Voted

Voted for the first time in US. It was a smooth process and took about 20 mins for the entire process to complete, including the walk to / from local school. (which was the polling booth)

Got to participate not only in Presidential elections, but also got to decide on few Propositions.

Trick Or Treat - Oct 31 - 2012

Per the weather predictions, it was supposed to start raining in our area around 6:30pm. Kids were anxious ... rather restless, they wanted to go "Trick Or Treating" as soon as possible.

 Earlier in the day, I had volunteered in Cantaloupe's school. I am currently the room parent and so I have the responsibility of co-ordinating with other parents and organizing parties in the class. I had prepared a voting sheet for kids to vote the food items for the party and they had selected:
* Cantaloupe
* Caprisun juice
* Popcorn
* Cupcakes

 I had planned the following games. All games were team game/ activity since it is very important that kids learn to work as a team.

* Mummy Me: One member will be "Mummy". Using tissue paper rolls, the other members should "create"the mummy.
* Jack-O-Lantern creation: Each team was given a picture of pumpkin. The kids were also given an emotion such as Angry, Surprised, Wicked, Confused etc. Each member had to take up 1 task each: to cut out the pumpkin, to draw the eyes / mouth to suit the emotion, to color the pumpkin and make a mask of it. (there were 4 kids in each team, so every kid had to do a task)

After the Halloween parade (Cantaloupe was an Emergency Doctor), kids came back to their class and were served the snacks. After the snacks the kids played Jack-O-Lantern Activity. They got so involved in this activity, that they spent the next 30 mins in the same activity and no time was left for the 2nd game. The teacher was very satisfied with the team spirit displayed by the kids. I was especially proud of my girl ... their team immediately got to task and did a good job.

 BP attended Junior's Halloween party in her school. She was a cute little bunny.

Anyways, BP was in charge of taking the kids out trick or treating, while I filled a basket full of candies for kids coming to our house. (BP had bought a huge packet of mini bars to give the kids visiting us). So the kids stepped out around 6:30 pm and I spent the next 2 hrs handing over candies to other who visited us.
Few observations:

• About 120+ kids visited our house, not one kid picked more than 1 candy when I offered them a basket full of candies.
• Kids in the age group of 1 yr - 18 yrs came and all of them were polite and so well behaved. 
• I couldn't ever imagine teenagers in India ... especially girls going about trick or treating uninhibited.

The girls came home and counted their candy collection. They were glad we allowed them to eat a candy each. Of course they picked the biggest bar they had :)

Updates from last week ...

I have been really busy over the last few days. Generally it would be office work that would keep me busy ... this time surprisingly, its not office work. The festive season here starts with Gokulashtami , followed by Ganesha - Gowri festival , Navratri , Halloween, Deepavali, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Sankranthi. After Sankrathi, next few months are quiet. I guess, the amount of guests entertained during the "Festive months" necessitates these quiet months.

 We host the Ganesha - Gowri festival in a large scale, inviting about 45 - 50 people home. I have been having low key Navratri all these years... but I get invited to atleast 10 - 12 homes for "Golu" / "Bombe Arthi". While I totally appreciate the effort being put by all these friends in arranging their dolls and also preparing the food, it gets tiring to add another task to the "To Do" list ... especially if it is during weekdays. Already having my plate full with office work, daily chores, kid's homework, projects, dinner activities .. squeezing another hour for Bombe aarti feels like a tiring task.

Here are some important updates from last week:

• Met famous violinists Mysore Nagaraj / Mysore Manjunath. 
• Finally cleaned / polished the silver items I had taken out for the Ganesha festival and stored it safely.
• Learnt and played "Poker" to heart's content. (started playing around 9:30pm and played well past 1:00am :) )
• Watched English Vinglish
• Visited 5 friends for "Bombe Aarthi" ... essentially eating out every single night. (though have to cook, for next day "dabba" )
• Bought the birthday present for my nephew.
• Observed Junior patiently learning to "Weave".  
• Exchanged ideas for Cantaloupe's school party details with her teacher.
• Parents finally got their "Marriage Certificate" :)

Junior Speak

Conversation in the van, while driving Junior to school.

Junior is humming her planets song which she has been taught at school. The song ends with "the last planet used to be Pluto" or something to that effect.
 I never leave an opportunity to cross question (read irritate :) ) Junior when she is in good mood ... she gives the most imaginative answer.

Me: Hey Pluto is a planet right.
Her (J) : No amma ... Pluto used to be considered a planet. It is no longer a planet.
Me: Since when ?
J: Since a long time ago ...
Me: But who decided that?
J: The Astronauts
Me: But they never told me about it.
J: Amma ... the Astronauts are in outer place ... you cannot hear them and they cannot hear you. Thats why they didn't tell you.
Me: Is that true?
J: Yes ... now you know.

How cute is that !!!

Surprise treat

Date: Oct 7th 2012, Sunday
Time: 5:45pm
Venue: Residence

There is a knock on the door. I silence folks around ... I gingerly look out to see the visitor. Assured, it is someone I am expecting, I open the door. I smile and ask "Why are you so late I say?" . She just ignores me and proceeds to come inside the house.

And then everyone shouts "S...U...R...P...R...I...S...E !!!!"

The look on her face said it all. She was shocked, excited and completely blown away... almost to the point of tearing up. If that was her reaction... her son took few steps backward, unsure about the crowd and completely scared by the loud announcement.

The above incident was the beginning of fun filled  surprise baby shower for my sister. It took her few minutes to absorb it all in. She proceeded to walk towards the family room which was decorated in blue. She was amazed by her sister's (mine) art capabilities. (well she never thought I had any art inclination).

For the decos we had:

Diaper Bike : Made from diapers / bibs/ receiving blankets / feeding bottle and baby socks
Melon carving in the shape of bassinet. (Watermelon, cantaloupe and grapes)
Diaper babies : Made from diaper, socks and wash clothes
Hawaiian Punch : Blue in color with floating duckies
Shower droplets from blue flowers hanging from the room
Blue fabric decorations through the room
A message board with lovely poems and messages from guests

It was a chaat party since she has always loved chaats. The guests were gracious to volunteer for different items and I made few myself.
Masala Puri
Paanu Puri
Vegetable Kebabs *
Tomato Soup
Pav Bhaji
Pakodas
Dahi vada
Halbai (sweet)
Idli / Sambar / Chutney
Cake
Chocolate chip cookies

Yep .... we ate all the items above :)

There were over 40 guests ... and played quite a few games... some new .. some old. Overall it appeared that all the guests were at ease and had fun.

An evening well spent ... if I say so myself :)

Sep 7, 2012 - Day 8

It takes DECISION to start,
  But DISCIPLINE to finish.

**********************************

• Got my first traffic warning from a parent. As I was dropping Cantaloupe by the sidewalk this morning, a parent came to me and asked me not to make a turn when kids were crossing the street. I apologized to her. 
• Made Chakkali / Tengol (snacks) for the first time from scratch. Usually mom would give me the right flour consistency and I would just mix and fry. This time, I mixed the flour too. 

Sep 6, 2012 - Day 7

A ship in the harbor is safe...
      But that is not what Ships are built for.

*************************

• Cantaloupe started on her first homework packet. Moving forward, she will get homework everyday.
• Gowri-Ganesha festival planning starts.