Who Stole Cookies From The Cookie Jar?

This evening crime has reached a new height in this neighborhood, as friends and family discover that cookies are no longer safe, anywhere! There are many a twists in this story but our crime correspondent will walk you through safely.

Little Bobby boy had been looking out for new adventures as usual. He found the pantry door open, and proceeded to give it an inspection. Like is usual, he found a few cans and boxes he rolled and puttered with. But then, he found a box he wasn't supposed to find. After previous mis-adventures, the cookie jar had been moved high up on the pantry shelf, away from prying baby hands. But on this day, someone had kept it right within a baby arm's reach. Who could have done such a thing...

Well, the baby arms did reach the prize, and did pluck the cookie jar from the pantry shelf. Baby then proceeded to take the cookie jar with him to a different location for peaceful prying of contents within. 

When the cookie police (mumma) arrived at the crime scene, the crime was unfolding, right in front of her eyes. The cookie jar was open. All the chocolate creme oreo cookies are strewn about on the floor - some intact, some broken, some unreasonably wet! Bobby boy was in the middle of these cookies, grabbing them, pulling them apart, tasting the creme filling and breaking off big chunks of the cookie to devour them. A few such cookie bites in his mouth, holding another cookie in his hand, and regarding a few others next - that's how Bobby boy was found at the crime site. 

The Cookie Sherrif (mumma) and the Deputy (little miss Haana) proceeded to confiscate most cookies (some were just too gooey to be air lifted). They questioned the culprit, who unfortunately continued stuffing broken cookied pieces in his mouth during the questioning. It wasn't looking good for him. Finally in stead of confessing to his crimes Bobby boy decided to rely on charm to get out of sentencing. Unfortunately it worked. And upon confiscation of the cookies and cleaning up of the crumbs, badmaash boy was free to set sail on new adventures. The cookie jar this time was put back high on the shelf. For now. Sherrif and the Deputy have a tough job!

Easter Beagle

Easter was far approaching. Last year when i had mentioned easter egg hunt, little miss Haana had made a comment like "I am too old for egg hunts". I had immediately retaliated. " You'll be too old when i say you're too old for egg hunts". That's another way of saying: I'm not done with egg hunts, so you better play along. 

I have loved egg hunts! Beautiful spring weather, out on green grass fields on a sunday morning, having pancake breakfast, doing art n crafts in the park, petting some animals maybe and then, then there's the egg hunt! Egg hunts can be competitive.. only because some parents get their big kids too little kids' egg hunts, so they can steal eyes from poor little kids.. but little or not, I for one, am not coming home with an empty easter basket. So, one had to take matters into one's own hands at times. In the past I mat have goaded little miss Haana to get more eggs. I may have prepped her to be cut throat in the face of mean competition. Let's just say our basket has been quite full in the past years. 

But then covid hit. Last 2 years we've been giving egg hunts a miss. Severe weather in 2019 and then covid in 2020. This year, with covid still around, I decided to plan my own egg hunt. We invited Varam over for the hunt too.

Before easter, little miss Haana and i decided making bunny head bands cab be a craft we can ask do together for the egg hunt. Little miss Haana cut out bunny ears, several sets enough for everyone, kids and adults, and she made head bands that can be easily put together too. I'd ordered plastic eggs before, and on the easter morning, I filled several of them with candies. And then I spread all the eggs out in the backyard, some camouflaged, some in plain sight. Some eggs i saved specially for Bobby, these I filled with his favourite crackers. 

Soon Krithi aunty and Varam came, and so did Jinu aunty. Soon we were out in the backyard, first all of us making or head bands and putting all kinds of stickers on them. Pictures were taken. And then, we let the egg hunt begin! It was a frenzy! All the adults egging those with the easter baskets- Haana there's one here too, you forgot this one, Varam there's one here too, hey there are more here, quicklyyy!! Bobby boy walked and crawled on the grass, and i lay his eggs all around him, he regarded them with interest, tasting eggs before one of them opened to reveal a cracker inside! Magic eggs! Soon, we all were sitting around in the backyard. Little miss Haana opening all the eggs in her stash and eating candy. 

Later after candy, we all came back on the patio to have lunch together. Raj did some grilling, we had chicken burrito lunch on the patio. Soon after we all came inside, had chai and hung around talking, looking at photos and relaxing for awhile.

Little miss Haana said it was her best easter egg hunt ever. Bobby's too- since it was good very first egg hunt! Happy easter!

Caught Red Handed

Little miss Haana and I were sitting on the kitchen counter discussing fractions, and little Bobby boy was doing his round of the kitchen, checking if the cabinet locks still work. 

Well well, the pantry door was open. Curious george set exploring. There was all the usual stuff: cans, baskets, plastic containers full of lentil, rice etc. But then, what is that?!

There's this new crackly bag in there today. So crackly! But shouldn't make too much noise... oh the bag end came out! How does that taste? Nothing! I knew it. Let's chuck it, focus on the bag. Bag is wide open now. What's this in it.. some kind of multi coloured sticks. All sorts of faded colors. So strange. Have to try it. What about this pale red one. Looks tryable. Nobody is looking! Nobody found me, so cool! Mm this pale red stick is salty. Me liking it. Best thing! Tons of more sticks in jackpot bag! Oh no, Gugu saw me! Will she take a stick and keep it quiet? She's not keeping in quiet. :-(

Here, there's the evidence - caught red handed. With an opened veggie sticks bag and a veggie stick in his mouth. 

First Birthday

My little Bobby boy is all of one year old! Little miss Haana and I have been calling him "half a thing" all this while, cause we had decided only after he turns 1 year old does he become a full thing in his own right (regardless of the fact that he's been his own thing right since the moment he was born). And now that he's turned one, we have to concede. He's this one full thing now. One full thing. 

For his birthday, little miss Haana had plans. She is on

ly the best sister in the world! She decided we had to bake a 3 tiered cake. I had turned down the idea several times before but apparently it was still a go (Raj had gotten cake pans of different sizes). I had decided on the menu for the big day - everything little Bobby boy likes to eat - chocolate pancake, cheese crepe (dosa), carrots, grilled chicken for dinner and of course cake, lots of home baked chocolate cake! 

Little miss Haana tried to get out of school for Bobby's birthday,  but alas that didn't work. I had taken the day off to spend with Bobby boy. 

After a breakfast of chocolate pancake, Bobby and I met with their Godfather Keith at the park. It was beautiful sunny day, and we had ourselves some cake at the park. Bobby tried to feed the rest of the cake to the grass, but somehow i rescued it. He waved to the geese at the pond and rode on Keith's shoulders pretending to fly like a duck. We hung out in the park for sometime and headed back home later.

Back at home, Bobby boy was put for his nap. As soon as little miss Haana's school got over, we got to work. There were eggs to be beaten, ovens to be preheated, cake pans to be lined, and cakes to be baked. There was work to be done. And all before the boy wakes up. Somehow little miss Haana and I got through it without even breaking into a fight once. Soon, 3 cake pans with perfect looking chocolate cakes made it out of the oven. Meanwhile Bobby's Krithi aunty texted that she'll stop by in the evening. So we decided we will wait for her before the cake cutting. 

As always Raj had gotten surprise gifts for Bobby boy on his birthday. One of them being new clothes - smart shirt and pants with suspenders, complete with a bow tie! Bobby boy was changed to his new birthday attire (not birthday suit after all!). Krithi aunty, Karthik uncle and Varam stopped by. And we all huddled for cake cutting. A 3 tiered cake, decorated with whipped creme toppings and with exactly 1 candle on the topmost tier. Just like the best sister little miss Haana had planned!

It was a fun evening with more gifts, toys and clothes! Bobby boy and little miss Haana- two most special babies ever!