Cozy coo ...

2018 Thanksgiving Trip - part 1

Off we are to Houston to spend Thanksgiving with Friends. As usual, traveling with kids takes enormous preparation and patience. The first fight breaks out even while we book the tickets - who will get the window seats. Diya starts calling “dibs” well before the thought crosses Aadi’s mind and once he does get into the dialogue, endless negotiations begin.

The next battle is on packing (not so) light. The kids seem to not get the idea that the whole point of traveling is to experience “newness” - something that will be lost if we were to bring all our toys, drawing and coloring materials, books, stuffed animals and even the “pink blankie” ... living in US, they take it for granted that they will be allowed a stroller bag and a backpack each for carry on and I will pack whatever else we need and check in bags if the trip is any longer than a long weekend. If we are traveling by road ... get ready for a U-haul full of stuff. Must get them to get out of this mindset if we are to travel around the world with them, as we dream to do someday.

Then follow the continued battles that emerge from extreme case on self-reliance and independence that everyone in the family seems to be afflicted with. These range from debates of where to eat and who will sit next to whom at the restaurant, which places to visit - in what order, I don’t want to be in a picture and if you do take a picture you cannot lost it anywhere etc etc etc. ( for example - taking the above picture took threats to cancel Christmas if they refused to pose together AND smile - thus prompting this blog entry!)

Sometimes I just get overwhelmed thinking about all this and wonder how do we make it thru these trips and why do we ever plan the next one. And other times ... like today ... I wonder, if it was easy would it be so memorable? For example, today we were reminiscing about the trip when Aadi used the bathroom 17 times - of course while sitting in the window seat, so we all had to get up EVERY time! No one could remember when was this trip or where we were going, but the potty trips will be remembered into posterity!!!

Fun(ny) Math with kids

We are trying to establish a routine for practicing Math everyday. Both kids are strong in Math but continue to make silly mistakes and lose points so this is our attempt to help. The kids will have none of it though. Here are some problems we posed and the the solutions kids provided -

Problem for Diya to solve -
Father is 4 times older than son.
Father is 16 times older than daughter.
Daughter's age + son's age = 10 yrs old.
What are all the ages?

Diya kept trying to solve this while also helping me with Dinner. Aadi kept trying to give her hints - as he knew the answer.

To keep Aadi busy and away from interrupting Diya, Suvo gave Aadi a problem to solve. "If a triangle has one angle that is 1 degree and another angle that is 1 degree - how much is the third angle?"

Aadi's response - "the third angle is also 1 degree, because this is an equilateral triangle!!!" And he dissolved into a fit of giggles.

Diya picked up on the mood and solved her problem - The daughter isn't born yet so she is Zero. So the son is Zero. And obviously the Father is Zero. This family does not exist.

Maybe we should try our hand at Comedy vs Math!

Fall Colors - Up North

Back in the cold climate - we decided to fully enjoy the Fall Colors, something we really missed in Texas. So we headed up to the enchanted woods of Northern Michigan for a weekend in October when the colors were going to peak. We stayed a golf/ski resort at the foot of Schuss Mountain. It was breathtakingly beautiful. Next morning, before heading out for other adventures, Aadi and I went for a walk while Suvo and Diya stayed back in the cabin, enjoying the fireplace (lazy bums!).

When it comes to going for a walk, Aadi never says no. He is my walking buddy. And he had tremendous fun. He ran around the golf course, took many pictures and then looked for the perfect trekking pole - check out the one he found! It may be a little big, but he will grow into it. :)

Aadi’s Shopping Essay

Boxing dos and don’ts

Hmm.... trying to decide is this should be a do or don’t?

Boxing

We joined a boxing club. It was Diya’s idea. She wanted to start some fitness program and we were looking for a gym that will allow kids. We found this boxing place that will allow not only her but also Aadi. What more could we hope for? Last week I brought the kids over there to check the place out. We did an intro lesson and immediately took the membership. We signed up Suvo too and came with us today for the first class. It was awesome!!!

Looks like we found another activity that we all enjoy doing together. Yay! And of course those boxing gloves look so cool !!!

Khisko!

Khisko!

A family tradition …

One of my most favorite things has been “sunday morning cuddle time” …. the kids (used to) come over to our room, still half asleep, to cuddle and get another round of sleep before everyone got too hungry and someone had to get up to make breakfast. Mishti always participated and Suvo never did. A lot of pushing and shoving happened, negotiations on who got to be in the middle, who did not get enough comforter or pillow, and of course fighting about who had the stinkiest breath - Mishti won this contest every time !

Diya has been missing in action for some time - too busy growing up to become a teenager all by herself - the multiple interstate moves and me working in Detroit while they were all in Texas for over 8 months, taking its toll on this precious ritual and the feeling of connectedness it created for us. Aadi and Mishit kept up the tradition though and never missed a day, while Diya spent most of her time in her room, learned to sing and play five different instruments, colored her hair blue and grew taller than me. 

In the mean time, Aadi has fallen into a routine of reading a book after dinner  every night (which is a great habit) in our bed (i have to admit i enjoy his company for a bit) where he inevitably falls asleep and i have to carry/drag him back to his room in his sleep (a back breaking task that i do not enjoy). Mishti, never to be the one who gets left behind, has taken to sleeping on my pillow, attaching herself to my head like a Tiara. Many nights I wake up confused by her loud snoring right into my ear and my head feeling too hot as a result of being snuggled into her belly. Once, i got so annoyed, that half asleep, i picked her up and threw her off the bed. Unfazed, she jumped right back onto the bed and made a nest on my feet this time and fell right back asleep. Well, as much as I complain about these antics, i love the daily drill and miss it when i am away on travel and so on. And I miss Diya in this mix. 

Things changed the other day when she showed up after dinner when the rest of us were … let just say “lounging”. Suvo was on his laptop getting some work done, Aadi was reading Tintin while sneaking some glimpses of the movie i was watching on Netflix (total binge mode) and Mishti was searching for the best spot to be in the exact center of all of us. I suddenly heard “KHISKO” and looked up to see Diya standing by the bed demanding for all of us to move over (khisko in hindi means ‘move over’ … a phrase she picked up from Nana-Nani and uses often). Well, while i was happy that she was “back” … I realized there was no place to move over … she has grown, Aadi is much bigger and why on earth could Suvo not do his work in the office, and Mishti - get off my stomach !@#@!#! 

We shifted and shuffled, someone kicked a book,  someone screamed, Mishti fell off the edge twice, i gave up on watching the movie and Suvo tried his best to stay on task … but ‘khisko’ we did. With Mishti finally settling on my chest, kids’ falling asleep on each of my shoulders, pinned down by their limbs, pressed and squished until i could not breathe, i realized that ‘khisko’ doesn't just mean ‘move over’ … it means “make room for me, I’m here” … so ‘khisko’ we always will. 

Reality check: Imagine having to carry TWO sleeping kids back to their rooms in the middle of the night … i.e. if you can disentangle yourself and get out at all … but it is worth it! 

Mishti after cuddle time!

Cuddle time!