Fun with Friends

This past week, my friend, Ellie, came to visit from Wisconsin along with her 5 younger siblings (Eva, Nathan, Faith, Grace, and Naomi).  We had a wonderful time.  Thursday, we went up to see Gaga, and the girls were able to sing for him.  (The girls all sing together as a family plus Nathan one of the two boys.)  We enjoyed a nice visit playing some Uno with him and talking.  Then after we left, we went by the park and got to swing for a while.  It was a nice treat as most of us older girls had not done that in a long time!

Friday was Naomi's seventh birthday (Naomi is the baby of the family), and we enjoyed getting ready for that - baking a cake, fixing her favorite meal, etc.  We also got the house cleaned for Shabbat.  Naomi really liked her cake which was a baby lamb.  Grace, Eva, and I decorated the cake together.  Both days, Nathan really enjoyed helping Daddy prepare for our bees.  Then he and Daddy went to get them on Friday morning.  He was such a huge help, and I think that Daddy really enjoyed the company. 

Shabbat was a good day.  We got up and everyone got all ready for the day and in our good dresses.  Everyone started arriving around 11am.  Some of us young folks enjoyed playing Settlers of Catan.  I had never played it before, so they wanted to teach me.  We had a lot of fun!  There were many giggles from the table too!  Ellie, Eva, Nathan, Faith, and Grace sang for the congregation; then, we enjoyed lunch.  Ellie's family had brought along a goat roast for us to try, and we had fixed it for Shabbat.  It was very good...tasted a lot like Roast Beef...and very tender.  Then we all enjoyed our Midrash on Shabbat and the New Moon. 

Sunday was a busy last day as we helped get everyone packed and ready to go as Ellie and her siblings headed back home.  We had a very nice visit and were glad to hear they got back home safely last night.

Monday, I spent the day recovering from all the activity and enjoyed some down time!  Then today, we have gotten a lot done and caught up around the house which is a great feeling.  The rest of the week promises to be good - baking on Wednesday, helping Daddy with his bread class on Thursday, preparing for Shabbat on Friday, enjoying Shabbat, and then on Sunday, the young people of our congregation are going bowling!  :)