Havdalah at Gesher JDS - December 11

Wear your PJs and join us from 6:30 to 7:30 at Gesher Jewish Day School (4800 Mattie Moore Ct. Fairfax, VA 22030) for child-friendly havdalah service and bedtime the Jewish way with Kindergarten teacher, Morah Melanie. Crafts, warm cocoa and cookies, cozy reading nook, and lots of fun. Great for preschoolers, K and 1st graders! Babes in arms welcome too! Please RSVP to Debra Mendelson, Director of Admissions 703-962-9216 or dmendelson@gesher-jds.org. There is no charge - just register in advance.

We attended last year and it was really nice. If I recall, it was also one of those snowy nights - well, it seemed snowy, but not so much in comparison to what we received later in the year!

Hands-on Chanukah Celebration - December 5

The Sunday afternoon during Chanukah looks to be great fun or everyone. From 1-4 pm on December 5, come to the JCCNV for all sorts of neat activities at the Hands-on Chanukah Celebration:

--Shalom Sesame's newest DVD will be launched
--Arts and crafts for all ages, including recyclable Menorah and dreidel projects
--Hi-tech activities (X-box and more) for ages 8+
--Chanukah songs and stories in Spanish, Hebrew and English
--Lego Mania - build a menorah with "Brixalot"
--Moon bounce and inflatables
--Little Latke Lounge (for infants and toddlers)
--Face painting
--Balloon artist
--Design your own Gary Rosenthal fused glass dreidel (for an additional fee - will be sent to the studio for firing-you can't go home with it!)

Grown-ups can socialize while the kids have fun. If you play mah jongg, you can reserve a table to play.

Please bring non-perishable individually wrapped snack food to be used for a community service project. And speaking of food, lunch (including latkes, of course!) will be available for purchase beginning at 12:30 pm.

The cost is $7 for adult member and $9 per non-member, but the maximum cost per family (up to 6 people) is only $10 for members and $18 for nonmembers.

For more information or to register, contact Laurie Albert at 703-537-3064 or by email.

Candle-lighting every night at the JCC

Every night from December 1-8 (barring Shabbat), join friends at the JCC for candle-lighting at 7 pm. There will be activities - discussions, songs, dreidel games, and refreshments - until 8 pm.

For more information, contact Laurie Albert at 703-537-3064 or by email.

Toddler Mommy & Me at the JCC

Starting Tuesday at the JCC - a class for toddlers and their grown-ups (moms, dads, or other caregivers)...You don’t have to be two to go to school! Join us for this new class which will include time in the Early Childhood Services activity room, art projects, stories, songs and parenting discussions. Classes are designed for toddlers age 16-24 months.

Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:15-10:15 am, November 23–December 21 (10 sessions) (no class Thursday, November 25)

Cost: $120 JCCNV Members/$150 Nonmembers

For more information, contact Amit Hickman, Director Infants, Toddlers and Twos, (703) 537-3051, AmitH@jccnv.org.

Weird shopping habits

I never realized how usability is a different concept in a household with a three-year-old. He is happy to announce "I need a tissue" and to go blow his nose by myself (and perhaps even wash his hands afterwards). But my son isn't so good at taking just one tissue at a time. This means that the multipack of boxes with the open side - that assumes you just take one at a time - are relegated to our bathroom while I return to buying the pop-up dispensers for any place he might get a tissue. I thought it was kind of funny the first time I saw a pile of 10 in the garbage, but when I realized that my repeated reminders weren't doing anything and that it's just hard for little fingers to take just one tissue, I knew we'd have to do some re-arranging. Who knew?

Chanukah Mommy & Me event

Chabad Lubavitch of Alexandria/Arlington invites you to join us for a Chanukah Mommy and Me get together! Sing Chanukah songs, decorate (and eat!) your own Chanukah donut, light the Menorah, make a Chanukah craft, and meet other families.

When: Thursday, Dec. 2, 10:00 am
Where: 5140 Leesburg Pike (Chabad Hebrew School Location), across from Target. (Please feel free to call 703-370-2774 for directions.)
Cost: $7 per child, free for parents. Children of all ages are welcome.
Please email Yehudis Newman for more info or to reserve. Please include your children's ages in the email.

Jewish Folk Art Festival - happening now!

The JCC of Greater Washington in Rockville is currently hosting the Jewish Folk Arts Festival, described as "a celebration of the talent and diversity of Jewish performing and visual arts in the Greater Washington DC/Baltimore region." There are events every day (with a break for Shabbat).

NVHC Children's Chanukah Party with Mr. Knick Knack

Mr. Knick Knack will perform during Chanukah at the Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation. If you have never seen Mr. Knick Knack before, you are in for a high energy, interactive and entertaining show for the entire family. Following the performance, we will have Chanukah snacks, cookie decorating and more! Please feel free to bring friends and family, just let us know how many to expect by November 29th.

Suggested donations are $10 per family, or whatever you can contribute. Hope to see you there!

When: Sunday, December 5, 2010, 4:00 p.m.
Where: NVHC Social Hall
1441 Wiehle Ave
Reston, VA 20190
Who: NVHC friends and families with preschool to early elementary school aged children
RSVP: By November 29th to:
Brandy Goldfeder at bruceandbrandy@gmail.com or 703-478-9082
Hilary Wilkenfeld at hmwilkenfeld@gmail.com or 703-430-1228

Barnes & Noble Chanukah Book Fair

Barnes & Noble is working with the Beth Emeth Early Childhood Center for a fundraiser - a Chanukah book fair. Come to the Barnes & Noble in Reston on Wednesday November 17th rom 4-7 pm and bring along this voucher. The Preschool will receive 10-20% of proceeds and there will be readings at 4:30 and 5 pm. If you can't attend in person, you can still benefit the school by shopping online from November 17-22. Details are on the voucher.

Etz Hayim's 5th Annual Artist Expo

Please join us for our 5th annual Artist Expo (Crafts Fair) sponsored by Congregation Etz Hayim on Sunday, November 14th from 11:30 AM - 4 PM at Long Branch Elementary School (33 North Fillmore Street, Arlington, VA). Parking available, bring checkbooks or cash!

I haven't seen a list of vendors, but based on the places at which I found ads for the event, it promises to have some really creative and beautiful items.

Beth Emeth Preschool fundraiser

The Shopping Event of the Season - BEECC PA Coffee Shop Fundraiser

12523 Lawyers Rd. Herndon, VA 20171

Sunday, November 14, 8AM-1:30PM
Monday, November 15, 9AM-1:30PM

Details can be found on the Parents' Association webpage. There will be vendors of Judaica but also lots of other not-available-at-retail vendors (Avon, Creative Memoriese, Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, and Tupperware, to name a few).

Nov 14 - Playdate at the JCC

On Sunday November 14, the JCC's Early Childhood Department will be opening the Activity Room for the year's first Sunday playdate! The playdate is 9:30 - 11:30, for adults with children aged infant - 3 years old. Your child can have a blast playing with friends old and new while you get a chance to chat with other parents. The cost is $5/child for non-members; JCC members are FREE!

I've been there on Friday mornings with my little guy. He's not yet crawling, so it's as much a social event for me as a play event for him. But for the kids who are moving, it's an absolutely fantastic room. Please do check it out - you'll enjoy yourselves!

Agudas Achim Preschool Children's Extravaganza Sale

Come and shop and support the Agudas Achim Preschool!

The annual Children's Extravaganza Sale will be held on site (2908 Valley Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302) on Sunday November 14 (9-3) and Monday November 15 (9-noon)

Items have been donated from more than 50 families and include:
-Children’s Clothes (newborn to pre-teen)
-Toys, Puzzles, Games
-Strollers, Highchairs, Booster Seats
-Bassinets, Pack n' Plays, Cribs
-Maternity Clothing and Gear
-Outdoor/backyard toys
-Riding Toys and bikes
-Books, DVDs, plus much more!

Meet Curious George and friends

There is still room for this Sunday's Curious George and friends doughnut breakfast at the JCCNV. (I know - I'm co-chairing the event.) It's VERY popular but we promise we'll have doughnuts for you.

Please call the JCC at 703-323-0880 to register or fill out the form online: http://www.jccnv.org/documents/bookfest/bookfest-george1.pdf

Hope to see you there!