Lance and I were talking about how this was our 9th year to build a sukkah. We have so many wonderful memories of each Sukkot through these years. Our sukkah has been destroyed by wind and rain three times and had to be rebuilt. It was so hot one year I pulled a little air conditioner outside and set it on a table. We have had cold years and had to use a kerosene heater to be able to sit outside.
I don't pretend that I know everything there is to know about celebrating the holidays, all the halacha, or what Torah has to say about them. I am in the process of learning these things and try to do the best I can to honor Hashem, make things fun and interesting for my children, grandchildren, and our guests.
You don't need to worry about doing things exactly like The Deckard Family does them. Find things that work for you and your family. The important thing is to DO SOMETHING! Variety is the spice of life.
I hope you enjoy sharing our memories through the photos.
Until next time...
Darla
When Sara and I went to the synagogue on Yom Kippur we drove past this pumpkin patch. We went back a few days later to choose some pumpkins and gourds to hang in our sukkah. The girls had a lot of fun choosing just the "right" ones.
Every year I place an order for the Four Species if people in the community want to purchase one. The order arrives several days before Sukkot so I store the lulavim in the fridge to keep them fresh.
I set up a temporary outdoor kitchen to prepare our meals during Sukkot week.
I bought many wonderful fresh foods to make soups and stews every night and beautiful loaves of delicious bread. 
Lance cleaned the yard before setting up the sukkah.
Sara and Sophie "planted" beautiful Autumn colored flowers on the patio. (I bought them at Dollar Tree. I would rather have real flowers, but am not a gardener, so these work best for us.)
There wasn't anyone around to take any pictures of us building the sukkah. I held up the walls while Lance put in the screws to hold it together. After it was up he strung the lights across the top (before putting on the s’chach/roof). I chose solar lights, which I got at Target last summer in their garden dept. We also put one string of plug in lights around the edges in case it was too cloudy to use the solar lights.
Sara, Sophie, Tzippy, and Zee all made decorations to hang in the sukkah so it would be more beautiful.
I looked up into the sky after we had completed the sukkah on the night before Sukkot started and saw a clear, moonlit sky. I knew it would be a wonderful week - and it was!
Pop set up the fire pit and got the firewood set up nearby.
I set out my roll-away bed and hung the mosquito netting so I could sleep outside.
Laurie set up her tent.
We hung two "princess" tents for the girls to play in, put up a "guy" tent for Zee, and set up the bounce house.
Our neighbors may have been wondering what kind of tent city we were setting up.
The girls enter their small sukkah for the first time this year. I simply love the expression on Sophie's face. She was an infant last year so did not remember the little sukkah. She played in it through the week, and loved being inside.
Bubbie lights the Yom Tov candles on Friday night.
Tzippy, Sara, and Sophie light their Yom Tov Candles while Zee watches.
Pop says kiddush.
Zee says kiddush.
Pop says hamotzi.
Zee says hamotzi.
Reading about the ushpizin on the computer.
Reading bedtime stories.
Zee and Aunt Laurie going to bed.
Sophie sleeping in Bubbie's bed on the patio.
Nechama cooking breakfast.
Avi & Lance chatting by the fire.
Pete trying to stay warm.
Pop reading stories to the girls.
Dishwashing time.
Time to wave the four species, so everyone was trying to choose just the perfect set.
Sophie is fascinated with her etrog.Leviticus 23:40 tells us: "On the first day you shall take the product of hadar trees, branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before Adonai your G-d seven days."
I have a kosher set, Sophie has a plush set that I bought from Oy Toys, and the other kids made a "learner" set from branches in the yard and a lemon. When they are old enough to understand this mitzvot I will get each of them a kosher set as well.
Our friend, Sam, waving.
Pop, Sara, and Sophie waving.
Bubbie, Sara, and Sophie waving.
Bubbie and Sophie waving.
Avi & Zee waving.
Sophie and Sara waving.
Haley loves all the activity, fun, people, yummy snacks and food! She probably wishes Sukkot lasted all year.
Chatting and texting.
Bentching (saying grace) after a meal.
Being silly.
Enjoying a warm fire.
Playing Good Night Moon board game before going to sleep.
Lots of jumping, laughing, and fun in the bounce house.
Bubbie's three little beauties.
Zee keeping a watchful Cub Scout's eye on the fire.
Zee ringing the yard bell.
Zee giving the girls a tour of his "guy" tent.
Having lunch.
The Little People enjoyed sleeping in their new sleeping bags under their sukkah with a nice warm fire to keep them warm.
Avi and Nechama enjoying some time under the sukkah.
The rain didn't drive us inside. We just put up the umbrellas, and continued rejoicing under the sukkah!
Sophie having a snack.
Sara napping.
Mommie and Sara relaxing in the princess tent.
We had lots of time for reading under the sukkah.
Cooking soup in the outdoor kitchen.I will end with the pictures of us and our guests under the sukkah that were taken throughout the week. I hope to see YOU under The Deckard Family Sukkah next year!
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