Independent minds

With the maid suffering from viral fever, we are trying to keep the kids increasingly around us at home - they sleep with us (both had shifted to the "kids" bedroom especially on weekdays when they need to wake up early for school, the maid sleeps in that room too), and the bathing and feeding rituals have been completely overtaken by us once again. My kitchen duties have increased too.

On Sunday, the kitchen was partly closed especially for lunch and we had a lovely lunch at Kumarakom restaurant here.

We feel a bit sad that our babies are no longer babies but little individuals with a mind of their own and who are functioning more and more independently. Mira excuses herself and prefers the comfort of her own bed, she gives a different reason each day . V is most reluctant to let go. 

Their comments take us by surprise most times. If yesterday Ash asked me why he should be having just 3 pairs of footwear when I had eight or that I should "download" songs to my mobile, today he asked me as I turned for a moment to look at the mirror while getting him ready for school: "What Amma? Are you looking at your saukaryam (saundaryam =  beauty) in the mirror?"

New year...

Celebrations at home on January 1 (the kids with Bobby, Ria and Baby Immanuel) and at church on January 7.
Vinod (third from left, excluding the lil boy) was part of the Margamkali (primarily a Syrian Xian women's dance, but for a change and fun the men decided to reverse roles) team, and their performance was a hit. They have already won ookings from other churches.

2012 prospects

Happy New Year! Let me hope the year has begun well for you. As for me, I had a premonition that this year is not going to be very kind to me and hence did not harbour much hopes about the months ahead or make New Year resolutions.
I was not wrong as on new year day I was in bed with a bad case of viral fever. On 3rd, the nanny went on a 12-day vacation, so it was back to our juggling ways. For 3 days, my partime maid took leave from her work at the nearby mall's food court and kept the kids company. After that I took leave - Mira couldnt beleive that I was there to receive them each day after school, something she would love on a daily basis. On the 11th, we made another short visit to Kerala - Changanacheri, Chply and Trivandrum. Our return flight was from Tvm on Sunday, so we left home on Saturday afternoon. Stayed at a cousin's place where they keep two parrots, two Rottweilers and some poultry. Mira loved the renovated house but not the flight journey. It made her dizzy and she swears she will prefer the train any day - enough leg room and space to move/run around and enough people to keep her occupied.
The maid is back and the school has reopened after Pongal holidays, so things are back to the old routine.

Sports day

... and Ash and Mira