Los Angeles, California: We stayed-over an extra night to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah with the grandkids. Our day was spent with Leo and Lenny, as Lisa took Lucy to the Nutcracker ballet at the Los Angeles Ballet Company.
Lisa and I went to the Nutcracker ballet in Portland so many years ago. It is always such a magical production - especially if your little girl is taking ballet classes - and who can't enjoy a little iconic Tchaikovsky?
While the girls were at the ballet, the rest of us finished-up our Hanukkah shopping, wrapped gifts, watched movies (and maybe a little football), had a checkers tournament, and tidied-up before Lisa and Lucy returned from the ballet. Then it was full-on latke frying! Lisa made over 40 potato pancakes for the party tonight.
As has been their custom for the past many years, Lisa and Lenny invite their friends, Mike and Kevin - along with their daughter, Rina - for the first night of Hanukkah. It is rumored Mike and Kevin have taken-down their weight in latkes, but tonight, everyone was quite polite... though at the end of the evening, there was not even one latke left.
Leo lit the first candle on the menorah tonight. We sang prayers, and celebrated the Festival of Lights.
The kids opened gifts. Lisa and Lenny gave Rina a LA Rams uniform and helmet. Kevin and Mike gave Lucy an Ariel (Disney princess) costume. Leo received gifts tonight as well - including cowboy boots!
As always, Leo is a Redskin football player. (Except when he is a Duck football player.)
Until my next update, I remain, your fried-in-oil correspondent.