At home

It is India's 62nd Republic Day and the kids and parents are all at home. The kids are irritated with the parents who are watching on TV the parade in New Delhi, thus depriving them of their prime cartoon-watching time. Once upon a time when there was nothing interesting on air save what the national channel dished out to us, kids and parents across the country religiously watched the parade for 3-4 hours. Now even adults cant bear to sit an entire hour watching the tableau, tanks and missiles.
And post-lunch, the adults find it difficult to keep their eyes open but the kiddos have the energy to keep them going till midnight. They devise games, of course choreographed by Mira, that have the bed and sofa as the playground. I try to catch some sleep amidst the din while V tries to read the newspapers.
Soon he calls out to Ash to join him for a nap. "Call Mira too," he advises Ash. An obedient Ash goes to fetch his sister.
And from the other room, our little shrew could be heard whispering to Ash: "I think he is calling us to scratch his feet! Tell him I dont want to sleep."

Rook



Nanny Rukmini with the kids.

 The maid is back after a weekend in Kerala. One of her conditions has been that she wants to go home every month to see her only, college-going son. But now she tells us that she wants to leave in time for the Attukal pongaala on Feb 19; also there is a wedding in the family that she cant miss. She has promised to come in early March, in case I am not happy with the replacement the agency will provide.
Mira openly expressed her disappointment upon seeing her when she woke up today.
'Oh why is she back? I though L was going to come back!'

Her name reminds me so much of this song from Roja :)

Aspirations

Aunt to Ash: What would you like to become when you are big? Doctor? Engineer?
Ash: Ben 10!
Aunt: Who is that?
Ash: Havent you heard of Spiderman, Superman etc? He is somebody like them.

p.s. Ben 10 is his present hero. So a Ben 10 watch, Ben 10 colouring book and Ben 10 exam pad are among his prized possessions.
***
Aunt to Mira: Will you give me you ear rings?
Mira: Sure! Provided you buy me another pair. Or better still, give me yours.
***
Travelling with their dad, the duo spots an SUV.
"Scorpio, scorpio. Let's get rid of this and buy that," Ash exclaims.
Next they come across a Toyota Fortuner.
" Let us buy this, Appa."
But Mira has a couple of doubts.
"But will you be able to see the road, Appa? And will your legs reach the clutch?"
Needless to say that Appa was pissed off and wanted them quiet for the rest of the ride.
***
Mira to me: When I grow big and Amma becomes small, I will scold you the way you do me now.
She thinks I am going to be another Benjamin Button!

Kerala this time

The kids (clockwise from top left) en route to Kerala on December 24th, somewhere on the Trichy-Dindigul highway; in Veegaland amusement park in Kakkanad, Kochi; and my dad's yet-to-be-named labrador pup.

Welcome 2011

As each of us celebrate the beginning of another year with hope, excitement and fresh resolutions, here is wishing all of you a luckier and happier 12 months...
For a change I am not expecting anything much from this year. I attended the morning mass with a blank mind and an automated prayer for the well-being of my children, and I am at work in an inauspicious part -black sari. I cant expect this year to fare worse than the last - Ashwin's eczema flare-ups, Mira's injury and our persistent nanny troubles. No great resolutions - save an attempt to read the entire Bible as the priest advised his flock today morning.
The Christmas vacation as usual was hectic and short, with two days wasted on the travel. The remaining 5 days was spent shuttling between our parents' houses, and one day in an amusement park near Cochin. The kids absolutely loved their time with their cousins Akash, Akhil and Tarana. And the fun of getting to know dad's new labrador pup who came home the day after Christmas.
There is another new person they are getting to know - the new nanny we hired from an agency in Kerala. She seems nice to the kids but if she will last the three months till the summer vacation, I am not sure.