Life with Lauren: 13

It's a very important age in a Jewish boy or girl's life. Or rather, I should say, a Jewish young man or young lady. At 13, you are considered an adult and after many years of Hebrew school, your entry into adulthood is celebrated in the ceremony of bar mitzvah (for boys; bat mitzvah for girls). Following the religious ceremony in temple (which can easily run 2-3 hours), all that hard work is grandly rewarded with a rockin', earsplitting, party.

The last time we were in New Jersey to visit Norm's family was for nephew/cousin Steve's bar mitzvah. Fast forward 2 years later, and we hightailed it back for Sam's celebration.

[Norm seemed to think I brought too much luggage for 2.5 days. To which I responded: Nah]

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Our first full day there was Friday, and it dawned sunny and glorious. We headed out with Pop-Pop Paul to a local environmental center to add an educational aspect to our trip.

The center was small but full of cool things for kids to view and learn about (and it was free!). Surrounded by a reservoir, Lauren grabbed some binoculars in hopes of spotting some wildlife.

She didn't have much luck with that, but did manage to hold the whole world in her hands.

The scenery outside was quite beautiful. Certainly not the topography we see at home. It certainly made an impact on our little one. She excitedly exclaimed upon arrival, "Look Ma, a forest in the water!"

How right she was.

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From there, Norm drove us someplace Lauren and I have never, ever been before.

The Jersey Shore.

And while the rides and a number of shops were closed (much to Lauren's extreme disappointment), we spent the better part of an hour walking the boardwalk, eating awesome pizza, playing some arcade games, and breathing in the salty, warm air.

To Norm's chagrin, there was nary a Guido or Grenade in sight.

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Back at the house, we spotted a family of deer dining just outside Nanni and Pop-Pop's back patio.

[Guess they had to eat and run]

We then headed out to our own family dinner to honor Sam the night before the big event.

Cousin Hagit from Israel:

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Saturday morning was crisp and cold. Ahh, spring in New Jersey. We made our way to the synagogue for a beautiful bar mitzvah ceremony. Sam did amazingly well with his Haftorah (Torah reading), and Lauren also made us proud by remaining quiet and acting like the proper young lady she is for almost two hours!

Ready to let loose, everyone piled into their cars to caravan to the reception hall.

Before the party could officially begin, family portraits were in order to commemorate the occasion.

[final shot courtesy of Lauren Jade]

There were a few other young kids at the party, and of course our social butterfly immediately gravitated toward them.

[with new friend Olivia]

If the kids were pumped for the festivities, it sure was difficult to tell.

Not.

Trust me when I tell you they were just getting warmed up.

After appetizers, we entered the reception room, which was totally tricked out, including lots of red, Sam's favorite color.

Sam was saluted as the man of the day.

Then, along with a few of his friends (and one small cousin), he signaled it was time to turn the celebration up a few notches.

The DJ kept the music pounding for hours, and everybody got in on the dancin' action.

We call this move created by Lauren "The Sweep":

Another Lauren Jade original move: "Baby You're A Firework":

Our Gloved One:

I danced so much, by the end of the event my toes had to be bandaged. Seriously.

[surgical tape courtesy of cousin Lizzy; still trying to figure out why she happened to have surgical tape in her purse?]

A serenade from one brother to another closed out the party before the light began to fade from the afternoon sky.