Tonight I made jelly doughnuts. The cookbook called them Soofganiyot(sp?) something like that. The dough was a yeast dough and rose twice. It was fun to put the little pats of jam in the middle of each doughnut. I wondered if Matt's mom ever did stuff like that? I'll have to ask him if there were any traditions that she used to do. I have no idea what I'm going to do with all the doughnuts, but what the hey? Maybe I'll give some to our neighbors. I miss the cooking for Christmas, and I am just learning about what Jewish people make for their holidays. Matt's dad has been really nice and told me about some things, but I miss also getting to know his mother and what she could have told me. I am just winging this Jewish holiday thing, and sometimes I am combining it with what I would do for the Christian holidays, like cooking a lot and feeding people. So far that seems to be the right thing. I can't wait for Sam to get older and then we can cook together.

We lit the candles tonight. I gave Samantha her little booties last night. They are yellow leather with pink hearts on the toes. She looks adorable with them, and there is room for her to grow, which of course she does very quickly. I went to toys r us and got some nice toys for our neighbors and the party tomorrow. Ellen does a nice thing and collects toys for tots at her party. All the guests bring an unwrapped present with them. It's fun! Sort of takes the focus off the holidays being all about getting.

The funny thing about the presents last night was that everybody seemed to like the other's. Sam likes the ball I gave Ella, and Ella likes the ball I gave to the cats. I can't give Ella the cat's ball because she would destroy it, but she really wants it! Ella is starting to get used to her own ball, and seems to like it now.