"Dip the Apple in the Honey...Shana Tova U'Metukah...Have a Happy Sweet New Year!"

This was probably Simon's best Rosh Hashana ever! He was so thrilled to spend not one but two whole days with his big cousin Joshua. Joshua doesn't like Simon to be too close to him because he doesn't like babies because he doesn't like the smell of the poop (that is a direct quote and, really, can you blame him?) They did get along pretty well for the most part and had a lot of fun playing with buses and pretending to be t-rexes (I actually got to do that too and I have to say it was really fun) and spending lots and lots of time with Grandy and Papu and Mama and Judy. It took Simon a little bit of time to warm up to Mama and Judy. When we got to Grandy's house, he walked in the back door by himself, took one look at Mama and Judy sitting on the couch and turned around and walked out bursting into tears on the way. He cried and cried and everytime Mama came near him, he would look her right in the eye and scream at the top of his lungs. As sad as this was, she and I could not stop laughing. Once he got over his fear, he found Mama and Judy both very funny. Simon also spent plenty of time in shul playing with other kids' toys and then having a fit when they wanted them back. And, a kid asked him his name and he said "Simo"--the emphasis is on the "mo" part--exactly the way Francesca pronounces it. We haven't been able to get him to do that again, but the kid didn't know his name before and then was calling him Simon, so he definitely did say it!! Also, I was sitting in shul and all of a sudden I turned around and there was Simon heading towards me waving a diaper in the air and saying "Mommy...Mommy." Apparently he needed to be changed and David didn't want to do it, so he sent him to find me! I would have been annoyed, but it was so cute. He also got to play with Joseph, Aleeza and Yakira all of whom he loves to play with. He seems to especially like Joseph and it makes him feel very important when Joseph has whole long conversations with him. Yesterday afternoon, we went to a little good-bye party for the Krams who are getting ready for their move to Newton. Simon was very happy to see his girlfriend Isabella and he was even pretty nice to Abby. Today it was back to daycare where he gave Yaya big hugs and kisses!