The Performance

Little miss Haana was to have a violin recital soon. Her teacher and she had decided on what song to play. She knew the song well enough, she didn't need to look at the notes at all. 

Then, maybe because summer had just  started, or maybe she didn't want to play a song she already knew; she just fell off the rhythm of practicing. Now, with the recital only a week away, I was reminding her, with not so effective anger management on my part, to practice daily. 

On the other hand, given that the performance was at the Dallas Opera House, and formal attire was strongly encouraged, I had carved out the saturday before the performance for important family business - family shopping trip. First, little miss Haana needed some shoes that she can wear with her red dress that she had selected to wear for the performance (even though i tried to steer her towards the glittery pink one, but oh well). I decided I will wear a similar red dress too. And then, I needed some dress shoes too. I decided Raj must have a new jacket for the occasion. Not to leave anyone behind, new little man shoes were bought for Bobby boy too. All this while little miss Haana kept reminding us, 'Why are you guys shopping, it will only be me at the stage!'. After being at home for 1.5 years, there was no holding me back from a shopping trip with a purpose!

That evening though, the pesky issue of practicing came up again. And i had just had it! I was very upset and frustated that she's not practicing enough in the days leading up to performing at the stage. That just wouldn't do. I oscillated between deciding to just cancel all her violin classes and not even going to the recital; to remorse that if I cancel her classes it may be a point of no return. Of course through this all, I always wished I myself knew how to play an instrument. I didn't learn as a child, and then never had the time as an adult. It was an intense evening.

Next morning, little miss Haana's recital was in the afternoon. I kept watching her doing everything but practice her violin. And then, sometime after breakfast, she got up to play the accompaniment piece on my phone while she played with it on her violin. Since the accompaniment piece is on a slightly different scale, it takes a little getting used to, to not get distracted with it. She tried and practiced several times till she got it. That morning she practiced and played several times, till she was doing pretty good. 

When it was time, we all dressed up, even little Bobby boy was dolled up in full sleeves, formal collared shirt, jeans with suspenders, grey big boy socks (i forgot the new shoes at home), and a bow tie. All topped with his untamed curly hair. 

At the Opera hall, poor Raj had to pick up Bobby and walk him around the entire time, cause he wanted to run away exploring. But after the long wait when it was little miss Haana's turn, all of our eyes were glued. She glided to the center of the stage, bowed and got to play position with her violin. Her teacher was her accompaniment. She played Judas Maccabeus on violin and played what to my untrained ears sounded flawless and melodious. For that minute, little Bobby boy was glued to his spot too. And just like that she was done, she was bowing to the audience. We were filled with pride. 

Outside in the lobby, we took pictures. Little miss Haana and I were twinsies - wearing similar dress and similar shoes! On the way back from the Opera house, we all knew it was time to celebrate. Dinner restaurant choice - whatever little miss Haana would like!

Here is the recital video!

Hot Tub

Not been on a vacation since Dec 2019 (discounting 2 overnight camping trips). And now after getting the vaccine, i've been getting more stir crazy around the long weekend. May last weekend is the 1st long weekend of the year, and we decided to stay in. In stead, we decided to head out after the weekend, to stay in a cabin during the week. Raj took days off from work, i WFC (work from cabin) for 2 days and took friday off to make it a long weekend.

We headed to the cabin on the lake, it was just over an hour from home. Close enough that we don't spend too much time on the road and we could carry all the supplies from home in stead of hauling kids for grocery shopping. 

As soon as we reached, little miss Haana changed into swim clothes and turned into a mermaid. The big highlight of the place for her was the hot tub on the back patio. As doon as I finished my work for the day, I got in the hot tub too. It was pretty cool, I had to concede. Bobby boy played with a small fountain in the hot tub too. He got a little bit more clingy when all the jets came on and the water got foamy. But then he got used to it in a bit and was fine. On the first night, not quite comfortable with the place, Bobby boy took a long time falling asleep, while big sister Haana slept right through his fussing. 

Next morning, I looked forward to getting up early and having a peaceful cup of morning tea on the red seat swing in the front porch. Listening to the birds. 

After about a day in the cabin in the woods, I felt like i needed to see some people, and get a starbucks. So we drove up to the nearby town in the evening 10 miles over, got me a decaf caffe, and eventually had a pizza dine in. 

The next day in the evening, little miss Haana and I were playing Scrabble in the dining table. I kept getting these bad lettters, X and 2 Gs and then a V. I thought I'll hit a double word and make a word 'VASED', thinking, surely there's a verb form of the noun vase. Little miss Haana complained, "What's vased?". I said i'll check, expecting surely there's a word like that. Except, when I checked online, there wasn't. 

She mocked me, "Oh mumma, what happened to those flowers? Ohhh! They look so vased!" And then, "Did you see the flower mumma? It got  vased!' And then, she was like.. 'Something happened to this flower, ohh, it got vased!'. I left the table and ran away to escape the mocking, but she followed me everywhere. Finally Raj jumped in too, and more laughter ensued! 

It was a good trip. Thank god for the hot tub :-).

Stern Look

What is a stern look from Dad worth? Here's the answer. 

Papa was baby sitting Bobby boy this morning. For a minute there was silence. That could only mean 1 thing - the boy is up to some mischief. 

Papa rushed into the bedroom, expecting to find Bobby boy engaged in his favorite mischief- pulling out all the moss from the indoor plant. But no, the planter was untouched. Momentary relief, but there mystery continues. 

Next, Papa looked in the bathroom, and there he was. Bobby boy had opened the drawer and was actively on the mission to pull out everything from the drawer and throw it on the floor. He takes these missions very seriously. Papa stood at the doorway and gave the boy a stern look. Papa looked at Bobby boy and Bobby boy looked at Papa. Neither batted an eyelid. In this case, it had an effect.

Bobby boy slowly moved and picked up the gauze pad he'd thrown on the floor and gingerly placed it back into the drawer. All the while maintaining eye contact with Papa. Bobby boy moved and picked up rest of the items on the floor and placed them back into the drawer. Then he tried to close the drawer, and after some difficulty, closed it shut! 

After all this, and with a sense of pride, Bobby boy came up to Papa, both with a 'Look Papa, I did it' look all on his face, and with arms wide open. ' I deserve to be carried for being this good!!!' 

He got all that he wanted and then some!