Happy Hanukkah!

Last night was beautiful.  We had a lovely dinner that included latkes, lit our candles that included Mark's new Disney menorah, and headed up to the Village area for the menorah lighting.  There were more people than EVER this year!  Over 140 new families have moved into Solivita this year, and clearly, some of them are Jewish.  Mark and I sang the three blessings plus "Maoz Tsur" on a pretty good microphone system out there.  It was lovely.  Then we went into the ballroom for coffee and donuts, although Mark and I did not go get donuts.  The new president of the Shalom Club is also a former resident of our old hometown, Laurel, MD and a member of the Laurel synagogue for many years.  Small world.  She had a friend from MD who now lives in Israel visiting.  This lady brought her HARP with her and played Hanukkah and Jewish folk songs.  A bunch of us sat around her and sang along.  What fun!  Also turns out that she is good friends with the Oresky family, so we had mutual friends.  Small world!

Then we came home and opened our first night presents.  Mark gave me a box that I won't talk about today because he also sent the same thing to both of our kids, and I don't know if they opened theirs last night or not.  Probably not yet.  So I will mention the details on that at the end of the week.  I also got an AMC gift card from Lowell.  Mark also opened his gift from Lowell, which was an Amazon gift card.  Then just for an anti-climactic effect, he also opened the same gift card from Amazon in the same amount from me.  Hey, Mark WILL use that much money on Amazon, so he was thrilled.

Today we have friends Barb and Al coming for lunch.  Mark is making Walt Disney's favorite chili recipe for lunch and some pareve corn bread.  It's going to be so delicious.

Then tonight we will light the second candle, eat some more latkes, and open some more presents.  Hanukkah is so much fun!  Also, clearly Mickey and Minnie are secretly Jewish.  Why else are they on menorahs, plates, and other fun Hanukkah decorations?  LOL!

The Mickey banner on the outside of our house.

Those dreidels behind my menorah on the left are Disney dreidels.

I think M and M are secretly Jewish.

The loot, the swag, the goodies, the presents, the gifts!  So much fun!