I'm Not Leaving

Dulce doggo and I go out for runs/ walks every morning and evening. Most of the times I take him out for walks (or, as he sees it, he takes me out). But sometimes, I just don't want to! This week i fell sick one evening, and i didn't want to take doggo for a walk. In times like these, when Raj is calling him to go out for a walk, Doggo sits resolutely, sphinx like, next to my bed. "I can't leave Muma! I refuse to go anywhere without her", he says. Multiple calls for the door step go unheeded. In resignation, I get up from the bed, escort him to the garage door, where Raj is already out putting his shoes on. I wait till all these 4 legs, tail and body are outside the door, then I slip back inside and quickly close the door behind me! 

If Doggo feels cheated in this whole experience he quickly forgets it. Cause as soon as he comes back, he comes running to my bed side, with his tail wagging and tongue a-smacking! He's a sweetie!

Bobby 6

Last month was someone’s birthday. In spite of my better judgement Bobby decided he will turn 6. I don't see any point in this, except maybe for getting new toys. But even then, Santa could do that. 

The birthday started early and stayed late. Like all birthdays should. We decided to start the weekend early with a camping trip on Friday. Then on Saturday, Raj wanted to take Bobby boy to the mall and get him a new pair of shoes (and get a couple of legos for himself!). Of course along with the shoes came a large box from the lego store. Nobody was surprised. It was a coast guard ship! Bobby and I took the mall train ride and munched on chocolate.

That evening we met with Varam and Kirthi aunty and Karthik uncle. We went Putt-putt golfing. We all tried our hands (arms) at golfing with varying levels of skills and success. It was fun all the way around. Dinner after that continued the fun, and we returned home with more lego boxes that night. 

On sunday i took Bobby's neighborhood friend, called "Bro" for some reason, and Bobby boy to their favourite trampoline and game area, followed by a lunch at Cici's we all joined at. After stuffing ourselves with fresh pizza, we came back home.

I took Monday off to hang out with Bobby during the day. It was a beautiful spring day and I decided to take both birthday boys - Bobby and Doggo to a park. I was prepared for this of course. I took our Nerf guns!

We had cake cutting and dinner at home, full of sweetness. I continued to insist Bobby should turn 5 again! Still working on that one!

Beginning Middle and End

Bobby is learning to write stories at school with a beginning, middle and end, complete with illustrations. 

Here is Beginning Middle and End story.

Written by Bobby boy. 

Illustrations by Bobby boy. 

Narrated by Mama.

In the beginning, there was a Bobby riding his bicycle.

Then, Bobby in bicycle met another kid Ryan who was on a scooter. They exchanged pleasanteries.

Soon, one of them turned into dust but the scooter survived.

<Bobby corrected me> Actually both Bobby and Ryan rode their bicycle and scooter around, and lived happily ever after.

The end. 

Karate State Qualifier

I had been hearing about the state qualifier for awhile. Little miss Haana has been prepping her karate routines- demo team, teams kata, weapons kata, individuals - for last several weeks. It has been hard work. The state qualifier is for students from various regional schools, and selects which ones will go to the state championship for karate in May. The week leading up to the qualifier, little miss Haana had been working on her karate katas every day after school, coming back late and so tired! 

Last week was the state qualifier. I was excited about the weapons kata. This time little miss Haana had chosen two Korean fans as her weapon of choice. I had seen some of the moves at home, but without the actual fans, and never the full kata. 

Raj went with her for the qualifier. And thankfully recorded much of little miss Haana's performance. During the weapons kata I heard other people in the audience go "woah" as little miss Haana did hand stand and cartwheel and then elbow stand and reverse cartwheel. There were considerable oohs-and-ahhs from the audience! The judges seemed to agree. In the teams and individuals, little miss Haana scored the top 1st place! On the weapons kata too, she scored the 1st place!

She came back home at 2pm. Weighed down by 3 giant gold medals!!! Smiling wide at a job well done!! I had her favorite lunch on the menu- red beans and cilantro lime rice.

I watched the videos of her performance multiple times, adding my own oohs-and-ahhs each time as well!! 

Nerf Wars

For Bobby boy's birthday, Softy mausi had been scouting for gifts. Since Bobby's neighborhood bro had a Nerf gun, that seemed like a good gift idea. She ans Sid uncle ordered a Nerf gun. One. In addition and with loads of anticipation they also ordered 100 extra bullets for the said gun.

It got delivered a day early. And it got me thinking, who is the target and who is the shooter. I did the only thing i thought reasonable for an equitable power dynamics at this place - i ordered another Nerf gun. For me. So now, on Bobby's birthday, we had 2 Nerf guns - one for him and one for me. Both loaded with bullets. And both ready to shoot. 

Let the Nerf wars begin!

What Will I Drive

Mumma you know what i will drive when I grow up? (Bobby boy asked me looking dotingly at his new ferrari lego car he just built).

What are you going to drive when you grow up Bobby?

An electric scooter! (He says with a grin on his face and a smile in his eyes!)

An electric scooter?! The kind with a seat on the back for me? 

No! Not another seat! You can come in your car.

In the car?! But when you grow up, I'll not want to drive anymore. I'll want to come with you!

OK okay! (He realizes Mumma is getting a bit clingy). 

Actually you can be in the basket (of the electric scooter).

The basket? What am I, eggs? Eggs go in a  basket!

(Giggles) No, you're not eggs, but you can still just be in the basket! Be in the basket Mumma!

I'm not happy about this arrangement.

Camping

I've had full-on camping gear and supplies for quite sometime. For last 5 and a half years to be exact. They'd all been used exactly once so far. Until yesterday. 

When Bobby boy was 6 months old, deep into covid, we went for camping for the very first time. It was cold though, really cold. Bobby boy was wrapped in a warm suit that made him look like and feel like a michellin man or an astronaut. Barely able to walk, it didn't help that he was covered from head to toe, keeping him all warm but making him all wobbly and sloppy! We arrived at the campsite later than we should have, set up the tent, made a camp fire, grilled food.  It was fun for sometime. When we turned in to sleep in our 4 person tent, I remember the tent seemed quite large. But Bobby was wobbly and just generally not happy, feeling like he was covered with pillows. The next morning we woke up, made tea and breakfast at the campsite before packing up and heading back. It was not a totally disaster but we were scarred enough that we didn't go back for like 5 years. 

This weekend, in lieu of Bobby's birthday, Bobby's godfather Keith suggested camping, and i thought it may be time for second chance! It was a place close to home. The plan was to get there around 5-6 when there is still plenty of sunlight to set up the tent. Grill some meat for dinner. Stay in tent for the night and come back the next morning. The camp site was really nice right next to the lake and had picnic table and grill. Bobby Doggo and i reached about 6 and met Keith there. We were able to unload the car and set up the tent by 7. Bobby helped too! Doggo was delighted to run after the ducks in the lake (without actually getting in to the lake!), gallopped this way and that, free as the birds he was chasing! We put picnic chairs overlooking the lake and watched as boats crossed this way and that. Bobby guessed how fast each of the speed boats must be. Then hot dogs were grilled. Raj had picked up a paneer wrap for me to take to camping, which was delicious! 

We sat by the picnic table talking and eating. The sun had set and it was getting pretty dark now. Just after we finished dinner Bobby said i gotto go to poopoo. The rest room with running water was not far but certainly not close while walking. So he and I ran to the car, I turned the car around and we drove to the rest room. I half expected to see doggo running behind the car in the rear view mirror, telling "Mumma, wait for me!", in dog language of course! But luckily Keith had told him to sit next to him and so he waited. Bobby and I came back soon enough. And now Bobby wanted smores. So we did that!

We brushed our teeth and soon Bobby wanted to turn in for the night. Bobby n I got into the tent and Doggo came up to it and hesitated. He didn't want to be left alone outside, that would be unthinkable. But he also couldn't fathom coming inside this weird contraption! After a mix of coaxing and threatening him, he finally waded inside the tent. Suddenly the tent that had felt pretty big last time, now felt very small! He walked around awkwardly, stomping on my legs and other body parts. Bobby kept moving about in stead of falling asleep. Soon it was all too much for me and my head was getting heavier with sleep. Doggo settled somewhere between Bobby n me. All through the night i slept tossing and turning to make sure doggo is taking turns stifling blood supply in my left and then right ankles and legs. I am sure he was enjoying it. It felt it was dark for a long time and then i turned and opened my eyes and it was suddenly morning and light outside. Doggo was looking forward to getting out and galloping about. 

Keith tried to get the fire going in the morning but it just didn't work. We packed up and left. It was a good camping trip! Doggo and Bobby both agree. It was a birthday camping trip for both of them! Happy birthday Bobby and Doggo!