Saturday, February 28, 2009
Tech Fest
We had a BLAST at Tech Fest! This was an event held in Edina for kids at the Community Center, presented by "The Works." It was a free event, complete with presentations, exhibits, guest speakers and lots of chatter about math, science and innovation! I of course was reminded of a time when Ashish use to volunteer as a coach for a grade school LEGO's Team. I think their team name was "The Techno-Hurricanes."
Nishad's favorite part was creating and designing a car. I helped him start it off, but then he had his own idea of what he wanted to do. His car was unbeatable! He had 10 year olds and 11 year olds asking him to race them and he won. Then they would ask him for a re-macth. He was pretty proud! We made a mini-hover craft and launched a rocket we made. We were even able to take the control of a robot! Pretty cool stuff for a 3-year old! Arun's favorite part was the "Green Monster" robot that tossed a big red ball in front of him.
We stopped off at our favorite Indian resteraunt for lunch- Taste of India in St. Louis Park. We arrived hom and we ALL had a nap. How rare is that? After we woke up, I made falafels for dinner. yum! It was a perfect Saturday~
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Shoveling Abound!
After listening to the weather forecaster, we thought for sure that Nishad would have school on Thursday as we were expecting a bunch of snow! Regardless, I'm convinced that the Wayzata school District never closes. (ha,ha) Luckily for us, the snow waited until about 11AM to begin. Ashish picked Nishad up from his pre-school and worked from home half day. The following day, they had school as well. However, the roads were fine...It was a fast system that dumped a lot of snow on us and then moved out quickly. Friday, after I picked up Nishad, the boys and I had lunch and then we went out to shovel some more. Needless to say, the both of them were not happy about the temperates and are more beach lovers than snow lovers! So, we headed in after about 30 minutes... I try to 'embrace' the weather, at least in front of the kids. I'm really ready for Spring though! It's a good thing March is right around the corner. I recall being in Florida 2 years ago the first week of March and having our flight re-scheduled because Minnesota got 18-inches of snow! I'm hoping this was our last B-I-G snow fall!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Valentine
[ This is the Valentine that Nishad handed out to his friends at his school. ]
[Valentine's Day, 2009 Annual Phototine Card]Happy Valentine's Day!
We're not much for Hallmark holidays and we believe there should be a bit of Valentine's day throughout every day of the year. However, it's nice to take a moment to pause and wish those special to you...a "SWEET" Valentine's Day. Besides, the world needs more l-o-v-e!
Being that Bob's Produce closed down, and I still had the $20 gift certificate that the city gave me for Christmas, we headed to Fridley (the original location). We purchased $40 in Alaskan King crab legs and another $10 in mini wild lobster tails. I made a big heart shaped Ghirdelli brownie, along with a heart shaped pizza for the boys. What can be better than being a peskitarian and having chocolate? Oh yeah...being with those you love!
Below- Nishad wishes a Happy Valentine's Day!
Friday, February 13, 2009
Bee Mine?
Our 7 day vacation at Walt Disney World inspired this years annual Valentine's Day card. In the Magic Kingdom, the kids enjoyed meandering through Winnie the Pooh's "environment." They crawled through "honey," climbed up on it as well, played in the tree house, rang the bell, had fun on the slides and marveled at the Autumn leaves on the big oak tree (bit of Disney magic at work!). This was the perfect setting for any Mom, let along photographer, who happens to be a Mom! Of course, this broke my tradition of using a song as a theme for our Valentine as in previous years. However, I'm a firm believer that change is..."sweet!"
Before we left for Florida we started to "prepare" for Nishad's valentine celebration at school. Using different mediums, Nishad was to create a Valentine card for one person in the class. His Valentine was a 5 year old girl in his class- it was hard to keep it a secret for so long! We had a lot of fun creating this Valentine filled with layered paints in patterns, hearts, a flower, stickers, butterflies, a pink tower (Nishad's first memory of her), fireworks and "X's" and "O's." Adorable, if I may say so! I think his Valentine will be excited about it.
Nishad and I also found the cutest Valentine shirts. Being that he still "loves" the shirt that Auntie Kelly sent him and his brother (To Be Or Not To Be- with actual bumble bees in place of the be's) he instantly liked the shirts at Children's Place: "BEE MINE." Of course, a cute little bee completed the picture! Of course, this Mommy has so much fun matching our boys. So, we had to purchase one for Tiger too! So, off he went to school on Friday, with treats in hand, dressed in his Valentine shirt, buzzing like a bee!
After school we had a special Valentine lunch date planned with his buddy in class at their house. Immediately upon entering the car Nishad quickly said, "Mommy, if you don't know where he lives, just follow his Mommy's car. They live in a yellow house, in the country. We're going to have hummus sandwiches and a cupcake. Then we will play." Obviously, he and his buddy had quite the conversation at school! haha! They seem to have everything planned out as well.
We had a great time with his friend, and his family. This is the second time the boys have been able to get together outside of school. They play so well together, and what is an additional benefit, is that Nishad's buddy has a younger sibling, only about 6 months older than Tiger.
After, we headed home to find that Daddy beat us home! In fact, he had the entire house cleaned complete with two dozen roses awaiting our arrival! What a Prince. I had a nap while he played and fed the boys dinner before we were off to the theatre! Nishad was very excited to show us the Valentine from his friend and his teachers. Both were so cute! His teacher's made everyone in the class one attached with a banana as they wrote they are, "Banana's over them!"
We purchased second row tickets to see "The Gruffalo" at the Minneapolis Children's Theatre. It was a 7:30PM show so I wasn't sure how he would hold up (being that he already had an eventful day and missed nap). He did great! He was so excited driving to the theatre. Since we own the Gruffalo books, he was re-telling me the stories. We had fun guessing how each of the characters would be costumed. To my surprise, there was singing and dancing in the show. (Think British Punk Band.)It was interactive as well. We love the Minneapolis Children's Theatre! This is our third show there- they never disappoint.
Before we left for Florida we started to "prepare" for Nishad's valentine celebration at school. Using different mediums, Nishad was to create a Valentine card for one person in the class. His Valentine was a 5 year old girl in his class- it was hard to keep it a secret for so long! We had a lot of fun creating this Valentine filled with layered paints in patterns, hearts, a flower, stickers, butterflies, a pink tower (Nishad's first memory of her), fireworks and "X's" and "O's." Adorable, if I may say so! I think his Valentine will be excited about it.
Nishad and I also found the cutest Valentine shirts. Being that he still "loves" the shirt that Auntie Kelly sent him and his brother (To Be Or Not To Be- with actual bumble bees in place of the be's) he instantly liked the shirts at Children's Place: "BEE MINE." Of course, a cute little bee completed the picture! Of course, this Mommy has so much fun matching our boys. So, we had to purchase one for Tiger too! So, off he went to school on Friday, with treats in hand, dressed in his Valentine shirt, buzzing like a bee!
After school we had a special Valentine lunch date planned with his buddy in class at their house. Immediately upon entering the car Nishad quickly said, "Mommy, if you don't know where he lives, just follow his Mommy's car. They live in a yellow house, in the country. We're going to have hummus sandwiches and a cupcake. Then we will play." Obviously, he and his buddy had quite the conversation at school! haha! They seem to have everything planned out as well.
We had a great time with his friend, and his family. This is the second time the boys have been able to get together outside of school. They play so well together, and what is an additional benefit, is that Nishad's buddy has a younger sibling, only about 6 months older than Tiger.
After, we headed home to find that Daddy beat us home! In fact, he had the entire house cleaned complete with two dozen roses awaiting our arrival! What a Prince. I had a nap while he played and fed the boys dinner before we were off to the theatre! Nishad was very excited to show us the Valentine from his friend and his teachers. Both were so cute! His teacher's made everyone in the class one attached with a banana as they wrote they are, "Banana's over them!"
We purchased second row tickets to see "The Gruffalo" at the Minneapolis Children's Theatre. It was a 7:30PM show so I wasn't sure how he would hold up (being that he already had an eventful day and missed nap). He did great! He was so excited driving to the theatre. Since we own the Gruffalo books, he was re-telling me the stories. We had fun guessing how each of the characters would be costumed. To my surprise, there was singing and dancing in the show. (Think British Punk Band.)It was interactive as well. We love the Minneapolis Children's Theatre! This is our third show there- they never disappoint.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Slackin'
As you see, I've been slacking on blogging! Being a slacker... in a good way though! We've just been so busy and on vacation. We refused to "hybernate" this winter so we've been out an about. It's wonderful that "Spring" is in the air. Isn't it sad that the first high 30's day comes along and we all get Spring fever? It shows you how deprived we all are for living in this artic zone.
Once I get back into the grove and have some time to compose my life's song (which, anyone that knows me knows I love to write!) I will be posting new blogs soon!
Once I get back into the grove and have some time to compose my life's song (which, anyone that knows me knows I love to write!) I will be posting new blogs soon!
Monday, January 19, 2009
Pre-Inag Thoughts
This inauguration is emotional for me, as an “American” mother of two boys and the wife of someone who was born in India. I feel so lucky that my husband and I could grow-up on opposite sides of the world and yet find one another. Even with walking on a cultural tight rope with his family, love transcended all barriers. We had a strong sense of hope in one another, just as we have hope in President-Elect Obama’s administration; Better things are ahead.
This inauguration means much to us on varying personal levels by definition family. It's beyond looking into the eyes of our 3-year old, Nishad Isaiah, and full heartedly telling him that he can be whatever he so desires if he has dedication, education, passion and perseverance. It’s beyond looking into the eyes of our 1-year old Arun Nicholas, and telling him that no one can ever tell him that he can’t do something because of his ethnicity or the color of his skin. By the time our boys are old enough to really comprehend things, they will have grown-up in a free, global society, never knowing anything different other than we as a society, as a country, judging a person not by the color of his skin, but the character in which he or she carries. President-Elect Obama has made our jobs as teacher, as parents, so much easier.
This inauguration means so much to me as a citizen of the United States. For far too long, the powers that be have openly abused their power of office and imposed, in my opinion, something bearing characteristics of an imperial government upon its people. I have no doubt that President-Elect Obama will once again give weight to our Constitution and allow it to pave the path for our nation’s restoration. Under President Obama’s leadership, I have faith that he will take the necessary measures to allow us as a nation to persevere, to rise up and to once again be proud of who we are and where we are going. We the people have been left in the shadows far too long.
This past election also restored something in me that I haven’t felt in quite some time. It’s not that I wasn’t patriotic or proud of my country…but something definitely lacked in my heart in regard to my country. I think it was a confidence in regard to the land in which I love. This election has restored my confidence not only in my country, but more importantly in my fellow citizens.
No longer can we think of America being a separate entity. Our current economic situation has brought that topic to light. It truly is a small world. It isn’t how we became connected- it’s ‘that’ we are connected. For the sake of our future, the next generation and beyond, it was vital for our nations life line to act. We did. Though this may only be the beginning of a long road ahead of us, we the people, are not sitting on the side lines anymore; We are back in the game.
For far too long this nations politics have been ‘business as usual.” President Elect Obama has changed that face of politics forever. He consistently rose above and in turn, by example, we as a nation rose above. Someday, our children and their children will look back and reflect upon this time, this era. I am both excited and proud to be a part of a momentum that sets our nation on course for a better, more hopeful tomorrow. It is for these thoughts, and many more that my heart has composed, that I voted for President-elect Obama, and why this inauguration day means so much to me. It’s more than a history lesson, or a symbol, for us at the Kumar household, it’s the beginning of a new chapter for our family and this nation.
This inauguration means much to us on varying personal levels by definition family. It's beyond looking into the eyes of our 3-year old, Nishad Isaiah, and full heartedly telling him that he can be whatever he so desires if he has dedication, education, passion and perseverance. It’s beyond looking into the eyes of our 1-year old Arun Nicholas, and telling him that no one can ever tell him that he can’t do something because of his ethnicity or the color of his skin. By the time our boys are old enough to really comprehend things, they will have grown-up in a free, global society, never knowing anything different other than we as a society, as a country, judging a person not by the color of his skin, but the character in which he or she carries. President-Elect Obama has made our jobs as teacher, as parents, so much easier.
This inauguration means so much to me as a citizen of the United States. For far too long, the powers that be have openly abused their power of office and imposed, in my opinion, something bearing characteristics of an imperial government upon its people. I have no doubt that President-Elect Obama will once again give weight to our Constitution and allow it to pave the path for our nation’s restoration. Under President Obama’s leadership, I have faith that he will take the necessary measures to allow us as a nation to persevere, to rise up and to once again be proud of who we are and where we are going. We the people have been left in the shadows far too long.
This past election also restored something in me that I haven’t felt in quite some time. It’s not that I wasn’t patriotic or proud of my country…but something definitely lacked in my heart in regard to my country. I think it was a confidence in regard to the land in which I love. This election has restored my confidence not only in my country, but more importantly in my fellow citizens.
No longer can we think of America being a separate entity. Our current economic situation has brought that topic to light. It truly is a small world. It isn’t how we became connected- it’s ‘that’ we are connected. For the sake of our future, the next generation and beyond, it was vital for our nations life line to act. We did. Though this may only be the beginning of a long road ahead of us, we the people, are not sitting on the side lines anymore; We are back in the game.
For far too long this nations politics have been ‘business as usual.” President Elect Obama has changed that face of politics forever. He consistently rose above and in turn, by example, we as a nation rose above. Someday, our children and their children will look back and reflect upon this time, this era. I am both excited and proud to be a part of a momentum that sets our nation on course for a better, more hopeful tomorrow. It is for these thoughts, and many more that my heart has composed, that I voted for President-elect Obama, and why this inauguration day means so much to me. It’s more than a history lesson, or a symbol, for us at the Kumar household, it’s the beginning of a new chapter for our family and this nation.
Friday, January 16, 2009
What we crave...
After dealing with our 2005 Dodge Durango "issues" (it only has 40k miles on it), $1,000 later (in four days) with no real answers or fixes....we opted to take a deep breath and trade it in for a new car. Safety...value...and dependability...all important factors in our book. Since we LOVE our 2004 Honda CRV, we decided to go with a 2009 Honda CRV. They each sit happily next to one another in the garage. The stress of the entire situation that shook our household has now been alleviated. I feel so relieved that nothing happend to Nishad or Ashish in the Durango. We did recieve a very good trade in amount for it (it's rating ironically was 92!) though we did have to take a $3,000 hit (in addition to the $1,000) as American cars loose their value so quickly. Ashish vows to never, ever again buy an American car.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Memory Lane
I use to "e-mail blog" (yes, my own term) about once a week. Looking through my old e-mails, I came across these photos. This is Nishad with Ashish and I, at the same age Arun currently is. These photos were taken about a month before we became pregnant with Arun...this same time of year! It was also the last time I had darker hair, prior to now. Must be a subconscious seasonal craving!
Monday, January 5, 2009
Back 2 School
...And back to "routine." I can't believe two weeks came and went! I for one, really enjoyed having Nishad around. Everyday we planned on something fun in celebration of the season and the break from school. Arun really grew over break as well. We're amazed at how fast he picks up things from his older brother. He is speaking more and more Hindi as well. I think because I know much more now and I'm able to speak to him, in addition to Ashish and Nishad.
On the last day of break, I managed to start and finish painting the main-floor bathroom, "cookie crumb." It's really like a sand color, but it is so much more exciting to call it by such a name. About two years ago, I painted a California cabana themed bathroom. I was ready for a change- something toned down a bit. I still kept all the beach photograhs I took while in California (when Nishad was 4 1/2 months old).
I've literally made a bout 9 loaves of bread while on break too. This last batch was divine! It was a honey cran-rainsin bread. It's such a nice European rustic bread; hard crust, soft center. Needless to say, I have been enjoying my bread book!
We dropped the Durango off to the shop today. Something is wrong with it- not sure. Ashish is convinced that he will never again purchase another American car. We originally purchased the 2005 Durango because we wanted room for the boys car seats, double stroller, and well... the October visitors from last year.
I haven't made any resolutions. This is the first year I haven't done that. When I get "in the mood" I will reflect on my life, how I'm living it and what path I hope it leads.
With everyone sick right now, I feel so blessed none of us are! For weeks all I hear is how ill everyone is. I will surely keep my fingers crossed AND attempt to be even more so OCD about hand washing. My hands are so cracked, red and dry right now. I need to be more diligent about putting Burt's Bees on them...Ahhhhh...soothing thoughts. I'm being extra picky not to have play dates right now with the germs in full swing. It's enough that Nishad is at school. We also didn't get our flu shots this year. I thought I would try something different as every year we get our shots, we seem to get the flu! How is that fair?!
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