Tessa's Big Day

We capped off a summer of simcha celebrations, friends, and family with one more big to-do: Tessa's Bat Mitzvah. On Thursday the three of us headed back out to the airport for our flight to San Jose. Interestingly, the check-in counter attendant actually asked for proof of Romi's age--the first time that's ever occurred. Luckily we had gone back to the house for his passport. The flight was far from full, so we were able to schlep the car seat with us, and Romi did beautifully on both the flight from Tucson to LAX and from LAX to San Jose. We arrived, got our car, grabbed a bite to eat and headed toward the coast, arriving at the Marriott in the early evening. Monterey's chilly temperatures were welcome after our hot Tucson summer, but Romi was most impressed with the pillow presentation on the king-sized bed.

We headed over to Dave and Deb's early Friday morning so Rob could begin his day of baking (he made all the challah for the weekend). We had a wonderful day hanging out, running errands (taking and printing photos of Tess, picking up the cotton candy machine from the correct rental store, hitting the supermarket multiple times, etc.) before running back to the hotel to get presentable for Friday night services. Of the three of us, Romi looked the best.

Shabbat services were lovely and Tessa did a fabulous job. We can't beleive how late Romi stayed up, but it was a special occasion. Before servies we lounged about in bed on Saturday morning, eating our picnic breakfast. I spent a good portion of Saturday morning chasing Romi around the synagogue, who wanted nothing more than to get up on that bimah just as he does at Ima's shul. Luckily the building is small enough that I missed very little of Tessa's bat mitzvah; she did a truly outstanding job.

My favorite parts of Saturday morning are when we arrived and got to see everyone: Matt, Dana, Sarah, Lindsey, Scott, Pam, Alex, Ben, Edna, Jean, Gloria, Taylor and a myriad of friends and other family. As a group we sure clean up well! At one point during the service I let Romi wander into the Sanctuary and toward the front of the room. As he neared the bimah I grabbed him and sat down next to his Uncle Scott. I stood him up on the pew so he could say hi to his cousins behind him and they en mass leaned forward. I have no worries about his being the littlest cousin of all. During lunch the little manster finally crashed, and Rob gently laid him on a pew in the sanctuary, where he slept peacefully under the watchful eyes of the photographer and all his cousins.

Following a fantastic lunch spread put on by Dave and Deb, we headed back to the hotel for a Shabbas schluff. When we got up we trekked over to the house to enjoy a really, really fun afternoon with the family. A slew of us took a walk down to the beach, which turned into quite the excursion. Uncle Matt was quite helpful with the stroller and Romi absolutely loved walking on the boardwalk. It was a completely enjoyable afternoon, spent visiting and eating and enjoying being together. Dad would have loved it.

We had to head out early Saturday morning. We stopped by Dave and Deb's to say goodbye and thank you and to kiss all the cousins who had spent the night. It was hard for all of us to leave because the weekend had been so truly wonderful.