Sarah's Bat Mitzvah

Our home is getting ready for another Bat Mitzvah (actually the first was a Bar, but you know what I mean). So we put together a list of things that I would like for my daughter to be able to do as she passes into the next phase of her life. We did the same for my son, choosing things more appropriate for him. Although there are things on each list that are similiar, there are also things that are specific for each child and their interests.

Sarah’s Bat Mitzvah List

Kitchen
· Make bread and Challa
· Know enough recipes for a month of meals
· How to read and follow recipes
· How to sharpen a knife
· How to make coffee and tea
· Can fruit and vegi’s with mom

Sewing
· Sew a garment for yourself
· Pick a pattern at a store
· Choose fabric
· Follow pattern directions
· Needlework Sampler
· Crochet

Misc.
· Basic first aide
· Babsitting class
· Fill out an envelope
· Write a thank you note
· Knot board
· Build a fire
· BBQ
· Check fluid levels on the car

Festivals
· Know the order and reason of Festivals
· Know how to make foods associated with each Festival
· Know how to do Passover clean
· Know how to sing the Blessings of each Festival

Torah
· Know your portion in Hebrew and English
· Know the books of the Torah
· Pick a verse in the New Testament that has meaning to you and memorize and explain its significance

It may seem like a lot, but we started working on this when she turned 12, so we have a bunch of it already done. Her biggest struggle has been the Hebrew but she gets better and stronger every day. She will have it down by February, no problem.

Birthday Parties

Birthday parties. Do you have them? Do you do the whole themed, crafty, matchy matchy thing? Since I've started blogging and blog hopping, I have to say that I do have a little mom guilt about birthday parties. Not that it lasts long really. I think we have had a total of 4 parties for the six kids we have. And none of them were much of a themed thing. I think I did a princess thing way back, but that was it. There would just be too many. If I did these elaborate parties for all of them, I would be so broke. Even if I thrifted and hand made all these neat little projects. Time is money too people!
So yeah, don't do the birthday party thing. But we do have a big tadoo Bar/Bat Mitzvah thing. That is my excuse, um I mean reason, we don't do parties. Yeah, that sounds good.
If I only had one or two kids, though, I'm sure I would totally be into giving a Star Wars, Dr. Who, Hello Kitty, Barbie, Circus themed party with hours and hours of work put into them that the twenty three year olds will never remember.

ps. We do have a special birthday week for each birthday child, so they don't miss out on anything but the party.