Bakery Field Trip

The folks at Great Harvest Bakery graciously offered to give our girls a tour and let them bake bread (they may not have known what they were in for!). They started out letting the girls make mini-loaves with various toppings (cinnamon chips were very popular):

Next came a tour of everything, including the flour mill, honey storage, giant mixers, and this piece-de-resistance: gigantic ovens controlled by a carousel:

The girls were duly impressed

They saved the best for last, letting the girls eat their still-warm bread slathered with local butter and honey:

Reading to my little brother

Hebrew School!

Third graders at CBI have to start the study of Hebrew, in order to begin preparing for their bar or bat mitzvot. Abby has really taken to this with gusto. She is very attracted to learning to speak another language, and especially to writing in Hebrew letters. Here she is practicing her work:

Our Favorite Things

Have a lot of pictures of the kids with all their terrific Hanukkah and Christmas gifts, so I thought I would post them before (finally) moving off winter break:

Angry Bird blanket

Lego helicopter

Robot kit

Plate from Benji

American Girl skate outfit

Hot Wheels!

Duct Tape Fashion

Helicopter

The Magic Kingdom

The big finale to our trip was a day at the Magic Kingdom.  We took it slow and checked out all the new attractions that opened this year, including Gaston's tavern and the Beast's castle in Fantasyland:

Outside Gaston's Tavern

In the Beast's castle

In Ariel's grotto

The new Dumbo

 

Visiting Mama Jumbo

They had fun snacks in the Big Top

We had a nice lunch break at Cinderella's castle.  Abby was excited to see all the princesses although Benji refused to leave his seat when they came to our table, declaring "I can see you from here" to every character that asked him for a hug:

The Wishing Ceremony

After lunch, we explored Tomorrowland and then settled in for the parade:

The kids, checking out the parade route

We ended the day poking around Adventureland and then having dinner at the Crystal Palace with Pooh and friends.  Benji was all to eager to jump up and snuggle with them (guess princesses just aren't his thing):

 

Epcot

Disney!

For the last leg of our trip, we made our way up to Orlando to spend a few days with Mickey.  Since Thursday was a travel day, we did not make it to the park, deciding to explore the resorts instead.  We made a quick stop at the new Art of Animation resort to see the full size Radiator Springs replica.  Benji was in 7th Heaven:

 After some time in the pool at our hotel, we headed for dinner at Chef Mickey's in the contemporary resort.  The kids were tired, but rallied at the site of Mickey and friends:

A Mickey oreo!

Feeling Pluto's whiskers