait - you don't have to go to Jerusalem, they'll hear her yell "CHOCOLATE" from here.
Posted by: Lori | 23 April 2008 at 05:54 PM
As far as worshipping goes, chocolate is a pretty good diety, don't you think?
Posted by: Tracey | 24 April 2008 at 01:28 AM
Does your brother have four children aged 2.5 to 4? Does he have triplets or two sets of twins?
Posted by: suze | 24 April 2008 at 11:39 PM
My brother has two sets of twins, same ages as Pearl and Carrie. In fact, when they were babies we did their naming ceremonies in two sets of three!
Posted by: Robin Reagler | 25 April 2008 at 07:33 AM
Oh, that chocolate line had me laughing. A girl after my own heart!
BTW, I love the new blog look. v. nice.
Posted by: Kirsten | 26 April 2008 at 12:58 AM
Wow, that dress is killer!
And I think the Mermaid Girl shares Carrie's choice of worship object.
Posted by: elswhere | 26 April 2008 at 11:17 AM
Next year in Jerusalem. And next year I want to join in on your Reader Appreciation Day. The latter is more likely to actually happen.
Posted by: Kim/hormone-colored days | 26 April 2008 at 08:10 PM
And a belated happy Pesach to you and yours.
Posted by: alice, uptown | 01 May 2008 at 05:28 PM